THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE VOLUME 5 ISSUE 6 JANUARY 2019

Franchise feedback on dealer disposition

Consumers pump the brakes on new car sales azda and Toyota are Austra- says the feedback lian dealers’ top two favourite from the associa- ew car buyers were saving their Mmanufacturer partners in 2018, tion’s members – both pennies heading into Christ- with Kia and Volvo rated among the positive and negative Nmas 2018, with the market best brands to represent. – speaks volumes. down nearly 15% in December. With 108 franchises, Mazda “Excellence in The Australian consumer only has been voted by the nation’s dealer dealer relationships bought a reported 1,153,111 cars principals as the most satisfactory David Blackhall, walks hand-in-hand in 2018, compared to the record AADA brand in overall performance, averag- with market leader- 1,189,116 reported sold in 2017 – a ing 8.7 out of 10. ship,” he explains. 3% decline of 36,005 units. According to the 2018 Dealer Sat- “Based on our discussions with our While Toyota held its top-brand isfaction Survey, Chrysler Jeep Dodge, members, AADA is not surprised by the title for the 16th year straight and the , Fiat Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, survey results,” Blackhall says. Hilux keeps its top-model title ahead Nissan, Jaguar, Hyundai, Land Rover Blackhall says carmakers which of Ford’s Ranger and the Corolla, and Infiniti were voted below the total treat their dealers as business partner the month fell 15,292 reported sales average of 6.4 out of 10 in overall per- assets will reap the rewards. short of the 102,820 sold in Decem- formance satisfaction. “Strong global brands, well man- ber 2017. The survey includes 24 participat- aged, rarely need to adopt the desper- Dealers may have had the same ing brands represented by 1603 dealer ate tactics we see elsewhere,” he says. number of December trading days, principals who voted in a four-week “Dealers will always rate profitable, but their efforts reported an average period in August 2018. consistently managed franchises with 637 less vehicles sold per day across Australian Automotive Dealer Asso- transparent, fair policies highly.” the country. ciation chief executive David Blackhall Continued on page 4 Declines were recorded against December 2017 in the ever-popular INSIDE SUV category, which lost 2848 reported sales, the light commer- North East Link puts automotive businesses in limbo P5 Are council’s hindering road safety? P7 cial segment which off-loaded 2772 Road to utopia: building roads in the modern world P9 reported sales, but it was passen- Carsales: Driving inquiries through social media P12 7 12 Continued on page 14

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2 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Dutton Group takes on Targa

armac rally business Targa Aus- rally fits the business perfectly and will corner of Tasmania next month, Febru- tralia is now in the hands of the blossom under the passionate new ary 16-17. Tluxury and supercar dealership arrangement. The 2018 Targa championship was operation Dutton Group. won by Paul Stokell and Malcolm Read The change of ownership for the with their 2014 Lotus Exige on 251 in CAMS Australia Targa Championship the Modern Outright class, while in the has been announced in an ongoing Classic Outright category, Michael and capacity effective immediately until Daniel Bray won on 240 points in their 2024, with neither party publicly dis- 1975 Holden Torana. closing the cost of the sale. Mick Downey and Jarrod Van Den New Targa chief executive and direc- Akker with the 1979 Holden VB Com- Targa Australia Director, Dutton Group CFO, tor Mark Perry says the deal, which Mark Perry Matt Hanson modore won the Classic GT category adds Targa to the Dutton Group of on 244 points, Peter Gluskie and Companies, will see one of the world’s “Welcoming the Targa events into the Samantha Winter with their 1985 BMW favourite tarmac rally events like Targa Dutton Group and introducing these E30 won the Classic title on 248 points, Tasmania, and its three other event iconic events to our large car enthusiast Liam and Larry Howarth won Early stages on the calendar, in safe hands. customer base is exciting,” Hanson says. Modern with their 1995 GT-R V-Spec “Growth and stability of Targa has “With its strong competitor and Nissan Skyline and a bag of 219 points. always been the number one priority,” touring customer base, Targa is a per- Entries are still open for Targra North Perry says. fect fit for us, and we have sponsored West, Targa Tasmania (April 29-May 4), “We would only sell Targa to the right the events for many years now, so this the second running of Targa Great Bar- buyer, a buyer that could continue ex- was a natural next step.” rier Reef (August 30-September 1), and panding Targa, a buyer that understood The 2019 Targa championship kicks Targa High Country entries begin soon its history and a buyer who ultimately off with Targa North West in the top with dates to be confirmed. had a vision for Targa to be around for many years to come,” he says. “For Les Smith, (Targa Australia direc- tor) and myself, we have said many times that we saw ourselves as the custodians of the Targa business and we would rebuild the events, after some lean times at the height of the GFC, and we have achieved this through expanding our customer base and event offering. “We are looking forward to working for Dutton and delivering some excit- ing events,” he adds. Dutton Group chief financial officer Matt Hanson says the iconic tarmac-

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | NOVEMBER 2018 | 3 NEWSTALK

Chrysler Jeep dealers are among the least satisfied. Image: Google Maps

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EDITOR Scott (Muzza) Murray [email protected] +61 426 365 774 Franchise feedback on ONLINE EDITOR Geoff Dobson [email protected] dealer disposition +64 21 881 823 Continued from page 1 Those 15 Lexus service departments GROUP EDITOR When it comes to dealers’ overall were the wildcard in voting taking a gold Scott Morgan satisfaction with manufacturers’ prod- star 8.7 out of 10, keeping Mazda to a [email protected] uct strategy in 2018, behind first-placed close second on 8.6 and Toyota an hon- +61 212 402 402 Mazda, Toyota ranked second, Kia third est third on 8.5, for an overall level of (with 89 dealers), Volvo fourth (21), service supported by the manufacturer. MANAGING EDITOR Skoda fifth (25), Subaru sixth (58), LDV Fiat Alfa Romeo came in second last Richard Edwards seventh (42), RAM eighth (23), Honda on 5.3 ahead of last-placed Chrysler [email protected] ninth (79) and Hyundai 10th (122). Jeep Dodge on 4.4 out of 10 for service +64 21 556 655 The least satisfied brands’ dealers, in department support. ascending order, were from Nissan (with A Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia PUBLISHER 109 franchisees), Holden (182), Chrysler spokesperson tells The New Daily the Vern Whitehead (66), Fiat Alfa Romeo (30), Jaguar (20), brand is working to improve its dealer [email protected] Peugeot (22), Land Rover (21), Renault relationship. +64 21 831 153 (39), and Lexus (15) – all below the aver- “The dealer survey is a way for us to age score of 6.7 out of 10. receive open feedback from our dealer BUSINESS MANAGER partners,” the company says. Dale Stevenson “We use the feedback as a way for [email protected] continuous improvement and have +64 21 446 214 already had multiple meetings with our dealers and national dealer council to GENERAL MANAGER discuss process changes,” the company Deborah Baxter Holden dealers weren’t wooed with 2018 explains, with fixes coming in 2019 and [email protected] marketing. Image: YouTube/GM Holden. some already in motion. +64 27 530 5016 Strategic consultancy firm the Raven Auto Media Group Limited makes Group’s Matthew Weisner, the former every endeavour to ensure Satisfaction for Holden’s overall managing director of Jaguar Land Rover information contained in this publication is accurate, however marketing activities sees dealers voting Australia, says dealer principals “will use we are not liable for any losses the brand to equal last with Peugeot, their best and most profitable brands as or issues resulting from its use. earning a 4.6 score out of 10 from the line in the sand and judge their other franchisees. brands accordingly”. Mazda retains first place, Toyota holds on to second, and Kia keeps third, how- autotalk.com.au ever, Volkswagen comes in fourth with a 7.3 out of 10 courtesy of its 75 dealer autotalk.co.nz franchises, and interloper RAM records transporttalk.com.au an equal fifth with LDV on 7.2 out of 10. transporttalk.co.nz Holden’s overall sales activities also earned it a last-place 4.3 out of 10 in evtalk.com.au Lexus service exemplary among dealers. evtalk.co.nz dealer feedback, again in familiar com- Image: Google Maps. pany as the marketing category.

4 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Interchange link puts livelihoods in limbo

t’s debatable whether ’s from schools, homes and make the life what is known as “Corridor A” fore- Labor government actually won of Austin Hospital paramedics much shadows squashing into the industrial Ithe 2018 election based on its “big easier during peak hour. precinct, possibly to lessen the impact build” ethos which has seen huge John Donohue tells on residential land holders. infrastructure upgrades started and AutoTalk it’s a predica- Infrastructure Australia has found completed, but that was certainly their ment everybody in the holes in the cost-benefit analysis sales pitch. Bulleen Industrial zone made by the state government, sug- Chief among many election prom- is facing on their feet. gesting “marginal” benefits will result ises was the North East Link. The so- “We are already a from the dual three-lane tunnels called last piece of ’s traffic good two years into beneath the Yarra River and surround- congestion puzzle which promises to this process, so we ing parkland. John Donohue unblock the second-largest Australian doesn’t want to were made aware But Donohue believes the motive city’s worsening traffic nightmares. be duly compen- early that we were on could be more political. But there are homes and businesses sated. the proposed route “From the initial drawings, it ap- standing in the way. by the North East Link peared that we were all gone, due to One of which is John Donohue Association,” he begins. the complicated interchange design Auto in Bulleen, nestled in a busy “NELA made it very clear that the and its large footprint,” he says. thoroughfare which sees a quarter of a industrial land was not as sensitive as “Since the initial drawings, some million vehicles, both light and heavy, somebody’s place of residence such simplification has greatly reduced this pass through en route to the airport, as their home,” he explains in a tone required footprint, but nobody at NELA Melbourne’s freight and industrial hubs remarkably familiar to The Castle’s is stating that any of us are likely to be in the north-west, or heading in the Daryl Kerrigan, whose famous towing safe at this point in time.” opposite south-easterly direction. business of the same name is only a He says it could be a matter for the JDA shares this sweet spot with a few minutes’ drive away. construction company to decide on, Tyrepower franchise, a Author- What angers Donohue is the phi- with the space constraints their primary ised Repairer, an workshop losophy under which the industrial focus. and a string of independent automotive area is being pressured to up stumps “In reality, we may still be several businesses is also in the compulsory and go elsewhere, so the $15.5 billion months away from knowing for certain acquisition firing line including Sheen monolith can commence. if we will eventually be acquired,” Panel Service, Wallard Automotive, “This is the place where we gener- Donohue says worryingly. Pars Automotive and Manningham Car ate our income from; to feed, educate Not waiting for the axe to fall, JDA Care – all VACC members along with and bring up our four sons. If I had to has options. The business can either JDA and Repco – plus Ray Skewes Au- choose between my income and my relocate into an environment he de- tomotive, Yarra Park Smash Repairs, home, I would always choose to retain scribes as an all-but-certain death for Bulleen Towing. There are even two my income,” he pleads. his workshop, or stay put with the bit- service stations and Motorfield Used With the promise of creating 5000 ter concession of a massively disrupted Cars. jobs for Melbournians including at 24 industrial zone. It’s a thriving small automotive busi- geotechnical sites which got the pro- “If we stay, we’re looking at in- ness, but they’re caught in a difficult ject started in mid-2017 for planning, terruptions to traffic flow and the situation where the much-needed it’s a formidable undertaking which has likelihood of increased noise levels highway connection to the north shown little sign of slowing down. amongst many other hazards; how would take countless heavy trucks off Early drawings of the proposed this may affect our turnover remains the cramped 60km/h streets of Heidel- interchange system including four to be seen,” he explains. berg and direct volumes of traffic away routes, but the spaghetti-like design of Continued on page 6

