THE VEHICLE DEALER’S NEWS SOURCE
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 10 MAY 2017
Debbie’s legacy – a long
road to recovery
C
yclone Debbie’s impact on
Queensland’s automotive industry and transport is huge.
Much of the damage from the
March 28 storm is still being assessed
and it will be months before many
automotive businesses return to anywhere near normal.
The industry is vital to Queensland’s economy. It comprises nearly
13,000 businesses and employs more
than 90,000 people in car dealerships, mechanical workshops, panel
beaters and service stations.
Businesses were hit by the cyclone
in various communities across northern and central Queensland, Motor
Trades Association Queensland group
MTAQ chief executive Dr Brett Dale
INSIDE
AAAA’s expo success
AHG makes senior appointments
Driver assistance tech in Taiwan
Are imports or new cars safer?
1 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
chief executive
officer Dr Brett
Dale says.
“The devastation caused
infrastructure damage through
debris and
water. The
loss of power
affected trading for several
days and in
some cases
longer and
the access to
re-supply of
Tropical Cyclone Debbie smashed Queensland and extended into
fuel and parts
northern New South Wales, killing more than 12 people.
caused reduced trading
opportunities,” he says.
“The full impact of the costs
“Like all those involved in the
associated with Tropical Cyclone
devastation, businesses have shown
Debbie is not yet known,” the
great resilience and much of the resspokesperson says.
toration is underway.”
“Under the natural disaster relief
The road network was hit hard and
and recovery arrangements, assistance
some reconstruction is expected to
is cost-shared between the Australtake up to six months.
ian Government and the Queensland
Damage assessments are likely to
Government to restore essential public
continue for some time, an Attorassets and support communities to
ney-General’s Department spokesrecover, including through financial
person says.
assistance to small businesses and
The Queensland Government is reprimary producers.”
sponsible for restoring essential public
About 41,105 insurance claims
assets, including road networks, after
have been lodged, with losses across
a disaster.
Queensland and northern New South
Wales hitting $660 million so far and
expected to climb.
Jonathan Nash, the editor of the
3
MTAQ
magazine Motor Trader, inter8
viewed
some of the member automo11
tive
business
people affected and shared
3
11
17
Continued on page 4
FOUNDATION
SPONSORS
AutoTalk acknowledges the support of our foundation sponsors:
2 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
NEWSTALK
Expo shows auto industry
in good heart
The crowd mingles at the expo.
T
Dignitaries open the Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo.
he end of car manufacturing might only
be months away but
the Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Association is
confident the industry is in
good heart.
AAAA executive director
Stuart Charity says the organisation’s recent Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo is
proof of that.
“We sold out 100% of the
exhibition space. That’s five
acres and 438 exhibitors,”
he says.
“I think that’s a pretty remarkable achievement. Our
exhibitor stands are world
class in every respect.”
While the closure of manufacturing will have an impact,
Charity says “we’ve got to look
beyond making cars”.
“One of the things we are
really worried about is the running theme that the whole auto
industry is shutting down.
“That’s a negative sentiment.
Banks aren’t going to want to
lend to those in the industry and
people aren’t going to want to
work in the auto industry.
“One of the messages we want
to get out there is the industry
is alive and well. I’m hoping this
show gives the industry a shot in
Continued on page 10
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 3
NEWSTALK
Debbie’s legacy – a long road
to recovery
AutoTalk Magazine and
autotalk.com.au are published
by Auto Media Group.
Phone: 1800 125 620
ABN: 37 51360 734
Continued from page 1
ONLINE EDITOR
Geoff Dobson
+61 21 881 823
[email protected]
GROUP EDITOR
Scott Morgan
+64 21 240 2402
[email protected]
MANAGING EDITOR
Richard Edwards
+64 21 556 655
[email protected]
PUBLISHER
Vern Whitehead
+64 21 831 153
[email protected]
SALES MANAGER
Dale Stevenson
[email protected]
OPERATIONS
MANAGER
Deborah Baxter
[email protected]
Auto Media Group Limited makes
every endeavour to ensure
information contained in this
publication is accurate, however
we are not liable for any losses
or issues resulting from its use.
