THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE VOLUME 5 ISSUE 11 JUNE 2019
Industry loathes another ‘lux-tax’ he Australian Automotive Dealer Association, Federal TChamber of Automotive Industry reflects on Industries and the Victorian Au- tomobile Chamber of Commerce are scathing over the Victorian government’s luxury car tax. trumped election The AADA says the Victo- rian budget, which highlights a he Australian automotive industry we were trying to do $2.7 billion debt generated by a has responded with mixed feelings from the Shorten elec- transport infrastructure “blitz”, Tafter the Scott Morrison-led Coali- tion campaign were would unfairly tax vehicles over tion was reinstated as federal govern- worrying us, but they $100,000-retail and cost jobs. ment on May 18. were committed to an “I’ve had friends in dealerships The Australian Automotive Dealer automotive code and saying this could literally mean Association says despite what it thought we really appreciated cutting staff,” chief executive Da- was a sure Labor victory it is glad an- that,” he begins. David Blackhall, vid Blackhall tells AutoTalk. AADA other four years will see stable leader- “We were always The proposed luxury car tax ship and formed relationships on both happy to work with the ALP, but we’re would ask $14 duty for every $200 sides will remain intact. relatively comfortable with the outcome of market value on vehicles from Speaking to AutoTalk last week, de- and this result is probably going to be a $100,000-$150,000, and vehi- parting chief executive David Blackhall bit easier because of the differences in cles costing more than $150,000 says the AADA had almost resigned itself policy.” would incur $18 duty on the same to a Bill Shorten victory but is happy to Blackhall says the promises the ALP $200 market value rate. see a reshuffled Liberal/National govern- made to introduce serious emissions It would exempt low-emission ment staying put. reductions lacked gravitas. passenger cars, vehicles used “Some of the important bits of what Continued on page 3 by farmers in primary produc- tion and farming machinery. But INSIDE Blackhall says what seems like a Finance dividends post royal commission P4 small impost on the luxury seg- Dealer association chief departs for family P6 ment has massive consequences ANCAP says to industry; ‘don’t get comfy’ P9 for dealer bottom-lines. Used market vital for EV hybrid growth P10 4 9 Continued on page 13
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2 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Industry reflects on trumped election
Continued from page 1 it reflects a lack of polling technique that and Minister for regional services, decen- “Bill Shorten had no idea how he was fails to talk to the right people and misses tralisation and local government is Mark going to deliver 105g of CO2 per kilome- the millennial generation; they’d be chat- Coulton MP. tre for light vehicles,” he divulges. ting to my 90-something mother-in-law Also welcomed by the automotive “He said we’ll do it, without much in the middle of the day, not the younger and transport industries is assistant understanding of what that would mean generation out working,” he says. minister for road safety and freight for the industry, for consumers and for “Everybody got it wrong, which is transport Scott Buchholz, MP for regulations,” Blackhall says. pretty unnerving, but that’s politics,” Wright in Queensland’s south-east. Just this week Liberal MP and federal Blackhall adds. Australasian New Car Assessment energy minister Angus Taylor has been Michael McCormack, MP for Wagga, Program chair Wendy Machin, and described as “disgraceful” by the ALP remains deputy prime minister and Australian Automobile Association chief and Greens for failing to release Austral- minister for infrastructure, transport and executive Michael Bradley, were particu- ia’s official greenhouse emissions data. regional development; Simon Birming- larly pleased with the appointment of a Taylor, sworn into the new role at ham remains trade, tourism and invest- dedicated road safety minister. government house last week, missed ment minister; and Christian Porter MP “There are a number of key road safe- the Senate-enforced deadline to release is minister for industrial relations. ty challenges to face and this provides the December quarter emissions data by Josh Frydenberg remains treasurer clear national leadership,” she says. Friday, May 31. while Michael Sukkar, whose office “It is encouraging to see the impor- “This is a disgrace and shows total has made significant headway on a tance of road safety elevated with Scott disregard to the Australian people and dedicated automotive code of conduct Buchholz MP appointed ... We welcome Senate process,” The Guardian reports and supports the freeing up for service the continuation of Michael McCormack Labor climate and energy spokesman, and repair data access for independent MP as deputy prime minister and minister Mark Butler as saying. workshops, will continue as assistant for infrastructure, transport and regional Australia’s emissions have increased treasurer, as well as housing minister. development,” Machin adds. every year since 2015, with the Coalition MP David Littleproud remains water Bradley says the positioning of road government failing to slow them down. resources minister, while former infra- safety with the second-highest office in Melbourne Greens MP and climate structure minister Paul Fletcher moves the parliament and keeping pre-elec- spokesman, Adam Bandt says: “The to the communications portfolio as the tion promises bode well in the coming release of greenhouse pollution data automotive industry continues to inte- months and in years for reducing road should be automatic and free from min- grate with connected services, mobility trauma. isterial interference. and technology corporations, as well “Allocating Ministerial responsibility for “Emissions data should be no different as foreign giants like Google, Apple and infrastructure, roads and transport to the to other nationally significant data, which Microsoft. second-highest office holder in govern- gets released by the ABS like clockwork,” On the technology front, Karen An- ment is a big win for motorists who are he adds. drews MP will lead the industry, science looking forward to the re-elected Gov- Blackhall says the pre-election ALP and technology portfolio, while juxta- ernment rolling out its transport infra- missed out on connecting with the ma- posing sectors like the resources portfo- structure agenda,” Bradley explains. jority of Australians who are spread far lio keeps Matt Canavan, the aforemen- “Two voices at the cabinet table and wide, as well as the highly publicised tioned energy and emissions reduction through Michael McCormack and oversight of not working hard enough minister is Angus Taylor, and MP Sussan Alan Tudge, who have a large focus for Queensland votes, among others. Ley takes on the role as environment on transport infrastructure, is an ap- “They seriously misjudged who Mr minister. propriate demonstration of the priorities and Mrs middle Australia are – it’s not a Service managers in dealerships facing motorists and commuters across noisy left-wing minority of the Victorian across the country will want to get to Australia,” he says. Labor party – it was bad political judg- know employment, skills, small and fam- The 2019 federal budget promised ment,” Blackhall admits. ily business senator Michaelia Cash, and what the AAA describes as a “much- “But looking at the pollsters, someone assistant minister for vocational educa- needed” $29.6 billion investment in Canberra told me they were invented tion, training and apprenticeships, MP injection into transport infrastructure to make weather forecasters look good,” Steve Irons. and government commitment to direct he jokes. Minister for population, cities and more than half of Australia’s fuel excise “They missed the boat completely and urban infrastructure is Alan Tudge MP, back into land transport infrastructure.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 3 NEWSTALK
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EDITOR Financial lockdown Scott (Muzza) Murray [email protected] +61 426 365 774 pays dividends ONLINE EDITOR ustralia’s banking and financial Swynyn explains. Geoff Dobson services Royal Commission is “Online finance [email protected] turning up some unexpected con- also now gives deal- +64 21 881 823 A sumer and dealership finance benefits. ers an opportunity The automotive finance caper has to better respond to BUSINESS MANAGER seen the door slammed shut on flex customers and to Dale Stevenson commissions and the deadlock flicked gain and retain their [email protected] on unethical lending practices which put Paul Swynyn, loyalty and trust,” he +64 21 446 214 FICO consumers in economical strife. adds.