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 5 NEWSTALK

Interchange link puts livelihoods in limbo

Continued from page 5 “Or we relocate, but this is pushing If the business takes the offer and mechanics with solid customer bases,” towards business suicide if we can’t relocates 10 minutes from where they Donohue warns. remain in Manningham where the busi- are now, to NELA’S relocation alterna- “But small business has always ness has traded for 50 years,” Donohue tive at the very end of Blackburn Road, been about maintaining cash flow to forebodes. Donohue describes it as “a little off the survive.” “Our clients are from Bulleen and grid”. Not every business in the precinct surrounding suburbs and would not “I do believe that I could survive is in the same situation as Donohue, likely travel greater distances for ser- there, given a large percentage of my although all the mechanical repair vice, given many of them walk home or customers reside in Templestowe,” he outlets, including panel repairers and catch the local bus network.” says, reservedly. tyre shops, require customers to come The last option would be to close The valuation of the current prop- in the front door. shop, which he says would fall in to erty is another bag of worries facing Relocating to another suburb the Business Extinguishment Act. Donohue’s business and he uses the outside Manningham comes with ex- “At this point in time we have been case of Porsche specialist Weltmister tremely high risks to these automotive told that NELA will purchase my free- Eastside at 80 Railway Road, Blackburn, businesses, which means the ripple hold and the business, largely based which sold for $1.86 million in recent effect will continue to jobs – the cor- on financial reports from our account- times. nerstone of Labor government policy. ants over the past few years,” he says “If I receive $1 for our current “I currently have five staff members glumly. building, don’t make me pay $1.50 for and could well lose up to three staff in Donohue spent four years searching another building similar what we have,” a proposed relocation, due to reduced for the Industrial 1 zone premises he’s he surmises. sales revenue,” Donohue laments. in now, which mechanics and panel- “I paid around $1500 per square me- “To go and set up somewhere out- beaters require for vehicle hoists and tre of land when we purchased eight side the area, it would be very hard to clear-span roofing. It was also close years ago - most that come up for sale sustain. In many respects, if we can’t to the last premises he had to relocate in surrounding suburbs like Blackburn, remain here, I’m not certain the busi- from, working seven days a week for Nunawading and Mitcham are all push- ness can survive.” two months to run his old shop while ing towards $3000 per square metre,” The Andrews government is keeping moving to the current one. Paying him Donohue explains. its resolute plan to build Melbourne the for the inconvenience of uprooting Anticipating the dilemma, Dono- freeway and tunnel it has needed for again isn’t even a certainty. hue has been watching the industrial too long, promising to get done what “Compensation has not been clearly warehouse sales results in the area previous premiers couldn’t. But at what defined, even though it would appear for several years and says they seldom cost? our valuations would already be budg- offer Industrial 1 zoning. “We have got to accept funnelling eted for to build the Link,” he reveals. “If we don’t receive the correct people through the centre of the city “We’re told NELA will meet all the figure, we may not be able to purchase is not the answer,” Daniel Andrews entry costs on buying again, including again, and we have a customer base said before the November election. stamp duties, conveyancing, financ- earned with 50 years trading in our “Finishing the ring road will allow ing, relocation of equipment, set up current location. people to move around the city; that’s and even advertising in a new loca- “We can’t move the clients with what stacks up. tion to establish our name and brand,” the business, and those surrounding Donohue explains. suburbs are already laced with motor

6 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Councils’ hindering road safety?

eople’s safety on our roads you At her request, the council has they just want to go away – they have would think comes before all conducted a routine data log to gather their own data showing hundreds of Pelse, but one resident’s request a week’s worth of traffic speeds and vehicles are speeding in their street but for a simple speed hump doesn’t stack volume, which have been shared with they provide plenty of excuses to not up against local government budgets AutoTalk. implement something,” she laments. and bureaucracy. Manningham Council logged in any Manningham Council has told Nao- The federal Labor government has one day, with an average of 1800 cars, mi to cut back vegetation at the front promised a National Road Safety Office 17% were above 60km/h, meaning of her property, that the council can’t if it wins the May election. More than roughly 270 vehicles do more than install speed humps on a corner, and 1100 people die on Australian roads the 50km/h speed limit in Naomi’s that “issues encountered when install- every year and thousands of bumps, street every day. The highest recorded ing mirrors in other locations” prevents scrapes and near-misses that never speed was 88km/h. them from installing a convex mirror as make big news stories. The idea of “That kind of speed happens on a a basic measure on the public road. “Towards Zero” seems impossible. weekly basis, every week, often multi- The council also tells her “the centre Emergency responders save us, car- ple times per week,” she stresses. median adjacent to your property... makers install life-saving ABS, airbags, However, a Council representative [is one of many] treatments [to] assist autonomous emergency braking and tells Naomi, “the recorded speed and in reducing through vehicle traffic adaptive cruise while ANCAP crash volume of traffic along [omitted] Street speeds” in her street. They have also tests them, and then there’s the motor- is considered to be acceptable”. suggested a dot-matrix “speed trailer” ing clubs, transport departments and The recorded data according to the to display vehicle speeds as an “educa- road safety organisations dedicated to council shows the 85th percentile speed tional tool” to drivers. reminding us not to crash. of motorists recorded outside her home A series of roundabouts were But what are local councils doing is 53.6km/h, in a 50km/h zone. installed along Naomi’s street in the to invest in road safety infrastructure? Naomi says she has already ap- 1980s, and some traffic islands on the One woman, Naomi, has taken issue proached her local police station who, opposite end in the last decade, but with Manningham City Council and after “loosely promising” to increase further attempts to curtail drivers’ what she describes as a disregard for vehicle patrols to catch speeding driv- dangerous speeding habits seem to potential of disaster in her street. ers, directed her to the local council have run dry. She lives on a semi-busy street for more permanent solutions. “Speed humps or any other physi- and seldom leaves her driveway on “It feels like the very real danger cal treatment to control the speed of the blind exit of a downhill corner in facing our family every time we go out Continued on page 8 Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with her baby in a capsule - it’s a familiar story to millions of rate-paying families. “As more and more people move into the area, including in our street, the road gets busier and busier and has become a racetrack to some drivers,” she tells AutoTalk. “We hear it and see it constantly, at all hours, every day of the week, some- one hurtling around the bend where our driveway enters the road.” “One day, someone is going to come flying around the corner and there’s going to be a horrific accident – which is why I’ve asked the council to consider a speed hump to slow people down – but all I’ve received is Naomi fears the worst is around the corner dismissal,” Naomi explains.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 7 NEWSTALK

Councils’ hindering road safety?

Continued from page 7 “Councils use it because their rate the responsibility of traffic offences lies, payers are using it; people want to he says the app does aid in highlighting vehicles is based on several criteria report directly to the council, and it those community concerns. including the recorded 85th percentile means you don’t have to go through “Speeding offences and other speed (if it is in excess of 10km (sic) the usual complaints-handling pro- criminal activity should still be reported higher than the regulatory speed limit) cess,” he tells AutoTalk. directly to police, however, we do and the volume recorded along a road,” Gorog describes a theme with road receive reports that relate to or are the council tells Naomi. safety complaints and concerns coming the result of speeding such as broken “I’m trying to alert the council to do through the Snap Send Solve database. signage, the need for signs, issues with something before there’s a horrible ac- “We have a lot of these sorts of speed bumps,” he reveals. cident, there are elderly people cross- reports, such as needs for traffic lights With the announcement of the ing the road here every day, mums and at school zones, pot holes, illegally $153 million 2018-19 budget, Man- dads walking the dog with their kids – parked cars, traffic problems,” he says. ningham Council chief executive War- something needs to be done proac- “We get councils to do something wick Winn and mayor Andrew Conlon tively,” Naomi warns. about it by providing locations, photo both describe their ethos for the area “Drivers accelerate hard coming out evidence and it gets pooled with other in a similar way. of the last roundabout before com- data to build a case to resolve that is- “We believe we have taken a bal- ing past my driveway; a speed hump sue,” Gorog explains. anced approach to providing relevant would stop some drivers hitting what Snap Send Solve, according to and cost-effective services and infra- would surely be nearly 100km/h at the Gorog, works closely with councils structure to our community,” Conlon bottom of the hill,” she adds. as a kind of third-party data provider, says on the Manningham website. An eight-year-old girl was killed which he says is “very popular and gets Winn says the council’s priority, “is after succumbing to horrific injuries results”. delivering the services and infrastruc- suffered when hit by a car on Victoria Over half a million people use the ture our community needs, in a cost- Street in Doncaster on November 29. app which they say enables councils effective manner”. Local resident John Grouios tells and relevant state-controlled road au- “The key to achieving this is finding the ABC it’s a hotspot for dangerous thorities to manage and resolve issues savings, ongoing efficiencies and de- circumstances. quicker than usual. veloping new revenue sources where “Ninety per cent of cars here would “Feedback tells us the vast majority possible,” he adds, despite the council’s be travelling over the speed limit,” he of requests sent via Snap Send Sold are 2018 report showing a $30 million says. responded to within a faster time- income surplus, and an accumulated “We have an accident here once a frame than alternate request channels,” surplus of $710m for the 2017-18 month. Or a near miss every week; I Gorog says. financial year. kept saying it’s just a matter of time “When they come across an incident Manningham spent just $6.6 million before something tragic happens,” or issue that needs attention, their pri- on roads in 2018 having earned over Grouios says. ority is just to see it resolved,” he adds. $85m in rates and $4.1m in statutory Snap Send Solve is a smartphone However, Snap Send Solve data fees and fines alone. Over $52.5m was app which allows users to report faults, shows there is an increasing trend that spent on council employment. hazards and make complaints directly seems to be ignored by those same Just two blocks away, Naomi to councils in Australia and New Zea- councils. describes another back street, also land, as well as an increasing number Data provided by Snap Send Solve a 50km/h zone, which received four of other authorities, such as utilities shows in the past year almost 10,000 large speed-restricting humps and two like water and power road reports were made to councils in lane-dividing islands in recent years. companies, telcos, Australia and almost 8000 in New Zea- “They can twist the data and shift even trolley providers. land - a 27% year-on-year increase. the responsibility however they like, but Founder and chief Victoria had a 22% increase year-on- there is a horrible road safety issue be- executive Daniel year with almost 4000 reports made in ing ignored here,” Naomi concludes. Gorog says councils 2018. It’s also the lead state for reports “The council has lots of excuses like his creation be- of issues, damage or faults - year-to- why their income isn’t worthy of my cause the fact they’re date around 40% of all complaints are little complaint, but ultimately some- Daniel Gorog, Snap Send Solve funded by the rate- made in Victoria, closely followed by thing probably will happen – then the payers, it helps them NSW (31%) and (10%). question will be how many need to be respond to their concerns. While Gorog reminds people where killed before something is done?”

