THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE VOLUME 5 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 2019

Dealers reject Do sales staff misalign senate claims on EV sales

with customers? he suggestion dealers are not promoting EV sales has “disap- Tpointed” the Australian Automo- nly a fifth of Australian fran- facility, working deals, paperwork pro- tive Dealer Association (AADA). chised dealership sales people cess and dealership website - Holden The response comes as the Senate Oreportedly understand their and Mazda tie for first. Select Committee Inquiry into Electric customers’ needs. They best Toyota in third, Nissan Vehicles recommends the Australian The latest JD Power Australia Sales in fourth and Ford in fifth, while BMW government develop a national EV Satisfaction survey results, from of beats luxury brands Audi in second and strategy increasing EV uptake. It cites more than 3000 customers from Mercedes-Benz in third. the Tesla Owners Club suggesting March 2017 to January 2019, shows The survey shows sales consultants dealers are “not providing prospective Holden and Mazda have the highest failed to ask 17% of customers what EV buyers with all of the facts” when it mass-brand dealer satisfaction. their preferences and requirements came to plugging in. In descending order, Kia, Subaru, were in buying a new car. The same The Tesla Owners Club of Australia Mitsubishi and Hyundai dealers need trend was experienced in roughly the suggested to the committee “tradi- to lift their game in customer under- same volume of first-time buyers. tional car dealerships have generally standing and satisfaction, all scoring For young buyers, 35% aged under not been good at promoting electric below average ratings, behind Honda, 39 years found sales consultants were vehicles.” Volkswagen and the mass market aver- under unwanted levels of pressure to “[This is] either due to lack of staff age score of 802 out of 1000 points. buy; a further 24% of first-time buyers education or a conscious decision Based on six criteria - dealer sales felt the same way. to not promote the new technology consultant, delivery process, dealership Continued on page 6 which needs less after sales service support [which drives their profitabil- INSIDE ity],” TOCA says in their submission. Bidding adieu to an industry legend P4 AADA chief executive David Black- Sun, Americans versus Aussie genius P8 hall says the idea of car dealers opting Off-road rebel arrives Down Under P10 not to sell an EV is “completely false”. Beaut ute for clever clogs P15 4 10 Continued on page 7

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New solutions for workshop staff

he last couple of years “We focus our search in Unlike a range of have been hard on international markets where talent-finding employ- Tservice departments the standard of training ment agencies, Stocks has and independent workshops most closely matches Aus- tailored the business to across the country as skills- tralia’s and since we started specialise in the automotive based mechanical training in 2010, we’ve been plac- and transport industries, receives fewer and fewer ing experienced overseas meaning staff understand entries into TAFEs every year. tradespeople with Australia’s not only the sights and Techs On The VACC chief ex- Move founder, ecutive, Geoff It’s a problem the state- most desirable automotive smells of an engine bay, but Gavin Stock Gwilym based motor trades associa- employers,” he explains. also the emerging changes tions have been trying to re- Stocks says Candidate in vehicle and diagnostic subscriptions can be spread solve, but in the meantime, Pool potentials are screened technology. across a dealer group oper- dealerships and repair/ser- and prepared with the Tradespeople listed in ating in multiple places. vice businesses are having knowledge for working in the Candidate Pool da- The business allows to – sometimes desperately Aussie service departments. tabase may be already in multiple user access and – find staff to pick up the “They understand what it Australia or are keen to rewards businesses that can tools at whatever the cost. takes to succeed in Aus- move here from abroad. scale their investment and Australian automotive tralia, we know our clients Candidates can be shortlist- amortise the cost. tradespersons placement are looking to build service ed and contacted directly, According to the compa- agency Techs On The Move, teams where results and with no need for any formal ny, hundreds of tradespeo- is launching a new Candidate culture are important,” he introduction via the busi- ple have been successfully Pool service to the industry. says. ness itself. Desired candi- placed within the Australian The business aims to pro- “The Candidate Pool dates can be sent a contract automotive and transport vide an efficient method to digital search tool makes directly, with personalised industry, regularly suppling source experienced trades- it simpler and more cost- and competitively priced candidates to large national people for Australian auto- effective for our clients to migration services available and multi-franchise dealers motive employers, offering staff their workshops; we’ve as necessary. and workshops. a new Candidate Pool digital also opened some additional According to Stocks, “Despite the introduction search tool which speeds services to make the tricky there are no extensive re- of the Skilling Australians up the review and selection task of migration easier on cruitment fees or on-going Fund levy, sourcing interna- process for matching suitably all fronts for our clients. guarantees with a 12-month tional tradespersons through skilled staff to the needs of Candidate Pool of- subscription, nor are there Techs On The Move can be dealerships and workshops fers potential employers a limits to how many can- more cost-effective than country-wide. short biography and video didates are contacted or it was beforehand,” Stocks Founder Gavin Stocks interview with a selection of hired through the pro- adds. says staff calibre is virtually vetted and prepared candi- gramme. Clients can review The Victorian Auto- turn-key, so to speak. dates who can be searched a sampling of qualified and mobile Chamber of Com- “Our tradespersons are for using various criteria, migration-ready candidates merce (VACC) says there highly experienced, have including particular brands for an investment compara- are 30,000 jobs waiting for great communication skills, or manufacturer experience ble to most Australian jobs’ young apprentices. and are ready to make a and training, as well as their boards. “Automotive trades have difference as soon as they current and other selectable Stocks says candidates been in a skills shortage for arrive,” he says. characteristics. can to be hired directly and Continued on page 11

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 3 NEWSTALK

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EDITOR Scott (Muzza) Murray [email protected] +61 426 365 774

ONLINE EDITOR Geoff Dobson Riddle this [email protected] +64 21 881 823 ow and why does someone school travellers and aimless wanderers spend almost their entire life of 2019, Kevin listened to advice to get GROUP EDITOR Hworking for virtually the same an apprenticeship from mum Doris and Scott Morgan company? dad Sidney. [email protected] It’s the first thing you wonder when Not even 16 years old, the still-15 +61 212 402 402 hearing about Kevin Riddle, who official- Kevin Riddle joined Larke’s in Parramatta ly recorded his retirement from Inchcape Road, Stanmore, and chased his five- MANAGING EDITOR Australia on January 2 – having started year motor mechanic qualification with Richard Edwards on the same day way back in 1959, when Ultimo Technical College. The TAFE still [email protected] Sir Robert Menzies was in his third term offers automotive repair, paint and trim +64 21 556 655 as prime minister. workshops to this day. Back then Inchcape Australia was Then came Bathurst. Kevin cut his PUBLISHER known as Larke Consolidated Indus- teeth at Australia’s motorsport Mecca Vern Whitehead tries before the company transformed working on hot little Fiats, he became [email protected] through different names and locations. part of the pit crew as the Italian brand +64 21 831 153 Despite change, Kevin was a constant. went up against the muscle car monsters Inchcape Australia Limited (IAL) prop- of Geoghegan, Moffat, Beechey and Jane BUSINESS MANAGER erty services was one of Kevin’s primary when it was the Armstrong 500. Dale Stevenson responsibilities; the “go-to man in times Back in the garage, Kevin was quickly [email protected] of difficulty and potential disaster,” Inch- promoted to checking workmanship +64 21 446 214 cape tells AutoTalk. and quality on serviced vehicles, and “He most recently managed the road testing, before again moving up GENERAL MANAGER company’s property services, including the ranks as a foreman, assistant man- Deborah Baxter maintenance, and also had oversight of ager, and full manager. [email protected] vehicle insurance.” Larke’s transitioned ownership three +64 27 530 5016 Born in August 1943, as the Allies more times before becoming Inchcape, Auto Media Group Limited makes bombed northern Nazi Germany and and Kevin Riddle was still working hard. every endeavour to ensure pushed the Japanese out of New Guinea, Sometimes going above and beyond. information contained in this publication is accurate, however with an identical twin brother Peter join- When the Wetherill Park, NSW, com- we are not liable for any losses ing him into the world, “it was in Kevin’s pound opened in 1979, Kevin’s attention or issues resulting from its use. genes to be a loyal and long-serving was “increasingly grabbed by a series of employee”, Inchcape says. quirky, yet ultra-reliable, Subarus,” the “His dad drove a truck delivering coal company describes. around Sydney his entire working life, “The Brumby and a variety of Leones autotalk.com.au in the days when that fuel was the only took Kevin’s eye. During his entire as- energy source for domestic cooking and sociation with Subaru, he recalls only one autotalk.co.nz heating,” the company reminds as the mechanical problem in one driven by him, transporttalk.com.au modern world enjoys plumbed LPG and a fuel pump hiccup,” Inchcape recalls. transporttalk.co.nz natural gas. Meanwhile Kevin’s role expanded to evtalk.com.au Kevin went to school at Naremburn include management of all Wetherill Park evtalk.co.nz Primary School and Crows Nest High in facilities. Sydney, and unlike the self-entitled post- Continued on page 17

4 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

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AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 5 NEWSTALK

Sales staff misalign with customers

Continued from page 1 “Some dealers have streamlined “Business owners and their em- Nearly 20% of customers felt their the vehicle unveiling and handover ployees – whose job it is to sell test drive was too short, where 80% ‘ceremony’, due to customer demand; vehicles – and the consumers who of all consumers took their provisional dealers report to VACC that increasing- come into their dealerships, may see new car for a test drive. ly consumers are so excited with their the sales process differently,” Dowsey However, half of those trying before new purchase that they want to get in says, watering down buying spent 20 minutes or less behind and out quickly on the day their vehicle the idea of dealer dis- the wheel - a fifth of them didn’t get arrives,” he reveals. illusionment toward more than 10 minutes’ drive time. “To have 83% of customers be- customers. The 12% of customers who were ing asked their requirements is really “What a consumer allowed a test drive longer than half an quite high, and with the remaining 17%, may see as pressure hour were more satisfied than the sub- perhaps under some circumstances, might be viewed by a 10-minute majority. the dealer was not encouraged to ask, dealer as being keen J.D. Power Victorian Automobile Chamber of and conceivably the consumer did not for someone’s busi- Australia director Bruce Chelling- Commerce head of communications want to be asked,” Dowsey questions ness. This is natural,” worth David Dowsey says some disconnect of the survey. he adds. is natural given the changing customer “Many automotive dealers and J.D. Power Australia director Bruce dynamic. manufacturers have extensive and Chellingworth says dealers need to “With consumers impressive websites, virtual show- consider changing tack as consumers only spending a short rooms and digital marketing collateral are respond to sales pressure. time on the premises that is consumed by vehicle-buyers,” “Simply ‘pushing metal’ won’t help how are dealers really he reminds. the dealership gain positive referral, expected to develop “These days, a buyer might only visit ensure customer loyalty or promote the relationships they a dealership twice and spend a com- the brand,” he says. may have had time to bined two hours on the premises, but “In an increasingly competitive David Dowsey, VACC cultivate in the past?” behind the scenes they may have spent market, it is imperative that dealers he asks. many hours on the dealer’s and/or understand and build trust with their “This appears to be a natural exten- manufacturer’s website learning about customers,” Chellingworth explains. sion of buyers spending less time with different vehicles and even configuring He advises sales staff to pay atten- sales staff in dealerships,” Dowsey the one they actually intend to pur- tion to their customer, not the sale. explains. chase,” Dowsey continues. “Given the slowdown in sales, it is He says dealers are not only re- The VACC also says today’s show- essential that sales consultants spend sponding to the modern consumer’s room dynamic does not always equate the required time with each shopper to tendencies, but are also shortening to shock and awe among the consum- identify the best model and variant for their processes because of a better- er public as some may interpret the JD their requirements,” he concludes. informed buyer demographic. Power survey.