RECRUITMENT / But a new survey from global credit The survey also PRODUCTION SPECIALIST scoring firm FICO shows disenchanted found a 7% drop in online finance shop- Fran Da Silva Australians are finding trust with fran- ping in favour of a 14% swing to ap- [email protected] chised new car dealers where it was proaching the dealer directly. +64 21 933 279 lost by the banking giants. “It’s surprising when you find out According to their newly released people looking online say the biggest 2018-19 survey, Australian consumers factor that drove them to search online GROUP GENERAL MANAGER are more willing to turn to a dealership was convenience and speed,” Swynyn Deborah Baxter for financing their next new car, but bet- says. [email protected] ter yet, they’re increasingly interested in “We’ve seen this in the mortgage ap- +64 27 530 5016 doing it online too. plication process, where we have banks Consumers initiated finance in 83% of working entirely online now and will MANAGING EDITOR respondents, a jump from 75% in 2017, facilitate that process – people are look- Richard Edwards whereas only 18% responded to an offer ing to compare across multiple lenders, [email protected] from a bank, dealership or other source. they’re looking for convenience, speed +64 21 556 655 Interestingly, 35% say they would of decision – which makes it surprising also like to apply for their future vehicle so many have gone toward the dealer- PUBLISHER finance online via their smartphone or ship. Vern Whitehead laptop, equal with the 35% who would “We think a lot of that has to do with [email protected] still prefer the face-to-face interaction the Hayne-led banking Royal Com- +64 21 831 153 of applying for finance through the mission and the banks taking a beating Auto Media Group Limited makes dealership. about misconduct, so it could be back- every endeavour to ensure FICO country manager for Australia, lash,” Swynyn acknowledges. information contained in this publication is accurate, however Paul Swynyn, says automotive consum- Although he also notes more data we are not liable for any losses ers seem to have found a renewed trust needs to be gathered to confirm a solid or issues resulting from its use. in dealership finance after the Hayne trend, but the renewed trust in dealer- Royal Commission handed down penal- ship rates, conduct and treatment of ties, and put restrictions in place to stop customers could be an opportunity to predatory lending. take business back from the banking autotalk.com.au “The state of flux the finance sector is giants. autotalk.co.nz in at the moment could mean significant “While dealerships didn’t get off transporttalk.com.au gains to be made for dealers who get it scot-free with the banning of flex com- transporttalk.co.nz right,” he says. missions, that could mean it becomes evtalk.com.au “Consumers now feel they can trust easier to negotiate on the rate they’re evtalk.co.nz the dealership isn’t marking up the offered and the conditions in that agree- wheeltalk.co.nz finance deal because of the stop put ment,” he says. on flex commissions, as one example,” Continued on page 15
4 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
A ‘powerful political force’ for change
lenty of people in the automotive industry have come little team in Canberra and Melbourne, and a database that and gone, many whom spring to mind, others who tells us everything,” he acknowledges. Pelude your short-term memory, and others you’ve “I can now tell any minister or shadow minister exactly never heard of. how many dealer rooftops are in the country. The ingredi- When you meet David Blackhall for the first time, ents are in place, and I’m now very confident stepping away, whether you’ve heard stories, done your due diligence or this organisation will continue to deliver,” David says. you’re coming in cold, you’re always greeted with a smile, Stories may tell you of a hard-hitting cut-throat debater, a handshake and the quiet aura of a bloke who knows what a voice with more controlled, clever argument in his politely he’s talking about. delivered metaphors than some of our most outspoken Since when did the notion of buying a new car become public commentators, but that’s far from the David Blackhall so bloody political anyway? It’s just a car after all. That I’ve spoken to a number of times over the last few years. same indifference to the retailing of new cars is what David Not everything went David’s way and he freely concedes says was the bulging, itching rash within the Australian some issues didn’t get the full brunt of AADA’s political Automotive Dealer Association and dealership businesses horsepower. at street level. “There were three big things that had to be fixed when David didn’t get plucked from some revered position at I arrived. Our presence in Canberra is essentially fixed – another corporate enterprise, in a sense he architecturally everybody who matters to us, from the prime minister, designed the position he didn’t actually want to take up. treasurer, leader of the opposition – they all know who we “I told [chairman] Terry Keating I’d give it a go for 90 are now,” David says with gusto. days, back in June 2016, but when I got inside the organisa- “We also didn’t have funding in place which is locked in tion I realised the enormity of what had to be done,” he says, now,” he adds. recalling it being sold as one or two days a week. The AADA immediately came up against manufacturer The AADA had no secretariat, no resources to rely on, one brands who David describes as not trusting the association, “legacy policy guy” and “zero presence in Canberra”. That which he doesn’t deny. changed very quickly, as David describes. He describes the testing conversations around the treat- “I wrote a few simple pages to the board and, based on what ment of new car dealers, an issue long kept behind closed they thought of their mission statement, I said ‘I guarantee you doors until the AADA spoke out against the “terrible behav- will fail … unless you really want to tune this thing up’.” iours” described by his members. It’s safe to say the relation- Unfortunately, when medical intervention prevented ship between vehicle brands, represented by the Federal David’s predecessor returning, it took every influential dealer Chamber of Automotive Industries, and the dealer associa- in Australia “pecking on the top of my head”, plus friendly tion is in the healthiest position it’s ever been in. persuasion from the AADA who acknowledged the plan Another glaring black hole David describes needing at- David drew out, metaphorically on the back of a napkin, to tention is state-based political relationships. Suffice to say win him over. the Victorian budget was not well received. But don’t think for an instant this chief executive officer “They didn’t even talk to us. So, I told [treasurer] Tim Pal- waltzed into the corner office just to grace the back of a las in a meeting, ‘I could’ve explained the real consequences Jean-Marie Massaud-design Aston Chair with his finest for this decision’,” David says, any hint of humour shared Burberry suit. minutes before expunged. “It was literally a full-burn. I was working harder in the early “What he’s done is make it much more difficult for dealers days of the AADA, especially in 2016 and 2017, than I was at to achieve their average return in sales,” he scathes. Jaguar Land Rover, for a fifth of the income,” David reveals. “On the cheap and cheerful end, you make $300 ... This “It wasn’t fun. But we built the organisation with good will mean jobs, Mr Pallas – employment in this state will fall resources in Canberra, hired a great political advisory firm, in the retail car business as a result of these draconian taxes, brought on good people in: James Voortman (deputy CEO), but you never talk to us,” he continues. Sharnee Pardy (communications manager), we’ve got our Continued on page 6
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 5 NEWSTALK
A ‘powerful political force’ for change
Continued from page 5
Despite common sense suggesting a state treasurer would research who his/her policy would hit, David says the response he got speaks volumes. “‘We didn’t know who you were’ he replied to me, and even though he says they spoke to the VACC, with all due respect, they don’t represent our members outright. But we need a team to directly engage with state governments,” he says. The AADA is also fuelling up to better represent Western Australia, with a man named Mark Korol, who is perfect, “but we need someone like him based in Sydney and Brisbane,” David says. who is perfect, but we need someone like him based in Sydney and Brisbane.” Blackhall says slogging dealers is politically dangerous. The industry has plenty of key decision makers and chief- there yet – that would be a legacy I’d be very proud of,” he tains putting their platinum-plated two cents’ worth into says humbly. their respective arenas of jostling debate. But David speaks “I will be keeping momentum and energy in that for the with a different kind of coercive, informed tongue. next six months, because we wouldn’t be having these dis- And there’s always an apt, succinct analogy or philosophi- cussions if there weren’t serious-minded people in govern- cal learning to accompany his well-researched and dug-in ment saying it’ll happen, so we need to make sure it comes stance on the issues facing his constituents. through with all the right terms,” David adds. It’s this staunch quality that has earned David widespread Australia’s automotive industry went through and has industry respect, regardless of the oppositional plaque on his come out of upheaval with the shutting of Holden, Toyota desk or the title beneath his email signature. But he won’t be and Ford manufacturing, and further shaky ground lies completely out of reach. ahead of dealers who employ not only their office teams, “I’ll continue consulting on some of the big projects like but sales staff, workshop technicians and offer apprentice- the automotive code, something to do with the point-of- ships to kids leaving school, they create the demand for sale exemptions, and memberships because big brands still couriers and heavy transport drivers, they sponsor local don’t contribute to us financially, so we want to bring them sports teams and support community facilities and events. into the tent,” he says. When regional towns lose the local franchised dealer, it “Being on the AHG board gives me a connection back to can be like losing a limb. the industry,” David reminds, clearly not content with taking Unsure what the future of the new car dealer looks like, both hands off the wheel. as brands move online and digital in all directions, with Asking someone what they think their legacy will be what David describes as the erosion of margins and the runs the risk of a self-centered response. Such is David’s overreach on regulation, putting pressure on businesses to dedication to the AADA’s members, arrogance and gloating stay open and profitable, the AADA has more challenges on couldn’t be further from reality. the horizon. “If we can deliver an effective automotive code of con- “The biggest contribution will be for the AADA to help duct that does the things dealers need – and we’re not quite dealers move through that into a sustainable model at the other end,” David advises. “I know dealers are clever, innovative, creative and en- trepreneurial – survivors, a lot of them – but they need to find a way in the modern context and what I see often is the many dealers my age can’t get their head around what to do next,” he warns. Whatever happens in years to come, and while remain- ing in the dealership caper, David says he’s now got more important work to spend his days doing. “We have a daughter in London who has a huge job, as with her partner, who’ve just had their first child and we’re going to spend more time over there with them,” he says with conviction. Plenty of people even in dealership land have probably never heard of David Blackhall, but those who have, and who have had the chance to share a joke, conference room or coffee with him, will never forget. Congratulations, David Blackhall, and safe travels from David Blackall has brought Australia’s franchised dealers into the Auto Media Group. political arena. Continued on page 7
6 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
A ‘powerful political force’ for change
Continued from page 6