8 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Road to utopia

he way the humble road is de- modern toll roads and major highway often simulated before signed and built today is vastly upgrades which are shaped to specifi- it progresses into ex- Tdifferent to the dusty trails beaten cally direct a vehicle over the top – and ecution stages. in the early days of the motor car. not roll the car – in the event it leaves “We think about But how often do you think about the road. location, function the level of detail that goes into what And the conscious thinking about and traffic, geometry might be perceived as slapping down how to make a road as safe yet func- the landscape might David Milling, some hot bitumen and flicking some tional as possible doesn’t stop with cars. ARRB Brisbane impose on the project paint over the top? Motorcyclists, considered a vulnerable such as slopes, soil Australia has some of the most road user along with cyclists, pedes- type, flooding and water flow have to advanced road making capacities in the trians and scooter riders, have to be be taken into account; that determines world, with ample resources and highly accounted for, as do trucks from light what materials you may have to use,” skilled engineers constantly studying the rigid all the way up to double, triple and he says. most efficient and effective methods to quad-trailer road trains. Continued on page 10 build our highways and byways. How do you AutoTalk was hosted by the Austral- design a road ian Road Resources Board (ARRB) at the that stops a road shiny new Port Melbourne headquarters train from roll- to listen and learn how the next wave ing, or keeps it of road makers acquire knowledge and from leaving the experience in building the simplest C- road at 100km/h, road to designing major intersections but also doesn’t and development projects as part of allow light vehi- • NZ’s number one automotive workship council and state government funding cles to be demol- management software for over 25 years. programmes. ished if they do • The ultimate specialist workshop software The first thing to know is that there the same? package is so much more to know than could “We have to be crammed into one day, which is know how the • Cloud-based and hosted options available why the 30 or so beginners and mid- road is catering level engineers and all-round think- for vehicles, what • Installation, Configuration, Support and ers present on the day came from far industry might be Trainer from the industry best and wide, including Geelong and east along the road, • Range of options from the entry level lite to Gippsland. the budget to the all-inclusive Elite ARRB senior technology leader start with, and David Milling, from Brisbane, and Noel how heavy the O’Callaghan, the principal professional traffic flow will engineer with ARRB in Adelaide, hosted be, then there’s the two-day event, talking through the the road clas- eight stages of Geometric Road Design. sification,” Milling “It’s about understanding how road says. design relates to road safety risks,” Mill- More often ing says. than not, multiple Contact Details: “We don’t do road design specifically, designs will be P: SAM Admin +64 9 583 2451 but we provide advice on getting safety made, which are SAM Support +64 9 583 2455 systems into road designs,” he explains, then assessed, E: [email protected] using the example of drainage on scrutinised and

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 9 NEWSTALK

Road to utopia

Continued from page 9 fairly innocuous section of highway, old roads; it’s a combi- Asphalt mix determines what kind but upon closer inspection could cause nation of knowledge of road noise vehicles will make when accidents, a prematurely deteriorating and experience, hav- they run over it at certain speeds. Mill- road surface and offers almost no room ing one doesn’t always ing explains a case on the Pacific Hwy for an average family car to safely pull guarantee the other, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast where over out of harm’s way. which is why we use the wrong aggregate mix was used and Choosing what type of crash bar- criteria, collaborate residents over 200 metres away were rier to use can be another quandary Noel O’Callaghan, and study design pa- ARRB Adelaide furious at the noise generated. for road designers. A simple design rameters to continu- “That was an expensive mistake change in how the barrier is mounted ally improve how we which required resurfacing,” Milling to the road could determine whether a design our roads.” reveals. B-double truck slams into a semi-rigid The ARRB started out as a small The correct kind of asphalt can barrier and grinds to a paint-scraping team with a 160-series Nissan Patrol save $100,000 per lane of every kilo- (but ultimately safe) halt, or snaps the with a primitive form of road scanning metre of construction, reduce 25% steel railing like an old rubber band and equipment bolted to the front. of the required thickness, which also sends it tumbling down a hillside. There is now a full-scale laboratory saves greenhouse gas emissions dur- For this reason, engineers have to testing every manner of road surface, ing material and project construction. carefully study crash energy on a range a library full of books only an engineer “We also need to identify safety risks, of vehicles, from light little hatchbacks would call engaging reading and a large traffic control and consider mainte- which can bounce off angled bridge team consulting with governments, nance costs,” he adds, explaining how concrete posts and vertices, to high- road authorities and infrastructure busi- design teams will sometimes run cost roof coaches and flatbed rigid trucks or nesses all working to build our towns analysis on whether a project can afford a Kenworth prime mover all of which and cities, and connect them. to extend the life and durability of the have a high centre of gravity. Some 19 Scientists analyse hundreds of rock road by using premium materials, more different shapes, sizes and weights at samples on benches in state-of-the-art cost effective designs and reducing or anywhere from 50km/h up to 100km/h testing facilities. But that’s a story for extending the time it takes to complete all behave differently and need to be another day. the construction. accounted for. Next time you’re out on the same “Humans as road users will continue “Often the design is modified dur- boring old road you use every day, to make mistakes, it’s inevitable, but the ing construction, but a good design take a closer look and appreciate the community shouldn’t be penalised when will sort these issues out before con- thinking and care that’s gone into help they do make mistakes,” Milling says. struction,” O’Callaghan puts simply. you get where you’re going. It certainly “That said, we also need to con- “The road needs to be consistent beats a bumpy, dusty trail stamped out sider emergency services who need and uniform so there are no surprises to by horses and carts. access points when drivers do make drivers; we need to mistakes, poor road design would force look at how various first responders to backtrack, perform elements combine; All the Auto Industry HOT NEWS unnecessary turns and be forced to sit ideally you want to every day as it happens on in traffic,” he acknowledges, referring design a road that not only to wire rope barriers, but road means drivers don’t shoulders, kerb designs, lane width and make mistakes,” he www.autotalk.com.au run-off areas. adds. Subscribe online for FREE Road design becomes as technical “The role of twice weekly updates direct as thinking about effective drainage the designer is to that reduces erosion, road degradation develop workable to your email. and eliminates aquaplaning. solutions to building www.autotalk.com.au One example shown looks like a new and upgrading

10 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

Batteries and hydrogen: Evolving from the ICE age

couraging a shift in the conversation to to the grid. In this respect, just as with Claire Johnston chief how Australia can effectively transition vehicles, hydrogen and battery storage executive, Hydrogen away from fossil fuel burning vehicles to are complements, not competitors. Mobility Australia. a cleaner, greener transport fleet over What’s more, Australia is being the long term. tipped to be a significant player in What we can all agree on is that renewable hydrogen production, with s the eco mobility transition electrification is the future of transport the IEA World Energy Outlook pub- gains pace around the world and and the death of the internal combus- lished in November noting that “Aus- Athe range of zero emission offer- tion engine is quickly gathering speed. tralia’s potential to produce hydrogen ings starts to expand, it’s inevitable that Spain, for instance, is the latest in a fuel in this way could be vast”. technologies will be compared. long line of countries moving to ban it, When this renewable hydrogen is And the comparison that’s domi- last week introducing a bill to prohibit produced from electricity that would nating all clean transport discussions the sale of petrol and diesel cars from have otherwise been lost, it’s a win all involves pitching one electric drivetrain 2040. round for the energy producer, the against another – fuel cell electric As the world moves away from end user and most importantly the versus battery electric. fossil fuels to electric drivetrains, the environment. Whether its efficiency, perfor- efficiency gains and emission reduc- So, with our natural advantages, mance, range, charging time or price, tion outcomes will be immediate. Australia is well placed to establish a these two technologies have, among For instance, FCEVs are double the large-scale renewable hydrogen sector certain groups, been positioned as efficiency of the internal combustion to power our vehicles, and this is what competitive rivals with only one of- engine, meaning carbon emissions we, as zero emission vehicle advo- fering able to be crowned the electric are immediately halved, according to cates, are working towards. drivetrain of the future. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Particular transport segments will A recent study by the University data. This is surely a better outcome strongly benefit from the hydrogen of Queensland has published its own than maintaining the status quo and age, including areas such as heavy, electric vehicle comparison, this time denouncing technologies that can fleet and autonomous vehicles where focused on greenhouse gas emissions. make a real difference to CO2 levels the long range, quick refuelling time It finds that hydrogen fuel cell electric right now. and heavy payload capability of FCEVs vehicles (FCEVs) may have three times While the availability of a decarbon- are especially advantageous. the emissions of battery electric vehicle ised grid and green hydrogen will max- While the price of FCEVs and the (BEVs), if using non-renewable energy. imise emission reductions from electric availability of infrastructure is often a The study notes, however, that FCEVs vehicles even further, our first priority talking point, CSIRO analysis through have the potential to substantially re- should be to reduce current emissions its National Hydrogen Roadmap found duce emissions in the long term, but on by as much as we can and as quickly as that FCEVs will reach price parity the condition that Australia significantly we can. Hydrogen FCEVs (along with with the internal combustion engine increase its use of renewable energy. BEVs) can help us do exactly this. in 2025. This is in fact the same year The above conclusion, is of course, Hydrogen mobility should also not that’s being forecast for BEVs. a similar story for BEV charging, as be considered in isolation - hydrogen On the infrastructure side, countries the majority of Australia’s electricity has a much bigger role to play in the around the world have committed to generation continues to be from coal energy transition beyond powering build 2800 hydrogen refuelling sta- (63% in 2016-17). our vehicles. tions, also by 2025. This is enough to However, setting this aside, from our As a flexible energy carrier, hydro- cover the world’s leading markets for perspective the focus on FCEVs versus gen can enable the renewable-energy FCEVs and is only a third of the 10,000 BEVs is misplaced and short-sighted. system through storage of excess wind Tesla Superchargers already built in a As a collective of zero emission vehicle and solar that would otherwise go to advocates, we should instead be en- waste while providing load balancing Continued on page 15