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“I have been through cyclones before
his report with AutoTalk.
but this one took a long time to pass – the
“I have no idea when we will be back to
eye of the storm was over Proserpine for
normal,” says Colin Thorburn, owner of
two hours – and it was followed by severe
Airlie Auto Recyclers in Cannonvale, a few
thunderstorms and rain as well.
kilometres west of Airlie Beach.
“It literally went on for days.”
“I think we will be suffering until the
Most of the clean-up has been done,
end of the year.”
Hancock says, but a lot of time is now
He says he and his staff tied down evespent on preparing paperwork and insurrything they could.
ance claims,
“Fortunately,
getting quotes
we had almost no
and then
dislodgements or
moving to
damage to the yard
the rebuilding
stock, which was
stage.
a surprise – I was
“It feels like
half-expecting to
it could be
see at least one
a six-month
car parked up on a
project.”
neighbour’s roof.
Staff pre“But the weak
pared for the
link has been our
cyclone by
roller doors. Even
safeguarding
though we had
computers
vehicles parked up
and other vital
The damage at Airlie Auto Recyclers
in Cannonvale.
against them, all the
systems.
doors have been
“By saving
blown either in or out and the full brunt of
that electronic equipment I was able to get
the more than 250kmh wind blew through
our second franchise up and trading about
the inside of the building for something like
a week prior to the main Crossley Holden
20 hours.
business. However, that was all operating
“It caused absolute havoc inside.”
off generators as we were without power
Thorburn says his business has also lost
for a full two weeks.”
part of its customer base.
For both Hancock and Thorburn, atten“Some people have come in to buy
tion has turned to restoring normality to
headlights, windows and tail-lights so we
their businesses and dealing with insurhave generated a bit of business but it
ance claims.
doesn’t offset what we have lost.”
To help businesses with claims, InsurIt’s a similar story for Ben Hancock,
ance Council Australia is hosting insurdealer principal for Crossley Holden in
ance forums for claimants, which inProserpine.
cluded Mackay on May 1 and Proserpine
“We had about four inches of water
on May 2.
through the dealership and lots of nonAs the recovery continues for automotive
structural building damage,” he says.
businesses across the state so it does for
“We have a few cars to write off and
other areas of the economy and the comsomething like $20,000 of electrical parts
munities they serve.
components that got wet.
“There were a lot of people who feared
“When you are dealing with winds apfor their lives and in Proserpine itself it
proaching 300kmh, it just comes in from
was devastating,” Hancock says.
everywhere. As good as you think your
Community spirit has seen people and
buildings are, it will find holes you never
businesses chip in to assist.
knew you had.
Continued on page 5
4 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
NEWSTALK
Storm damage at Crossley Holden in Proserpine.
Continued from page 4
“Holden has been very helpful,” he
says. “They sent up eight vehicles for
us to lend out to anyone who had lost
cars to the cyclone. That was great.”
Brisbane automotive industries escaped the cyclone largely unscathed.
Echelon Automotive director Andrew Missenden had been through severe flooding in 2011 and was relieved
“this one brushed past us”.
His business was fully prepared
though because it’s sited near Breakfast Creek where flood mitigation
measures also helped.
Missenden was working there in
2011 when major flooding following
another tropical cyclone literally put
the previous business under.
He later took over the business and
says his workshop has had low-level
flooding about three times since. Missenden has built up Echelon Automotive over the past few years so is
relieved to see it escape unscathed.
“We just lost the one day (moving
stock and preparing).”
Road damage
Damage to the state road network continues to be assessed by the
Queensland Department of Transport
and Main Roads.