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6 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 AD TORQUE EDGE

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Dealers reject senate claims on EV sales

cost of electricity,” the club says. point that new car dealers are technology “Car companies can address some of agnostic and will sell whatever vehicles these through their advertising [if they our customers want,” he says. are truly committed to electric vehicles]; “Unfortunately, the authors of this there is a need for a wider education report have quoted the Tesla Owners programme to address the historical Club and ignored the evidence of Aus- views,” TOCA says. tralia’s 1500 franchised new car dealers TOCA, like the AADA, also supports and the 70,000 people they employ,” the removal of Luxury Car Tax to make Blackhall says. Continued from page 1 EV purchase less financially restrictive. The AADA says the government “To resist selling EVs would reduce Blackhall says the franchised new car should also abolish the passenger vehi- profits and put dealers in breach of dealership network welcomes its role in cle tariffs, which along with LCT, dispro- their franchising agreements with ve- putting EVs in Australian driveways. portionately hampers EV and other low hicle manufacturers, potentially risking “There are some important recom- emissions vehicle sales. their businesses,” Blackhall says. mendations in this report and new car “Electric vehicles are part of the future “It is very disappointing that this re- dealers are looking forward to playing and dealers are determined to be part of port has mentioned evidence claiming our part in supplying EVs to the Austral- a thriving industry which supplies them that car dealers are not interested in ian market,” Blackhall says. to the market – the primary reason that promoting and selling electric vehicles “We are supportive of a public educa- they are not yet selling well is related to - it is completely false,” he states. tion campaign and a co-ordinated ap- supply, cost and range.” TOCA, which represents over 400 proach to skills and training. We are also Blackhall says talking down the member-owners, says manufacturers supportive of a CO2 standard, and Aus- efforts of the tens of thousands of deal- and public mis-representation of electric tralia should work towards an achiev- ership employees across Australia will vehicles are also hindering uptake. able standard that does not punish local do nothing to accelerate EV uptake. “Much public resistance to electric consumers and businesses,” he says. Both parties agree better education vehicles relates to outdated concepts “In our numerous representations to programmes around electric vehicles will regarding the range, charging times and this committee, we consistently made the benefit sales and consumer interest.

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AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 7 NEWSTALK

Rays of genius

n 2017 Australia achieved some- outgun Goliath, as it were. ers, which can be as thin as a tenth of a thing truly remarkable, something so Team leader Saamiul Bashar is not millimetre, are considered too protru- Ienviably world-class it should have only incredibly knowledgeable about sive. Bashar’s team clear-coated over made us prouder than anything any the world around us in ways most the entire car’s surface and sanded it actor, musician or sports person has people simply cannot fathom, he’s also back. done. a really nice bloke. One of the advantages team Michi- Twenty-two Australian students not “Air is not like a standard fluid, it gan had working against our Aussies, only beat 41 other 100% solar-powered changes behaviour as you increase was the resource of a wind tunnel, cars represented by 20 other countries, your speed; the air around a family car courtesy of backing from none other they eclipsed rival teams with intimidat- behaves differently to that of a Formula than General Motors. ing pedigree from the USA, South Africa One car, which is different again to a “Being a small team allows for and Singapore to name a few. commercial airliner,” he begins. diversity; engineers and students can The 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Bashar not only speaks with convic- go into places where it might not seem Challenge is officially counting down tion and passion for his craft, but he right – you can think differently about to its October 13 start, where Western starts with the bare essential principles problems that don’t require resources,” Sydney University engineering students needed for designing a solar car, con- assistant manager Max Mammone and their team will tackle the intel- veying the detail of such a challenge to says. lect of some of the world’s cleverest a journalist who would routinely drop “We just love building solar cars, young people and battle the heat of the sump plug in the drip tray when lots of our work is voluntary. So bigger Australia’s Stuart Highway from Darwin servicing his own car. teams in spite of having more man to Adelaide. “In this car it doesn’t have pressure power, won’t go to the level of detail The aim is to build an entirely self- drag, it’s mostly skin friction and that’s we do, spending 100 hours a week sustaining vehicle that only uses the negligible. But what that means is each on the car,” Bashar says. electricity derived from photovoltaic because the car is so streamlined, we “But you don’t get to validate the solar cells absorbing the sun’s rays. have to make special considerations real-world performance before com- Then, teams must get themselves because the tiniest amount of friction petition like you do in a wind tunnel. through checkpoints to the finish line matters,” he explains. With the budget we had to build at the 3000km away before anyone else. To illustrate, an F1 car doing 40km/h level needed to win a race, compared Three classes are designed to from Darwin to Brisbane won’t be Continued on page 9 achieve three different things: Ad- aerodynamically affected by venture is a non-competitive class; the air, but it is at 200km/h Cruiser is the efficient, practical class in a two-hour race. Com- taking more than one person; and paratively, Bashar’s so- then there’s Challenger, the class for lar car is affected doing the fast. relatively low speeds for University of Michigan was the thousands of kms along a team to beat in 2017, with nine na- dead straight road for days tional championships and a team of 70 on end. Every bump, seam, students – even a cheer squad by the rivet and moulding affects L-R: Western Sydney engineering students, Max Mam- looks of their website – our Aussie bat- the car’s drag. mone and Saamiul Bashar. tlers from Western Sydney, managed to Even sponsorship stick-

8 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Rays of genius

Continued from page 8

to some other teams, they could build their car six times,” he’s pleased to compare the humble Aussie team to. The car, called Unlimited 2.0 because it’s the team’s second-generation solar car based on the catamaran design, is exactly on the minimum permitted weight according to the 2017 regulations. Desert versus car. Thinking like proper F1 team bosses, the guys even skirted a technicality when it came to demonstrating the maximum/minimum required turning circle, which meant years ago. navigating a series of cones. Australia loves to celebrate the funny irony that we won “Our car was high enough to perform the turn but with that race, as a country with bugger all snow and ice, and even the nose gliding over the top of the cones; nowhere in the less pedigree in ice skating, beating America and the defend- rules does it say we can’t go over the cones,” Mammone ing world champion from Canada. The world was stunned, laughs. including Bradbury himself. “It took six hours of redesign to make the U-turn test, But Bashar, Mammone and their team didn’t just get lucky trimming body panels, squeezing extra steering angle,” he taking on the might of the world in the solar challenge, they adds. When was the last time you dedicated six hours to per- also sweated, dehydrated, and worked for countless hours fecting something? Tape was also a secret weapon in their through the years, day and night, to not only design and emergency repairs and in-flight modifications go-bag. build a world-beating car powered by the sun, they did it Tyres were also a major contributing factor to tasting against a formidable opponent who was a shoe-in for gold. champagne at the finish line. As the only physical contact Despite their momentous achievement, Australia - the between the carbon-fibre Quasi Modo and the coarse chip sunburnt country, doesn’t recognise their solar car heroism Stuart Hwy, the tyres developed with Bridgestone solely for in metaphor and CEO dinner speeches. And the Western this race, were their ace in the hole. Sydney team still had to sit their exams at the end of 2018. “These tyres state on the sidewall, ‘Not to be used for World Solar Challenge 2019 runs, very efficiently, from accelerating, braking or turning’, which was very true – October 13-20. braking from 95km/h you would tear through the belt,” Bashar reveals. “According to the data sets we have, the Bridgestones were half a per cent more efficient than our old set, which could mean 10 minutes at the end or having to fix a punc- ture – even the tyres’ aerodynamics is optimised for this car which is also designed to do exactly 85km/h,” he explains. Weight is the other enemy of a solar car race, which Bashar says they went to painstaking lengths to reduce, • NZ’s number one automotive workship even at a multi-purpose level. management software for over 25 years. “Wherever we could cut weight we did, everything has as • The ultimate specialist workshop software many functions as possible,” he explains. package “There are sections of tape that are structural, we have space-grade aluminium wheel hubs which, after 15,000km, • Cloud-based and hosted options available have started rocking in the mounting.” While the guys are adamant the inter-team camaraderie • Installation, Configuration, Support and and competition is both real and healthy, there is still a level Trainer from the industry best of motorsport style secrecy between designs, materials, • Range of options from the entry level lite to and ingenuity. A humble photo of the internals is barred, the all-inclusive Elite understandably, because the intellectual edge one idea offers over next year’s competition – who’ve had the same amount of time to re-think and improve for 2019 – could be the difference between victory and “nearly won”. “Everything on this car is on it because it’s the best item available, if it wasn’t readily available, we’d make our own,” Bashar says proudly. “The only thing we couldn’t control was the solar cells, and that’s primarily down to cost,” he explains. Contact Details: In Australian sporting anecdotes, we often reference P: SAM Admin +64 9 583 2451 ice skater Steven Bradbury, who famously came from an SAM Support +64 9 583 2455 unflattering fourth to win when would-be podium-getters E: [email protected] fell flat on their faces in the Salt Lake City 1000m some 17

