THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF AUTOTALK.CO.NZ – VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 11 | DECEMBER 2018 Confidence for the road ahead. Vigilance needed as Conflict stink bug threat grows of interest he growing threat of brown required in far more supply countries marmorated stink bugs arriving for not only used vehicles, but new also, consultation Tin New Zealand from a variety of and possibly all-year round.” markets has some in the automotive Much has already been done in trade worried. Japan to ensure all used vehicles are extended Vehicle carrier Triumph treated to the revised Import v1820 was recently denied Health Standard before the cur- ressure from the used import entry into Australia and New rent stink bug season, including industry has forced the NZ Zealand after visiting ports in the establishment of heat treat- PTransport Agency to extend China, Korea and Japan, fol- ment facilities, he says. its review period around conflict of lowing the discovery of live “There are vessels still being interest in the sector. stink bugs. denied entry, or turned away, Industry will now have until 5pm And the Carmen was ordered [which means] there is still much on February 20, 2019 to have its to leave New Zealand after Frank Willett more that needs to be done if we say. coming in via Europe. are to successfully prevent BMSB inva- NZTA is conducting the review Autohub chief executive Frank sion of New Zealand,” Willett says. after it issued an official warning to Willett describes the increase in insect As a result, there is the potential for Optimus Group for not keeping it activity as a “great concern”. costs to increase, both at point of sup- abreast of its changing ownership “We are sensing that more coun- ply and shipping, Willett says. structure, which includes several tries are being identified all the time as “It could also impact shipping line companies in different parts of the being a potential issue, and given New interest in servicing New Zealand due supply chain, such as JEVIC, VINZ Zealand’s strong stance on biosecurity, to the risk of being turned away. and Nichibo. there will likely be more interruptions in “It’s such a little insect, but such an Optimus Group denies any all cargo importation, not just vehicles enormous threat to our country and wrongdoing, saying it had kept and machinery. international trade activity.” NZTA up-to-speed with develop- “Treatment of cargos for BMSB Imported Motor Vehicle Industry As- ments. and other such insects I think will be Continued on page 10 The agency is undertaking the consultation “as part of a wider INSIDE review of regulatory compliance Tough year dissected at VIA dinner 3 to create a more robust system,” a Fleet age could improve road safety 6 spokesman told AutoTalk. Gull turns 20 8 “The extension follows industry Trade Me turns it on for dealers 12 6 12 Continued on page 32 The market leader for over a decade. Shift to the Autohub Team and experience the Autohub difference. GLOBAL VEHICLE LOGISTICS NZ · JAPAN · AUSTRALIA · UK · EUROPE | www.autohub.co FOUNDATION SPONSORS AutoTalk acknowledges the support of our foundation sponsors: Importing cars. Made easy. www.autosure.co.nz nichibojapan.com ADTORQUE EDGE DELIVERING YOUR MARKETING SOLUTIONS Automotive software solutions Driving your business 2 | AUTOTALK DECEMBER 2018 | www.autotalk.co.nz NEWSTALK AutoTalk Magazine and autotalk.co.nz are published Rollercoaster year for by Auto Media Group 8/152 Quay Street, Limited. P.O. Box 10 50 10, Auckland City, 1030. Ph. 09 309 2444. used import dealers GROUP EDITOR AUTO TRADE TITLES he used import industry has Scott Morgan had a rough run in 2018, with 021 240 2402 Teverything from brown mar- [email protected] morated stink bugs to the Takata al- pha airbag recall making life difficult. MANAGING EDITOR But Imported Motor Vehicle Richard Edwards Industry Association (VIA) chief 021 556 655 executive David Vinsen noted at [email protected] his organisation’s annual Christ- mas dinner that the government’s broader agenda is also likely to ASSISTANT EDITOR Geoff Dobson bring change. 