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 11 NEWSTALK

Social spotlight: Driving qualified inquiries through re-targeting

In the case of Carsales retargeting time, so choose a tight window to By David Toscano, on Facebook, the spotlight on a specific retarget buyers,” Retell advises. Trade Marketing, stock item lasts for 24 hours and takes the She warns that chasing a buyer Carsales.com Ltd form of a number of eye-catching dy- around in their personal time with ir- namic advertising placements — includ- relevant content will impact your return ing single and carousel formats. The sin- on investment and your brand — it may or Australian car dealers, utilising gle format spotlights one key stock item, be interpreted as annoying or intrusive. social media can help foster an while the carousel format also draws Your choice of platform is also critical Fengaged audience and build trust attention to similar alternatives across the and should align with your strategy. Some in your business by drawing attention country that the buyer may also wish to platforms attract people keen to be inter- to your competitive advantages. evaluate in their purchase journey. rupted. Other platforms attract people Your happy customers, humming Spotlighting national purchase with specific intent and the need to con- aftersales departments and contribu- alternatives aligns with recent analysis sume content such as news or video. tions to the local community are all that found that one-in-six inquiries on “Craft a message that makes sense qualities deserving of public aware- Carsales were submitted on a stock on the channel you choose to retarget ness through social media. item located interstate. on, that aligns with where the buyer is in For more than 12 months as a part “When an in-market car buyer their purchase journey and keep it suc- of a wide-reaching digital market- browses their social media feeds, cinct — you only have a few seconds to ing strategy, Carsales has gone one they’re open to engaging with con- get your point across,” she concludes. step further for Australian car dealers, tent that is relevant and valuable to helping them re-engage in-market car their lives — such as a memorable car Tinker, test, learn and repeat buyers in their free time away from they’ve already contemplated purchas- Carsales through a comprehensive ing on a specialist automotive market- If there is one thing that Retell un- retargeting programme. place like Carsales,” Retell explains. derscores, it’s to keep the faith when undertaking a retargeting programme. More qualified inquiries Three secrets to retargeting success “I like to think of retargeting as an onion. It looks simple on the outside, Fully funded by Carsales at no cost Carsales was the first Australian au- but once you start to dig deeper you to the dealer, the Carsales retargeting tomotive classifieds website to work will find multiple layers and complexi- programme spotlights a vehicle to an directly with Facebook to engage and ties that require constant attention. in-market buyer browsing social media influence car buyers on their platform You’re probably not going to get it — that has viewed a listing in detail, via retargeting, and also retargets exactly right straight off the bat. but not yet placed a qualified inquiry. A across other social media channels “The key is to take time to test and try click on the retargeting placement then and the Google Display Network. different tactics and learn — and then drives the buyer back to the dealer’s With this experience and leadership, apply these learnings,” she continues. Carsales listing. come many lessons and learnings. Retell also stressed the importance Carsales digital marketing manager Below, Retell outlines three secrets of specialist skills in on-going optimi- Caitlin Retell says the programme is to optimising your approach to social sation. At Carsales, two digital market- designed to keep the dealer’s stock media retargeting and getting bang for ing specialists help with this process. item front of mind when the targeted your investment buck. in-market buyer is open to interruption and not actively searching for a car. Relevance: Right time, right platform, “As the retargeting aims at buyers right message at the pointy end of their purchase journey, it helps deliver dealers more “Timing is critical — what was rel- qualified inquiries for sales conversion,” evant to an in-market buyer 24 hours she says. ago, may not be relevant in a week’s

12 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 NEWSTALK

On the Fairway

e’re a family business which the road most mornings visiting deal- has been trading used ve- ers, having a chat, getting to know Whicles for over 20 years, it has them, and buying cars in their lot. By Chris Christofi, been my dad’s business in that time but We’ll then get the cars back to our Fairway Motor it’s time for a refresh. shop, give them a re-co and tidy up, Traders. As we work to build a bigger dealer and then send them to any of our 60 network, Fairway Motor Traders is po- dealers who buy certain stock. And sitioned as a service to the dealers we then in the afternoons we’re usually buy from and sell to; if they’re losing sending those wholesale cars off to grand, quick turnover, which means money from their wholesale we can their new owners. trying to gauge people for more than help, and it’s not just for cars, we do We get through anywhere from 60- they can afford doesn’t win their trust. bikes, light commercials, fleets. 100 cars per week, some months are The next couple of years will be It all began with my grandfather slower than others, other months are interesting depending on where the who started it as a workshop with a booming. economy goes, especially with electric car yard beside it, then my dad, hav- We buy from all over Australia, and vehicles and hybrids becoming popular. ing been the sole distributor for Lada we’re hoping to expand interstate, but But we’re also now looking at the Australia until they folded, got into the we’re primarily Victorian at the mo- classic car market, not only because business. ment, but we’re happy to hop over the it’s a passion of mine, but because the It’s a legacy many dealerships will border, particularly buying. demand is so strong. know on a personal level – the early The systems works on low-margin/ With the economy at the moment, starts and cold dinners, getting that high-turnover, so going interstate is classics may decline a little, so because last deal done before the weekend, tricky because locals in those areas of- of that volatility where people will buy kids working in their school holidays. ten have their business networks taking or sell the classic car depending on That’s where I came in as a kid. up the potential revenue. their financial circumstances, it might Out of school I’ve always been Generally commercial vans are very be more of a long-term hobby on the involved in the business, my mum good to us because they’re not often side or separate. works in the office, my sister helps out, traded and are easy to sell because When times are tough, we have to and I think an honest family business people don’t care if it’s got a ding or sell smarter rather than harder, which is something rare in the auto industry has high mileage; Corollas are the bul- is typical for most businesses; so, in a these days – and that’s the spirit in letproof bread-and-butter car; and the slow period like late last year we still which we operate. Our clients know ute market is changing because people have to find cars, but lean on what’s in they can trust us. Our word is our want the practicality of a dual-cab and highest demand. word. 4WD with the fashion of a flashy truck, The banking and finance sector, There’s been an incredible change so they’re becoming a good trade. election cycles, market ups and downs in the automotive industry in the last There’s no escaping the fact we are all factors we have to watch be- five years, which we’ve adapted to have competitors, but the difference cause they can change things quickly, quickly – for all the corporate giants is how we operate. There aren’t many but nothing changed things even and financial uncertainty in the market who operate as low-cost/quick-turn- remotely close to the way the internet we’re still here. over, we offer no lot fees for example; did. Most of the network we have is from we want meat on the bone of every I think the internet has equally made my dad’s connections and I’ve been car our customers are buying. business trickier for us, but at the same adding to it. My plan is to get business There are lots of people who sell a time, with the way it showed people through word-of-mouth, someone car knowing it’s too expensive. We don’t how big and complex the market is who’s happy with how we do things work like that, we try to keep it fair and out there, I think it helps people to see tells another dealer whose wholesale equitable for us and our customers. and value working with a family whose is running poorly. Day to day we’re on Our most common cars are sub-20 business they can rely on, and trust.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 13 STATSTALK

Top 10 Brands CX-5 mirrors a slightly deflated 2018 market. Consumers pump the brakes on new car sales

Continued from page 1

ger sales which recorded the biggest slump – down 9648 reported sales. 1. Toyota 217,061 Toyota celebrates a first-place finish, but the tussle between the top four showed a fight to the end, with Mazda holding onto second with 111,280 re- ported sales in December 2018 against Hyundai’s third-place and 94,187 reported sales. Only half of the top 10 brands could beat their reported sales of December 2017, with Toyota a whisker in front by Isuzu D-Max came from nowhere to 495 reported sales (217,061 vs 216,566), finish P5. Mitsubishi 4290 reported sales up 2. Mazda 111,280 (84,944 vs 80,654), Kia ahead by 4078 reported sales (54,815 vs 54,737), “New vehicle sales results in 2018 Nissan making headway on 57,699 reflect a challenging climate across reported sales (up 1105 on last year’s the Australian economy including a 56,594), and Honda rounding out the slowing housing market, tightening of top 10 on 51,525, up by 4742 reported money lending and the drought.” sales on December 2017. After the Hilux-Ranger-Corolla Federal Chamber of Automotive model sales podium, Mazda 3 finished Industries chief executive Tony Weber in fourth last month (down 18.6% says Christmas only came once this against December 2017), Isuzu Ute year for manufacturer brands and managed to rocket the D-Max into fifth their franchised deal- (up 6.4% on December 2017), Mitsubi- 3. Hyundai 94,187 ers, despite know- shi Triton finished in sixth (down 24.4%), ing what consumers Mazda’s much-loved CX-5 SUV dipped want. to finish seventh (down 5.8%), Hyun- “Australian consum- dai’s i30 had a jolly December finish- ers continue to value ing eighth (up 20.8% on December the comfort, flexibility 2017), Toyota’s RAV4 stumbled 5.2% on and utility of SUVs, Tony Weber, December 2017’s figure to end in ninth, FCAI which collectively and the go-anywhere LandCruiser accounted for 43% of also suffered a puncture worth 5.2% of the market in 2018; we predicted this December 2017 reported sales to hold trend to continue last year, and this has onto 10th place. 4. Mitsubishi 84,944 certainly been the case,” he says.