A spokesperson say a final estimate of repair costs is still being compiled but the network has
“significant damage”, particularly in
central Queensland and
structures have been impacted with
the South Coast.
either water over them or damage to
The Bruce Highway
their abutments, approaches
was initially cut in multiple
and pavement. locations south of Proser“This requires a significant inspecpine and between Rocktion program to determine damage
hampton and Bowen.
and to mitigate impacts while the
It was open to traffic,
repair work is undertaken.” with some conditions and
Closures on state-controlled roads
load limits, within 48 hours
include: Marlborough-Sarina road, St
of Cyclone Debbie crossLawrence-Croydon road and Glading the coast, the spokesstone-Monto road. person says.
South Coast had 73 roads closed
Granite Creek Bridge
at the peak of the weather across
north of Rockhampton
City of Gold Coast, Scenic Rim
was rebuilt in less than
Regional Council and Logan City
three days. Council areas. The Marlborough-Sarina
Some roads reopened as soon as
road also suffered severe
the water receded but others will
damage in multiple locaneed up to six months to be rebuilt.
tions with nine bridges
Major impacts remain on the
impacted and 12 slips, two
Tamborine-Oxenford Road (reconof them significant. That
necting the John Muntz Causeway),
means the road will be closed for a
Lamington National Park Road and the
long time. A detour is in place via the
Numinbah Valley’s Pine Creek Road
Koumala-Bolingbroke road.
(about 200 metres east of the NerangEton Range was damaged with
Murwillumbah Road intersection).
slips within the
Eton Range
Account Manager
Upgrade
project. That
Automotive Trade Publishing
was opened to
Auto Media Group Limited is a dynamic multiplatform
single lane trafpublishing company with clients in Australia, New Zealand,
Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
fic under traffic
Our Australian titles are expanding, and we are looking for
control with
an experienced business development manager to lead our
oversize, overcommercial efforts.
mass conditions
We already have thousands of subscribers in Australia, and wish
on March 31.
to expand and capitalise on this asset.
Airlie Beach
You will have experience in account management in either the
access was
automotive trade or advertising industry. Contacts in industries
achieved from
supplying vehicle dealers would be a huge advantage.
the north by
In this position you will be responsible for:
RoadTek, with
• Managing and growing an existing client base
limitations
• Actively seeking out new business opportunities
because of
• Creating, presenting and implementing sponsorship and
downed power
marketing campaigns across our print, digital and social platforms
lines. The Shute
• Working together with our sales management and editorial staff to
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achieve monthly revenue targets
was opened
• Liaising with both corporate and dealer clients
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Ideally you will be Melbourne based, but we are flexible if the
under caution
right person is based in another centre.
on April 5.
Remuneration includes a retainer and healthy commission. With
an established base of clients and support your OTE should
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exceed $100k in your first year.
damage is
major across the
To apply, please send your resume to:
networks, the
Deborah Baxter
Operations Manager
spokesperson
Auto Media Group
says.
[email protected]
“Many bridge
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 5
NEWSTALK
Where Porsche outsells
Mazda
W
hen former Sime Darby New
Zealand distribution boss
Grant Smith was let go from
his position as part of a reshuffle in
2015, he was slightly disillusioned with
the trade and looked for new opportunities in the not-for-profit sector.
But the lure of the business was too
strong and, after a few months, he got
a chance that provided both an adventure and an interesting way to continue his 38-year automotive career.
Smith, who had previously led the
Porsche brand in New Zealand, was
given the opportunity to move to Hong
Kong to lead the brand there and in
Macau for Jebsen Holdings, which has
been handling the brand for 60 years.
And the position goes beyond
leading a niche dealership in a territory where 50kmh speed limits are
the norm. Smith acts as the de facto
distributor in a market where Porsche
is the eighth most popular brand, outselling even Mazda.
The brand sold an impressive 1547
cars in 2015 before an overall market
slump in 2016 that saw it drop to 1285
units but still ahead of Lexus on 924
and Mazda on 908.
Jebsen also holds Porsche franchises in China; it was the first to
sell the brand there until the factory
took over. Last year the brand ranked
Smith’s operation number two in the
giant country.
“Which is a fantastic improvement
because when I started we were 46th
and now we’ve improved to number
two, so we’re number two out of 92.