“David has been a strong voice in “New car dealership advocacy in representing the dealer network, the past was almost always linked calling out the issues that dealers to the car manufacturer’s stated face and supporting their causes. position – in virtually every policy Part of David’s strength is that he area. sees the automotive world from DB forged new ground in his lead- multiple angles, and he recognis- J Tony Weber, ership of the AADA and adopted a Stuart Charity, es that ultimately growth comes FCAI very different and highly strategic AAAA through dealers and OEMs work- approach to working with the in- ing together. dependent aftermarket sector and other industry David’s contribution to the industry has been very stakeholders. significant. He has played a major role in shaping Rather than direct opposition on every issue, he the modern industry in Australia through his work looked for areas where we held a common posi- as a dealer, as an employee of major international tion – we were able to agree on some much- OEMs and as the leader of the AADA. needed policy reforms – and agreed to disagree The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries on others. has a long working history with the AADA. We It was a refreshingly new and different approach may not always have the same priorities, but we and I respect his leadership, his unapologetic are always delighted to work closely with David strong advocacy for dealers and his ability to and the AADA.” build strategic alliances that worked for his mem- bers. He will leave an important legacy – the Tony Weber, FCAI AADA represents the needs of dealers that are unique to that sector. As a result, we now have a relationship with the AADA that we value highly; it is built on an un- “David has been the driver behind derstanding that we will not always agree, but we making new car dealers a power- should always keep talking.” ful political force. Stuart Charity, AAAA The new AADA has grown in pres- ence and influence under David’s leadership in a short period of time because he’s been prepared James Good- to speak up on a range of industry win, ANCAP “David Blackhall’s appointment to issues. CEO at AADA created a new era of cooperation between the two He opened dealership doors to ANCAP and we associations. now have stronger partnerships such as crash tested vehicles on display in showrooms – a When David was appointed CEO game changer in terms of safety education but at AADA in mid-2016 it opened the also our relationship with industry.” doors to a fruitful collaboration Geoff Gwilym, and brought about a lot of positive VACC James Goodwin, ANCAP change for franchised dealers. Personally, I have always found David very good to work with and, together, we have been able to “David’s engagement while chief achieve a lot for franchised dealers. of AADA has always been con- VACC looks forward to working with David again structive, especially during our in his new director’s role at AHG, which is a very New Car Market Retail market important member of VACC. study. David’s tireless contribution to the industry is very David has always been a straight much appreciated.” shooter, something I have per- ACCC chair Rod Geoff Gwilym, VACC sonally very much appreciated.” Sims ACCC chair Rod Sims
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 7 NEWSTALK
Teaching tech to all
licking or scrolling through the “Suspension testing name first, and it forces others to find product brochure for any new car in Australia is perfect other fluffier names for the same system; Fmodel, consumers are smattered for animal behaviour it confuses the market, especially when with enough tech-terminology worthy of because it’s so random fleet managers have five different brands its own A-Z automotive encyclopedia. and unpredictable in a to explain the same piece of technology From cheap micro car to towering wide range of possible to their drivers,” he acknowledges. off-road tarantulae and consumers scenarios those drive It was suggested at the dealership de- coming in all shapes, sizes and demo- assist features need Scott Nargar, livery level, a tutorial or introductory ser- Hyundai Australia graphics, it begs the question: Are car to be adapted for,” he vice could be the difference between an buyers being left behind or in the dark adds. informed buyer and under-utilised safety about in-vehicle technology? But it’s the gizmos that mean drivers features on a private or fleet vehicle. A discussion panel at the 2019 fleet are increasingly expected to become “Sitting in our cars is a raft of technol- conference was supposed to include quasi pilots, to which the room’s fleet ogy, not just safety stuff, but entertain- representatives from two other manu- folk are in general agreeance. ment systems, and the reality is most of facturer brands, but became an open Several comments referring to driv- us don’t really know how to use them,” conversation with members of the fleet ers having to understand dozens of Rutledge attests. community about the gripes, frustrations, vehicle features and their respective “So, we rely heavily on default set- curiosities and compliments around ve- functions, and then comprehend how tings, but those settings are often hicle purchasing decisions and how they those features make the driver and the programmed in a foreign market, not for related to the technology within. vehicle behave in the real world among Australian drivers,” he adds. According to 2018 VFACTS, 52% of the real traffic. One fleet customer says he would 1.11 million new cars bought, were corpo- Rutledge, who told the story of be very grateful for a concierge-type rate fleets, a majority over the 48% private a brand-new Tiguan whose crash- service, especially as the market starts buyers. But it’s not just fleet managers avoidance features stopped it exiting the looking at electric vehicles. using the features of the i30s, Rangers, sloped ramp of an underground carpark, “Learn it in the car, if I’m there and Corollas, Ceratos and Foresters etc, it’s says people trust technology to a certain taking the time to familiarise myself with their respective company employee col- point, but beyond that, we revert back to the car, that’s a perfect opportunity,” he leagues. our basic knowledge and principles. says. Hyundai Australia senior manager of One Queensland fleet manager asks “I want the salesperson or the car to future mobility, Scott Nargar, with busi- Nargar whether the technology develop- tell me how to set things up,” he adds. ness linguist and keynote speaker Brett ment is happening too fast. Another representative from a reg- Rutledge, explains how flooded the cur- “A lot of people don’t know the tech- istered training organisation for driver rent new car market is with technology, nology is there, you or they might know safety says buyers adapting to early be it designed for safety, entertainment or of it, but they might not know how to forms of safety technology whilst well- economy. adjust the sensitivity of certain features, meaning, can sometimes be at risk of “We have to design cars for a very or how to activate or deactivate things to live beta testing an imperfect system. unique market here in Australia and the suit their driving style,” he explains. “When it comes down to being aware, R&D we do here is really important for “As manufacturers we probably need adapting and training drivers to use these the rest of the world,” Nargar begins. to do a better job educating fleet buyers features, they need to be prepared to “Bar one of our models, all Hyundai ve- and their drivers on how to properly and understand what could happen if some- hicles receive 100,000km of local testing thoroughly use and understand those thing does go wrong,” he explains. in just three months, in every condition features,” Nargar concedes. “We’re adapting our training to teach imaginable – extreme heat, through bull- “Instructional videos, tutorials, one- the maintaining of a safety gap to the ve- dust, corrugations and broken surfaces,” on-one demonstrations could be very hicle in front is also in case the technol- he explains beneficial,” he adds. ogy doesn’t behave the way they might Nargar says the unique local condi- Nargar also highlights a need to for- expect it to,” he reveals. tions lend to what extraordinary length malise and standardise the names given “At some point, is the manufacturer technology sold here goes through in the to various OEM proprietary features like going to be responsible for pre-delivery Korean brand’s comparatively small sales autonomous emergency braking, adap- to make sure drivers who are becoming market of just 100,000 vehicle among the tive cruise control, blind-spot monitor- pilots are fully aware of the technology, 8.8 million Hyundai sells globally. ing and forward collision warning. the potential pitfalls, and that legally “Our 900,000km of unsealed roads are “Every time a new technology comes they’re still in control?” he asks. unlike anywhere else in the world,” he says. along, someone trademarks the basic
8 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Industry to reach for the stars
rash testing organisation ANCAP “But with the help fied set of information points automati- wants Australia’s automotive of 2011 corporate five- cally sent to emergency services to help Cindustry to keep reaching for the star buying policies, the rescue, extract and save occupants. five-star crash rating in 2020 as more you were able to tell In a vehicle more than 15 years old, new protocols come into effect. the new car industry you’re four times more likely to die in a Speaking at last month’s fleet confer- we expect better for crash than one less than five years old. ence in Melbourne, Australasian New these vehicles – and Which is why in 2020, the changes will James Good- Car Assessment Program chief execu- last year, 87% of light win, ANCAP make testing and rating more realistic. tive James Goodwin says a new raft of commercial vehicles According to ANCAP, real-world rear changes are coming next year which will are five-star,” Goodwin says thankfully. end crashes since 2015 have been re- affect everyone from distributor brands Not content with sitting still, ANCAP duced by 38% because of AEB and 55% to second-hand buyers. says even with new protocols kicking in the US; it’s technology ANCAP says Goodwin says the evolution of the off in Australia from 2019, newer, harsh- was very new in 2015. market has been helped in the last year er crash testing in 2020 will drag even “Autonomous emergency braking is as more big businesses take on five-star the most laggard brands to improve. the latest and newest life-saving feature, purchasing and use policies such as Replacing the classic frontal offset but in 2015 only 3% of the top 100 Uber most recently, and including Bosch, test which ANCAP has been conducting selling vehicles had AEB as standard,” Thrifty, 3M, IAG insurance, food giants for over 20 years, will be a new “Mobile Goodwin reveals. the Woolworths Group and Coca-Cola Progressive Deformable Barrier” test. This “But as of March 2019, fresh figures Amatil, mining and energy monoliths will see a test vehicle in motion, at an show 42% now have it as standard – in BHP, Rio Tinto and Origin, delivery chains angle, when hit with the mobile 1400kg the past 12 month we’ve had an 11% like Australia Post and DHL, telcos Optus crash test trolley. increase in AEB standard fitment – and and Telstra, and non-profits like Uniting “We’re now going to make it tougher this is happening because consumers Care Australia. by making the barrier faster in the side- are demanding it,” he explains. “Uber is the first ride-share company impact test and, assuming there are two “Some of the big sellers that don’t to have a five-star vehicle policy, from people in a vehicle, we’re also going to have AEB will have some big improve- October this year all new vehicles on be assessing the damage to an occupant ments coming in the near future, the platform will be five-star rated, and on the non-struck side of the vehicle,” he including one vehicle in the top 10 within two years the entire fleet will explains. sellers, so that’s great progress,” he says, need to be five-star,” he begins. Far-side occupant protection will also explaining how the pie chart will change “We’re encouraging the others to get be assessed to see how vehicles protect when Toyota finally offers AEB in Hilux. on board, whether you ride in the vehicle the front passenger in a side impact. Goodwin says testing the effective- or work in the vehicle, it should be five “With the movement of an occupant ness of lane-support features is proving stars.” on the opposite side, all the protection difficult to find data for on an inter- Goodwin says it’s a positive sign that is primarily designed for the struck-side national scale because it “proves how the death rate in Australia is going down of the car, but actually people are killing effective the technology is”. despite a rising population. each other inside the car by hitting each “Between EuroNCAP, our American “When you look at the raw numbers, other,” Goodwin continues. colleagues and ANCAP, we’ve had dif- we have a growing population and we’re In safety assistance technology, ficulty finding a statistical data set of still having too many deaths even with ANCAP will also be looking to mark up vehicles fitted with AEB, and lane-sup- estimates saying over the next five years or down when autonomous emergency port systems, that have been involved in - despite good progress to lower the braking “Junction Assist” (or a variation serious crashes,” he discloses. road toll – an extra 6000 people will die thereof) is present to stop drivers before While significant progress has been on our roads,” he says glumly. turning into the path of another. made, there are still three million vehi- Goodwin says that figure is still A new “automatic emergency steer- cles on Australian roads over 15 years atrociously high and promises both ing” is the product of carmakers, Good- old and are over-represented in fatality consumer and industry ANCAP will do win reveals, explaining how they’ve said, crashes. something about it. anecdotally, they could prevent a crash Electronic Stability Control, made “We want to affect as much change by aggressively steering a vehicle into mandatory in 2013, is only expected to as we can to change that number, and another lane if safe to do so. be 100% present in the national fleet by comparing now to 2012, only 18% were Driver monitoring would do as its 2030, some 17 years later, which is why five-star, lagging behind the passenger name suggests, and emergency situation Goodwin highlights the importance of segment. first-response systems will be a simpli- AEB now.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 9 NEWSTALK
Add spice to flavour EV market
