Calling young Kiwi car designers now is your chance to create your own vehicle thanks to Toyota New Zealand’s annual Dream Car Art Contest.

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest encourages children to explore their wildest and most imaginative ideas for the future of mobility and sustainability by creating visually captivating and inspiring art.

From flying cars with zero emissions to hoverboards and space buggies for adventures on moons and planets, this competition opens the door to endless possibilities.

Toyota NZ Assistant Vice President Susanne Hardy says the Dream Car Art Contest provides a great opportunity to cultivate the imagination and artistic expression of children over the summer period.

“Toyota NZ is committed to innovation and continuous improvement. Mobility, sustainability and community are our focuses to get to a better Aotearoa New Zealand for all,” said Hardy.

“This is why we support the innovative Emirates Team New Zealand and are working to grow the hydrogen ecosystem.

“Toyota holds this contest with the hope that children will unleash their creativity and dream of a better future. Whether they will be inspired by the America’s Cup boats flying on their foils across the water, or by the idea of flying electric cars drawing energy from the sun, the Dream Car Art Contest is their chance to let their imaginations run free,” she said.

Open to children up to the age of 15, the Dream Car Art Contest has been running for 18 years and is a global competition. Aotearoa New Zealand winners of each age category will win local cash prizes and the top three in each category will have their artwork submitted to the global judges.

Entries will be judged in three age categories, 7 years old or under, 8–11-year-olds, and 12–15-year-olds. New Zealand judges for the Dream Car Art Contest are Toyota NZ Brand Guardians.

The competition runs from 1 November to 10 January. This year, schools can also integrate the competition into end-of-year activities and the schools with the most individual entries will win a $1000 Prezzy Card. Each age category winner will receive a $500 Prezzy Card and go forward into the global contest, which will announce winners in August next year.