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 9 NEWSTALK

Jimny jump-starts dealers

uzuki Australia says its dealership Having thrown an Isuzu D-Max at the than it ever was. network has been screaming for same off-road course in August, it’s safe Features like AEB are Sthe return of its off-roading “cult to say the “brisk blue” version tested will an expectation from icon”, the Jimny, which went on sale appeal to off-road enthusiasts keen to customers, and the Australia Day. point it directly at the hills. A 37-degree preventative side of At the Melbourne 4×4 proving approach, 28-degree breakover and those off-road ben- ground, Suzuki Australia hosted Auto- massive 49-degree departure angle efits will play a big role Talk for the Jimny launch where general will see a narrow escape compared to Michael Pachota, in purchase decisions,” Suzuki Australia manager Michael Pachota says the scuffing and buckling by fatter 4x4s. automotive gen- he explains. brand’s dealers will no sooner get their Suzuki Australia says pre-orders have eral manager “None of our pre- hands on stock before doing handovers been so high there is a growing waiting order customers have with rural customers. list, which could push out if custom- called back saying ‘What gives’ after “Our rural dealers have been ers don’t place orders in the coming seeing the safety score,” Pachota says. screaming for Jimny in those regions months. A 1.5-litre four-cylinder offers 75kW which love off-roading; to be honest “With huge global demand and a at 600rpm and 130Nm at 4000rpm, it’ll be a piece of cake selling to those one-year back order in Japan where combined with 1075kg kerb weight, customers because they’ve indicated it was first released, the rapidly grow- to give rut-running, rock-climbing, they want it,” Pachota tells AutoTalk. ing 350 pre-orders in Australia could stream-fording outdoor types 69kW per “The Suzuki Jimny is a cult icon and probably become a one-year waiting tonne to work with. as soon as it was announced it was list, which is a good problem to have in Pachota says he personally had con- coming to Australia we’ve had dealers some ways,” Pachota explains. versations with Suzuki Motor Company crawling over each other to get it into Jimny is 15% lighter than its fa- in Japan to guarantee stock would be their showrooms, especially in our rural ther, offers a rigid ladder-frame spine available in a reasonable timeframe showrooms,” he says of the 60,000 and rigid axle suspension, and a 4H for the enthusiastic 4×4 market Down production capacity per year. Australia’s transfer case which can be engaged at Under. allocation is only 1130 vehicles for 2019. 100km/h to engage power to all four “Australians are obsessed with four- Despite the Jimny’s three-star AN- wheels in low-grip terrain like wet wheel drives, dual-cab utes, practical CAP safety rating, Pachota says it won’t dirt roads. A traction-control braking cars, so we had a market begging for slow demand for the plucky off-roader limited-slip differential offers low- the return of the Jimny and it means which was demonstrated through re- range rough terrain competence. concepts like the five-door and ute peated low-level water crossings, steep ANCAP, however, acknowledging body shown at the Tokyo Motor Show incline and decline manoeuvres in both the fitment of autonomous emergency cannot be ruled out for us,” Pachota automatic and manual transmission, braking as standard, also points to the reveals. and across rutted terrain as well as in a system, with a monocular camera and “Dealers are saying ‘Give it to us’, 60km/h emergency braking situation laser sensor that recognises only pedes- the agricultural side of Australia wants which evoked the slightest hint of rear- trians and vehicles, not cyclists. a ute, it would be a piece of cake to end skating on the loose surface. The driver’s airbag also failed to sell,” he says. Jimny is so compact the electric inflate sufficiently to prevent a dummy’s Suzuki Australia also confirms: window buttons are on the centre dash collision with the steering wheel. “We’re very happy with the 95 dealer cluster beside hill-descent control, and Pachota says three stars for such a partners we have on board as we head its narrow track width (45mm wider packaged little off-roader is pretty good into 2019.” than its predecessor) barely fits in ruts for what it can do. “The current footprint is sufficient created by bigger, more imposing “We didn’t have much to do with the for the arrival of Jimny; we’ve got some off-road warriors. But it doesn’t seem engineering side of Jimny, but I think ambitious sales targets and we’re poised to care. this vehicle is so much more advanced for a strong year,” Pachota adds.

10 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 PEOPLETALK

Noah’s economic ark

While Treasury modelling is important, tious as the campaigning reaches its By David Blackhall, political leaders need copious helpings crescendo. Australian Automotive of common sense to manage economic Whom do we believe? Who can Dealer Association policy settings that actually deliver. we trust? Well, it might be useful to (AADA) Mishandled, we get a boom in wide remind ourselves that each party will screen TV sales while wages growth assert that each promise is backed up t’s been said that every business flat-lines … or, a policy objective to by bullet-proof economic modelling. needs to employ a one-handed “normalise” the operation of franking Remember Noah Smith? Ieconomist to prevent the well- credits. To make the system fairer actu- We need to bring a healthy scepti- known tendency to offer ambivalent ally has the opposite impact for some cism to promises based on “modelling”. advice along the lines of “on the one modest fixed income retirees. As dealers, we need to apply common- hand … and on the other hand”. You don’t need to spend too much sense when we assess proposed initia- In a recent article published by time pondering the patch-work maze tives – and even more importantly, Bloomberg, eminent economist Noah of policy that constitutes our tax act to we need to push both parties hard for Smith makes some strong points about realise that, more often than not, the economic stability, certainty and steady the unreliability of economic models. If outcomes are far removed from the growth. you’re having trouble sleeping, you can objectives. AADA’s mission in the run-up to read the full article online. We’re heading into a period of one of the most important elections Like political “science”, economic intense electioneering – where eco- the country will have faced in the last modelling is notoriously inexact, nomic initiatives will be sprinkled over decade is to join with the Australian especially when it comes to predicting the electorate by both parties like Chamber of Commerce and Industry outcomes. This might explain some of Tinker Bell’s magic pixie dust over the (ACCI) and other bodies to advocate the economic turmoil we’ve faced in Lost Boys and where numbers quoted for these principles. past 10 years and will likely continue will grow ever bigger, where promises And we need to remember that to endure in 2019. made will become ever more ambi- even Noah Smith has two hands. New solutions for workshop staff Continued from page 3 want your career to go, strong message to parents Gwilym says and auto- at least a decade, possibly make a choice about your and schools to get them to motive apprenticeship is two,” VACC chief executive higher-education vocational re-engage with the automo- also a potential opportunity Geoff Gwilym says. options’,” he explains. tive industry,” Gwilym advises. to run their own business. “The Australian govern- “We have to find those “Automotive apprentices “We have to find a way ment and community told 30,000 people who want to are generally employed to get those messages our young people universi- come into the industry as ap- for their entire life and are through and we’re giving it ties were the place to go; prentice mechanics, manag- employed quicker than a lot of thought and action I would argue that wasn’t ers, sales people, panelbeat- university students, they over the next six months to the right idea, we should’ve ers – we have to find them, also learn and grow on the find those 30,000 kids,” he said, ‘based on where you but we have to send a very job,” he continues. adds.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 11 PEOPLENEWSTALKTALK TRANSPORTTALK

Improve efficiency, profitability with mobile appraisal

t’s often said that the best technology Saved time through a faster and more is simple but effective - transforming accurate process By David Toscano, Imanual, inefficient and inconsistent Carsales trade processes into something transparent, Time is valuable, and in addition to marketing streamlined and measurable – with ben- transparency and a feeling of being in efits quick to flow to the bottom line. control, nothing impresses customers Australian dealers looking to further like a fast, seamless process. understanding of trade-in conversion improve the efficiency and profitability A mobile car appraiser empow- and track this metric for future perfor- of their sell process should look no ers dealers to speed up the appraisal mance improvement. further than a mobile car appraiser to process and increase their efficiency. A mobile car appraiser also ensures optimise trade-ins and appraisals. Leading appraisal systems enable staff that all appraisals are recorded and ac- Leading Australian and global dealers to auto-fill key vehicle data by adding cessible for future reference - anytime have already advanced their appraisal in a vehicle registration number or VIN, and anywhere. process from inefficient and unmeas- which ensures a more accurate result. urable carbon copy appraisal pads, For the customer, this delivers a More informed pricing decisions to an intuitive, customer-friendly and more satisfactory experience that can measurable mobile process that runs via flow on to other areas of the dealer’s Appraisal Solutions is a leading pro- tablet and app. business and enhance customer reten- vider of mobile car appraiser technology Here are four key benefits of imple- tion. in Australia, meeting the needs of dealers menting a mobile car appraiser: across the country and delivering a num- Increased margins and profitability ber of innovative “firsts” to the category. Increased customer trust through Mainstream and prestige dealers across transparency Trade-ins are often cheaper to pur- the country have reported an uplift in chase than stock at auctions, increas- sales, finance and aftermarket business Sometimes a customer may enter a ing the volume of trade-ins through with the use of this system. dealership with a preconceived dollar a quicker process will help dealers Excitingly, Appraisal Solutions’ figure of what they think their vehicle is realise stronger sales margins - and lift mobile car appraiser technology is set worth. With resources such as carsales profitability. Despite the lift in apprais- to become even more powerful and and RedBook, customers can easily als undertaken, a mobile car appraiser valuable for dealers with future integra- conduct their own accurate and trans- helps reduction to reduce potential and tion to carsales’ LiveMarket actionable parent research. costly mistakes in the process – a win- marketing intelligence system. The resources available to car owners win outcome. This future integration will empower are part of what makes a professional dealers to make more informed pricing process critical. A mobile car appraiser Better accountability and conversion decisions on trade-ins, with the latest empowers dealers to engage vehicle tracking market pricing from Australia’s #1 for owners in a transparent and personalised cars, integrated into the system. process and deliver them a professional Trackable technology is powerful in Look out for this integration in the report - facilitating their understanding enforcing greater staff accountability, coming months. In the meantime, of how the dealer has arrived at a real- ensuring that staff complete all aspects check out more about what dealers istic, market-driven trade-in price and of the appraisal - and every customer is have to say about Appraisal Solutions at their acceptance of this valuation. treated in exactly the same way. https://www.appraisalsolutions.com. It also enables dealers to gain better au/raving-fans.