ustralia’s automotive industry “Fleet manage- compared with 46% in petrol cars. needs to change the recipe if ment organisations “In percentage, EVs are lower in Ait wants to spice up the transi- try to forecast what residual value, but the list price is tion to electric and hybrid vehicles and customers will think, still reasonably higher than internal leave internal combustion behind. but ultimately it’s all combustion, so generally values are Johan Verbois, managing partner about the price of the higher, but they’re lower in deprecia- of planning and implementation firm market, created by tion because of stronger list price,” Johan Verbois, 5S Consulting, says an overlooked but supply and demand,” 5s Consulting. he tries to explain without tying the major barrier to stimulating the new he says. audience in mental knots. electric and hybrid vehicle market is Verbois also reminds how unde- Verbois points out the lack of con- the business case at the other end. sirable the first EVs on the road are fidence the used-car consumer has in He says the market needs to facili- “not the most design-friendly”, which stepping away from petrol and diesel. tate the new purchase, but also the changes as the market progresses and “We need to give people confidence second-hand residual value needs to the consumer demand increases. in the used EV market – this is crucial,” work for both private and especially “It comes down to how much he stresses. fleet buyers in order to grow the used someone can afford or is willing to pay “If people have any doubt, they will EV/hybrid demand. for the electric or hybrid vehicle,” he stay with what they know. We need to Verbois says without a demand in continues. adapt the customer’s journey. the second-hand market for hybrids/ “You get to the end of the new EV “It’s more the perception in people EVs, a new one will always struggle for ownership, but what can we do to as to why diesel is in decline, often volume. make people want to buy it?” he asks. they can’t explain why they don’t want “The most expensive part of EV Verbois explains how Poland’s 20% to use it. ownership is depreciation in residual government discount on the list price Verbois says there are a number of value, what people want to pay for the has drastically improved the residual factors needed to work in order to see vehicle at the point of on-selling pro- value of the used EV market to make electric and hybrid vehicles become hibits or enables whether fleets adopt transitioning a more economically vi- successful, but it’s not the usual infra- them. able option, which improves availability structure argument. “You need the range, yes, but you for used buyers. “If you look at it from a customer also need the cost of ownership to He says the percentage of residual point of view, it needs to make sense, make sense,” Verbois tells the 2019 value is almost the same comparing people need to love driving EVs, and fleet conference. petrol vehicles to a battery-electric in general people do,” he says. On Carsales, the cheapest Nissan vehicle, at 47% to 45%. However, the “Infrastructure will happen in its own Leaf is a 2012, 105,000km example residual value in dollar terms changes time, guaranteed, and the battery tech- asking $18,900, whereas a 2014 Pulsar drastically from $21,000 (EV) to nology will of course improve, because with 112,000km is asking just $9000 – $14,700 (petrol). it must and it will; but it’s all about total both in NSW. Data provided by Autovista Group, cost of ownership,” Verbois continues. Verbois suggests work needs doing shows EVs have higher depreciation Taking an example (and data) from to improve the used market which, if because they have a higher list price, Europe to compare a Jaguar I-Pace to slow, causes a backlog. and Verbois says it’s interesting how a Mercedes GLC SUV, the ownership “Residual value is only determined petrol vehicles also have high depre- cost is A$81,457 and A$96,156 respec- by one person, the used buyer,” he ciation, albeit with a greater mix of tively in France. Next door in Germany, says. factors – 69% of depreciation in EVs Continued on page 11
10 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Add spice to flavour EV market
Continued from page 10 however, it’s A$94,611 and A$64,824 “Yes, you need warranty, but “With governments here, ideally you respectively to the Jag and Merc. people need confidence the EV with would learn from all the mistakes made Looking at the consumption figures 80,000km isn’t going to let them in Europe; but you need to support the of three EVs against three diesels and down,” he says. ownership of EVs, not everything in three petrols, using Spanish electricity “People who shop online will find new EV sales, because then you create prices converted to Australian dollar, the process allows comparison, but an artificial new car market without a all three EVs are thousands cheaper you can’t compare the EV or hybrid used car market,” he explains. to run over a 36-month/90,000km with a petrol equivalent without two Verbois points to rental car com- period. screens,” he underscores. panies like Hertz or AVIS who make an He also cites the efforts being made “Look at used car locators, you can’t agreement with Toyota, and explains to improve the fleet mix of hybrid/EVs tick both petrol and EV before getting how Toyota doesn’t sell any more in other countries. help from sales staff,” Verbois adds. vehicles until the rental companies “China has the highest mix of EVs, “Salespeople who sell EVs are usual- sell-off their vehicles to used buyers. 59% of their alternative fuel fleet, ly very well trained, know all their facts, “An EV in fleet is only really sold Canada has a reasonable amount and and do it very well; but they often think when it finds a used car customer also within Europe, but in Australia it’s someone who comes in interested in afterwards, so spending incentives mostly about hybrids,” he says. an EV is already convinced – no, you for ownership – any benefits are ideal Australia is only at a 4% mix of pas- still need to sell an EV,” he continues. because they work for everyone,” he senger vehicles. The Belgian also advises Australia concludes. “In China there is also a large num- needs to “spend incentive money ber of compressed natural gas, and wisely”. Europe is big on plug-in hybrids,” he adds. Verbois highlights the cost of ex- pendable parts like tyres can be dearer because of low demand. “They’re not mass-produced like petrol/diesel vehicle tyres, so can cost more to make and supply, but as more models become available and share profiles and compounds, cost will come down,” Verbois says. “You can also argue the cost of electricity is comparably good against the price of fuel,” he adds. Overall, Verbois says a reduction in list pricing will occur due to gradual increase in production and improve- ments in battery technology, as al- ready proven in the market right now. Research into customers looking to buy or who have bought an EV, Verbois says the experience in Europe accord- ing to them, is “not being helped by Johan Verbois, 5s Consulting. the industry”.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 11 NEWSTALK
Change in the air
n case you’ve been living in a and got to know their councils and OEMs about getting new smartphone signal-blocking cave team over many years, cars back to prominence,” Ryan says. Irecently, Carsales has done a whole talking about moving “This is going extremely well and lotta changin’ in the last year, much to the business forward, we’ve had a number of dealer group its continued success despite increased how to be more meetings in recent months around threats on multiple fronts. customer-focused, new cars.” You’ve probably not realised, but all data centric, and so Advertising has also seen a signifi- Simon Ryan, the furious flicking, chin-scratching, on,” Ryan explains. cant push from both Carsales and its Carsales com- searching and cursing, at least that I “We had to look mercial manag- dealer/OEM partners. recall doing with online vehicle clas- at the structure and ing director “If we’ve got new cars, demos and sifieds for far too long, has somewhat work out if it was used cars, with a 3.8 million-strong au- dissipated. skilled enough to work in the new dience coming to the website and app, Acknowledging the fact Carsales is a digital economy and a market driven by then we’ve got all the areas covered, major supporter of AutoTalk Australia, data,” he says. including audience, data and customer regardless of it, yours truly’s experi- Since stepping into the role from his focus,” he says. ence buying new and selling a used predecessor who finished at the end of Ryan says right from day one car with the smartphone app has been 2018, Ryan has had to have a re-think there was work to be done to ensure virtually seamless in recent years. about how to keep the Carsales busi- Carsales could hold off the likes of And the dearly-beloved has also ness as the first place dealers, brands Gumtree Cars and the Cox Automo- sold a vehicle, used, via one of Car- and used/private sellers go to when tive-backed CarsGuide network. sales’ direct competitors in the online transacting on vehicles. “When you come into a new organi- auto classifieds space. The experience “New guidelines were introduced, a sation, it brings a new level of aggres- using both has shown there is still work new framework, we’ve made amend- sion and people wanting to impress, to do in this caper, especially around ments and brought in some new peo- and while that’s people wanting to cyber security. ple, so now we have a real streamlined work with me, it also includes me try- One of the many talented people structure,” Ryan reveals. ing to work harder for our customers,” working in the hard-to-miss Car- “Packaging and depth products, Ryan explains. sales building on Melbourne’s iconic which enable dealers to position “It also meant we needed the right Punt Road, is Simon Ryan, managing their cars online is part of our dealer- new KPIs to ensure digital growth, but director of the commercial side of the specific strategy, was an area needing our advantage is the extensive data in- business. attention to detail.” ventory to know exactly how and why With several interlopers in online “We had to be programmatic, which a customer walks into a dealership and vehicle classifieds, the first question for we historically hadn’t been, to better buys a certain new car.” Ryan, who has only taken the full-time allow clients to access our audience, In light of the continued slump position in 2019 after years of working so that’s a clear strategy in place now,” in new car sales this past year, Ryan with Carsales from afar, was exactly he adds. admits he had to double down on the how to stay ahead in an increasingly It’s not just dealers who’ve gained business case Carsales could offer crowded frontline. from the extensive reformation work both franchised retailers and their “When you’ve got a mature busi- going on at Carsales, with the highly partnered manufacturer brands. ness, you need to be able to put in competitive distributor brands also “The focus right now is about get- swift strategies to continue growth of getting renewed limelight. ting new cars on sight from an adver- what is a large scale, high percentage “There’s also been a big manufac- tising perspective, and driving sales, market share business,” he begins. turer focus, which has been headed by because with the market down, as 70% “I’ve had 10 years of history with Agostino Giramondo who works with of our business being new car sales, we Carsales from an agency perspective me; we’ve been speaking with dealer Continued on page 13
12 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Change in the air
Continued from page 12 ment a strategy for change’? Some businesses might prefer to had to prove our worth by providing “You can have the best strategy in stay in the safe harbour of that known sales and opportunities,” Ryan reveals. the world, but it means nothing if you cave, praying for just one bar and hop- With retail behemoth Amazon now can’t implement it, and as the majority ing not to be found. But as Carsales sniffing around in the vehicle sales market shareholder in the category, has demonstrated, since its infancy as sector, considering how prepared the we also have to be ready to adapt a pokey little website, that strategy will Carsales business was for the digital quickly,” Ryan divulges. fail. data-driven age by getting into the on- Many dealers and brands working As Chinese strategist Sun Tzu says in line classifieds space when the Trading in the industry will have met with chief The Art of War: “It’s more important to Post was still being printed, there could executive Cameron McIntyre and Ryan out-think your enemy than to out-fight be a fight on their hands. in the last six months, as part of their him”, because the victorious strategist “We have to be nimble,” Ryan says. strategy to be prepared and march seeks battle only after the victory has “It’s a question of ‘How do you imple- forward. been won.
Industry loathes another ‘lux-tax’
Continued from page 1
“I’ve spoken to treasurer Tim Pallas and told him if you “It’s never pleasant having to pay more for something, but increase the cost on a Mercedes S-Class which has high taking from the rich to pay for the greater good is nothing profit margin, you will force people to buy in the more af- new. fordable end with low margins – this could be the differ- ence between some dealers folding,” he warns. “Increased duty for vehicles over $100,000 is in- credibly concerning for an industry which is currently doing it tough; it’s a cheap shot and poor, poor policy gouging an easy target.” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says the proposed tax is “money grabbing at its worst”. “The vehicle which attracts the most LCT is a Toyota LandCruiser – a popular vehicle for families and land- • NZ’s number one automotive workship holders – hardly a luxury vehicle,” Weber explains. management software for over 25 years. Australasian Fleet Management Association executive • The ultimate specialist workshop software director Mace Hartley isn’t opposed to the impost. package “Funding has to come from somewhere and I would question whether the people buying $150,000 cars are • Cloud-based and hosted options available really that concerned about another few grand on top,” he tells AutoTalk. • Installation, Configuration, Support and “In order to pay for infrastructure, the treasury needs Trainer from the industry best to find the money and if it doesn’t come from people • Range of options from the entry level lite to whose income can satisfy that kind of purchase, then it the all-inclusive Elite has to come from another direction,” Hartley explains.