14 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 Top 10 Brands continued p15 Top 10 Brands continued

2018 sales in December

Top 10 manufacturing Top 10 medium SUV nations supplying new vehicles 5. Ford 69,081 to Australia 2018 over-$60k, 2018

1. Japan 1. Mercedes-Benz GLC 356,230 6600

2. Thailand 2. BMW X3 300,274 4864 6. Holden 60,751

3. Korea 3. Audi Q5 169,315 4086

4. Germany 4. Lexus NX 91,411 3697 7. Kia 58,815

5. USA 5. Land Rover Discovery Sport 44,492 2890

6. England 6. Volvo XC60 33,011 2827

8. Nissan 57,699

7. Spain 7. Porsche Mecan 14,818 1874

8. Czech Republic 8. Range Rover Velar 11,924 1450

9. Volkswagen 56,620 9. Mexico 9. BMW X4 11,859 1380

10. Hungary 10. Range Rover Evoque 11,406 1375

10. Honda 51,525 STATSTALK

Scott Murray, AutoTalk Editor

Pajero’s sporting pretentions

or any customer seriously looking a Prado, as well as 15mm shorter and release which could be a bugger if the at the large 4x4 market right now, 85mm lower. Scratching a black Prado cargo bay is full of your finest Ana- Frumour says they’ve basically got could be avoided in the Mitsubishi. conda camping gear and more luggage two choices: Toyota Prado, or anything Bagging a Paj Sport Exceed with than the kids or other half are ever else. Consider this an official protest. seven seats and the brilliantly clever likely to wear on a long weekend. If you think about it, there have re- 4WD system that permits high-4 If you simply must have more space ally only ever been three brands in that tarmac use, an additional 100kg of than the 502 litres with the third row dust-in-the-door-sill hardcore off- braked towing capacity at 3100kg folded, packed to the top of the sec- road rough-n-tumble – Toyota, Nissan over Prado’s 3000, and the additional ond row seats, and you went the full- and Mitsubishi. Sure, there are others, 250kg kerb weight in the Toyota, the fat Pajero which is getting toward the but not in the affordable, dependable, cheaper really is the more cheerful end of its life cycle, you’ll be missing take-me-to-hell-and-back kind of way. option in many respects. out on autonomous emergency brak- Unfortunately, Nissan offers only the That said, the Prado can come with ing, adaptive cruise and the “Ultrasonic monstrous V8 Patrol these days, and at a whopping 150-litre fuel tank, or 87L Mis-acceleration Mitigation System” circa-80 grand, and with the 200 Series as standard, whereas the Paj does with which would be a shame. They all work LandCruiser outselling it comprehen- only 63 litres. very well and should be the reason for sively, it’s a two-brand fight. Approach breakover and departure looking at the Paj Sport. In the cheap seats, where real peo- angles favour the Prado if you’re get- Sacrificing a little badge cache ple plonk their sweated-over pesos, ting that hardcore with your family 4x4, on the Pajero Sport is a very worth- as the market stands now, it’s Toyota but if you’re not rock crawling through while trade, especially to keep all that Fortuna and/or Prado versus the Mit- the Snowies, you’ll seldom care and money for spending on an expand- subishi Pajero Sport. be glad you saved thousands of dollars ing range of aftermarket accessories In 2018 sales, Fortuna on 3592 units and still got all the bells and whistles. becoming available from the likes of seems to be cannabalised by its bigger Speaking of, some may find the Ironman 4x4, ARB and others. Prado brother which sold reportedly incessant binging and bonging of the Pajero Sport may also have some 18,553 by comparison. It also slayed Paj Paj grinding, especially at the farm gate questionable styling cues to some, Sport’s 7618 reported sales. when taking off your seatbelt to open however, I see the taillights as upside Having driven the current genera- it, or leave the keys in your pocket as Volvo XC90 jobs and the front looks tion Prado in late 2017, driving Pajero you throw something in the back. like a samurai’s mask. Sport feels similar to what living on a But most people are probably more And besides, if you’re worried yacht might be like. relaxed about these niggles than this about styling, that should be incentive The narrow Triton frame doesn’t aurally irritable journo. enough to get a decent bullbar, keep it lend the Paj to accommodate the wid- The 430Nm 2.4-litre diesel is pretty covered in mud and after all you never est, burliest set of shoulders and you responsive and doesn’t really lack have to see yourself driving. do feel snug. Or perhaps the Prado was power at 133kW, in fact it’s quite easy vast; if so, you certainly pay extra for to make the rears squeak on cold bitu- all that so-called “rugged elegance” at men when you bury it. $60-80K. Mitsubishi has also done a great job However, when you really want to of sorting out the floppy suspension take your spanking new off-roader into which used to sway its 2.1-tonne heft. the bush, those bushes have less width Much better. to wipe their scratchy limbs along be- There’s a full-size alloy tucked Updated Paj exceeds the original. cause Paj Sport is 70mm narrower than underneath but has a boot-mounted

16 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 DIARYTALK

AUSSIE TALK DIARY sit beside its best-selling petrol Avis Australia is now offering and diesel Jaguars and Land luxury utes as part of its Signa- AutoTalk Australia’s editor Rovers in all 41 dealerships. ture Series rental fleet offerings. Scott Murray looks at the month The premium car hire ser- gone by on autotalk.com.au vice will include up-market December 7 pick-ups including Toyota Hilux SR5 and Ford Ranger December 3 Victorian car Wrangler, Panda fail Wildtrak, with the Signature dealership hit with NCAP crash tests Series now becoming avail- Toyota deepens four-year ban able in Tasmania as well. Olympic relationship Euro NCAP crash testing has A Surrey Hills car dealership given the Jeep Wrangler and and its director have been Fiat Panda one and zero star December 13 The Tokyo 2020 Olympic disqualified from holding a crash ratings respectively. Torch Relay will feature Toyota licence for four years. The 2019 Wrangler only Australia takes vehicles. This follows a hearing in scored 50% in adult occu- international road That’s in addition to the Victorian Civil and Ad- pant tests and 69% in child Toyota’s role as the official safety gong ministrative Tribunal (VCAT) occupant tests, but it was the Olympics mobility partner. about Wapshott Motors Pty Fiat Panda which performed The CARRS-Q team from Ltd for alleged contraven- worse – only 45% and 16% Queensland University of December 4 tions of the Motor Car Trad- in adult and child occupant Technology has won the ers Act 1986 and its associ- tests respectively. Prince Michael International EasyCars announces ated regulations. Road Safety Award. The university’s Centre for Facebook Marketplace December 11 Accident Research and Road integration December 5 Safety-Queensland post- Buffett takes over graduate education pro- Dealers using the EasyCars Brands respond SA’s compulsory gramme has earned the high dealer management system can to more stringent vehicle insurance praise from judges for the connect with potential custom- safety tests numbers of masters and PhD ers via Facebook Messenger. book students being educated. Dealers using EasyCars A strong safety performance will be offered advice on pro- Berkshire Hathaway, owned ‘Improper tests’ across a range of brands and moting and selling used car by billionaire Warren Buffett, vehicle types is highlighted prompt Nissan recall inventory directly on Market- is investing in ’s in the latest round of Aus- place, along with integration motor insurance industry. of 150,000 cars tralasian New Car Assessment on Messenger. SA state government Program (ANCAP) ratings. treasurer Rob Lucas says Nissan is recalling 150,000 AutoPlay sale The all-electric Jaguar Berkshire Hathaway’s Re- cars sold in Japan due to what boosts Australian I-Pace gets the top five-star insurance Division will take it says were improper tests rating, as do the Ford Focus, over management of the Mo- carried out on brakes, speed- opportunities Hyundai Santa Fe and Gen- tor Accident Commission’s ometers and other systems at esis G70. “back book” of Compulsory its domestic assembly plant Kiwi automotive software Third Party (CTP) vehicle prior to shipment. and service firm AutoPlay has insurance claims. Among about 10 models been purchased by Australian- December 6 affected are Leaf electric based Marque Group. Most common types cars, Note hatchbacks, and AutoPlay was founded at VW ditching ICE, of car accidents Cube and March cars pro- the turn of the millennium by considers Ford’s US duced between November well-known director Craig revealed 2017 and October 2018. Brown and business partner factories Chris Nottingham. While Nose-to-tail crashes are the Deputy PM talks Nottingham has since retired, Volkswagen AG says it will most common type of car brass tacks with “Brownie” as he is known, will roll out the last generation of accident in Australia, new continue to lead AutoPlay as conventional cars with internal research from insurance VACC managing director. combustion engines (ICE) in company AAMI shows. 2026. The AAMI Crash Index Deputy prime minister Mi- Mazda’s first EV a It’s also indicated some reveals a third of all car chael McCormack has sat standalone in 2020 cars may be made jointly with crashes are nose-to-tail and listened to the Victorian Ford in US factories. collisions, while one in four automotive industry’s primary accidents across the country concerns and challenges. Mazda confirms its first all- Dealers to make are caused by failing to give Hosted by the Victorian electric due in 2020 will be a way and one in five accidents Automobile Chamber of standalone model. room for I-Pace are caused by colliding with a Commerce this week, Mc- And it won’t come from Jaguar’s electric I-Pace SUV will be in all of the marque’s stationary object. Cormack who is also minister the partnership formed with for infrastructure, transport Toyota in 2017 to develop dealerships across the country. Product manager James AVIS launches luxury and regional development electric vehicles, the Mazda has heard about issues. EV said to have been in devel- Kealy says the British brand’s ute series opment before the tie-up. first-ever electric vehicle will Continued on page 18

