9 September 2010 The voice of the auto industry Showrooms unscathed CHRIStcHURCH CAR yards Mark Wheeler at Continental Continental Prestige on Manchester St escaped serious are largely untouched by the Prestige on Manchester St had a damage when bricks fell from the adjacent building September 4 earthquake, lucky escape when bricks fell from dealers report. the roof of the adjacent building, The worst of the damage is to but did not seriously damage his older buildings, and to residential showroom or vehicles. areas built over silt. With caryards Some however were feeling tending to sit in open spaces, away the mental strain of frequent from the old buildings, damage has aftershocks. One reported a been minimal and Christchurch’s mechanic who had fears about motor industry is largely intact. being under a hoist, and another Some dealers reported minor had staff off sick from drinking damage to buildings, found contaminated water. filling cabinets overturned and Lyttelton Port has reported tools and parts scattered in the damage that will cost tens of monitored by engineers after to be unloaded, though one workshops, but most dealers millions of dollars to repair, with each aftershock, but remains worry is that due to CBD office Autofile spoke with said their cracking reported in some of fully operational, with ships closures there could be delays in premises were largely unaffected. the buildings. The port is being arriving and cars continuing documentation processing. See further coverage on page 12-13 The pre-GST rush – what’s that? THERE’S NO sign yet of the The phrase that crops up most boom is an unequivocal “no.” Wilson Motors, remains optimistic anticipated used car sales upsurge commonly is that the market is “It certainly hasn’t taken off like I about the market, though he ahead of the October 1 GST increase. “patchy and up and down,” good thought, but we’re still waiting.” describes it as “strange; there’s no So say dealers spoken to alternating with bad. Hamilton dealer Shayne rhyme or reason to it, you’re either by Autofile this week, though “Some days we have good O’Hagan’s take is much the same. flat-out or stopped. There’s no several reported a buoyant start days and some days we have bad “We haven’t seen a pre-GST rush; consistency.” to September. days,” says Daryn Pennington of business has just been steady, really. Wilson says he averages about The general consensus, Max Pennington’s Auto City in It’ll be interesting to see, as the two and a half weeks of sales in a however, is that the market is New Plymouth. month progresses, whether people typical month, and “then no sales for generally flat, lacks any clear His response when asked if there decide to buy before October 1.” a week and a half. pattern, and is hard to predict. has been any hint of a pre-GST sales Lloyd Wilson of Dunedin’s Lloyd “August was pretty soft and continued on page 20 INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS Web: www.autohub.co.nz Contact: [email protected] IF IT CAN ROLL, IT CAN FLOAT Vehicles, Boats, Machinery, and Project cargo RORO service inbound and outbound RORO service inbound and outbound from and to the world from and to the world ASIAN VENTURE V11 Nagoya 29 Mar Yokohama 31 Mar Auckland 19 Apr Tauranga 22 AprSINGA Napier ACE 22 Apr V15 Wellington 21 Apr Lyttelton 22 Apr Sakaisenboku 26 Aug - Nagoya 27 Aug - Yokohama 31 Aug - Auckland 15 Sept - Tauranga 19 SeptORCHID - Napier 19 ACE Sept V1- Wellington 18 Sept - Lyttelton 19 Sept Sakaisenboku 26 Mar Yokohama 30 Mar Auckland 18 Apr Tauranga 22 Apr Napier 22 Apr Wellington 21 Apr Lyttelton 22 Apr TRISTAN V4 SakaisenbokuMADAME 29 AugBUTTERFLY - Yokohama 31V1 Aug - AucklandSakaisenboku 24 Sept - Tauranga 29 Mar 29 Nagoya Sept - Napier 30 Mar 29 Yokohama Sept - Wellington 31 Mar 26 Sept Auckland 21 Apr SPRING SKY V1 SakaisenbokuEUROPEAN 14 Sept - Nagoya EMERALD 16 Sept - Kawasaki V40 17 Sept - Auckland 2 OctSakaisenboku - Tauranga 614 Oct Apr - Napier Nagoya 6 Oct 15 Apr- Wellington Kawasaki 4 Oct 16 Apr- Lyttelton 5 Oct Auckland 1 May Tauranga 4 May Napier 4 May Wellington 3 May Lyttelton 4 May PROMINENTTOKYO CAR ACE V1 V1 SakaisenbokuSakaisenboku 27 26 Sept Apr - Nagoya Nagoya 25 27 Sept Apr - Yokohama 3024 AprSept - AucklandAuckland 13 12 May Oct - TaurangaTauranga 416 May Oct -Napier Napier 16 16 May Oct - WellingtonWellington 1614 MayOct - Lyttelton 1516 OctMay MADAMEISOLDE BUTTERFLY V3 V3 SakaisenbokuSakaisenboku 28 28Sept Apr - Nagoya Nagoya 29 29 Sept Apr - YokohamaKawasaki 3030 AprSept - Auckland 24 Oct - Tauranga 28 Oct Auckland- Napier 28 21 Oct May - Wellington 26 Oct - Lyttelton 27 Oct www.hoegh.com Tokyo Osaka Nagoya P + 81Tokyo 3 6436 3320 P + 81Auckland 6 6265 8580 P +Christchurch 