021 881 823 Vinsen pointed out that at [email protected] previous Christmas dinners, his David Vinsen. speeches outlined the former National “The government is keen to get a newer government’s actions did little to affect the fleet for a whole variety of reasons. We’ve got BUSINESS MANAGER industry. to get rid of the older stuff to bring the new Dale Stevenson 021 446 214 However, that’s no longer the case, with stuff in. [email protected] the current government determined to “That provides opportunities for us all.” “change the fleet”. Another issue the government supports ADVERTISING Its focus is threefold – safety, the environ- is Mobility as a Service, where commuters ASSISTANT ment and fuel economy, Vinsen says. can book different forms of transport via a Fran Da Silva It’s not all doom and gloom though, with single app. 021 933 279 [email protected] Vinsen noting about 175,000 older vehicles are “NZTA is working pretty seriously on a destined for the scrap heap in the near future. common platform [that includes] a planning, booking and payment system. GENERAL MANAGER “That would be a serious change for our Deborah Baxter 027 530 5016 industry.” [email protected] Vinsen reminded VIA’s audience he’s involved in the government’s electric vehicle working group and ITS New Zealand to keep PUBLISHER/CHAIR up with technological changes that affect Vern Whitehead 021 831 153 used importers. [email protected] “The reason I’m doing that representa- Auto Media Group Limited makes tion is so we have an indication of what’s every endeavour to ensure information coming at us. contained in this publication is accurate, however we are not liable for any losses Continued on page 4 or issues resulting from its use. Annual subscription: $84 + gst ($96.60) Printed by: Alpine Printers. INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS autotalk.co.nz autotalk.com.au transporttalk.co.nz transporttalk.com.au evtalk.co.nz evtalk.com.au wheeltalk.co.nz identicar.co.nz AUTOTALK DECEMBER 2018 | www.autotalk.co.nz | 3 NEWSTALK Graeme Macdonald Steve Owens and Vern Whitehead Continued from page 3 airbags, there’s a lot of things industry and VIA itself, which nesses in the used import “How it will impact our hanging over us. We know has a major deficit to con- sector open. businesses and how we can there are plenty of guys out tend with. “Ten years on from here, prepare for it? At least we’ve there who are stretched. “As an association, we we want a strong used im- got a bit of an idea.” To conclude, Vinsen recognise how tough it is for port industry. Vinsen says VIA will con- also thanked those in the you. “If we don’t do our jobs tinue to take a leadership audience for their ongoing “We ourselves are facing now for you, it won’t be role on issues that threaten support following a medical financial pressures, so we there. Let’s look forward to a the used import market. event he suffered recently, really appreciate your sup- better year in 2019.” “When we had the stink describing the feedback he’s port financially.” bug crisis, the instruction had as “humbling”. Macdonald says VIA is from my board was to take a Similarly, VIA North Island working hard to keep busi- leadership role. We did that chairman Graeme Macdon- and we’re still doing it. ald reflected on what has “With stink bugs and been a tough year for the Specialists in pre‑shipment inspections in Japan & UK Full border inspections Authorised MPI inspections Authorised NZTA inspections Odometer verification Pre-export appraisal Keisuke Nagashima and Euan Philpot Vehicle history reports JEVIC NZ 09 966 1779 www.jevic.co.nz Frank Willett 4 | AUTOTALK DECEMBER 2018 | www.autotalk.co.nz Importing Cars. Made Easy. Introducing... The All New AutoSearch 70+ Japanese Auction Halls Search 70+ Japanese auction halls & 140,000 vehicles per week on mobile, tablet or computer. Time Saving Systems Smart search and display options means much less time searching for the perfect cars. Quality Buyers & Reps With 20+ buyers in Japan and our reps New Zealand wide, you will have an expert team behind you. Double Inspected Vehicles We inspect vehicles at auction and at port for industry-leading quality control. We’ve rolled out a new Nichibo AutoSearch which has been built from the ground up with all new features and innovations to make buying your next vehicle from Japan faster and easier than ever before. 09 374 4436 Contact us [email protected] today www.nichibojapan.com NEWSTALK Vehicle fleet key part of new safety strategy educing the age of to deliver a new road safety about how we influence the New Zealand’s vehicle strategy for the govern- fleet.” Rfleet could help im- ment. Johnston says older used prove road safety. “There’s an unprece- imports are a particular focus That’s according to a dented number of fatali- for the reference groups. working group being led by ties on our roads. It’s hard “Some vehicles coming in the Ministry of Transport. to put down to one single are relatively old. They don’t It includes a number of cause. David Vinsen Brent Johnston have some of the newer groups including the Import- “We’ve established a safety features. ed Motor Vehicle Industry series of reference groups to “We’re looking at options “Age is a reasonably good Association (VIA), New Zea- look at key aspects of road around the importance of proxy for safety features.