Contact Details: P: SAM Admin +64 9 583 2451 SAM Support +64 9 583 2455 E: [email protected]
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 13 NEWSTALK
Beneath the modern auto buyer’s bonnet
can alleviate some of these Final stages: Contact seller, test drive, stresses by making improve- negotiate, purchase Jessica de Vries, ments to our platform, such as National sales manager, offering transparent listings, and Recent global research reveals that Gumtree Australia working closer with our dealer 59% of auto buyers visit fewer dealer- partners. ships because they’ve been able to nar- row their options doing online research. uring times of uncertainty and First stages: Research, compare, The hours spent on the web also market turbulence, it’s important shortlist, question your choices make the customer more informed of Dthat car dealers ensure the cus- the options available, competition in tomer experience they provide matches Today’s consumer will go through the market, price point – the list goes the expectations of digital-first buyers. an extensive amount of research before on. This significantly changes the con- These consumers increasingly walking into a dealership. versation the customer expects to have spend more time trawling through user Once a buyer has established their when entering a dealership. reviews and social media groups for budget, (the average budget of a While you can expect more hard-hit- insights on their next car. Gumtree user buying a car at a dealer- ting, well-researched questions and price To get the most out of digital spend, ship is over $23,000), they will research negotiations, authentically alleviating the dealers should get to know their cus- different models and makes, until they many concerns and doubts of the buyer tomers even better and tailor their offer- start shortlisting favourite options. While will be key to productive conversations in ing accordingly. This is why we recently online is a key component here, con- the showroom. profiled car buyers in our Audience versations with friends and family also Further, Gumtree’s research reveals Insights report. have a huge impact on the end result. users are increasingly preferring dealer Making up around a quarter (24%) This process tends to be a minefield listings, often because they are deemed of Gumtree users, the auto-intender is of negative emotions and high stress more trustworthy than private listings planning to purchase a car within the levels, and feelings range from confu- and the warranty guaranteed. Conveying next 12 months – two thirds (66%) plan sion to annoyance, frustration and trustworthiness and reliability of the busi- to buy a used car and 14% plan to buy a self-doubt. ness and the cars offered will encourage new car. There are many ways for a dealership the nervous customer to engage with While car buyers on Gumtree are to enter this phase in a helpful, mean- your brand and ultimately, close the deal. primarily male with an average age of 43, ingful way that supports the consumer, the profile of the car buyer is changing making the research a less daunting Stress-free driving gradually with one third of Gumtree car task. For example, ensure your listings buyers being women and a growing pro- are locally targeted so they pop up in In an age where competition is fierce, portion of families with children search- front of potential car buyers in your car sales are declining and consumers ing for their next vehicle. neighbourhood. are spending ever more time online As the profile of the car buyer is Our data also shows Australians before heading to a dealership, under- changing, so is how they find their next browsing on Gumtree Cars have varied standing the different phases of the vehicle. aspirations when it comes to their next auto buying journey (and the emotional We recently mapped out the auto vehicle so make sure your listings and rollercoaster that ensues) is critical. buying journey and identified six steps ads are popping up in front of the right Next time you are considering how that all involved varying levels of anxiety buyers. Gumtree users are mostly look- to achieve more quality leads, try putting and confusion for the car buyer. These ing to buy a 4WD/SUV (42%), ute (19%) yourself in the shoes of the modern car insights encouraged our team to look at or small to medium sedan (34%). buyer and see how you can help lower these stages closely to see how Gumtree their stress levels at every step of the way.
14 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Financial lockdown pays dividends
Continued from page 4 Swynyn sees and agrees with the vehicle they’ve been looking at; if they a customer will determine the con- irony that the banning of flex commis- leave without getting through that pro- ditions of their next car loan, a high sions will likely result in more flexible cess, technology can help with that,” score will make it easier, a lower score vehicle loans and increased commis- he continues. will see conditions in place and a less sions, making it a win for dealerships in The FICO survey included 2000 competitive rate. the end. people globally and included 200 in “We already have peer-to-peer “We see that trend only continu- Australia specifically, although AutoTalk lenders who lend to credit worthy ing and accelerating, so the number is looking to find out what geographi- consumers and then we’ve got open of options when looking for a loan cal spread that survey demographic banking coming along,” he says. will increase, the number of offers will covers in Australia. Open banking promises to free up increase, and we see an opportunity Plenty of industry sources spoke the accessibility of consumer banking for dealerships to reach more people, out in the wake of the Australian data to allow them to direct their data quicker, and streamline the process of Securities and Investments Commis- to be sent to other banks, financial in- customers looking to buy vehicles on sions banning of flex commission stitutions and authorised organisations finance.” and rubbishing of add-on insurance at their discretion. FICO highlights the need for dealer- products. Swynyn says dealers can expect ships to be ready for this change and But FICO suggests it’s not all bad to see a more in-control consumer prepare their businesses, including news as consumers, the automotive as open banking becomes prevalent, upgrading websites and advertising and finance industries readjust their leading to greater competitiveness presence. operations. again. “It’s now up to dealers to try to “Australians are taking the finance “NAB, ANZ, Westpac, CBA will also hold that market share over tradi- initiative to engage, so there’s an op- be able to counter-offer to compete tional bank lenders, so perhaps they portunity there to come up with attrac- with dealers on those offers, should should have a bigger online finance tive offers, and technology can help the customer want that when request- prevalence, it might be speeding up you identify what the consumer might ing their financial data be sent to a their back-end processes,” Swynyn be looking for,” Swynyn says. dealer for a car loan assessment and advises. Credit scoring is FICO’s known offer. “People searching for loans will playbook, offering assessments of in- “Whilst dealers have made a want to see what other dealers can dividual and business credit worthiness healthy gain in terms of people look- offer.” before or while applying for a loan. ing to use them as a vehicle loan He says reducing pain points will be Swynyn says credit scores will become source, it’s not a foregone conclusion one easy way for dealers, and their re- an important factor in consumers’ that those numbers will carry forward spective distributor brand franchisors, decision-making. – there’s a lot of change in the market to making finance applications as slick “We’re going to see the loan terms right now,” Swynyn concedes. as possible in preparation for increased offered becoming more attractive Many dealers will continue to rue web traffic. the more credit worthy consumers the lost revenue as a result of regula- “Another interesting area this survey are and less attractive the less credit tion changes brought by the banking looked at was that it can take up to 30 worthy they are. Royal Commission. minutes or more to complete all the “Comprehensive credit reporting is But regardless of that lucrative door financial information entry, to get one in its infancy in Australia, given it only closing, others have swung slowly of these vehicle loans. started last October, but it’s certainly open. “Then there’s pre-emptive offers, so going to get bigger and that credit The question for dealers is whether understand that when people come score is going to become important they’re going to continue slumping into your dealership, understand their to take along when looking for loans,” in their chair with arms folded, or get requirements and promptly get back in Swynyn says. ready to walk through, or at least shove touch with an offer for finance on the He explains the credit worthiness of a foot in there.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 15 NEWSTALK
A load to deal with
t’s fair to say statistically nobody But full credit to the Hiace doing case of emergency braking situations, ever gets the chance to truly under- repeated hard stops and stopping how stable these little trucks really are Istand how their new car will behave much shorter than one might expect. when the cards are down. in an emergency situation. Also interesting is the controlled cha- Hilux was undoubtedly the most Further, you’d lose money betting os of ABS kicking in to theoretically comfortable with repeated abuse in against the notion that the same cus- save your life; it’s an action performed this environment, but only through tomer gets to pound the middle pedal in plenty of cars before as part of the making the experience quite ordinary, as 400kg of ballast tries to keep going, job, but it never ceases to amaze. and the Ranger wasn’t exactly incom- in an emergency braking crisis, on the Dual-cab utes are extremely popular petent. 10-minute test drive around the block. not just as a mobile work platform The Colorado also proved a remark- No dealership has the time – nor but as routine family transport during ably stable platform on which to haul the insurance policy – to let such a the week and the escape shuttle on and halt a fluid payload which doesn’t practice run of pedal-to-the-metal weekends. Yet only in 2019 does nearly want to reduce momentum as quickly thrashing happen to a vehicle in-stock all the main players have some form of as a solid one. that needs to be sold to the next lucky collision avoidance tech. At Sandown, The team of Driving Dynamics, a contestant. it was all about doing it yourself. group of expert vehicle motion facili- But at Sandown Raceway in late While many private or white collar tators, put drivers into four entirely May, a small group of fleet managers dual-cab ute sales will be the top-spec likely situations their fleet drivers from across Australia were given the version with all the fruit, it’s the mid would encounter while laden – a chance to experience Toyota Hilux and and lower-spec versions which do all straight-line emergency brake, a brak- Hiace, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Am- the heavy lifting and hard yards but get ing and emergency swerve scenario, arok and Holden Colorado, in mock- none of the life-saving tech. Unless a mid-corner emergency stop and a up situations every driver, parent and you pay extra. low-speed slalom. employer hopes never happens. So fleet managers knowing exactly The Amarok in OE laden form was At 60km/h that van or dual-cab ute how to use the brake pedal as it was certainly the least distinguishable ute you’re driving – or paying someone intended, is vital. Not just for their from its Pedders-improved counter- else to drive – will cover 16 metres own lives, but for the teachings they part, although this may have been due every second. Think about that. Sixteen can take back to base. Namely, if you to the nature of the 30-40km/h slalom metres is not quite the length of a think you’re going to crash, crush the demanding on the 2.1t platform known cricket pitch, or three 200-Series Land- brake pedal until you stop moving. for being one of the most comfortable Cruisers end-to-end with bullbars and The utes themselves are impressive in the segment. towbars front and rear. machines. It’s hard to think how quickly The Ranger, with 400kg plus a driver So why does (almost) everybody the market has reached this point of and passenger, definitely feels the most drive half a car length from the vehicle reliability, capability, safety and in the hard-working. Hard-working in the in front, if not, closer? sense of trying to defy Newton’s third Having taken Sandown’s gloriously law. But full credit to its ability to wipe old school main straight at full chat in off 60km/h in a manic fat-pedal fracas, a Subaru WRX many years ago, with considering its predecessor would sail all-wheel drive, torque vectoring and into the stopped truck, tree or child fat tyres at my disposal, doing 60km/h with a puff of smoke and screeching in a Hiace with 40kg of sloshing water tyres because ABS brakes were op- into turn one before stomping on the tional on the base model, even in 2011. stoppers is truly terrifying. That said, as the second most popu- If the new Hiace is better than the lar vehicle in Australia, the Pedders- old one, as used in the mid-corner stop, worked Ranger feels like a formidable then it must be one incredible van. Emergency braking in laden utes opens eyes Continued on page 17
16 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 NEWSTALK
Hiace surprises in mid-corner stop. A load to deal with
Continued from page 16 machine to get around in day-to-day The issue of adding weight with half a tonne of tools and a dog to vehicles with modified aboard. But it is noticeably soft in the trays with tool chests, draw- rear, in the pursuit of unladen comfort. ers and added payloads, with Dealers don’t offer this kind of test drive. The Colorado also makes relatively additions like bullbars, winch- uneventful work of pulling up when es, snorkels and towbars, puts many “Light commercial vehicles are the chips are down and the longitu- passenger-licensed light commercial getting better, but putting 900kg dinal G-forces are up. Interestingly, it vehicles dangerously close to their of payload into these things, which seemed to generate the least intense legal, safety and design limits. That’s are working hard all day every day, acrid smell from the brakes after four separate again from the competence means they’re also getting heavier or five repeated hard stops. of most drivers. and there’s only so far they can go,” According to Pedders on the day, The classification and compliance to they add. one quarter of fatal rural crashes begin passenger payload is also a deceptively Pedders has designed an in-vehicle on a mixed surface of bitumen and a dangerous grey area. scale system which actively tells drivers gravel verge. From a workplace safety per- how much weight is on board, live, as The company reminds drivers that spective, the inability to weigh the well how much weight is over both ABS braking is “not just a braking sys- volumes of laden light commercial front and rear axles. tem – it’s a stability device to keep your vehicles on-site shows how out of Given Safe Work Australia says ve- vehicle as stable as possible during an touch the Australian Design Rules are hicles kill more workers than any other emergency situation”. with allocating 68kg to the classifica- cause, and have been involved in 65% “Don’t be smooth on the brake tion of a passenger. of all work-related fatalities over the pedal, crush that pedal like you’re “How many people in the construc- last 10 years, a Pedders upgrade offers standing on a can of Coke,” the Ped- tion, infrastructure and civil engineer- information and performance that ders presenter urges the uninitiated. ing industry weigh 68kg or less?” one could save lives. One of Pedders’ experts reminds Pedders expert asks. “For people to experience the extra drivers, buyers and fleet managers to “People are putting large service five metres it takes to stop, while also remember their 3.5-tonne dual-cab bodies on the back, and where people realising how adding weight effects a ute is “rated to tow 3.5 tonne, but not then load those service bodies affects vehicle’s on-road handling, is an invalu- necessarily designed to tow that load how much weight goes on the rear able opportunity,” Pedders concludes. all the time.” axles,” they explain.