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 17 DIARYTALK

Continued from page 17 “These are impressive December 17 results and it is encourag- December 18 Teletrac Navman ing to see Holden offer such a market leader, Lexus in high- a strong safety performer Electrification tech road safety in this competitive family overtaking internal report says SUV segment,” ANCAP chief partnership executive, James Goodwin combustion Teletrac Navman is being says. recognised as the largest tele- Lexus Australia will partner Half of Australia’s new car matics provider in Australia the Victorian Government in a AADA welcomes buyers are “seriously consid- and New Zealand in a recent two-year trial of connected- government’s ering” a hybrid. report. vehicle technology aimed at According to Roy Morgan Swedish-based market reducing road trauma. code of conduct research, over a third (36.2%) research firm Berg Insight Telstra and Lexus Australia commitment of new car buyers are also has named Teletrac Navman will undertake the Advanced increasingly curious about as the dominant provider in Connected Vehicles Vic- A promise to introduce an getting themselves into a the region with more than toria (ACV2) trial to test Automotive Code of Conduct fully-electric car. 100,000 active units – twice cellular-based communica- that will regulate the relation- as large as its nearest com- tions technology designed ship between OEMs and new Finance changes petitors. to reduce traffic accidents car dealers is being welcomed impacting on while managing traffic flow by the Australian Automotive ANCAP praises to reduce congestion, fuel consumers Dealer Association (AADA). New car dealer financiers consumption and emissions. 2018’s most The release of the 2018-19 have to change tactics as a Mid-Year Economic and Fis- crashworthy Large SUVs score result of new regulations gov- cal Outlook (MYEFO) shows erning the deals being offered The Mercedes-Benz A-Class five stars that government will develop to consumers. was the safest vehicle to be The Acadia impressed across the code as part of its sup- Speaking to Macquarie crashed in Australasian New the range of assessment areas port for small business. Media’s Chris Isley on 6PR Car Assessment Program test- with high scores for Adult in recently, dealership ing in 2018. Occupant Protection (94%), All the HOT NEWS finance expert Stephen John- Child Occupant Protection The entry-level A-Class every day son says consumers are not scored a profound 89.6% (87%), Vulnerable Road User as it happens being protected as the Aus- overall against 12 other vehi- Protection (74%) and Safety tralian Securities and Invest- cles rated by ANCAP in 2018. Assist (86%). ments Commission intended autotalk.com.au with the new laws.

THE DIARY AutoTalk New Zealand’s group high volume, high-risk state cautiously optimistic about editor Scott Morgan looks at the highways by 2021. how the alpha Takata airbag month gone by on autotalk.co.nz recall is progressing. The latest figures show 55,314 or 65% of all affected Extra space to accommodate December 18 vehicles have been repaired, December 3 parts has been created as while another 1555 have re- part of Toyota New Zealand’s New dealerships ceived an interim repair and Concerns over retail latest warehouse expansion added to HSV family 6461 have been deregistered. fuel price prompt in Palmerston North. It was officially opened New Zealand’s latest HSV stud last week with dignitaries, dealerships have sprung up local neighbours and the lo- in South Auckland and the December 21 Retail fuel will be the first cal school in attendance. Manawatu. sector investigated as part of Manukau dealership Davie Conference to the Commerce Commission’s Motors Holden and Robert- explain how to new “market study” model. December 17 son Holden in Palmerston reduce emissions Prime Minister Jacinda North have added the HSV Ardern and commerce and New road safety Colorado Sportscaster, Reducing New Zealand’s consumer affairs minister Kris Chevrolet Camaro and Sil- Faafoi announced the market package unveiled emissions will step up in verado models to their range 2019, with transport expected study, after giving the com- of new cars. mission new powers to look A $1.4 billion, three-year to play a key role as more at parts of the market which programme to make New zero emissions vehicles be- are of particular concern. Zealand’s highest risk roads come available. safer will save lives, the gov- December 19 So expert local and inter- national speakers will talk ernment says. Alpha airbag recall December 10 The Safe Network Pro- about how to make emis- gramme will see improve- repairs hit 65% sions reductions at the Ener- Toyota NZ opens ments like median and side gy Management Association barriers, rumble strips, and Commerce and consumer of New Zealand (EMANZ) Warehouse shoulder widening intro- affairs minister Kris Faafoi is conference in Wellington on expansion duced to 870 kilometres of May 29 and 30.

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

Scania to rebuild on 2018

cania Australia says 2018 at the Brisbane Truck Show in 2019,” should’ve been a bumper year for he says. Sthe Scandinavian truck and bus Janssen says he’s not expecting brand, were it not for some rotten luck. Euro 6 priorities to change at the next The business says it is getting its election either, citing the industry’s groove back after a factory industrial necessity for cost reduction as the strike in mid-2018 saw production of Dean Dal Santo, Mikael Jansson, Sca- main driver of environmental change. the V8 engine block come to a halt and Scania sales director nia managing director “I’m not sure on this course of action, strangled supply to eager Australian politically it remains to be seen when customers. back to Asia,” he says, lamenting just Euro 6 will become mandatory,” he says. TransportTalk was hosted by Scania 69 units sold in December. “Big transport companies will stand- for a media lunch where sales direc- Despite the setbacks, Scania manag- ardise Euro 6 long before it becomes tor Dean Dal Santo says the brand ing director Mikael Jansson says 2019 regulation, I suspect.” could’ve had a stellar 2018 were it not will be a much better year for sales and Asked whether an industry-wide or for the supply drama which resulted the brand’s ongoing pursuit of sustain- manufacturer-led buy-back scheme in a total 2018 sales tally of just 891 – ability. would help small fleets replace their finishing the brand in 11th place. “On top of our 200 new-generation old trucks with newer, cleaner, more “We could’ve been looking at trucks operating right now, we have a economically equitable trucks, Janssen between 1250 and 1300 sales were it very good order book for 2019, we are is somewhat on the fence. not for the engine issue, although it ramping up our supply. Such programmes exist in India as wasn’t entirely the whole source of “The market in Australia is booming, of last year, and Clean Air Asia started the modest numbers,” he says. which is a good thing considering we a scrappage and retrofit programme “The other factor is the global have one of the oldest truck fleets in back in 2009 giving drivers $5000 or a demand was quite high, which made the world,” Jansson explains. trade-in valuation to put towards a new the effects of the engine supply more “I’m surprised to see Euro Zero trucks truck purchase. profound,” Dal Santo explains. still running around in city centres, with “Asian countries have bottom-up Not only was it the new and used no exhaust treatments whatsoever.” buy-back or scraping programmes, but vehicle importers copping the wrath Janssen says the brand remains before going that far, we think there’s of stink bug quarantine in 2018, so too dedicated to its Euro 6 advocacy, say- a profitable business case there for just was Scania, falling victim to the dread- ing, “we’re not waiting for legislation getting a new truck,” he says. ed stink bug season, sharing a ship with because Euro 6 is an important step”, “There’s already great incentive in vehicles carrying the pesky pests. but he observes where the priority affordability, economy and efficiency “We recently had about 130-140 seems to be for the rest of the industry. for replacing the oldest trucks on the units on their way here when stink “If safety is the priority, sustainability road for new ones with more power, bugs were detected on the ship and is not in Australia, which is why we’re better reliability and superior com- the whole vessel was forced to head revealing our hybrid truck technology fort,” Janssen concludes.

TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 19 TRANSPORTTALK

WA to lower 110 zones?

he Western Australian govern- lessen the severity of crashes. of the night. The incident has the WA ment could make the state’s The Australian Trucking Association police minister Michelle Roberts look- Tlong-distance highway routes says the speed reduction won’t drasti- ing into underbelly lighting for trucks much longer by reducing 110km/h cally affect light, medium or heavy and trailers to make them luminous at zones. truck drivers who are speed-restricted. night in the event of future rollovers. It’s one of many tactics that could “WA government’s consideration Also, road safety minister Michelle lower the state’s road toll, which at for dropping the speed limit would not Roberts says she won’t rule out lower- the end of 2018 stands at 158 people affect truck driver fatigue, as trucks are ing the speed limit in WA. killed on WA roads – including 59 in speed limited to 100 km/h,” ATA spokes- “Nothing can be off the table, but metro areas and 99 on rural roads – is person Emily Mills tells TransportTalk. before any decisions are made, we just three less than 2017. “Therefore, the potential decrease want to make sure we consult as Martin Small Consulting has won the in the maximum speed limit would widely as possible,” she tells the local contract to model ’s have no impact on compliant truck- media outlet. next road safety strategy by presenting ing operations, only light vehicles,” she Vice-president of the Australasian the effect various road safety measures explains. College of Road Safety, Martin Small, could have on reducing fatal and seri- It’s debatable whether limiting the is now an adviser for the next WA road ous injury numbers. speed of light vehicles to the same as safety strategy and was a crucial influ- A spokesperson for the Road Safety heavy trucks could make overtaking ence in the South Australian govern- Commission in WA tells TransportTalk, more difficult and potentially more ment’s reduction of 700km-worth of “There are currently no plans to reduce dangerous with cars remaining in truck 110km/h zones to 100km/h. the default speed limit in regional West- blind spots for longer. ern Australia from 110km/h to 100 km/h.” In the black of night in early Octo- “On behalf of the Road Safety Coun- ber last year, car driver Darren Beer cil, the Road Safety Commission will driving his car slammed into the belly consult with the community and or- of an overturned B-double at 110km/h ganisations to gather a broad range of on the Eyre Highway along the Nul- views regarding road safety measures. labor, some 12 hours drive from Perth. “This input will provide the Road Martin Small, Australasian College of Road Safety. Safety Council with information to guide the development of the recom- mended strategy beyond 2020,” she “Relatively speaking, very few roads says. are safe at this (110km/h) speed,” Small A seemingly small reduction in tells PerthNow. speed could add significant time to “It typically requires restricting ac- long-distance routes across WA for cess, roadside and central barriers, and light commercial vehicles and vans, flyovers at every junction.” worsen fleet management’s fight Darren Beer’s crash in a 110km/h. Small says re-designing the vast against driver fatigue and have a distances of 110km/h roads in WA financial impact on businesses whose would be impractical and exorbitantly time is valuable. The 46-year-old broke his foot, his expensive, so lowering the speed limit Or, a marginally reduced speed limit elbow, kneecaps and fractured ribs as would be a more conducive option. could have positive consequences “Out of nowhere, [with] not time to “Whether in regional or urban against the likelihood of run-off-road react” he hit the upturned truck head areas, safe speed limits should match crashes, vehicle-to-vehicle crashes on, the ABC reported. the design and function of the road, and reduced wear and tear on vehicles, The truck had been attempting a and the capability of vehicles to tyres, brakes, fuel costs and wear and U-turn 30 minutes prior when it rolled protect all road users in the event of tear on road surfaces. It would also and blocked the highway in the middle driver error,” Small adds.

