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www.autofile.co.nz MAY 2020 THE TRUSTED VOICE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS Businesses warned Partnerships for to follow guidelines over 30 years Association urges operators not to let the automotive industry – and New Zealand – down by breaching alert level-three regulations p 16 ar dealers need to stick to the government’s Covid-19 rules for operating at Calert level three or risk facing Dealers celebrate enforcement action. success pre-Covid Worse still, those breaking the law may contribute to an unwelcomed return to national Industry solves level-four lockdown as the plates issue automotive industry is working hard to prepare for level two. “It’s essential for everyone in Strict processes for sanitising vehicles, including touchpoints shown in this Mitsubishi Motors all parts of our industry and its NZ illustration, must be followed by all car dealers to avoid the spread of Covid-19 p 21 supply chain to take no shortcuts when it comes to processes,” says trace, vehicle cleaning and sticking sales, with Everett describing the Tony Everett, sector manager to isolation protocols. latter as having been “quiet”. Check out new p 23 for dealers at the Motor Trade “We have yet to hear of any “The feedback we’ve received models released Association (MTA). widespread enforcement action from members is they’re happy “If we drop the ball on this, being taken by the likes of the to have seen the relaxation in everything we have endured will Ministry for Business, Innovation the level of lockdown,” he told have been a massive waste of time and Employment, WorkSafe NZ and Autofile. “There has been a small and resources. the police, but failure to comply increase in sales under level three “Our message to all businesses with prescribed operating standards compared to level four, although Drivers take to p 24 is please check and double-check could result in a forced shutdown.” a lot of the activity has been the everyone in your team knows the Dealerships have reaped some delivery of cars ordered before the online racing processes, and rehearses the steps benefits from last month’s shift to national shutdown.” so everyone follows operating alert level three, but it’s the vehicle When it comes to new-vehicle guidelines – especially when it repair side of businesses that has franchises, they are mainly relying comes to the likes of track and boosted cashflow and not vehicle on servicing and parts, “but we aren’t [continued on page 4] GLOBAL VEHICLE LOGISTICS NZ - JAPAN - AUSTRALIA - UK - EUROPE Tel: +64 9 825 0888 www.jacanna.co.nz guest editorial Up for challenge DIRECTORS EDITOR Brian McCutcheon Darren Risby [email protected] [email protected] posed by crisis ph. 021 455 775 JOURNALISTS Darren Wiltshire Sue Brebner-Fox Business NZ’s advocacy informed by industry [email protected] [email protected] ph. 021 0284 7428 and lessons learned from global financial crisis Matthew Lowe [email protected] DESIGNER MOTORSPORT s we move Like today, the Adrian Payne [email protected] Mark Baker towards lighter government in 2008 was [email protected] restrictions under focused on supporting Autofile magazine is also available online as a readable file or downloadable as a PDF. Athe official Covid-19 plan, business through Subscriptions are available at Autofile Online – www.autofile.co.nz. Back copies are also available on the website. now is the time to reopen the crisis and getting Copyright: Published monthly by 4Media Ltd, PO Box 6222, Dunedin 9059. or reorganise. recovery under way. And All statements made, although based on information believed to be Currently, businesses – similar to today – the accurate and reliable, cannot be guaranteed, and no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Reproduction of Autofile in print or may operate as long as government has listened KIRK HOPE digital format in whole or part without written permission, whether by copying or any other means, is strictly forbidden. they can do so safely. CEO, Business NZ hard to what business has “Safely” means complying had to say. All rights reserved. ISSN 0112-3475 (print) ISSN 2350-3181 (online) with the Health and Safety at Business NZ has been able Work Act by ensuring an adequate to propose some initiatives to DIGITAL VERSION ONLY system is in place to mitigate reduce the burden on business We are conscious of the need to support our readers, advertisers, industry risks, involving everyone in the resulting from the Covid-19 and those working to protect it. workplace. “Safely” now also means crisis. Our advocacy has been While in Covid-19 alert level three, we have decided to produce the May specific requirements around informed by many automotive issue of Autofile in digital format only. This avoids putting extra pressure on businesses involved in publishing and distribution. matters such as social distancing, sector