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AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 17 NEWSTALK
Bridgestone tackles waste with retreads
andag’s Wacol factory is cel- Bandag retreads ap- ebrating a special milestone after pealing to operators. Bhitting 10 million retreads under “Bandag retreads Bridgestone ownership. offer a substantial That’s enough to fit a fleet of nearly saving over the price 300,000 B-double trucks and saving of new tyres, and as more than half a billion litres of oil in part of Bridgestone’s the process. Greg Nielsen total tyre manage- Bridgestone Australia purchased the ment model, can operations from Boral Tyres in 2000 make a significant difference to the which included Bandag and the pro- running costs of a truck or fleet. duction facility in Wacol, Queensland. “A well-looked after case can be re- Bandag is now the only producer of treaded multiple times, reducing the tyre tread in Australia and New Zea- number of tyres entering the waste land, and exports to Fiji, Papua New stream, which not only saves opera- Guinea and the Asia Pacific region. tors money, but is much kinder to the Bridgestone Australia retread busi- environment,” Sodano says. ness general manager Greg Nielsen Production of a Bandag retread says the milestone is a testament to the uses significantly less water and energy investment the company has made in to produce compared to the equiva- the region. lent new tyre, as well as 68% less oil “Ten million units is no small feat – equating to 570 million litres since for any company, especially when 2000. you consider the changing climate for Bridgestone and Bandag have also Australian manufacturing over the past made a multi-million dollar investment 20 years. into sustainability measures at the “Bandag Australia has strong leader- Wacol production site, with capacity ship and Bridgestone has continued to to store more than one million litres of invest in new technology, research and rain water on site and the installation of development and measures to ensure solar panels. we remain viable despite costs increas- As well as reusing tyre cases, the ing for local manufacturers,” Nielsen Bandag retreading process sees shav- says. ings of old tread recycled, with the Bandag retreads are a core com- shaving collected and supplied to ponent of Bridgestone’s commercial locally based A1 Rubber for upcycling product mix, complementing the range into products such as the rubber floor- of Bridgestone and Firestone drive, ing Bridgestone uses in its retail stores. steer and trailer tyres with equivalent The Bridgestone-owned Bandag retreaded products, including low roll- operation retreads more than 400,000 ing resistance compound options. truck, bus and trailer tyres each year Bridgestone Australia commercial through its company-owned factories general manager Claudio Sodano across Australia and New Zealand. says there are a number of economic Bandag also has a further 30 fran- and environmental factors that make chised and licensed stores.
18 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 STATSTALK
Ranger spears Hilux in soggy May Top 10 Brands
ord has finally outsold Toyota in “We have attributed this trend to known the Ranger versus Hilux ute arm market factors such as an economic Fwrestle for the first time in years. downturn, drought, political events, the Ranger 4x4 reported 3604 sales in tightening of financial lending and lack of May, topping the 3137 Toyota could confidence in the market,” he adds. manage in the same period, however, City Ford Sydney new vehicle sales that’s where the sales domination ends, manager Gus Fumazoni says sales im- according to VFACTS sales data provided proved over May and picked up. by the Federal Chamber of Automotive “April was slow, always slow in car sales,” Industries. Fumazoni says. “May has ramped up. The In the 4x2 category, Toyota smashed last week or so has been insane. We’ve the Blue Oval 1069 to just 368 respectively; been very busy.” 1. Toyota 18,820 all up Toyota sold 4206 two-wheel drive Fumazoni says the election being and four-wheel drive utes, to Ford’s 3972, over spiked sales in the last week, now some 234 units off the pace. everyone can go back to being confident Elsewhere in the market, the downward in buying cars. trajectory of national sales continues to “The two elections were holding things hammer dealers and affiliated brands alike. back – hopefully we have the same results Any hope of beating May 2018 sales fig- in the next week.” ures were washed away with the weather, “These kinds of sales, especially in the totalling just 92,561 new vehicles, an 8.1% last week and a half, I haven’t seen this for decrease. a very long time,” Fumazoni adds. “The Painfully enough, the exact same 8.1% market is definitely trending upwards. We decrease is being felt in annual figures haven’t had enough hands on board!” 2. Mazda 8578 compared with 2018, with just 436,649 Fumazoni says every vehicle has been reported sales thus far in 2019, down performing well, from Transits to Mustangs. 38,573 from 475,222. Of course, the Rangers are always the big- Toyota remains market leader in May gest seller. with 18,820 sales, ahead of Mazda in sec- “70% of sales will be the Ranger,” Fu- ond on 8578 sales, and Hyundai third with mazoni says. “Then Mustang, then transit 8106, Ford on 5788 watches Kia nip at its vehicles.” heels on 5533. The new Ford Focus has made waves, The Toyota RAV4 – now with hybrid as well as the new Endura. option – with 2917 sales was the third “People are starting to come in and best-seller in May ahead of fourth-placed enquire about it.” Hyundai i30 on 2901 reported sales. Fumazoni says it’s great to see a change 3. Hyundai 8106 FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says in sales. the brand and dealer networks have work to do ahead of end of financial year. “Now that the Federal election has been finalised, we are optimistic that the market will improve over the next few months,” he says. “The Australian market has seen the same trend throughout 2019, resulting in an overall decrease of around 8% for the first five months of the year,” Weber Ford’s Ranger 4. Ford 5788 explains.
