THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF AUTOTALK.CO.NZ – VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 3 | APRIL 2018 Confidence for the road ahead. Toyota ‘dealerships’ Turners here to stay introduces oyota New Zealand has stressed into buying a brand-new vehicle. We F&I loyalty it still intends to have dealerships are taking a more customer-centric Tin New Zealand towns and cities, approach to car buying and the entire despite its Drive Happy Project rewriting ownership experience.” scheme the way it does business - though they Davis says the vehicle selling process will get a change of name.. has not changed much in the past 50 loyalty scheme that hands As predicted by AutoTalk years yet today most custom- out Turners shares to dealers more than a year ago, the ers are using online tools to A who are successful at selling brand has shifted to an agency research options before pur- the company’s finance and insur- model with fixed prices. chase. ance products is Dubbed the “Drive Happy “We’re not alone in having well under way. Project”, the move comes with made new vehicle purchases Turners recently a raft of updates to the brand’s a drawn-out affair which takes issued 30,914 operations, including a revised the gloss off the experience,” shares for business website, test drive systems and he says. referred from July Alistair Davis fixed-price service plans with “We’ve observed and listened 1, 2017 to Decem- offers of warranty extensions. to customer feedback and are re-shap- ber 31, 2017. Todd Hunter “Our way of business needs to evolve ing the purchase experience.” “We were look- to align with our customers’ expecta- “I want to make it clear Toyota has no ing at ways we could have a point tions,” Toyota New Zealand chief execu- intention of eliminating the local dealer,” of difference in the market,” Turn- tive Alistair Davis says. Davis says. ers Automotive Group chief execu- “As a result of the changes we are “But we also think there are some tive Todd Hunter told AutoTalk. making, customers will save time and challenges with the dealer model. “We’ve got just over 200 dealers money, and have more choice. “The dealership is a significant eco- signed up to the scheme.” “We want to put the pleasure back Continued on page 12 If dealers achieve certain per- formance goals, they receive $10 INSIDE worth of shares for every $1000 4 13 Industry responds to Takata recall 4 in insurance policies and $5000 in Write-offs rising 7 finance loans sold through Turners’ ITS comes to the fore 13 Oxford Finance and Autosure Insur- Kia goes electric 18 Continued on page 3 The market leader for over a decade. Shift to the Autohub Team and experience the Autohub difference. GLOBAL VEHICLE LOGISTICS NZ · JAPAN · AUSTRALIA · UK · EUROPE | www.autohub.co FOUNDATION SPONSORS AutoTalk acknowledges the support of our foundation sponsors: www.autosure.co.nz ADTORQUE EDGE 2 | AUTOTALK APRIL 2018 | www.autotalk.co.nz NEWSTALK AutoTalk Magazine and autotalk.co.nz are published by Auto Media Group Businesses recovering 8/152 Quay Street, Limited. P.O. Box 10 50 10, Auckland City, 1030. Ph. 09 309 2444. after stink bug delays GROUP EDITOR AUTO TRADE TITLES Scott Morgan he import system is slowly getting back engaged. It was a close-run thing.” 021 240 2402 to normal after months of disruption A research group has also been formed to [email protected] Tcaused by stink bugs hitching a ride to look at the best treatment methods to deal New Zealand on vehicle carriers. with the bugs, Vinsen says. MANAGING EDITOR The Ministry for Primary Industries “We’re not sure what to expect next year. Richard Edwards (MPI) has confirmed toAutoTalk enhanced It might have been a one in ten-year event. 021 556 655 inspections of vehicle carriers will end on “We’re in preparation for the next season [email protected] April 30 at the end of the stink bug season. so we’re ready for it. And Imported Motor Vehicle Industry As- “There’s a lesson to be learned as we’re sociation (VIA) chief executive David Vinsen aware of the seasonality of these bugs. We ASSISTANT EDITOR Geoff Dobson says the situation is slowly being resolved. think there’s going to be much closer scru- 021 881 823 “The worst is over. It’s been a hugely tiny.” [email protected] stressful time for everyone involved,” Vinsen says. “The worst is over. It’s “Initially there was quite a bit of pressure. been a hugely stressful BUSINESS MANAGER MPI is taking an extremely careful look at the Dale Stevenson time for everyone 021 446 214 ships.” [email protected] The situation has been difficult for compli- involved”. ance shops in particular to manage, going ADVERTISING from a dearth to a glut of stock. On a positive note, he says it has fostered ASSISTANT “The compliance shops have been desper- closer cooperation