20 | TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 TRANSPORTTALK Esso challenges union on industrial action

sso Australia is challenging the Esso Australia – an ExxonMobil Australian Workers’ Union for Australia subsidiary – claims the Etens of millions in compensation AWU’s actions stifled the company’s for industrial action which hampered joint venture with BHP Billiton Petro- oil and gas production. leum to produce oil and gas products. The AWU is being sought for $44 “The applicants claim that as a result million in lost productivity in the Federal of the contraventions, a scheduled Court, with the claim alleging unpro- restart of the Longford plant following a tected industrial action such as em- planned maintenance shutdown was de- ployee stoppages in March 2015 caused layed,” Justice Michael Wheelahan says. bil’s key plants, with the completion of the company delays and caused the “The consequence [was] that there last year’s Longford Gas Conditioning Longford plant’s two-week shutdown. was an impairment of the joint venture’s Plant processing gas produced from the Among the stoppages, the Fair Work ability to produce oil and gas,” he says. $5.5 billion Kipper Tuna Turrum offshore Commission at the time ordered the Justice Wheelahan has ordered oil and gas platform in Bass Strait. AWU to stop organising the ban on the AWU to allow discovery of 42,295 The plant upgrade, which created testing the performance of various electronic documents supplied by over 800 jobs - 90% from the Gipps- facility systems such as air freeing, leak the union to its legal team, for further land region - enabled the processing testing and manipulation of bleeder examination in the ongoing case. of 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas to sup- valves to those systems, which it didn’t. Longford remains one of ExxonMo- ply the east coast of Australia. Freightliners hit the road

JM Transport has put six shiny bourne to Adelaide and Gundagai. new Freightliner Argoy 101 prime They’re the first Freighliners for Amovers into action. the family-owned AJM which runs Daimler Trucks Newcastle has made a 50-strong fleet with a number of Dennis Roohan, AJM Kevin Purcell, New- delivery of the Cummins-powered Cummins-powered Kenworth bon- Transport. Image: castle Commercial haulers developed in partnership with neted and cab-over trucks in the LinkedIn Vehicles. AJM for unique applications of Eaton company’s industry-famous blue hue. Ultrashift transmissions. AJM Transport general manager Den- longer term vehicle ownership to the The first-of-their-kind Freightliners nis Roohan says cost was not the only Agility programme while retaining their not only feature locally dealer-fitted deciding factor in going Freightliner. preferred engines and drivelines,” Purcell 3.73:1 diff ratios, but also the Cummins “Price is obviously a factor but it says. Downspeed engine specification using doesn’t dictate what we buy,” he says “This will allow them to minimise the 550 horsepower and 2770Nm to maxi- on LinkedIn. need for engine and driveline rebuilds mum compression braking potential. “Overall whole of life cost and af- and the associated downtime while still The AJM Transport business which is tersales support are just as if not more maintaining the benefits of low finance looking for permanent and casual MC important.”. costs.” drivers, will put as many as 300,000km “We are really looking forward to the Purcell says AJM will also have the of B-double work on the new Freight- journey with Newcastle Commercial added surety of the Freightliner four- liners every year, moving up to 65 Vehicles and Daimler,” he adds. year 800,000km drivetrain warranty. tonnes of cargo up and down the NSW Dealer principal Kevin Purcell says “It will also eliminate the risk of the Central Coast, and to and from Mel- AJM are in good hands not only with future resale value of the prime movers the Freightliner brand, but by guaranteeing the buyback amount under financing with Agility at the start of the ownership period,” Finance, which will allow the he adds. business to upgrade vehicles Newcastle Commercial Vehicles more regularly. also holds franchises with Iveco, Fuso, “We were able to show Mercedes-Benz, Hino, Higer, Jac them the benefits of mov- Trucks and LDV brands, with a deal- ing from traditional purchase ership in both Newcastle and Coffs and financing methods and Harbour.

TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 21 TRANSPORTTALK

Isuzu celebrates dominant 2018

suzu Australia Limited has reported 1845-strong result of 2017, and it was a dominant 2018 year of sales by a similar story for the chrome bulldog Ifinishing as the highest seller across badge, which managed 1134 sales in nearly all market segments. 2018 – an impressive 108 additional Kenworth remains the best-selling sales on 2017’s figure of 1026. heavy duty truck in Australia, with Scania vows to fight back in 2019 2946 units massively improved on its after a lacklustre year which saw fac- 2355 total sales of 2017, but Isuzu still tory delays and stink bug boat stop- Volvo Trucks had a bumper 2018. managed a cheeky second place with pages result in just 69 units sold in 1858 heavies sold in 2018 and 184 in December and 891 for the year – rel- December alone. egated to seventh place behind Fuso Isuzu has soared past its 2017 ef- for the month and 11th for the year. forts with an astounding 10,027 trucks Light duty sales victory again goes finding their way onto highways, into to Isuzu, selling 4862 units for the year laneways, beside the docks, unloading and 476 units in December, keeping in drop-off zones and ticking cool in Hino to second on 2850 yearly units, Kenworth keeps its King of the Road depots across the country in 2018. Fuso in third with 2474 yearly units, and crown in 2018. Isuzu has also smashed its De- Iveco achieving fourth thanks to 1179 cember 2017 sales efforts of 752 with yearly units sold to beat Fiat on 650. truck and van sales broke through the a perfect 200 extra units sold last And in light duty vans, the 2018 gold 40,000 mark for the first time,” he says month, making a December 2018 total goes to Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter and of the 41,628 final sales figure. of 952 trucks hitting the road. Vito, which trounced the competition “Heavy and light trucks as well as Meanwhile, in a humbled second with 2547 yearly sales and 150 for De- van sales set new, whole-of-year sale place overall was Hino on 447 De- cember, beating Renault’s 1278 yearly records and the light truck segment in cember units and 5646 for the year, and 98 December Trafic and Master particular showed no sign of slow- and Fuso a close third on 403 for sales, Fiat’s 525 yearly and 45 Decem- ing growth over the 12 months of the December and 4302 - figures from ber Ducato sales, Ford’s 727 yearly year,” McMullan jeers. both brands managing to eclipse their Transit sales, Volkswagen’s 503 yearly However, it’s not all roses for the December 2017 monthly and total and 26 December Crafter and Trans- industry ahead of even more Canber- 2017 figures respectively. porter sales, and Iveco’s 365 yearly and ran instability to come in 2019. In the heavy duty segment, Volvo 25 December daily sales. “If there is a concern to be taken Trucks Australia with 141 sales last Truck industry council chief execu- from the numbers in 2018, it is the month fell 55 units short of its 196 tive Tony McMullan noticeable slowing of the heavy and tally in December 2017, and along says the 2018 record medium truck and the van segments in with sister brand Mack on 105 which sales finish was un- the final quarter of 2018,” he explains. pulverised its 93 sales of December doubtedly a highlight “This trend and the business confi- 2017 with help from some gutsy fleet for the industry’s year. dence uncertainty that always accom- sales to Hanson concrete, both still “By setting a new panies a Federal Government election managed to hold Mercedes-Benz to 82 all-time sales record points to a receding new truck sales heavy duty sales in December and 1097 for new truck sales market in 2019,” McMullan warns. Tony McMullan, for the year, held to fifth place by Volvo in Australia, finally “My hope is, that should this eventu- Truck Industry and Mack. Council. eclipsing the pre-GFC ate, the drop in sales will be minimal Volvo stamped a massive 2018 with peak set in 2007, it and that the second half of 2019 will 2138 sales for the year demolishing its was equally pleasing to see that new see the market in recovery.”

22 | TRANSPORTTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 EVTALK EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU EVTALK.COM.AU

AUSTRALIA’S NEWS SOURCE FOR ELECTRIC, INTELLIGENT AND AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION

Public EV charging at Jax

ustralian tyre and mechani- zero-emission targets. will be equipped as well, ensuring they cal servicing business Jax Tyres Jax Tyres has a very can continue to serve customers into Ahas launched its first free public solid service network the future. electric car charging station. through our best-in- “We’re very excited to be a part of The station at 98 Logan Road, class franchisees and Jax’s plans for a sustainable future,” Woolloongabba, in South Brisbane, longstanding relation- EVolution chief executive officer Rus- is part of a 2019 nation-wide roll-out ship with our trusted sell Shepherd says. by Jax to future-proof its 86 stores in Steve Gross- group of global top “Drivers will be able to charge their partnership with electric car utilities rieder, Jax ranked brand suppliers cars either as Jax customers or as Tyres CEO experts EVolution. including EVolution,” passers-by. Furthermore, and unique The company says this will be the he says. to Jax Tyres, any electric vehicle will first station for a tyre or mechanical “Choosing the right partner is criti- be topped up via portable chargers store in Australia as the industry adapts cal and EVolution has the expertise while being serviced.” to technology changes disrupting the and access to the best quality equip- The public Jax charging network will automotive market, including new types ment on the market. comprise a combination of Charge- of fuel and energy storage solutions. “Through this relationship, Jax Tyres Amps Aura Dual Port AC 22kW EVSEs Diversification is good for the auto- will keep its position as a leading in- and Tritium DC fast chargers. motive industry, and that Jax Tyres is novative technology driven retailer and “Once complete this will be the larg- ahead of the market in providing solu- our commitment to delivering market est retail-based EV charging network in tions for customers, its chief executive leading customer services.” Australia,” Shepherd says. officer Steve Grossrieder says. Grossrieder confirms the diversifica- “All charging will be ‘free forever’ “We need agility to service all tion strategy will continue throughout and accessible without the need for a technologies moving forward, es- 2019 and that new Jax Tyres stores in swipe card or mobile phone app.” pecially in the automotive race to South Australia and Western Australia

Batteries and hydrogen: Evolving from the ICE age

Continued from page 11 in the UQ study, noting that BEVs can’t In terms of industry and academia, few short years. cover all mobility needs due to range let’s apply a longer-term view beyond What’s clear is that Australia’s future restrictions. what product, pricing and energy transport fleet will be electric and Hydrogen Mobility Australia has composition is available in the Austral- powered by renewable energy. How- therefore been calling upon govern- ian market today and think strategically ever, we’ll need a range of solutions ments to implement a technology about how we introduce the technolo- to help us achieve reduced emissions neutral approach in their development gies that best optimise our renewable across the entire transport spectrum of policy and regulations and let the energy future. – passenger and commercial vehicles, market decide which vehicle technol- And this is the electric drivetrain – marine and aviation. ogy best meets their lifestyle, usage be it hydrogen or battery generated. This point is in fact acknowledged and application area.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 23 EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU

Watt to expect in 2019

his year the world’s carmakers Hyundai Kona Electric have big plans to bring all-new Telectric models to market, some in Australia and plenty overseas. Four fully-electric cars arrived on the Australian market in 2018 in the form of Hyundai Ioniq, Renault Zoe, Jaguar’s I-Pace and BMW i3s, as well as Fuel cell is gaining momentum. hybrid models from Toyota, Mercedes, Mitsubishi and Volvo. So here they are, the high-voltage range and will be the cure to irrational Hyundai e-Kona coming soon. vehicles teased, promised and a poten- range anxiety for those still timid of tial possibility of a definite maybe to hit battery EVs and, providing the National the roads. We know the Kiwis already have it, Hydrogen Strategy comes to fruition, as do the electric-loving Norwegians; could see Hyundai the industry leader Nissan Leaf and having ridden in one over the Auto in actually putting their money and Nissan Australia unveiled and teased Media Group Christmas break, the models where their PR mouth is. the hell out of the coming-to-a-deal- 400km-plus “e-Kona”, could be a red If it’s good enough for chief scientist er-near-you Leaf in Q3 last year, with hot seller. Dr Andrew Finkel to say hydrogen, our no pricing or a confirmed date – but It’s got all the silky power delivery next “multibillion dollar export”, with Osher Gunsberg loves it. and comfort of an EV, in the small SUV “appropriate safeguards, is just as safe We know it’ll come with a therea- architecture which is already one of as natural gas, and just as convenient bouts range of 270km, will be Type 2 the most popular categories on the for consumers”, then you can bet car- charger compatible and will be avail- market. makers will follow the breadcrumbs. able in stock from all 89 Nissan dealers, If the federal and state governments whom will sell from “mid-2019”. need any more convincing that elec- Kia Niro Only the upper echelon of motor- tric vehicles are here, and they need ing media have driven it - and Osher infrastructure, the Kona and its band of Gunsberg of course - and we expect a dancing car wash flappers need to do sub-50K price tag to compete with the donuts and break-dancing on top of Hyundai Ioniq. parliament house.

Hyundai Nexo fuel cell The ACT government should be tak- ing delivery of the first mass-produced Niro is nearly here. fuel cell vehicle in Australia this year, as part of its windfarm project, and there is growing interest in the infrastructure With DNA from the Kona/Ioniq, Niro Nissan Leaf is around the corner. potential of hydrogen refuelling. will use the same 64kWh battery pack The Nexo offers well over 600km of Continued on page 25

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Continued from page 24 with roughly 500km of range will be the second pure-electric vehicle for the Korean brand after the overseas- only Soul EV. Niro hybrid and EV are already on sale in the States and South Korea, and was designed in alt-fuel loving Cali- fornia. Niro EV is expected to arrive in What’s in a name? Australia at the end of the year with something like a $60,000 price tag. Best of all, however, the Niro EV options. Europe and the US will get in Europe. It will, however, apparently, – common sense would surmise – their orders first, no doubt, although be the first of something like 27 new should be offered with Kia’s rockstar you won’t be doing that through a typi- EV models to come to fruition for the seven-year warranty. Being able to cal Audi dealer, instead having to wait German auto giant. come to a complete stop using just after ordering online. one pedal will be a certain party piece. But the biggest story here isn’t the wonky sales strategy that alludes to a Tesla Model 3 mid-2019 Aussie arrival, or the 95kWh battery pack, the 30-minute 80% recharge time, nor those ultra-modern design cues. Translating its name from French is the awkward bit owners will never forget. VW diehards will want the ID they can’t have. Mercedes-Benz EQC Those European IDs will begin pre- orders in March. Surely one of those Tesla’s affordable EV is imminent. future 27 models will come to Australia. Right, Volkswagen? The company may have had setback after production delay over controver- Porsche Taycan sy following the financial report, but in 2019 the Model 3 – Tesla’s full-blown Electric Benz is inbound. everyman’s electric passenger car – will arrive for its patient, passionate owners to finally take home. Built in Alabama so that Trumpy Those teasing buggers at Tesla Aus- can’t wreak havoc on taxing Mercedes- tralia previewed three left-hook Model Benz’s first proper EV, the EQC will be 3s in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on sale in Europe in a matter of weeks. Porsche wants to boldly sell 20,000 Taycans. in August last year for reservation hold- Weirdly enough, the US market will ers to get their first glimpse of, and this have to wait another six months, or year their resolve will be rewarded. even as long as 2020 before they see Finally declaring the Tesla Model S We still don’t officially know what the three-pointed star plugging into would have a market rival, it was (argu- owners are paying for a Model 3, but the wall box or fast-charger on a Cali- ably) always going to be Porsche that for the majority, It’s only a number. It fornian streetscape somewhere. put the American electric sports car in its has only been driven by the company’s As for us, Mercedes-Benz Australia fadenkreuze - German for “crosshairs”. local senior marketing manager, Heath Pacific says EQC, of which the EQ part Once again, it’ll be everyone else Walker and a few select lucky few in stands for “electric intelligence”, “will that gets the questionably-named Tay- the media. But the proof will be when be launched in the SUV segment soon can before Down Under. The question owners finally get behind the wheel. in Australia”. is how long Australia will have to wait for it in right-hand drive. Don’t expect Audi e-Tron Volkswagen ID one before Christmas. An Audi Quattro with electric-vehi- Rising from the Dieselgate ashes, Porsche says it’s their most impor- cle torque in a five-seat SUV configura- VW is a sure thing to come back bigger, tant car of 2019 as the brand cel- tion and a range of up to 400km. That’s better and with even more potential ebrates 70 years. “More than half of the one helluva a recipe. to be the world’s top auto brand once people that are signing up for the Tay- Getting one’s hands on an e-Tron again. And it starts with EVs. can have not owned or do not own a is expected to set Aussies back about Except the Golf-based ID electric Porsche,” says Porsche North American $125,000, and that’s probably before hatch will apparently only be available president Klaus Zellmer. Says a lot.

AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019 | 25 EVTALK EVTALK.COM.AU

EV sales short circuit Infiniti’s electric SUV QX Inspiration concept.

ational electric vehicle (EV) Hybrids showed a massive jump in Light commercial private electrics sales have hit the wall. the private passenger sector with 488 went from zero to two in both the N Sales of new electrics are recorded in December 2018 – up 304 December and YTD figures. struggling, with hybrids showing on the December 2017 figure of 184. No change was shown in the non- slightly better gains in newly released And YTD figures shows 4101 in 2018 private light commercial electric seg- VFACTS figures. compared with 2403 in 2017 – a 1698 ment for the two Decembers – both That’s a reflection of the “challeng- increase. at zero, although YTD totals reveal 14 ing” economic conditions during 2018, Electrics in the non-private passen- for 2018 compared with just one in affecting new vehicle sales generally, the ger segment had a slight drop between 2017. motor industry’s statistical service says in the two Decembers – down nine from All-in-all, hybrids are outperform- releasing December results on January 4. 38 in December 2017 to 29 in Decem- ing electrics in nearly all the catego- The challenging climate includes ber 2018. However, YTD figures show ries covered, often by a considerable a slowing housing market, tightened an increase of 80 over the two years – amount. money lending and drought, accord- from 321 in 2017 to 401 in 2018. That may reflect model availability, ing to Federal Chamber of Automotive Hybrids also did well in the non-pri- price, distances, the as yet incomplete Industries (FCAI) chief executive Tony vate passenger category. Sales soared EV charging infrastructure and other Weber. from 427 in December 2017 to 1087 factors. SUVs are increasing in popularity in in December 2018 – a 660 jump. And More longer range electric SUVs and the general vehicle market, and this is YTD totals show hybrids went from utes might help close the gap, judging also shown in the electric private SUV 7390 in 2017 to 8627 last year – up from the popularity of general top sell- segment where 23 sales were recorded 1237. ers the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. in December compared with 13 for the same month in 2017. Non-private electric SUV sales remained the same NEW VEHICLE SALES BY BUYER TYPE AND FUEL TYPE DECEMBER 2018 at 30 for December 2018 and 30 for Month YTD Variance +/- Vol. & % December the previous year. Year-to-date (YTD) sales were up for Total Market 2018 2017 2018 2017 MTH YTD MTH YTD SUVs in both categories – 195 in 2018 ELECTRIC compared with 186 in 2017 for private Passenger 17 11 245 191 6 54 54.5% 28.3% electrics (up nine), and 495 compared Private Passenger to 425 for non-private electrics (up 70). 29 38 401 321 -9 80 -23.7% 24.9% Private hybrid SUVs recorded a drop Non-Private SUV Private 23 13 195 186 10 9 76.9% 4.8% of nine on December 2017 (53) with SUV Non- 30 30 495 425 0 70 0.0% 16.5% December 2018 coming in at 44, while Private YTD sales were up 50 from 604 to 654. Light Com- Non-private new hybrid SUV sales mercial Non- 0 0 14 1 0 13 - >999% totalled 81 for December 2018 – up Private Sub Total 94 104 1,149 921 -10 228 -9.6% 24.8% 30 on December 2017’s 51, while YTD HYBRID figures show a 134 jump on last year Passenger 488 184 4,101 2,403 304 1,698 165.2% 70.7% with 946 recorded in 2018 compared Private with 812 in 2017. Passenger 1,087 427 8,627 7,390 660 1,237 154.6% 16.7% In other categories, private pas- Non-Private senger electrics were marginally up in SUV Private 44 53 654 604 -9 50 -17.0% 8.3% SUV Non- December 2018, recording 17 com- 81 51 946 812 30 134 58.8% 16.5% Private pared with 11 in December 2017, while Sub Total 1,700 715 14,328 11,209 985 3,119 137.8% 27.8% YTD totals show 245 in 2018 – 54 up TOTAL 1,794 819 15,477 12,130 975 3,347 119.0% 27.6% on 2017’s 191.

26 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JANUARY 2019