81 5 2968 1731 PF ++ 8181 3 6436 33283320 FP + + 81 64 6 9 6265 373 85813375 FP + + 81 64 5 32968 379 17307682 F + 81 3 6436 3328 www.kiwicar.comF + 64 9 379 9477 F + 64 3 379 3480 Auckland Christchurch www.hoegh.comP + 64 9 373 3375 P + 64 3www.kiwicar.com 379 7682 F + 64 9 379 9477 F + 64 3 379 3480 editor’s note Hard times in EDITOR Stian Overdahl [email protected] Canterbury 021 247 7782 ADVERTISING Brian McCutcheon [email protected] GeNERAL ENQUIRes Free phone 0508 288 863 [email protected] 021 455 775 Free phone 0508 288 863 Fax 03 4772758 STAFF WRITER & MOTORSPORT PO Box 6222, Mike Stock Dunedin 9059 [email protected] PUBLISHING COMPANY DesIGNER 4 Media Limited Adrian Payne PO Box 6222, [email protected] Dunedin 9059 Copyright: Published twice monthly by: 4Media, PO Box 6222, Dunedin 9059 All statements made, although based on information believed to be accurate and reliable, cannot be guaranteed, and no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Reproduction of autofile in whole or part, without written permission, whether by xerography or any other means, is strictly forbidden. All rights reserved. It’S STRANGE how quickly it fairly well, though it seems events date. A week ago possible that businesses in the Canterbury was on everyone’s region may suffer a slowdown. Making An Impersonal Space Personal lips in connection with the failed However in any disaster finance company. it’s always those who have Righteous anger from it worst that experience financial commentators filled disproportionate hardship. the front pages of newspapers, Many homes were damaged complaining that we as a country and will be destroyed, and some should have to bail out SCF. of those are without insurance, With the earthquake in and without recourse to Christchurch, South Canterbury Earthquake commission funds. Finance has been pushed to the While some might feel that back pages, and rightfully so. a lecture on the importance of Sometimes it takes a crisis to insurance is due, it’s not a lesson focus people on what’s genuinely likely to provide much comfort. important in life. If you’d like to make a Since the earthquake, a large contribution to the Canterbury Revolutionalise The Way You Respond To Email Enquiry number of companies, including Earthquake Appeal you’ll find • Create Personalised Video E-Mail Responses Fonterra, Fletcher Challenge, information on how to do so on • Turn Your Static Images into Virtual Videos the Warehouse, big banks and a page 13. • Strengthen your Branding by Personally Introducing Your Products number of others have donated • Build Relationships with Your Customers & Prospects $1 million each to the relief fund. • Use Your Personality to Enhance Browsers Online Experience Christchurch’s motor industry Stian Overdahl appears to have got through Editor Visit www.autoplay.co.nz to beneet from our technology today, call 0508 288 688 or email [email protected] www.autofile.co.nz | 3 news Buying Volvo a boost for Geely GEELY MOTORS New Zealand coming through in Geely vehicles.” hopes the brand’s acceptance Since launching in New Zealand locally will get a boost from in February, Geely’s sales have very good understanding of the the emotional positioning of the Chinese vehicle maker Zhejiang remained low, with four vehicles automotive industry, and knows brand is not sharp enough. Volvo Geely Holding Group Co’s sold in April, two in May, one in the value of the Volvo brand. It needs to find a Swedish-based, acquisition of iconic Swedish June, and four in July, although 10 makes no sense to merge this unique positioning.” carmaker, Volvo. were sold in August. brand; instead, you need to German-born Jacoby said he Geely bought Volvo from Ford Billman says Geely has been develop it further. I think there is no was first approached by Geely for approximately US$1.5 billion concentrating on finalising the misunderstanding on that point.” to head Volvo in June. “I was (NZ$2.08 billion). dealer network before beginning Jacoby, the former CEO of surprised to be offered the job. I Geely NZ’s general manager any serious promotional campaign. Volkswagen’s North American unit, liked working for VW in the US in Scott Billman says the Volvo Nine dealers have been appointed, says Volvo will look to build more a challenging role,” Jacoby said, purchase can only reflect well on and Billman expects that number emotional cars in the future and adding that Geely Chairman Li Geely, and believes it will help the to remain steady for the next six may look to cooperate with rivals Shufu’s ambitious plans for Volvo marque receive brand recognition months. New models are also likely to gain economies of scale. “convinced me to take the job.” in New Zealand.