That’s, I think, a pretty good achievement for us.”
Under Smith’s control are two showrooms in Hong Kong, one in Kowloon
and three service centres, including a
massive new 3065 square meter facility
that also handles panel and paint. The
brand employs 173 staff in Hong Kong
and another 23 in Macau.
So what is different about selling
6 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
cars in Hong Kong over Australia?
a cheque for the deposit. No test drive
Firstly, showrooms sit on some of the
here required.”
most exThere are
pensive real
other factors
estate in
to take into
the world,
account
putting
when dealspace at a
ing with local
premium.
customers.
The
“People
city centre
here are
facility we
very, very
met Smith
focused on
at is on a
wealth and
strip with
luck. There
other premium brands, tucked into
are lucky numbers and lucky days for
the ground floors of commercial and
delivery so we facilitate that.”
Continued on page 7
residential buildings. Ceilings are low,
making cars
difficult to light,
and they lack
the airy feeling
of modern
western dealerships.
It is also
more difficult
to make cars
available for
test drives, with
a small selection kept in an
adjacent parking building.
Not that buyers
FASTEST IN THE BUSINESS
regularly do.
“So people,
New port call to Fremantle
when they
Direct
service
to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne
come in here,
Four vessels sailings per month
are very well
educated, very
well studied.
ANDREW HUGHES // [email protected]
They know [email protected] // dolphinshipping.com.au
actly what they
want,” Smith
says.
“In Hong
Kong, they are
happy to come
in and write you
VEHICLE SHIPPING
JAPAN TO AUSTRALIA
NEWSTALK
Continued from page 6
Another difference in being in a
city of 7.2 million people is the number of potential customers. At one
point during AutoTalk’s visit late on
a Sunday afternoon, ten customers
were in the showroom.
“Back home we would never see
this kind of traffic,” Smith says.
Hong Kong has a used car market
but it is a fraction of the new car business, with people preferring to pass the
vehicle through their families when they
move on to a new one.
Event marketing
Events are a huge part of marketing premium cars in Hong Kong. Since
Smith’s arrival, there have been some
massive events around the 60th anniversary of the brand in Hong Kong,
alongside customer-focused new
vehicle launches.
“It’s a very different level when it
comes to events and stuff, the ones we
do here are world class, like unbelievable,” he says.
One of his first events involved
hiring the terminal of the old Kai Tak
Hong Kong airport and creating a
Porsche time tunnel. Race drivers and
international management attended.
“It was unbelievable, just to celebrate the brand’s success here. They
take it very seriously and invest a massive amount in branding.”
Other events include VIP cocktail
functions, classic vehicle meets and
owner tours. Customers are also transported to tracks in mainland China for
driving events.
Taxing issue
Taxes are a significant factor in the
Hong Kong car market. Getting a car
on the road is expensive, with a first
registration tax of nearly 100%.
As an example, a 911 Carrera 4S has
a base price of AU$204,000, but by the
time tax is added the overall price rises
to AUS$403,000. And the tax applies to
all the extras - including service contracts and extended warranties - sold
on the car in the first six months.
That means only the rich can afford
vehicles and it leads to an unusual
model mix. Toyota leads the market
because it dominates taxis and working vehicles, but second in 2016 was
Mercedes-Benz followed by BMW,
Honda and then, interestingly, Tesla.
The performance of Tesla was
largely down to the Hong Kong
Government removing the sales
tax for electric vehicles.
That rule ended in March and
electric cars are now subject to the
same high tax with a comparatively
small AU$28,000 government incentive. High Tesla sales for the first
quarter are likely to slump now.
Smith is disappointed the tax
break is gone - as it would have
made the brand’s Mission-E electric
model massively appealing when it
launches in 2019.
“If it had stayed the same we could
have launched the Mission E for under
HK$1 million dollars (AU$167,000),”
Smith says.
“That was a huge advantage for
us, but that’s now changed.”
But he believes the model will
still do well.