19 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 Top 10 Brands continued p20 Top 10 Brands continued STATSTALK
2019 sales in May
Top 10 Country of Top 10 4x4 dual-cab 5. Kia 5533 origin ute
1. Japan 1. Ford Ranger 29,506 4X4 3,604
2. Toyota Hilux 2. Thailand 4X4 22,979 3,137 6. Mitsubishi 5120
3. Holden 3. Korea Colorado 4X4 13,673 1,515
4. Germany 4. Mitsubishi 7,832 Triton 4X4 1,126 7. Volkswagen 4520
5. USA 5. Isuzu Ute 3,444 D-Max 4X4 998
6. England 6. Toyota Land- 2,233 cruiser PU/CC 902 8. Holden 4392 7. Mexico 7. Nissan Navara 1,423 4X4 883
8. China 8. Volkswagen 1,420 Amarok 4X4 737
9. Nissan 3970 9. Czech Republic 9. Mazda BT-50 1,293 4X4 693
10. South Africa 10. LDV T60 4X4 892 307
20 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 10. Honda 3697 Top 10 Brands continued REVIEWTALK
No time for caution
- can make it difficult to judge where the inscription was etched into the scuff wheels are in low-speed maneuvers. Plus, panel forward of the left-rear. It’s proof the girders used to engineer the impres- that no matter how much automation 6. Mitsubishi 5120 sive centrepiece falcon wing doors make and intelligence gets built into one of for trunk-like A-pillars. the cleverest cars on the road, nothing is Of course, these gripes are merely that. infallible. Idiosyncrasies that probably take longer It needs to be said about the Model than AutoTalk’s five-day loan to grow X that without this step forward it’s fair ero to 100 in 2.9 seconds, Tesla’s into, work around or adapt your brain to. to say the world would likely never have staffer says as we poke the nose out The spring-loaded centre console lid, reached this point of consumers even Zof a tight backstreet in Cremorne, however, feels flimsy and ready to break considering an electric car. This whisper trying to concentrate on some muppet on a $170,000 hyper-SUV at the first sign quiet tech giant screams about the possi- approaching in their nondescript bucket. of a child. bilities offered by simplicity of design and The first thing you wonder in the But when you look beyond the flaws, Tesla itself has moved the automotive moment is where the nearest Bugatti of which every vehicle has many, includ- conversation to a place laughed about in Veyron is to embarrass the former fastest ing the biggest brands in the business, carmaker board rooms for a century. production car worth a squillion dollars you start to appreciate what a truly epic The first taste of Tesla was in a Model second-hand, some 13 years after its device the Model X really is. S back in 2015 when Ludicrous mode launch. You can spend far too much time pulled my brain against the back of my With great power comes great respon- playing with all the tricks and toys like skull and make me feel ill, and four years sibility, as Spiderman taught me as an the crackling fireplace replacing the LCD later having driven several with healthy 11-year-old queasy in the cinema as CGI display, which then offers Atari gaming skepticism always lingering in the back Spidey swung from New York skyscrapers. flashbacks and can turn the screen into a of the mind; I genuinely want an electric The same rules apply with a Tesla Model Kesel run homage. car, even to install a charger in the garage. X, only with the fear of certain death The immortal Whoopi Cushion What got me over the line was that 2.9 hanging over you should you bin it. reminds you of school-day pranks on second start. Having said that, in much more sedate the teacher and the push of a button can Plenty of innovative car brands have circumstances, like trundling up and your crank the booming base of Wizards of come and gone in 150 years, few have own driveway, you still have to be bloody Winter by Russian glam rock group Trans- rocked the foundations like the big T. careful with this very expensive, wildly Siberian Orchestra to make the neigh- We’re at the point of no return, this is the powerful, yet reassuringly tranquil place bours peer from their curtains wondering automotive industry’s Interstellar to sit, helm and generally move about in. if the electric car next door is possessed. moment; we can’t look back and mustn’t Before gushing over what is the Watching the Model X flap its falcon stop pushing for progress, or the mo- second most expensive vehicle I’ve ever wing doors in time with a thumping, mentum of going electric will wane. driven, let’s get some housekeeping out catchy Christmas rock ballad, the mind Tesla’s future may be questioned on a of the way. The Tesla Model X, seen here boggles at the level of engineering. daily basis, but few cars have wound the in P100D galaxy-class variant – thanks Making those big doors animate quickly clock forward like the Model X and no to Tesla Australia for its five-day loan - is enough with motors powerful enough to brand has changed the course of the au- not perfect. cope, while ensuring structural integrity tomotive continuum quite like Tesla. There feels like a frailty to door for one of the highest crash ratings in handles, the cockpit’s signature 12- North American testing, without becom- inch screen controlling the majority of ing an ungainly, monstrous hulk with functions remains immensely distract- protruding bulkheads and stress-cracked ing because simple tasks like adjusting welds, is incredibly impressive. temperature, fan speed, etc, asks the eyes In the name of objectivity and honest to search rather than remain scanning the reporting, the Model X wasn’t in high or road, and the Model X’s bulky dimen- very high suspension mode when exiting sions - particularly over the wheel arches the palatial driveway and a light bluestone
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 21 STATSTALK
Hybrids have it in the latest stats. Hybrids head skywards
ybrids are doing all the moving in ping 637.5% increase from May 2018 to FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says the latest VFACTS national new May 2019 in the private SUV segment, but it follows the trend in the first quarter of Hvehicles sales figures. that’s from small totals of just eight in May the year in the automotive market. The charge from electric vehicles, last year to 59 in the month gone by. “The Australian market has seen the including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), ap- The YTD percentage increase in the same trend throughout 2019, resulting in pears to have slowed or even stalled by same sector of 381.5% also masks the fact an overall decrease of around 8% for the comparison in many of the categories. that the increase in numbers is from just first five months of the year.” Take the private passenger sales sector 54 to 260. The FCAI blames this on market factors as an example. Hybrids in this category In the non-private SUV sales market, such as an economic downturn, drought, have soared 91.9% month-on-month to electric/PHEVs this May are almost double political events, the tightening of financial reach 683 in May – almost double that that for May last year – 61 from 36 (69.4% lending and a lack of confidence in the for May last year (356). And year-to-date up), and YTD go from 174 last year to 553 market. (YTD) hybrids have rocketed 88.9% from this year – a 217.8% rise. “Now that the Federal election has 1519 in May 2018 to 2370 in May 2019 – May figures for the electric/PHEV been finalised, we are optimistic that the up 1351. non-private light commercial remain at market will improve over the next few By comparison, electric/PHEVs in the zero, with just five recorded YTD – four months.” private passenger sales segment have more than for this period in 2018. slumped from 30 in May last year to 21 in The fuel of choice remains petrol by a May 2019. For YTD they have staggered long shot in most categories, with diesel to 144 – only 41 up on the same time last topping the light commercial segment year (103). and well behind hybrids in the passenger It’s much of the same in the non- markets. private passenger sales category where The overall May 2019 vehicle statistics hybrids record a huge hike while electric/ continue the downward sales slide, the PHEVs hit the wall. Federal Chamber of Automotive Indus- Are electrics becoming unplugged in For example, electric/PHEVs stay at 29 tries (FCAI) says. Australia? for May 2019 – the same as they were in May last year. YTD figures are even NEW VEHICLE SALES BY BUYER TYPE AND FUEL TYPE MAY 2019 worse. Electric/PHEVs drop 46.4% from 2011 last year to 113 this year. Month YTD Variance +/- Vol. & % Yet hybrids in the non-private sales Total Market 2019 2018 2019 2018 MTH YTD MTH YTD sector jump more than 50% this May ELECTRIC compared with May 2018 (1310 from Passenger 21 30 144 103 -9 41 -30.0% 39.8% 869) and in YTD go from 3155 to 5122 Private – up 1967 or 62.3%. Passenger 29 29 113 211 0 -98 0.0% -46.4% Following on, hybrids in the SUV Non-Private private and non-private segments also SUV Private 59 8 260 54 51 206 637.5% 381.5% SUV Non- record massive increases, with electric/ 61 36 553 174 25 379 69.4% 217.8% Private PHEVs barely making any inroads. Light Com- Hybrids in the private SUV category mercial Non- 0 0 5 1 0 4 - 400.0% leap 999% in monthly comparisons, Private from 69 in May 2018 to 821 in May just Sub Total 170 103 1,075 543 67 532 65.0% 98.0% gone. And YTD totals put private hybrid HYBRID SUVs 284.3% up, going from 286 in Passenger 683 356 2,870 1,519 327 1,351 91.9% 88.9% 2018 to 1099 so far this year. Private Passenger It’s a similar story for hybrids in the 1,310 869 5,122 3,155 441 1,967 50.7% 62.3% non-private SUV market. Here the Non-Private SUV Private 821 69 1,099 286 752 813 >999% 284.3% jump from May 2018 to May this year SUV Non- 684 80 927 417 604 510 755.0% 122.3% is 755% - 80 to 684. YTD also has them Private up 122.3% - from 417 to 927. Sub Total 3,498 1,374 10,018 5,377 2,124 4,641 154.6% 86.3% Electric/PHEVs might show a whop- TOTAL 3,668 1,477 11,093 5,920 2,191 5,173 148.3% 87.4%
22 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 DIARYTALK
AUSSIE TALK DIARY employees given an “op- portunity” to relocate onto May 15 AutoTalk Australia’s editor the 7.3-litre Super Duty V8 Scott Murray looks at the month production line, according Aston Martin gone by on autotalk.com.au to Ford Canada spokesman rebuilds Bond DB5 Matthew Drennan-Scace. The most expensive and iconic movie car of all time May 1 May 3 – the Aston Martin DB5 from May 7 1965’s Goldfinger – is back. Uber Australia Victorian Aston Martin is building 25 Vehicle subscription replica DB5s in partnership overtakes taxi government backs service turns on in with Bond film special effects industry servicing and repair Melbourne expert Chris Corbould. Australia’s taxi industry has sharing Vehicle subscription busi- It will come with pretend stalled against rival Uber The Andrews Labor state ness Carly is now available in machine guns, smoke screen, whose army of drivers now government has thrown its Melbourne after launching in bullet-proof rear shield, oil ferry about one fifth of Aus- support behind the independ- Sydney in March. slick spray and revolving tralia’s population. ent vehicle servicing and Carly offers vehicle mobil- number plates as featured in After just six years, Uber workshops across Victoria for ity services in the form of the third 007 franchise film has seen strong growth in a mandatory national data- new and used cars pack- some 55 years ago. all age categories and over sharing scheme. aged into monthly payment a three-month average sees Women and new Minister for small busi- subscriptions which can be close to 4.3 million people ness Adem Somyurek says started, paused and stopped services play key over 14 years old use the ser- the Scott Morrison federal at any time. role in workshop vice, according to the latest government hasn’t listened Roy Morgan research. to Victoria’s 10,000 inde- AAA warns against growth Despite challenges, the Aus- pendent automotive busi- omitting emissions nesses facing difficulties in tralian automotive workshop May 2 accessing vehicle servicing standards landscape remains in healthy information Political parties must clearly condition. CarAdvice.com state their vehicle emissions This is the latest research merges with the targets and timelines ahead of conducted by ACA Research May 6 the federal election on May 18. for the Australian Automo- Drive Network Noting media reports tive Aftermarket Association Two businesses are merging Fiat Chrysler which reflect the find- (AAAA), shows the aver- to create Australia’s largest ings of a 2017 study of the age capacity of Australian multi-platform automotive finialises parts consumer choice and cost workshops is at 82% and 38% media brand, across digital, business sale impacts of a 2025 vehicle achieved expected growth print, radio, television and The sale of Fiat Chrysler Auto- emissions standard of 105g/ into this year. social channels. mobiles’ Magneti Marelli parts km, the AAA says it commis- Automotive publisher manufacturing business to sioned this extensive analysis CarAdvice.com is merging with Calsonic Kansei is done. because, at the time, this May 20 the assets of the Drive Net- The Japanese automo- specific target and timeline work, effective immediately. tive components giant has was the preferred policy of Industry cautiously bought the Italian busi- both the Government and welcomes VACC wants ness for A$9.3 billion (€5.8 the Opposition. VicRoads to billion), under the parental renewed Morrison ban Takata re- over-watch of CK Holdings VACC Industry government which is now the world’s Awards shortlist The Victorian Automobile registration seventh-largest independent Chamber of Commerce has The Victorian Automobile goes long automotive component parts passed a cautionary welcome Chamber of Commerce A long list of automotive supplier. to the victorious Coalition is asking VicRoads to fol- industry businesses great and government. low other states by blocking small have made the Victo- Ford V8 demand The Saturday election was Takata-affected vehicle own- rian Automobile Chamber of a surprise result after polling ers from re-registering. waning Commerce’s 2019 industry predictions expected a Labor With just over 18 months Production demand for the awards finalists list. victory in recent months, until the federal govern- Ford Coyote V8 engine pow- Acknowledging the best with the Liberal National ment’s mandated Takata re- ering the F-150 and Mus- new car dealers, used dealers, Party currently holding a firm call deadline of December 31, tang is being slowed at the automotive servicing work- 75-seat win from Labor’s 65. 