Police have released the name of a man who has been missing since his car was found crashed in the Kaituna River.

Police responded to reports of a crash on Ford Road at about 11:03pm on Friday night, where the car was found submerged in the river.

At the time they were unable to say if there was anyone in the vehicle.

Police now believe 53-year-old Simon Francis Neil Oliver, from Maketu, may have been in the car at the time of the crash.

The Police National Dive Squad recovered the car on Saturday and have carried out extensive searches of the river bed over the weekend.

"Mr Oliver has not been located," says Tauranga Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders.

Shoreline searches will continue as weather permits.

'Based on enquiries so far, police believe Mr Oliver was the only occupant in the car and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time,” says Glenn.