companies, and by affiliate We look forward to returning to business as usual as soon as we can. barriers and hygiene. members including the Motor Thank you for your continued support. The coronavirus crisis has brought Industry Association and Motor a suite of new health and safety rules Trade Association. It has also for business in a rapidly changing incorporated lessons from the GFC. emergency environment, and this Over the past two months, we will continue to be the “new normal” have advised the government on for at least the next few months. the need for cashflow support for Vehicle Inspection NZ Within the diverse automotive businesses, wage subsidies, easier sector, businesses are responding access to credit, business rent relief, in different ways. Many operators, work-visa extensions and more Entry Certification deeply connected to international appropriate rules around trading supply chains, will feel the impact while insolvent – all of which Specialists in import delays. Other companies became apparent during the GFC. will be more affected by trading Most of these recommendations conditions here in New Zealand. have been actioned and the Some will find trading impossible government continues to listen under current requirements, while closely to business as we slowly others will continue to operate but come out of this emergency. feel the impact of low demand and I think the most relevant lesson insufficient cashflow. we can take from the GFC was All businesses will need to that we survived it. Changes were deal with uncertainty and lack of made as we took stock of the adequate information. They will changed economic environment need to make rapid changes. and reinvented and reorganised We are all in the same boat businesses, a process estimated to when it comes to trying to make have taken about five years. sense of the situation and seeking We don’t know how long the to reorganise for the future. recovery from Covid-19 might take, The upheaval taking place is but we do know that companies are • Entry Certification for imported cars • Vehicle Appraisals • Pre-Purchase Inspections • WoF • CoF • Road User Charges new to most of us. The closest still up for the challenge of renewal • Registration & relicensing • Exhaust emission testing thing to it was perhaps the global and change. New Zealand businesses financial crisis (GFC) of 2008, at have been impressive in their least in terms of uncertainty and response to the crisis so far, inspiring 0800 GO VINZ VINZ.CO.NZ Tel: +64 9 825 0888 scale of economic destruction. confidence for our future. www.jacanna.co.nz www.autofile.co.nz 3 news [continued from page 1] getting a sense of much in the way of sales inquiry coming through”. “Other than dealing with back orders, business opportunities may remain scarce unless the rules are relaxed to level two and buyer Subaru of NZ has launched its Subaru Safe confidence returns. These are campaign to protect staff and customers. Get up to speed with what other new-vehicle distributors difficult times for everyone. are doing by reading the story on page 35 “Franchise dealerships are more diverse by having service and parts business streams, but have higher staff levels. They also face demands from their franchisor partners. “On the other hand, used-car traders operate simpler models is the big one, especially for small information, have been well- yet don’t have alternative income independents, as well as doing received by dealer members. sources. Upsides for them include enough business to support staff “This saves our members from Set for talks fewer staff and less operating and cashflow. Operating costs having to sift through multiple The MTA is hoping to open a overheads. They are also free to must still be covered by revenue sources. Our work on this means dialogue with the government on stimulating consumer make their own decisions.” that comes in. As for the supply they can focus on their own plans demand. That said, Everett adds chain, that has been holding up and implementation. We’ve also Greig Epps, advocacy and operators in both sectors – new well considering government provided guidance on human strategy manager, says this may and used – need to read the market restraints in place.” resources and have answered include pushing for a generous and assess values. If prices drop, The MTA has provided dealers’ questions on legal issues. scrappage scheme linked to the purchase of newer vehicles, everyone will struggle to make a operational guidance for Covid-19 These have included property rents and incentives for buying fuel- profit. Then the pressure will be on level-three compliance. Feedback and the completion of business efficient cars or perhaps those to maintain values. indicates those resources, which initiated before lockdown.” with four or five-star safety “However, reading the market serve as useful one-stop-shop However, the situation is far from ratings.