“The people of Hong Kong love
electric cars.
“Charging stations are everywhere
in Hong Kong - they probably have
the best charging infrastructure in the
world. Every mall you go to, every
carpark would have ten Tesla charg-
ing stations.
“That will be part of our strategy
as well when we launch Mission E in
Hong Kong, to put Porsche charging
stations in at major locations to support our cars.”
Hong Kong has the equivalent of
the Federal Chamber of Automotive
Industries - the Hong Kong Motor Trade
Association - to lobby its government
on issues like that, but Smith says a
significant amount of work has been
done recently by a breakaway group of
European distributors working together.
Leasing learning curve
The finance and insurance market in
Hong Kong is very healthy and interest
rates are low.
Smith says around 30% of cars sold
by the dealership are financed and
his sales team - all licensed financial
advisers - handle the insurance needs
of 90% of the cars they sell.
But when he first arrived Smith noticed no one offered leases. So he put
together a lease package on a Macan,
offering it at HK$13,888 a month - a
lucky number.
“We promoted it like crazy, the
salespeople worked hard on it, and
guess how many we did? Zero.”
“But it was amazing for talkability and it brought people into the
dealership. They chose other products because I learned people from
Eastern cultures like to own the car
at the end of the period. They don’t
want to walk away.”
Instead, Smith is working on more
creative ways of financing vehicles.
“There’s nothing new in the car
industry; there’s probably nothing
new in the finance industry.
“It’s how we can repackage
that, how we can make it more
interesting.”
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 7
NEWSTALK
Dual appointments at AHG
A
utomotive Holdings Group
(AHG) has appointed Paul Morris its franchised automotive
general manager and Simon Ramsay
its trucks general manager.
Both roles are new.
Morris will be responsible for all of the
group’s franchised automotive operations in Australia and will report to AHG
managing director John McConnell.
Ramsay will carry responsibility for
all AHG’s state truck operations.
“Paul brings with him more than 20
years’ experience in automotive retail,
both internationally and in Australia,”
McConnell says.
“I am delighted that Paul is joining
us as we look to continue our growth
in automotive retail and I know he will
work well with the team.
“He has extensive OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) experience
and extensive operational knowledge
of running multiple sites and multiple
geographies, having recently been
the director of operations in emerging markets for Inchcape PLC.”
AHG’s state automotive general
managers will report to Morris.
“Over the past few months I have
been reviewing the
operations of our truck
businesses and have
the view that there are
significant synergies
and opportunities to
be had by forming a
national truck structure
for AHG,” McConnell
says.
“Simon Ramsay
has almost 20 years’
experience with AHG
and transitions from
the role of dealer prin-
Paul Morris
Simon Ramsay
Tolling tech conference
U
tilising the latest technology
will be the focus of the National
electronic Tolling Conference
(NeTC) in Sydney later this month.
Organised by Intelligent Transport
Systems Australia (ITS), the conference is themed “Converging Smarter
Tolling Technologies”.
It will feature more than 40 speakers, including New South Wales
minister for roads, maritime and freight
Melinda Pavey.
“Well-managed and efficient road
transport infrastructure is crucial to business and the liveability of cities, regional
and rural communities,” Pavey says.
“Smarter ways of moving people
and freight will reduce risks on the
roads, ease congestion and positively
impact the economy.
“I am looking forward to meeting
members of the local, national and
international road tolling and transport
technology industry, to share information and explore collaborative initiatives to support enhanced mobility.”
The two-day annual event, now in
its 13th year, runs from May 23-25.
ITS Australia chief executive Susan
Harris says NeTC 2017 is a great oppor-
8 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
tunity to drive the industry
forward.
Philip Davies
Melinda Pavey
Susan Harris
“Australia is a global
leader in ITS and last year’s
world first. In 1998, it was upgraded
World Congress in Melbourne was a sigto an electronic system and the next
nificant moment for the local industry,”
generation system will be based on
she says.
global navigation satellite systems.