12 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 STATSTALK

BMW was top prestige brand in Jan. Holden plummeted almost out of the top 10. Mitsubishi rises in dull January

itsubishi Motors Australia has January sales (up 2.6%) with 4651, and jumped up to second on the six-placed Ford, while happy to still the Top 10 Brands Mcharts as other top 10 brands top 10, fell 21.7%, courtesy of just 4421 disappear in the January heat. reported sold last month, dropping 1224 Only small SUVs, medium cars and units. people movers managed to post Holden continues its slippery improved reported sales figures in descent, starting seventh with only January 2019 over January 2018. 4169 January 2019 sales (down 27.1%), According to VFACTS provided Honda clings to eighth place with 4042 by the Federal Chamber of Automo- sales (down 11.8%). Nissan dropped tive Industries, the 10,441 small SUVs 19.2% or the equivalent of 904 sales, reported sold in January 2019 was only holding onto ninth with 3803 sales. 171 vehicles ahead of the 10,270 sold at Rounding out the top 10 brands is the start of last year. Volkswagen, dropping 9.9% of Janu- Meanwhile, people movers could ary 2018 sales, to sell just 3617 cars last 1. Toyota 15,961 only muster six more sales on 954 month compared to the 3979 of last versus 948 reported January 2019 to January – that’s 362 cars short. 2018 (up 0.6%). Medium cars were only Brands to show monthly sales im- up 1%. provements over January 2018 include Business fleets clearly have a prefer- Bentley (up 8.3%), Citroen (up 28%), ence for SUVs in 2019, with 13,185 SUVs Great Wall (up 688.9%), Haval (up reported sold this month compared 54.2%), Jaguar (up 53.5%), and Lexus with the 10,569 passenger vehicles which celebrates a record January sales set to get to work this year. However, result of “705 vehicles delivered to cus- private SUV buys still outnumber both tomers represented a gain of 15.8%.” passenger cars for private, business and Lotus was up 25%, MG was up 859%, SUVs for business use, with some 19,781 Mini 1.9%, Morgan had a stellar 300% 2. Mazda 9490 SUVs reportedly sold. sales boost (from one car to four, Jan- Overall, however, SUVs in total are 2018 to January-2019), RAM’s up 922% down 5.1% in January 2019 compared (nine to 92 units), Skoda’s up 23.6%, and with January 2018, much like every oth- Volvo had a 12.8% win. er buyer segment including light (down Federal Chamber of Automotive 5.1%), small cars (down 13.4%), large Industries chief executive Tony Weber cars (down 39.6%), extra/upper large says the tardy results are testament to cars (down 53.4%), sports cars (down lacking consumer confidence. 27.5%), medium SUVs (down 7.6%), “With an imminent federal election, a large SUVs (down 8%) and extra-large declining real estate market and tighter SUVs which were also down, by 6.7%. lending practices, the current economic Overall, Toyota sold the most cars, environment is a challenging one,” he 3. Mitsubishi 6669 predictively enough, with 15,961 report- explains. ed sales (up 4.3%), ahead of second- “However, Australia’s love affair with placed Mazda on 9490 (down 6.2%), SUVs continues. January was a solid and third-placed Mitsubishi reporting sales period for these vehicles,” Weber good results from its plate clearance says. sales on 6669 units for January (up a “Passenger sales massive 26.7%). were strong in the Hyundai started the year with 6205 small car segment, sales (down 12.9%) on the 7124 sold in with the Mazda 3, January 2018. Toyota Corolla and Fifth-placed Kia had a moderate Hyundai i30 leading 4. Hyundai 6205 start to 2019 notching just 120 more the pack,” he adds.

Top 10 Brands continued p14 Top 10 Brands continued STATSTALK

2019 sales in January

Top 10 people movers Top 10 small SUVs 5. Kia 4651 under $60K

1. Kia Carnival 1. Mitsubishi 532 ASX 1818

2. Honda 2. Mazda CX-3 Odyssey 1308 128 6. Ford 4421

3. Hyundai iMax 3. Honda HR-V 71 1043

4. Toyota Tarago 4. Nissan Qashqai 55 834 7. Holden 4167

5. Volkswagen 5. Toyota C-HR Multivan 786 51

6. LDV G10 6. Hyundai Kona 39 781 8. Honda 4042

7. Volkswagen 7. Mitsubishi Caddy Eclipse Cross 22 658

8. Volkswagen 8. Subaru XV Caravelle 627 5

9. Nissan 3803 9. Kia Rondo 9. Suzuki Vitara 2 306

10. Citroen C4 10. Holden Trax Grand Picasso 280 0

14 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 10. Volkswagen 3617 Top 10 Brands continued MODELTALK

One beaut’ ute t’s unlikely anybody outside of Mazda the aforementioned curiosity for Ranger Ranger on 970kg or the XLS with 991kg. and Ford know the level of detail in among non-private and private buyers. And whoop-di-doo, the Mazda also has Ithe agreement between Hiroshima’s Sitting in the backseat firing down to 3.5t towing and 3.2t GVM. hero and the Detroit giant when it came Phillip Island for a beach day, with rows Under the bonnet is the 3.2-litre five- to conceiving the Ranger/BT-50 mono- and rows of traffic coming home the pot diesel we know from Ranger, plus zygotic twin. opposite direction, Rangers are every- lots of miscellaneous parts around the It’s curious because Ranger starting where. Towing girthy tri-axle caravans, engine bay, which still bear the FoMoCo at $28K going all the way to $80K and others with L-plates on the back, some in insignia. the BT sneaking in at $21K and only single-cab with a company logo on the Rarely needing to draw on all 147kW asking $50K for its flashiest XTR 4x4 door. Yet only one BT-50 can be seen in before 3000rpm, the BT-50 pulls pretty dual-cab specification, it seems mo- the same journey. effortlessly and offers the same 470Nm ronic to consider a Ranger. Ever. And people wonder why they can’t which is all the torque most ute buyers Think about the marketing, and again afford to keep the jetski, or have to re- could ever need or use. It’s enough to back to that Ford-Mazda alliance as to mortgage, or are forced to shop at Aldi – make the family camper feel inflatable. how they would proposition the two not that there’s anything wrong with that Two weeks with a BT-50 isn’t testa- utes to consumers. – but it signals people are buying based ment enough to the longevity it offers Is BT-50 the more affordable one, on something other than cost. Irration- the savvy consumer, but the fact my pitched at fleets, and smaller lower ally, perhaps. cousin has had one of the current gen- budgets? Does that mean the Ranger is The updated BT-50 tested here gets a eration for years is. the more affluent ute, with all the safety new Alpine head unit with Andriod Auto He’s taken the BT through the inland gear and a superior wrap sheet? and Apple Carplay, a properly-adjusted east coast, as far north as Cairns, usually But looking at the reported sales reversing camera as standard (and per- with two dogs and a caravan in tow, figures, with Ranger consistently posting fectly placed for hitching a trailer). and for a CFA firefighter who relies on number twos into the VFACTS stats, it It also gets a new front end designed his truck – sorry, ute – to get him there looks like the Blue Oval is the thriftier by Mazda Australia and its canopy design and back without fail, it’s puzzling why 8. Honda 4042 buy. partner EGR in Queensland, but that’s more people go for the “prettier” Ranger. Over 170,000 reported business, about where the glaring updates can be Although personally, the latter is hardly government and rental light commer- seen without going to the brochure. easy on the eye. cial sales in 2018 dominated the measly Off-roaders will appreciate a battery They may be cut from the same cloth, 63,000 or so private sales could show a mounted forward in the engine bay, but the BT-50 and Ranger definitely have correlation with how Ford Australia sold making access to use an air compressor two distinctly different personalities. roughly 42,000 single and dual-cab vari- easy. One is one of the most popular vehicles ants, against Mazda’s 13,000 BT-50s. Frustrating for the sub-180cm tall in the country, the other performs all Having said all this and loaned two buyer is a lack of reach adjustment in the the same load-lugging, rock-wrangling BT-50s courtesy of Mazda Australia for steering, but that’s not to say you won’t tough stuff you could throw at it. two consecutive weeks, it seems absurd find a suitable driving position. On a two- Can you just imagine how capable to overlook Hiroshima for Detroit. Seri- hour dash up to Bendigo, the BT-50 is the next BT-50 will be when the partner- 9. Nissan 3803 ously, just try explaining it using rational reasonably comfortable for a workhorse, ship with Isuzu Ute bears fruit? arguments. whether for fleet use Using the first BT-50 as not quite a or private. daily driver in the first week involved a Isn’t it also curi- barely-noticeable towing task bringing a ous why people dozen concrete sleepers and their cor- would swear by their responding steel posts – plus many bags Ranger, yet the XTR of concrete – home from Bunnings late 4x4 BT-50 at 1082kg on a week night confirmed that yes, utes has a greater payload are much comfier laden. It also piqued than an auto XLT 4x4 Practical people buy utes, smart buyers get a BT-50.

10. Volkswagen 3617 AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 15 MODELTALK

Power play

rying to decide whether to take human history making cars, which is three are within a few kilometres. A photos of the Ioniq Electric in the actually nicer to drive in “Eco” mode day trip to Geelong from Melbourne’s Tmorning sunrise or the evening’s than its more sportified configurations. east was easy, with invaluable tech help sunset was difficult; time permitting. What else makes Ioniq unique is its from Jet Charge. It was uncertain whether the dawn paradoxically unremarkable qualities. They lent a Type 1 (“J772”)/Type would better symbolise that of a new See, until Ioniq, electric cars have al- 2 (“Mennekes”) adapter cable which era in the automotive world, or if the ways come with idiosyncrasies inher- would normally be a $495 extra acces- setting of Sol was a metaphor that ited since man’s earliest attempts to sory bought at the Hyundai dealer (or spoke louder for internal combustion’s quantify all-electric mobility. $329 from EVolution). days ahead. Driving the first-gen Leaf was like There was nothing to worry about Hyundai chose the “Ioniq” portman- playing Xbox in a bronze-age lounge even if we hadn’t topped up on the teau because it combines two ideas: It’s room compared to regular cars, while foreshore. That’s right, vacant parking the first vehicle product to offer three the original Prius was so politically spaces were available over the busy variations on the weaning-from-oil “green” just looking at it was like enact- holidays while juicing up for free. theme – unique – and doing it by using ing Lady Macbeth’s “Out, damn spot!” Both cables can become quite bulky molecules with a net electric charge sleepwalking scene, trying to cleanse in the 455-litre (to the roof) boot space. due to the loss or gain of one or more one’s hands of an imagined stain. The electric Kona’s boot with 334 litres electrons – ion. Then Tesla came along, like the will be robbed even more with both Loaned the Ioniq Electric for three USS Enterprise during the industrial cables when it arrives. weeks over the Christmas break, we revolution. There was the faintest whiff of range racked up well over 1000km courtesy Not once did we experience a anxiety below 70km, but that irratio- of Hyundai Australia. We discovered hyperventilating, dying need to find a nality is quickly gone when you realise this is the first vehicle, probably in all charging station with Ioniq, although you’re only making a 10, 20 or 30km round trip with plenty to spare. In some ways it feels like you’re always running on a third of a tank of petrol – the dif- ference being that you’re not burning fuel to carry the additional fuel in Ioniq. It also becomes fun trying to mooch off the regenerative braking – we managed an entire trip to visit friends up in the Dandenongs for free and used net zero range. Damn right. Even in Eco mode, a 2018 Ioniq strides effortlessly away from a decade- old G6E Turbo Falcon, much to their bewilderment, which makes you realise how far not only Hyundai has come in 10 years, but technology; making a mockery of the J-curve of change. Liftback glass wants a wiper Continued on page 25