2020, over 2.1 million airbag company’s Ontario, Canada shops, body repairers, auto rectification works have been factory. recyclers and electrical, com- Dealers join industry carried out by Australia’s Ford Canada says the mercial retailers, manufactur- franchised dealer network on production change is “to ers and various other industry chorus for re- behalf of carmakers. better align with consumer categories, the VIA winners will instated Coalition demand” which will see be announced next month. Continued on page 23
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 23 DIARYTALK
Continued from page 22 Kia Australia is understood to Used hybrid, EV May 21 be in discussions with United The Australian Automotive States defence contractors market needs work Australia’s used market for Dealer Association says it is Holden ad banned regarding the design of inte- electric and hybrid vehicles ready to get down to business by Standards board grated technology systems to with the re-elected Liberal needs to improve in order to Ad Standards has banned Hold- operate military vehicles. government. enable transition from internal en’s heist-themed SUV com- AutoTalk has learned Kia As the victorious Coali- combustion, an expert says. mercial after complaints against Australia is talking with US De- tion calls for a reconvening Johan Verbois, manag- driving techniques used. fence contractors after liaison of parliament as soon as ing partner of planning and Complaints have been through the Australian Defence possible to pass income tax implementation firm 5S Con- made against the “Holden Force and learning of the Ko- cut reforms before the end sulting, says enthusiasm for Heist” ad which depicts the rean brand’s joint venture with of the financial year, and the electric and hybrid vehicles Equinox SUV performing a J- appliance giant Fujitsu, who defeated Labor party readies won’t be the only factor that turn in a shipping container helped develop one-touch itself for a leadership contest increases uptake and points yard in attempting to evade computer systems for Stinger between Tanya Plibersek and to the business case as a pursuant motorcycles. highway patrol fleet vehicles. Anthony Albenese, the AADA major barrier. is keen to talk automotive. Unforgettable: F1 May 23 Employees forget Queensland drivers legend Niki Lauda vehicles are a ready for phone dead Pedders upgrades workplace: ANCAP The family of three-time an opportunity for Australasian New Car Assess- blocking? Formula One world champion Queensland University of Tech- ment Program chief executive Niki Lauda has confirmed the dealerships nology says the majority of the James Goodwin says work- 70-year-old Austrian died on Pedders suspension could find state’s motorists are prepared places are much safer as a re- Monday. its way into brand new cars to use SMS and internet block- sult of safety improvements in Lauda, who underwent a sold off the showroom floor. ing apps while driving. the light commercial segment. lung transplant in January, AutoTalk was hosted by the A survey by QUT’s Centre Since December 2015 AN- died surrounded by his family Australasian Fleet Management for Accident Research and CAP says adoption of AEB as after a life lived at full throttle. Association at a commercial Road Safety-Queensland standard in the top 100 sell- vehicle safety day, where a ing light vehicles has gone (CARRS-Q) found 70% are source reveals the aftermarket willing to install distraction- from 55% to just 20% not May 22 experts may be in unconfirmed offering the technology. blocking smartphone apps, talks with carmakers to enter providing calls and music are the dealership business. still activated via Bluetooth. Kia Australia prepares to serve
THE DIARY A huge fire at a Queenstown AutoTalk New Zealand’s group May 13 Ford dealership’s new build- editor Richard Edward looks at the ing has been brought under month gone by on autotalk.co.nz Jaguar Land Rover control by firefighters. New Zealand reach The building in Grant Road, Frankton, owned by record sales Macaulay Ford, was well May 1 May 6 Innovative automotive tech- ablaze when firefighters ar- nology helped Jaguar Land rived. One person suffered Less dealers in NZ – Used registrations Rover New Zealand achieve minor injuries. record sales levels in the past again continue to struggle financial year, according to Morrinsville first The number of motor vehicle The market for used im- the local distributor for the Mitsubishi dealership traders continues to fall, with port vehicles is struggling to British car maker. another 34 quitting the retail escape the downward trend “The past 12 months has to rebrand vehicle business in April. it has set for itself so far this seen the introduction of a wide Piako Mitsubishi Morrinsville There are now 3343 deal- year – though sales are not range of new models which in has become the first dealer- ers in the country – more exactly crashing. many ways have transformed ship in Australasia to lead the than 150 down from July last Passenger vehicle regis- for the way the brand is seen Mitsubishi Motors Corpora- year. trations for the month were in New Zealand,” Jaguar Land tion’s (MMC) global rebrand. For a number of years, down 0.1%, or 10 units, to Rover NZ general manager MMC’s new global visual 3500 seemed to be the 10,883 from April 2018. For Steve Kenchington says. identity was launched last normal number of registered the year, passenger sales year, and Piako Mitsubishi traders but more and more have fallen 6% to 45,462 Morrinsville dealer principal dealers have quit the trade, units from 48,501 this time a May 20 Darrell Russell says he is particularly companies and year ago. proud to be the first rebrand- individuals without a “bricks Ford Queenstown ed dealership in Australasia. and mortar” presence. dealership burns
24 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 DIARYTALK
EV TALK DIARY different right-hand-drive Jaguar Australia has an EVtalk Australia editor Geoff passenger EVs, including agreement with Australia’s EV Dobson looks at the month gone mid-sized and large SUVs, for charging network Chargefox by on www.evtalk.com.au late 2020. enabling five years’ free charg- ing on its ultra-fast chargers. launching all-electric kerbside “Jaguar drivers will be May 17 waste collection vehicles, May 24 able to drive long distances being trialled in Hobsons Bay, confident in the knowledge Volgren Australia Melbourne. ScUber rideshare they will have access to free, e-bus due June The first Cleanaway EV submarine launched unlimited charging on some of the world’s fastest charg- Australian bus body builder began servicing household You’ve heard of Uber – now ers,” Chargefox chief execu- Volgren has put its first collections in Hobsons Bay there’s scUber, the world’s first tive Marty Andrews says. electric bus into production, earlier this month, with the rideshare electric submarine. City of Greater Geelong and Uber has partnered launching the company’s ACE-EV aims for move into zero-emission Moonee Valley also hosting with Tourism and Events vehicle technology. it. Queensland to showcase the 15,000 EVs in six The prototype will be Great Barrier Reef in a new years completed by the middle of May 20 way with the three-person A deal signed with Aldom Mo- June at Dandenong in Vic- submarine able to dive to 30 tor Body Builders in Adelaide metres and offer 180-degree toria, built on a BYD chassis Chinese company will enable the Australian and including 324kWh bat- views. Clean Energy Electric Vehicle tery capacity with more than signs deal to Group (ACE-EV) to possibly 250km range. produce EVs for May 27 produce more than 15,000 EVs by 2025. EVs introduced for Australia An Australian electric vehicle Five years of free From early next year, Australian kerbside the ACE-EV electric van the will be produced by Chinese charging under waste collection company BYD in Adelaide. Cargo will begin assembly there, with utes and probably Australian waste manage- BYD signed a deal with Jaguar Chargefox cars to follow. ment company Cleanaway is Evant to produce three deal
FUTURETRUCKING DIARY EVs and renewables Futuretrucking Australia editor May 22 Global mining giant BHP Scott Murray looks at the month gone Group forecasts an end to the by on www.futuretruckingtalk.com.au Mercedes-Benz coal era sooner than expected showcases new Actros and is moving to commodities security, Australian Trucking Mercedes-Benz has unveiled related to renewable energy May 1 Association (ATA) chief ex- its advanced new Actros and electric vehicles. ecutive Ben Maguire says. model featuring cameras BHP follows competi- Darren Cooke “The trucking industry de- instead of mirrors. tors Rio Tinto Group and awarded trucking pends on diesel. Australia has The vehicle was shown to Glencore Plc in questioning signed an international treaty local public for the first time at the future role of coal used honour that says we will maintain an the Brisbane Truck Show and is for power generation, as Lindsay Transport driver Darren emergency stockpile of 90 expected to hit Australian and investors seek more action Cooke has been presented days’ worth of liquid fuel. But New Zealand roads by 2020. to tackle climate change and with the Australian Trucking As- we don’t do that. In Decem- tighten restrictions on hold- sociation’s Bridgestone Bandag ber 2018, there were only 22 Scania leading the ing companies that produce Highway Guardian honour. days of diesel in the whole of way with clean fuel the fuel, Bloomberg reports. Travelling north on the Australia,” Maguire says. Hume Highway in early Febru- solutions Electric Land Cruiser ary, Cooke brought his own Scania’s new generation of trucks, including a gas-filled for mine work truck to a stop and came to A picture of a converted May 14 model, are making their mark the aid of a B-Double driver electric Toyota Land Cruiser in the local market. who ran out of room to avoid for the mining industry posted Scania sets record Leading the charge at the a stricken vehicle, colliding on Facebook by New South with first quarter Brisbane Truck Show was the and then rolling near Yerrin- Wales-based auto electrical new 650 hp V8 Euro 6 engine bool, NSW. results group GB Auto has had more fitted in an R-series prime Scania has reported an “all- than 340,000 views. mover, complete with 3300 time high” in sales and earnings The post, “The first of our May 13 Nm of torque, ideally suited for the first quarter of 2019. battery electric LandCruisers to long-haulage work. ATA urges The company’s net sales for mining from our partner- rose to SEK 36.1 billion and ship with Tembo has arrived government action reported earnings in the first in our workshop in Orange!” on fuel security quarter of SEK 4.2bn, which May 24 also had at least 1200 com- gave an operating margin of The next Australian Govern- BHP shifts focus to ments and 883 shares. ment must take action on fuel 11.7%.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | JUNE 2019 | 25