“The congress connected govern“It’s important for the industry to
ments and industry to international marbe collaborative and learn from each
kets and enhanced Australia’s reputation
other to best utilise data and techacross America, Asia Pacific and Europe.
nology to maximise outcomes.”
“Key congress messages have been
Another conference speaker, Infracaptured in the ITS Australia report
‘Smart Transport for Australia’ in which
structure Australia chief executive Philip
nearly 50 focus areas for future opporDavies, says overhauling road networks
tunities have been identified.
is one of the biggest opportunities for
“The report is a blueprint for the ininfrastructure reform in Australia.
dustry and NeTC will be an opportunity to
“As we argued in the 15-year Auspresent key findings to ensure transport is
tralian Infrastructure Plan, introducsafer, more efficient and sustainable.”
ing a fairer, user-pays system of road
Other speakers at this year’s confercharging can deliver secure, sustainence include representatives from
able funding for our roads and better
government and industry groups.
services for users,” he says.
One speaker, Kapsch TrafficCom
“With the Federal Government now
senior bids and project manager Andy
committed to a public inquiry on the
Tay, says Singapore is a great example
potential benefits of road market reform,
of how technology can be used to
this year’s NeTC Forum is an opportunity
improve tolling systems.
to have a frank discussion on how this
“Singapore implemented its first
important reform can be implemented
congestion charge system in 1975 – a
in practice – including the challenge of
NEWSTALK
Retail hub strategy a
winner
A
utomotive Holdings Group
(AHG) is continuing its strategy
of producing dealership hubs.
The company recently reached
agreement in principle to acquire the
Ford and Mitsubishi dealerships at the
Essendon Fields automotive precinct
near Melbourne. That’s on top of its announcement
that it’s developing a new Jaguar
and Land Rover dealership on a
greenfield site at Essendon Fields.
Most AHG dealerships are located in retail hubs, with anything
from four to eight franchises
within a kilometre of each other,
offering shared services opportunities, the company says. “We expect to drive both incremental revenue and cost synergies
across the two Essendon dealerships,” managing director John
McConnell says.
“The transaction is firmly in
line with our ongoing automotive aggregation strategy and an
excellent opportunity to secure
dealerships that can be integrated into an AHG retail hub.”
The transaction represents a valuable addition to its operation in the
Victorian capital, McConnell says. “The Essendon Fields precinct is
a well-recognised retail automotive location and these acquisitions
add to our presence in Melbourne.” The Essendon Ford and Mitsubishi acquisition involves a total
consideration of $8.5 million for
goodwill, plus stock and assets at
valuation. It is subject to customary conditions, including manufacturer approvals, and is expected
to settle this month. Once the acquisition is completed, AHG will hold 184 franchises at 111 dealership locations
in Australia and New Zealand. The Jaguar and Land Rover
dealership will be AHG’s second
for luxury brands after last year’s
acquisition of the former Lance Dixon
JLR franchises at Doncaster in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. AHG was founded in Perth in 1952
with a single Holden dealership and
grew steadily until the late-1990s
when it began a period of expansion.
The company listed on the Australian
Stock Exchange in November 2005.
John McConnell
An artist’s impression of AHG’s new Jaguar Land Rover dealership at Essendon Fields.
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AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 9
NEWSTALK
Federal industry minister Arthur Sinodinos, centre, chats with expo exhibitors.
Continued from page 3
New technology on show at the expo.
There was plenty to see and do at the expo.
10 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
the arm.”
A visit by federal minister
for industry Arthur Sinodinos
showed he was impressed with
the expo.
“He just said ‘wow, wow,
wow’,” Charity says.
The show demonstrated
impressive growth, with about
11,000 visitors attending - up
10% on the last show in 2015,
he says.
“It’s all the names associated
with the auto industry other than
the car brands.”
That includes everyone from
Repco and Bursons to Hella
and Dayco.
AAAA research shows several
reasons why people come to
trade shows, Charity says. They
include the opportunity to learn
about new products and services
and the chance to network with
others in the industry.