16 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSTALK Airbag action reaches peak

ustralian-based original equipment With the December 31, 2020 dead- manufacturers and their respec- line just 694 days away, the ACCC says Ative dealer networks have less than approximately one million faulty inflators two years to complete the mandatory remain in some 912,000, which ACCC Takata airbag recall. deputy chair Delia Rickard says is “good The Australian Competition and progress”. Consumer Commission has praised the “Both motorists and car manufactur- automotive industry for its two-thirds ers shouldn’t become complacent,” she completion of Australia’s largest ever warns the industry. product recall, to the tune of over 2.8 mil- “The ACCC’s recall efforts are being have completed the whole job,” he says. lion airbags removed from circulation. helpfully complemented by state and “They are doing everything they Less than one million potentially territory authorities who are progressing can to reach out to owners of affected deadly “alpha” and “beta” Takata airbag registration sanctions for any consum- vehicles – every working day, they modules remain among the general ers who are not replacing the dangerous are writing, telephoning, emailing and population, but the ACCC says over “70% alpha airbags,” Rickard explains. door-knocking.” of all affected airbag inflators have been The IsMyAirbagSafe website reached replaced since the federal government a milestone six million enquiries this past put manufacturers on notice in February weekend, which Weber says is a good last year”, the ACCC reports. sign that the “Don’t Die Wondering” Roughly 7800 of the mortally danger- campaign is still getting through. ous “Alpha” airbags remain at large, in “There has been an average of more spite of brands and their franchised deal- than 32,000 vehicle checks made every er service departments replacing around day since the website was launched six Delia Rickard, Tony Weber, FCAI 100,000 airbag inflators every month. ACCC months ago,” he adds. Further to servicing registered vehicles Toyota recently added a further 1.7 rolling into dealerships, automakers and “They are also helping us with our million vehicles to be recalled globally, service technicians have also removed surveillance and enforcement initiatives Fiat Chrysler Automobiles added another 262,000 inflators found in 225,000 un- to ensure suppliers are complying with 1.6 million, while locally, Tesla has also repairable vehicles, located in cars which the terms of the recall,” she reveals. added 1263 Model S electric sedans were written off, scrapped, exported, Federal Chamber of Automotive In- built/sold from 2014-2016 – a drop in stolen, unregistered for over two con- dustries chief executive Tony Weber says the ocean compared to the roughly secutive years, or modified beyond the the industry is not easing off. 14,000 Tesla Model S in China recalled capacity to replace the affected inflator. “Our members will not rest until they for the same reason.

Riddle this Continued from page 4 Kevin was involved in the pre-hail net to Larke’s head office in Ryde in 1981, “When I started, radios were one era that would see the sheer heat of the promoted to administrative services of the major car accessories. Now, Western suburbs become an early issue. manager, then warranty manager, fantastic systems like EyeSight are The hot summers were strong enough before becoming property services becoming the norm,” Kevin adds. to warp vehicle trim; cause enough for manager when the business moved to Handing back the keys, Kevin also the introduction of protective white Wetherill Park. passionately enjoyed playing football, windscreen coating for vehicles. “I never envisioned spending so golfing and cricket over the last 60 Kevin has plenty of stories to tell much time with the same company,” years. But he’ll be taking life much about the start of the Team Subaru Kevin says. easier, enjoying five grandchildren rally operation, later called Subaru “But I’ve had different roles and the and his two daughters’ families. Rally Team Australia, all run out of the company ownership changed a few “He is a legend,” Inchcape Australia back of the warehouse. times, so there’s always been variety chief executive Nick Senior says. More personal challenges include and plenty of challenges.” “Kevin’s no-nonsense exterior hides a break-in at a Surry Hills warehouse, Kevin says the biggest changes a heart of gold and he’s been a great when a nervous policeman insisted on he’s seen have been in the vehicles’ example to the younger generations walking over Kevin’s shoulder as he technical and engineering design. about commitment, attention to detail walked out in front of the officer, as “When you look at Subarus now, and nurturing colleagues around you.” they had to reach light switches half everything from the paint to the trim, Perhaps that’s the answer - signs of way along the building interior. computer technology and reliability, a business and people worth working Kevin relocated from and then back it’s all vastly superior,” he explains. for your entire life.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 17 DIARYTALK

AUSSIE TALK DIARY on permitted levels of diesel exhaust. January 14 AutoTalk Australia’s editor According to Reuters, Scott Murray looks at the month 104,000 US-market die- Kittle takes over gone by on autotalk.com.au sel vehicles made by Fiat Mildura dealerships Chrysler were allegedly fitted with emissions cheating soft- been confirmed as new presi- Peter Kittle Motor Company ware to pollute above legal January 2 dent of the company. has taken over the BMW, limits, which the company Reuss, 55, will take over Mazda and Toyota dealerships denies. Franchised dealers from Kiwi Dan Ammann, who in Mildura, Victoria. have their say will now lead Cruise – its au- The dealer group adds the tonomous vehicle division. Mildura dealership chain to January 11 its footprint which includes Mazda and Toyota are Austral- sites in South Australia and ian dealers’ favourite manu- Dealers, industry Alice Springs. facturer partner in 2018. January 7 With 108 franchises, Maz- should prepare da Australia has been voted Consumers pump for change of January 15 by the nation’s dealer princi- the brakes on new government pals as the most satisfactory car sales Ford Europe’s brand in overall performance, The Australian Automo- averaging 8.7 out of 10. Australia new car buyers were tive Dealer Association says posterior focus saving their pennies heading franchised new car retail into Christmas 2018, with the businesses should not be sur- Ford has used an artificial January 4 market down nearly 15% in prised if Labor wins the 2019 backside to simulate 10 years December. election. worth of wear and tear on the NSW speed ruling The Australian consumer AADA chief executive new Fiesta seats. cops feedback only bought a reported David Blackhall says busi- “Robutt” can replicate a 1,153,111 cars in 2018, com- nesses should realise there’s human’s rump entering and exiting the new Fiesta’s seats New South Wales police chief pared to the record 1,189,116 a chance Labor will return to 25,000 times in three weeks. inspector Phillip Brooks has reported sold in 2017 – a 3% office for the first time since received feedback regarding decline of 36,005 units. 2014. Hyundai extends the state’s 40km/h speed limit around police vehicles. Lamborghini hits help to US Posting on LinkedIn about January 8 record sales government workers the “changing culture” in the community and the force’s ANCAP wants drivers Automobili Lamborghini Hyundai of North America partnerships with other au- to take ownership s.p.a has declared 2018 is the is extending its capital auto thorities and agencies assist- Italian supercar company’s loans and lease payments to ing “to drive down the road The Australasian New Car highest ever sales year in its help US government workers. toll on NSW roads”, the new Assessment Program says the history. The payment shutdown speed law has been discussed onus of reducing road fatali- 2018 also marks Lam- caused by president Donald in the comments section of ties and trauma starts with the borghini’s eighth straight Trump’s request for billions of his 2018 reflection. person behind the wheel. year of global sales growth, dollars in border wall funding, buoyed by the 1761 deliveries which has resulted in over Dealer association As Australia records a reduction in the number of of the Urus SUV and record 800,000 workers left without looks forward people killed in road crashes sales of V10 and V12-engined pay, has seen Hyundai take in 2018, including Victoria Po- variants. the pressure off its affected Australian Automotive Dealer lice which has acknowledged customers by extending pay- Association chief executive only 12 lives lost “Operation Aussie drivers are ment deadlines by 30 days. David Blackhall has been yapping, napping Roadwise” (Dec 14-Jan 16) US crash testing pondering what’s to come in and NSW which recorded a and snacking the industry in 2019. 10% road toll reduction from suspended by Looking at economic 2017 to 2018, ANCAP says Australian drivers are talking shutdown prediction, wondering what more needs to be done. on the phone, falling asleep at the year ahead will mean for the wheel and eating them- The National Highway Traffic “automotive disruptor” Tesla, selves to distraction. Safety Administration has and referencing the franchisee January 10 Finder.com.au has sur- suspended all crash testing power imbalance the AADA veyed 1800 Australian drivers assessments in the midst of has described as being present Fiat Chrysler to and found their riskiest hab- the US government’s forced in Australia, Blackhall says its, as well as data suggesting shutdown by Donald Trump. 2019 should prove interesting. settle on diesel emissions cheating there’s a good chance they’re A spokesperson who Auto- Reuss to replace also smoking, dealing with Talk understands is working unruly children or even ap- voluntarily at the Department Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is Kiwi as GM president plying makeup. of Transport, says NHTSA has close to settling a lawsuit with ceased all crash testing and The leader of General Motors the US Justice Department for using illegal software to cheat products, Mark Reuss, has Continued on page 19