between different indus- Fran Da Silva 021 933 279 ate to keep their staff. Everyone knew there try sectors and government departments. [email protected] was a huge amount of volume coming. Meanwhile, MPI is promising to keep a “The logistics of it has been really difficult close eye on ships coming in after April 30. to manage. Ports of Auckland has had to jug- “Enhanced levels of scrutiny will continue GENERAL MANAGER gle around berths, with fresh stuff coming in. to apply to any vessel that MPI believes has a Deborah Baxter 027 530 5016 “We’ve heard of people being stood down high risk of stink bug contamination after this [email protected] as volumes were cut but they have been re- date,” a spokesperson told AutoTalk. PUBLISHER/CHAIR Vern Whitehead 021 831 153 Turners introduces F&I loyalty scheme [email protected] Auto Media Group Limited makes Continued from page 1 to them.” every endeavour to ensure information ance businesses. Some businesses that run similar schemes contained in this publication is accurate, however we are not liable for any losses “It’s a case of getting people signed up put time restrictions on when shares can be or issues resulting from its use. and enjoying the rewards of building up sold. Annual subscription: ownership in a company,” Hunter says. However, Hunter says Turners didn’t want $84 + gst ($96.60) “Essentially, there’s no restrictions on the to overcomplicate the situation. Printed by: Alpine Printers. shares. If they want to sell them straight away “Our view is keep it as simple as possible, they can, but we’re hoping they will hold on without hooks or conditions.” autotalk.co.nz INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS RECOGNISED BY autotalk.com.au transporttalk.co.nz transporttalk.com.au evtalk.co.nz evtalk.com.au wheeltalk.co.nz identicar.co.nz AUTOTALK APRIL 2018 | www.autotalk.co.nz | 3 NEWSTALK Industry bands together after Takata recall he Government’s “We thank the MIA and “We will support our membership in decision to implement New Zealand’s new vehicle adhering to their compliance obligations,” Ta compulsory recall distributors for their as- VIA chief executive David Vinsen says. of all vehicles with alpha sistance in dealing with the Takata airbags has received [voluntary] recall so far and a positive response from the will continue working with New Zealand distributors to ister Kris Faafoi says he will industry. them to ensure all vehicles recall used imported vehicles be keeping a close eye on Almost 50,000 vehicles in the New Zealand market when they have been im- whether a compulsory recall have the alpha airbags meet the appropri- ported prior to a recall being is needed for the 257,000 that need to have their ate safety criteria.” announced. vehicles with faulty Takata inflators replaced. Progress on the But it isn’t acceptable for airbags. People have died recall has been importers to be bringing in About 116,000 non-alpha around the world after hampered by a lack vehicles with a known recall airbags have been replaced being hit by shards of replacement air- in the market they are being already. exploding when the bags, Vinsen says. sourced, Crawford says. “The motor vehicle indus- faulty airbag deploys in That means com- “MIA welcomes the try has recalled vehi- David Crawford a crash. pleting the recall Government’s deci- cles with the Takata Of the vehicles that still will need the cooperation sion to prevent any airbags with varying need the parts replaced, of government and industry vehicle with an open degrees of success, 45,622 are used imports and bodies over some months. recall from passing but more must be 4795 are New Zealand-new Motor Industry Associa- compliance and entry done to ensure vehicles. tion chief executive David into the New Zealand that the highest risk The Imported Motor Vehi- Crawford says the airbag fleet.” Kris Faafoi alpha-type airbags are cle Industry Association (VIA), problem is a “massively large Legally, importers who removed from our vehicle Motor Industry Associa- and complex logistical issue”. bring used vehicles with fleet. tion (MIA) and New Zealand “The alpha-type airbag an open recall on them “I would like to acknowl- distributors are working to- inflator fitted to vehicles are obliged to replace the edge the effort some of the gether to sort out the issue. between 2001 and 2006 faulty airbags, although that new vehicle sellers have “We will support our is more at risk of failure if responsibility has generally made – both in replacing membership in adhering to activated than other types of fallen to New Zealand dis- airbags in vehicles they have their compliance obliga- Takata airbag inflators.” tributors under what was the sold as new and in replacing tions,” VIA chief executive The MIA has a code of voluntary Takata recall.