18 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 DIARYTALK

Continued from page 18 Australians’ use of car loans are involved in single vehicle to finance new vehicles has January 22 crashes resulting in death. vehicle assessment since the doubled since 2009 and is Official crash data from as December 22 shutdown. now the method of choice for Suzuki dealers late as March 2018 shows that a fifth of consumers. ‘screaming’ for Jimny one in 10 crashes resulted in January 17 According to data from multiple deaths and that 30% Finder.com.au, 19% of Suzuki Australia says its of all crashes were the result new car sales are financed of running off the road. A fairer year ahead for dealership network has been through a car loan. vocal about getting the new consumers - AADA Jimny off-roader into show- rooms as soon as possible. January 24 The Australian Automo- January 18 Hosting AutoTalk at the tive Dealer Association says launch of the all-new Jimny Jimny gets poor 2019 will bring buyers better Lower road toll not at the Melbourne 4×4 prov- safety pass finance deals in the post-flex for celebration ing ground, Suzuki Australia commission era. general manager Michael The new Suzuki Jimny gets The November ban on The Australian Automobile Pachota says the brand’s a lowly three-star safety flex commissions, which Association has slammed the dealer principals have been rating for Australia and New saw Carsales’ take a $48 federal government’s stalled “screaming” to get their Zealand. million impairment thanks action on bringing down the hands on stock. The Australasian New to its half-share in Stratton nation’s road toll. Car Assessment Program Finance, could see a reversal The AAA says the evi- (ANCAP) has rated the Jimny of misfortunes. dence shows Australia will January 23 three stars on both GL and AADA chief executive not reduce its annual road GLX variants sold here and David Blackhall told AutoTalk toll to the 998 target before Australian drivers across the Tasman, citing dealers are adapting if they December next year, and cause their own below-par crash structures, haven’t already. condemns the Morrison vulnerable road user protec- crashes Finance borrowing government’s minimal effort tion and inadequate collision responding to the National avoidance. doubled in a decade Road Safety Strategy Inquiry. Budget Direct says the vast majority of Australian drivers

THE DIARY AutoTalk New Zealand’s group January 16 January 25 editor Scott Morgan looks at the month gone by on autotalk.co.nz Toyota premieres Thompson ordered new Supra to pay legal bills Christchurch dealer Nigel – a record setting effort, The North American Interna- Thompson is staring down January 4 with the market 1% up on the tional Auto Show in Detroit a $15,900 legal bill from previous year. played host to the new law firm Weston Ward and Four crew missing on The latest Motor Industry Toyota Supra. Lascelles. US-bound car carrier Association (MIA) figures The new Supra is the first Thompson is also on bail show that’s 1648 registra- global model of Toyota Gazoo while defending himself The search for four missing Racing’s GR sports car series, against 67 dishonesty crew on a car carrier drifting tions above 2017’s overall result and the fifth year in a revitalising a model which charges. in the middle of the Pacific was last produced in 2002. has been suspended. row of increases. The Sincerity Ace, owned January 29 by Shoei Kisen Kaisha and January 14 January 22 chartered by Mitsui OSK ComCom levels Lines, reported a fire on board Government drive Monday. Sixteen crew were Most stolen cars charges at 2 Cheap rescued by ships in the area, revealed needed on EV Cars but the four remain missing incentives and are not responding. Canterbury is New Zealand’s Vehicle retailer 2 Cheap Cars is stolen car hot spot, accord- Electric vehicle advocacy facing 10 charges brought by ing to financial comparison group Drive Electric wants the Commerce Commission January 8 website MoneyHub. the Government to more under the Fair Trading Act. The site’s analysis of clearly signal its EV intentions. The commission has taken Another record year police data over the last six There’s little hope of issue with two 2017 advertis- for new NZ vehicle months of 2018 shows 831 reaching the goal of 64,000 ing campaigns, which involved vehicles were reported sto- EVs by 2021 set by the previ- the phrases “must liquidate” registrations len in Canterbury, compared ous government without and “84% off”, along with with 575 in south Auckland’s some additional political 2Cheap’s use of “warranty There were 161,519 new ve- Counties Manukau and 391 will, Drive Electric chairman waiver” documents. hicles registered during 2018 in Auckland City. Mark Gilbert says.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 19 AUSTRALIA’S NEWS SOURCE FOR ROAD TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS & HEAVY EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIES

Heroic hay runners

shiny new Farrell says he and the hay run’s dry paddocks and thirsty livestock.” Coronado 122 organisers try not spread the charity’s This year’s run to Quilpie involved Ahas helped relief efforts across the country to a over 120 trucks, including Kenworth move thousands variety of communities. driver Brett Lieschke who lives some of tonnes of hay “We call it the week of giving and we 1400km away in Walbundrie, NSW, and into drought-af- try not to go to the same place twice,” Alma Park’s Howie Muller who told Brendan ‘Bumpa’ fected south-west he says proudly. the Blue Mountains Gazette he’ll never Farrell is “very Queensland on the “My hand was up from the first mo- forget helping Liescke and Farrell get impressed” with 14th hay run. ment. Truckies don’t just treat it as drop- the first hay run going. Freightliner’s toughness. Burrumbuttock ping off hay on a normal long haul. Hay “I think we organised 19 trucks that Hay Runner director is only 50% of the run – the other half is first run,” he says. and owner-driver Brendan Farrell has about mental health,” Ferrall reveals. “To see kangaroos who couldn’t been and gone for another year, but “We finish up the paid work and dur- make it across the road because they it was helped using a new Cummins- ing that week it’s all about giving our were so hungry … the cattle were skin powered Freightliner Coronado to haul time and making the effort to tell our and bone – it was pretty ordinary,” precious feed to farmers in Quilpie, a farmers we’re thinking about them. So Howie recalls. regional community some 11 hours drivers will stop and have a beer or a Ferrell describes the hay run is no west of Brisbane. cuppa, butter some scones or what- dream run up the coast on smooth The Burrumbuttock Hay Run 2019 ever, just to show them that respect freeways with resources only a few started on January 23 and finished on and give them that burst of resilience minutes away. Australia day, January 26, but organiser to help them get through,” he says. “This year it was a 4000km round Brendan “Bumpa” Farrell started load- “We get to jump back in our trucks trip for some, plus or minus a few hun- ing the Freightliner 10 days in advance. and head home when it’s all done, but dred ‘ks’,” Farrell says. “I can’t thank Freightliner enough for they have to keep going. There’s not “I took the Coronado on a test run their support, three of my trucks are rest stop or return trip away from the on the road from Burke to Milparinka off the road and they came forward to with washouts, corrugations, the big- help – I’m glad they did,” Farrell tells gest potholes you’ve ever seen, and it TransportTalk. handled it very well, much better than I “It depends where truckies are com- thought it would,” he says. ing from, but the trip this year is from “It’s the kind of road I only take old Darlington Point in New South Wales trucks on because the road is so bad, to Quilpie, about 12-13 hours and it’s you wouldn’t want to take any truck a much more comfortable trip in the you love,” Farrell laughs. new Freightliner compared to my old In fact, Farrell says the brutal test

trucks,” he explains. Quilpie gets a dose of relief from drought hardships. Continued on page 23

20 | TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 TRANSPORTTALK

Transport union wants action

he Transport Workers’ Union administration in the transport, postal is calling for tangible action in and warehousing industries,” McIntosh Tresponse to the Australian Truck- continues. ing Association’s claims it wants to raise McIntosh also refutes the legiti- safety standards within the industry. macy of ATA general council elections, An article in recent weeks by owner/ saying that drivers who are only just driver Michael Kaine, also a member returning to shifts, many of whom of the TWU, claims the Liberal govern- TWU Acting ATA chief executive have been on holiday or leave having ment and “its allies among the likes of National Secretary, Ben Maguire worked over the Christmas period, Nick McIntosh NatRoad and the ATA” opened fire on have missed their chance to vote be- the union’s Safe Rates proposal many at the top of transport supply chain,” fore Friday, February 1. years ago, but has failed to offer a better McIntosh explains. “With just a few weeks to go before alternative. “Evidence shows that trucking is un- voter registration closes and with most Safe Rates aimed to forcibly tax the der too much pressure and these were drivers on annual leave, there is a po- biggest, wealthiest transport operators real tangible solutions to the problems tential for even less drivers to participate as a way to remunerate safe driver work in trucking which stem from the low in this election,” he says in a statement hours, scheduling, more compliant margins dictated by wealthy clients,” he in mid-January. logbook practices and improve driver/ adds. “It has conducted its elections in a employee welfare in the transport and The TWU points to a Macquarie Uni- vacuum of information, failing to tell logistics industry. versity survey from 2017 which indicates drivers they could have registered at any However, the ATA responded last 10% of drivers work over 80 hours per time to vote over the past year and a month saying the claims it didn’t put week, while one in six owner-drivers half,” McIntoch reveals. truckie safety at the top of its agenda feel compelled to take an unsafe load. “We believe the ATA is deliberately surmounted to “silly games”, and that According to one Safe Work Australia conducting its council elections in a “the TWU clearly doesn’t care about report, one in five transport industry bubble in order to stop genuine inde- good process or the details of policy employers says they break safety rules pendent voices from getting elected. It development,” chief executive Ben to meet deadlines. does not want dissenting voices that will Maguire says in a statement. “The association has backed volun- hold it to account for opposing a [Safe Acting TWU national secretary Nick tary codes in the industry which will Rates] system,” he declares. McIntosh says the ATA has consistently do nothing to ensure sustainability for The ATA, which represents 50,000 opposed the union’s “workable solu- transport businesses, fairness for drivers businesses and 211,500 people in the tions” to problems drivers face. or safety for road users,” McIntosh says Australian trucking industry, says the “The association campaigned against frankly. elections were “an opportunity for a road safety watchdog which had One in four people killed at work is owner/drivers with one truck and small made federally binding, enforceable a transport worker, according to Safe fleet operators with 2-5 trucks to have orders guaranteeing 30-day payments Work Australia, and the TWU highlights their say on the issues we are facing as for owner drivers and safe, fair rates of the 482 people killed in truck crashes an industry,” Maguire says. pay,” he tells TransportTalk. since the watchdog was involved. According to the TWU, just 76 truck “The watchdog was also investigating “There is also a problem with high drivers registered to vote in 2017, with risks to safety in trucking and holding numbers of insolvencies, with 469 only 56 drivers voting. wealthy retailers and manufacturers companies entering into external

TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 21 TRANSPORTTALK

Booyal Quarries goes ProStar

wo International ProStar prime “I’ve had International in my blood “I like to keep drivers with the one movers are the pride of the since I was a young lad and all their truck because I think the equipment TBooyal Quarries truck fleet. trucks I’ve owned over the years have gets looked after better, so both ProS- The quarry, which operates an done a great job.” tars have regular drivers,” Evans reveals. hour south-west of Bundaberg in Booyal even remains passionately “They’re both very experienced, Queensland, is already leaning on the loyal to the brand’s 45-tonne bull- having spent a long time driving road shiny new ProStars’ shoulders with dozer. trains, so the two of them told me that just 45,000km and 70,000km on their Evans cut his teeth learning to drive they’d prefer the manual, so that’s the clocks. the old-school Australia Anniversary way we went.” With B-double stag trailers in tow (AA) 164 Series International, built in Ergonomics are also a factor in the and the X15 Cummins engines offering Australia from 1958 until 1962 in both decision-making process. 550 horsepower (410kW) and a stonk- rigid flatbed and tubbed tray body “Drivers comment on the comfort, ing 2508Nm of pulling power, owner styles and powered by the even more the ample power and the excellent vis- Bruce Evans says the family’s affinity old-worldly AGD-264 tilt-valve engine. ibility, particularly when they’re driving with International is unwavering. He says the modern powertrain with through built-up areas.” “With the company coming back to 18-speed Eaton Roadranger manual Operating the enormous vehicles Australia, there wasn’t much chance of gearboxes return far better numbers. through confined spaces might seem us getting anything else,” he says. “The trucks are giving us the pay- counter-intuitive with the Eaton manu- load we need, the power we want and als, but Evans says the extra legwork is the right fuel efficiency. accounted for. “The 19-metre B-double is normally “The attraction of an AMT for city operating around the 56-tonne mark driving where you’re starting and stop- while the 25-metre trailers have us ping all the time is understandable,” he at around 65 tonnes – we’re getting explains. around 2.2km per litre combined, “But for us the manual works well, which I’m happy with.” once you’re rolling and on the open That said, Evans admits he didn’t let road there aren’t many gear changes,” tradition get in the way of progress, Evans concedes, with that 200km consulting with his drivers who would radius stretching as far north as Glad- be getting acquainted and operating stone and as far south as the Sunshine them in a 200km radius of the quarry in Coast along the A1.

L-R: Booyal Quarries driver, Billy Habermann and heavy, hot, dusty conditions. the boss, Bruce Evans.

22 | TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 TRANSPORTTALK

Aussie truck sales get going

he top five truck brands in Janu- MAN could only manage 37 sales this Transit making the van podium on 51 ary 2019 have all topped their month. January sales, although not beating its Trespective sales efforts in the In light duty it was a show of force 66 January 2018 sales. Fiat, Iveco and same period last year. by Isuzu on 218 sales compared to Volkswagen also trumped their Janu- Isuzu, Hino, Fuso, Kenworth and Hino’s 152 and Fuso’s 96 sales, but ary 2018 sales - but not by much. Volvo have all reported stronger sales Isuzu couldn’t better its January 2018 Van brands overall sold 389 units for the start of 2019 than 2018, while efforts when 242 were sold. in January last year, and this year for a Iveco, Man, Mercedes-Benz, Freight- Overall, however, January 2019 396 unit total. liner and Mack equaled its January truck sales were down on 2018, with 2018 efforts, while Scania smashed its only 2196 units shifting last month, sales 59 to 24, UD Trucks did the same compared with the 2227 of January 46 to 43, and Western Star also got up 2018. 29 sales versus 24 in January 2018. In the van segment, Mercedes-Benz In the medium-duty segment, Isuzu got off to a flying start with Sprinter holds first and Hino second, however, and Vito giving the three-pointed star third-placed Fuso despite only manag- a 173-strong sales boom to topple its ing 59 sales for January, was behind its January 2018 figures. efforts of January 2018 when 77 sales Renault had a similar outcome were reported while being relegated to although without the margin on 87 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is off to a dashing 2019 fourth behind MAN on 83 at that time. versus 84 last year, and it was Ford’s Heroic hay runners Continued from page 20 of my routes because I tend to find they hold up better on the worst of the run he put the Coronado through is so worst roads,” he adds. slow-going, 120km takes “about seven Farrell also says he’s disappointed hours at 33km/h,” he estimates. with the mainstream media’s half- But his love of old trucks still has its hearted efforts reporting on the sever- The hay run is about more than just trucks. reasons. ity of the drought conditions. “I stay away from cab-overs be- “Three or four months ago it was on “But it’s all stopped now – the media cause they bounce themselves apart every station for a week, with a great attention that is. – and me for that matter!” emphasis on mental health as well as The drought doesn’t stop when the “I buy old trucks to take on some the environmental devastation,” he says. telly goes off.”

TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 23 EVTALK EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU EVTALK.COM.AU

AUSTRALIA’S NEWS SOURCE FOR ELECTRIC, INTELLIGENT AND AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION NSW Government investing millions in EVs Melinda Pavey. Andrew Constance.

$5 million boost to electric vehicle charging points across NSW. charging points for major regional cor- charging and a commitment to Collaborative research projects ridors including the Newell, Great West- Aswitching at least 10% of its fleet related to EVs are also being under- ern, New England, Pacific and Princes to electric and hybrid vehicles from 2020 taken through the Transport for NSW Highways and the Hume Motorway.” has come from the NSW Government. Research Hub. The NSW Government will investi- That’s part of its newly announced Electric bus trials planned include gate in coming weeks the best charg- Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan. one in Sydney’s Inner West which ing locations and costs. At the same time the NSW Govern- starts in July, while the feasibility of bus Pavey says the NSW Government ment has also released a Connected depots becoming partly or fully electric will have one of the largest fleets of and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Plan will be investigated. electric and hybrid vehicles in Australia. covering the next five years. The EV charging plan includes a $3 “This initiative will give confidence “Vehicles in the future will not only million co-investment in fast charging and certainty to electric vehicle manu- be electric but automated, so we need points for electric and hybrid vehicles facturers as well as provide greater to jointly consider these technological on major regional corridors, and $2m access to a wider choice of afford- advances that will deliver safer, more for new charging points in commuter able electric vehicles in the future for accessible and convenient transport carparks. motorists.” options,” roads, maritime and freight “More people are embracing electric Electric Vehicle Council of Australia minister Melinda Pavey says. and hybrid vehicles and we need to do chief executive officer Behyad Jafari Transport and infrastructure min- our part to ensure we have the infra- says the NSW Government’s moves ister Andrew Constance says a new structure in place so that people are are “some good first steps in the right platform will be launched mid-year to confident to use these vehicles right direction”. provide customer information to help across the state,” Constance says. Visit www.future.transport.nsw.gov.au EV buyers choose wisely and locate “That’s why we’re planning fast for more information. EV expo in Melbourne The show is free orld fastest female battery Another guest speaker is world EV for anyone 17 years powered motorcycle rider Eva traveller Wiebe Wakker from the Nether- and under. Eva Hakansson. WHakansson and probably her lands, nearing the end of his journey. Booking by Febru- three-wheeled racer Killajoule will be at He has spent many months travelling ary 28 will put attendees into a draw to the Electric Vehicle Expo on March 16. around Australia in his “Blue Bandit” win one of five VIP packs which include Hakansson, from New Zealand, is Volkswagen EV on his “Plug Me In” fast-track passes to the front of any test racing prior to the expo at the Dry electric road trip to “inspire, educate drive or ride queue, plus much more. Lakes Racers Australia Speed Week on and accelerate the transition to a zero The expo includes a range of indi- March 4-8 at Lake Gairdner in South carbon future”. vidually built EVs in the Show N Shine Australia. He left his home in the Netherlands competition. The doctor in mechanical engineer- on March 15, 2016, with the aim of The event is run by Renew, an Aus- ing may be able to better her record reaching Sydney, travelling overland tralian non-profit organisation promot- setting time of 434km/h set at the Utah wherever possible. ing sustainable living. salt flats in the US on the same machine. Test rides and drives in EVs will be The venue is at Todd Road and Cook She’ll be speaking about her exploits available at the expo, which also features Street in Port Melbourne, 9am-4.30pm. at the expo in the Melbourne Interna- the latest in electric cars, bikes, scooters, Visit www.evexpo.org.au for more tional Karting Complex. motorbikes and even skateboards. information.

24 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 MODELTALK

Power play

Continued from page 16 bike in The Dark Knight; a series of summer than to warrant heated seats. Progression does have its limitations, electrical whines that sound like they’re The Ioniq really impressed with which played out courtesy of having to constantly building, but never reaching. its absurdly easy daily use, including run the microwave, boil a full kettle and The old three-point turn has never, plugging it in with only half a hand’s pump electrons through the outdoor ever been easier than the push of two worth of fingers free to open the 10amp point into the Ioniq on one buttons and the wax-on-wax-off mo- filler flap, pull the 10amp cable out circuit. tion with the tiller. of the boot, remove both cable plug This kept tripping our fuse box, Velocity-wise, with a 10-second and filler caps, and flick the switch. It mostly because even after the first 0-100km/h you won’t be posting vid- literally takes 10 seconds, even with a few times, trying to prep bottles for eos on YouTube of Ioniqs embarrassing baby in the other arm. the four-month-old, you still forget Lamborghinis and Bugatties on old With so many trips being made, there’s a car refuelling outside the airstrips, but with 88kW and instantly delivering presents, hitting the beach, kitchen window. Oh, yeah. available 295Nm (in a sub-1500kg visiting family, running countless times More normalities come when we package) you will enjoy pulling away to the shops, and living as hard and look at the price. First glance says down the freeway on-ramp quicker heavy with Ioniq every day, it genuinely it’s steep for a car with “only” 240km than most bikes, Beemers and bogans- did everything asked of it. range”, but compare it to the BMW i3s in-Falcodores will ever be expecting. Putting over 1000km on a car in which leaves you little change from That said, the 205/55R16 Michellin three weeks is little to what some $70k and just 200km. Energy XM tyres are far from the grippi- people might average when they return The Ioniq has a centre console that est boots you’ll ever brush an apex with to work, but it shows that a vast major- holds more than a banana, the liftback – in fact you’ll easily hear them squeal ity of repetitive, punitive mobility can be boot fits a pram and its various stupid, in sport, normal and they’ll even give done at a fraction of the cost, emissions accessories, and Ioniq’s backseat can the tiniest hint of scutter in Eco before and time of the archaic oil burner. comfortably install a bulky child seat the traction control puts a stop to that. Ioniq won’t replace oil overnight, without robbing the front passenger of A smooth right foot will offer a zippy nor will it force carmakers to about- precious legroom. getaway without waking the electronic face their boardroom ethics on electric Internal combustion feels so gruff and constabulary and you’ll leave that V8 cars like Tesla did. Hyundai haven’t undignified after spending every possible Mustang dazed. That said, the tyres are tried to ram the entire future of hyper- driving moment with an EV like the Ioniq. a very smooth, comfortable package technology down buyers’ throats. The family’s MY18 four-pot petrol-en- with the well-sorted suspension that They’ve modestly-designed a simple, gined wagon, the most refined it’s been never feels overwhelmed. clean, reliable, and – most importantly in four generations, feels rattly, squeaky, It’s worth pointing out that the – a relatable electric car for you and I. rumbly and rowdy by comparison. air-conditioning handled several days What it does is prove, surreptitiously, Ticking and thumping is replaced by above 40 degrees quite well without that nine out of 10 times, through blister- a sound-effect similar to the Batman robbing excessive precious km of ing heat or pouring rain, the electric car range, and for once a manu- makes its petrol counterparts redundant. facturer has correctly specced The photos that time permitted had a car (that isn’t an overpriced to be taken in the peak of a scorching luxury model) for Australia with hot Friday afternoon before returning cooled seats. the car, making it an even better meta- It’s easy to warm up without phor for what this little device is really heated seats, but that breezy all about – making the mundane, the downdraft feels heavenly on a everyday, and the routinely ordinary pos- sweaty backside in a country sible and affordable with an electric car. (and hemisphere) that receives And that is truly unique. Extraordinary, A normal interior for normal people. significantly more sunlight during even.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 25 EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU Queensland aims to lead world in hydrogen

$1 billion National Hydrogen Plan tion and export of hydrogen.” for metals refining, would make Gladstone the hydro- The hope is that Queensland solar for its agriculture Agen capital of Australia. farms can be used to produce and ship sector and for Under Labor’s plan, the city, about a hydrogen to the world. biofuels. 550km drive north of Brisbane, would “In Queensland we are aiming to have Australia’s chief become a National Hydrogen Innova- some of the world’s first renewable hy- scientist Alan Finkel tion Hub. drogen power exports - with Queensland is leading a newly Annastacia Palaszczuk Labor leader Bill Shorten, who has sunshine - helping to power the Tokyo established working been touring Queensland in a pre- Olympics next year,” Palaszczuk says. group to develop a national hydrogen election pitch on board his “Bill Bus”, says “This would place Queensland on strategy for 2020-2030, set to be com- industrial powerhouses like Japan are the world stage as a leader in exporting plete by the end of this year. gearing their economy to hydrogen. renewable energy.” Labor’s broader six-point plan would Queensland premier Annastacia While in Korea last year Palaszczuk see $90 million of unallocated funding Palaszczuk says Gladstone is set to be met Hyundai representatives who are from the Australian Renewable Energy the renewable energy powerhouse of ready to start delivering hydrogen fuel cell Agency (ARENA) go towards hydrogen Australia, with hydrogen emerging as the vehicles for the Australian market later technologies. “next LNG” (liquefied natural gas) with the this year. A Shorten Labor government would city already well down the track in hydro- “These cars will not only run without also establish a $10 million ARENA fund- gen research. any emissions, they will also actively clean ing round for hydrogen refuelling infra- “We backed and built the LNG pipeline the air,” she says. structure around Australia. which is now a $60 billion industry pro- “Car manufacturers including Toyota ARENA has directed $22 million to- viding thousands of jobs to Gladstone,” and Hyundai are responding to the poli- wards 16 hydrogen projects, focusing on she says. cies in Germany, Japan, Korea and the research and development. “Now the world is looking to hydrogen United Kingdom to increase the uptake of The government has also put $50 mil- I want them to get it from Queensland. zero emission vehicles.” lion towards the Hydrogen Energy Supply “My government attracted Northern The Queensland Government’s hydro- Chain pilot project, which is jointly funded Oil to Gladstone as part of our Advance gen discussion paper has received strong with the Victorian and Japanese govern- Queensland Biofutures 10-year road- interest from industry, universities and the ments and industry partners. map,” Palaszczuk says. community. The project is trialling the safe and ef- “Northern Oil is planning to produce It will be releasing a strategy this year. ficient production and transport of clean bio-hydrogen. For Japan to meet its emissions hydrogen from Victoria’s Latrobe Valley “Queensland’s significant renew- reduction targets over the next 30 to Japan. able resources of solar and wind energy, years there is demand for 125 gigawatts Labor’s announcement has been combined with our existing gas pipeline of hydrogen energy capacity from welcomed by industry and environmental infrastructure and port facilities, including Queensland. groups, the latter saying its’s only accept- Gladstone Port, provide us with a com- Hydrogen is needed to produce prod- able if the hydrogen comes from clean petitive advantage in the future produc- ucts for Queensland’s resources sector, energy sources. Victoria testing on-road automated driving Bosch will start testing its automated bodies and other transport technology or- utting-edge automated vehicle vehicle tech on high-speed rural roads ganisations to apply for funding to spur the technology will be tested on rural later in 2019 with the aim of using it to development of these emerging technolo- Croads in Victoria this year. improve safety on rural Victorian roads – gies, aiming to lead to reduced deaths and The first on-road trial approved under where drivers are five times as likely to be serious injuries. Other successful applicants the new Automated Driving System (ADS) killed in a crash than in metropolitan areas. will be announced soon. permit scheme sees Bosch awarded $2.3 Testing will be done on roads that The trials will support Victoria’s million from the Connected and Auto- expose the automated vehicle to a range readiness for CAV mated Vehicle (CAV) Trial Grants Program, of different conditions including traffic, technologies and the acting premier Jacinta Allan says. weather and infrastructure. knowledge gained Last year, Victoria finalised regula- The $9 million CAV program is funded will provide a better tions to support the ADS permit scheme, through the Andrews Labor Government’s understanding of the which authorises the use of automated $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan. infrastructure required vehicles for testing and development on In late 2017, VicRoads called for expres- to get these vehicles its roads. sions of interest from companies, industry on the road. Jacinta Allan.

26 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU EV sales short-circuit

lectric vehicle sales have gener- nent manufacturing ally choked, although hybrids roadmap. Ehave picked up. Committee chair- That’s according to the latest man Tim Storer VFACTS national new vehicle sales for proposes phasing in January from the Federal Chamber of a Road User Charge Automotive Industries (FCAI), released (RUC) for EVs from on February 5. Tim Storer. 2025-26 when price Little progress is shown in almost parity with petrol the next government plan to do about every electric category. and diesel vehicles is expected and fuel lifting Australia’s EV game. Private passenger electric vehicles excise contributions to help build and “My package is responsible, evi- were up barely seven in January (22 in maintain roads decline. That’s similar dence-based policy making with clear 2019 compared with 15 in 2018). to New Zealand too, where EVs are ex- benefits for the motorist, community Yet hybrids increased in the same empt from RUC until at least Decem- health, the environment, the economy sector by 373 in January 2019 (589) ber 31, 2021. and the budget,” Storer says. compared with January 2018 (216). Other measures include that EVs Meanwhile, most Australians support Non-private passenger electrics should be exempt from import tariffs state and federal EV incentives, accord- dropped from 47 to 26, while hybrids and Fringe Benefits Tax out to 2025- ing to new research from The Australia soared by 672 (396 to 1068). 26 and a target set for half all new Institute Climate & Energy Program. SUVs in both the private and non- Australian Government fleet leases to It says 79% support the Government private categories showed generally be EVs by 2025-26. building a charging station network marginal gains (up 10 to 16 in the for- The Government should also help across the country, 76% back govern- mer and up six (23 to 29) in the latter, underwrite reductions to EV registra- ments procuring EV fleets and 55% with a drop of 24 in the non-private tion costs and stamp duty, support support loans for EV uptake. hybrid area (78 to 54). fast charging infrastructure on high- Nearly three out of four Austral- Non-private light commercial ways and in workplaces and fund EV ians (74%) support rebates to promote electrics were up just two from zero in technology research and development charging station installation and for January 2018. along with manufacturing opportuni- new apartment blocks to be required High upfront EV costs, incomplete ties, the report suggests. to host charging stations (73%). charging infrastructure, lack of educa- Storer says people deserve to know Two out of three Australians (66%) tion of EV benefits, and poor direc- before they vote in the coming want the Luxury Car Tax removed from tion from the Federal Government are elections what parties vying to form imported EVs. blamed for the stalled EV sales generally. In fact, the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), the Motor NEW VEHICLE SALES BY BUYER TYPE AND FUEL TYPE JANUARY 2019 Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and the Federal Chamber Month YTD Variance +/- Vol. & % of Automotive Industries (FCAI) have Total Market 2019 2018 2019 2018 MTH YTD MTH YTD all come out in support of the Senate ELECTRIC Select Committee Inquiry into Electric Passenger 22 15 22 15 7 7 46.7% 46.7% Vehicles’ recommendations to the Private Australian Government. Passenger 26 47 26 47 -21 -21 -44.7% -44.7% Without “appropriate regulatory set- Non-Private tings, Australia’s near term EV uptake SUV Private 16 6 16 6 10 10 166.7% 166.7% SUV Non- is likely to be modest”, the committee 29 23 29 23 6 6 26.1% 26.1% Private says. Light Com- The result will be “fewer EV models mercial Non- 2 0 2 0 2 2 - - being available to Australian motorists” Private as well as delaying “the realisation of Sub Total 95 91 95 91 4 4 4.4% 4.4% substantial economic, environmental HYBRID Passenger and health benefits”. 589 216 589 216 373 373 172.7% 172.7% Private National targets for EV take up Passenger 1,068 396 1,068 396 672 672 169.7% 169.7% should be set, the committee suggests Non-Private (New Zealand’s target is 64,000 EVs SUV Private 54 41 54 41 13 13 31.7% 31.7% SUV Non- by the end of 2021). 54 78 54 78 -24 -24 -30.8% -30.8% The Government should plan the Private rollout of public charging infrastructure Sub Total 1,765 731 1,765 731 1,034 1,034 141.5% 141.5% and develop an EV and related compo- TOTAL 1,860 822 1,860 822 1,038 1,038 126.3% 126.3%

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | FEBRUARY 2019 | 27 EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU

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