The opportunity to attend
educational seminars on everything from targeting specific
sectors of the industry to how
to be a better boss is also another drawcard.
Charity says there was plenty
of representation from across
the Tasman, with about 800
Kiwis at the expo, including
the New Zealand Collision
Repair Association, which
ran its national conference
in Melbourne.
NEWSTALK
Taiwan’s technology
trade offers great
opportunity
Y
ou may not immediately think of
already leads the world in the developTaiwan as a force in the automoment of semiconductors and consumer
tive trade but you’d be surprised.
electronics. Some of the first smartThe industry
phones
there is worth
came
By Richard Edwards
AU$19.4 bilfrom
[email protected]
lion a year but,
Taiwan,
with relatively
under
modest car sales,
the HTC
two-thirds of the
brand, and
production is focused on aftermarket
it continues to be a market leader.
parts, electronics and components –
Chou says the industry receives
around 70% of them for export.
substantial government backing and
Want your parts department to
was quick to establish standards and
check out those replacement headalign them with international markets.
lights? Taiwan controls 60% of the
“The international market is very
global market for those.
important to us.”
Its Government knows the value of
It also has an established test bed
the trade to the country and is hugely
for telematics and driver assistance
behind it, offering business support,
systems. Ten years ago the Governcoordinated research and development
ment started subsidising the cost of
programs and international marketing.
fitting telematics and camera equipA jewel in its promotion crown is the
ment into all trucks, buses and taxis in
annual Taipei International Auto Parts
the country, now covering a fleet of
and Accessories Show which is teamed
nearly 200,000.
with subsidiary events EV Taiwan, AutoTronics Taiwan and Motorcycle Taiwan
in a giant trade experience held across
two massive exhibition centres.
The numbers are staggering - 3772
booths housing 1361 companies.
Alongside local visitors, 6700 will
come to the show from overseas.
Everything automotive is on show,
from floor mats to specialist wheel
repair machines, components for
vehicle manufacturing and electronic
control units.
While traditional components
Paul Chou
continue to be developed, the shift is
turning to electronics and software,
ADAS for the aftermarket
two aspects of the industry that can
Taiwan already has working autonoonly grow.
mous driving platforms but its current
Taiwan’s Telematics Industry Asfocus appears to be more on ADAS –
sociation secretary-general Paul Chou
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
says the move is logical as the country
That covers technology usually
only found in new vehicles – front
and rear collision warnings, adaptive
cruise control, blind spot detection,
lane departure warning, heads-up
displays and smart camera systems.
We were part of a demonstration
of one system’s talent for picking out
other cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Once identified, the system’s processing unit can decide whether alerts or
other intervention is required.
Taiwanese companies developing the technologies, including those
under the Taiwan Autotronics Collaborative Alliance, are mostly doing so to
supply vehicle manufacturers, predominantly in China, but they are also
packaging them for the aftermarket.
A representative of Cub Elecparts
says its systems can be installed in
a dealership environment within a
couple of hours. But it is going even
further than most and working on
retrofitting autonomous emergency
braking and
adaptive
cruise control,
with an initial
focus on the
American
commercial
vehicle first.
Cub has
been working
in the United
States for
years. It takes
a significant
stand at the
massive annual SEMA show and has worked with
both General Motors and Chrysler on
its technology, particularly tyre pressure measurement systems.
Continued on page 12
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 11
NEWSTALK
Taiwan’s technology trade offers great
opportunity
Continued from page 11
Why should traders in Australia
care? As safety becomes a higher
priority, there’s an opportunity to
offer equipment typically provided
in more premium vehicles as an indealership option.
The technology is complex but the
installations relatively straightforward
so there’s a potential margin in both
the importation of the system and the
installation process.
Why Taiwan?
It’s Taiwan’s small size, Chou says.
Having 27 million people in a country just a few hundred kilometres end
to end is a huge advantage. “We have a one-day supply ecosys-
12 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
tem,” he explains.
“Every single component, design
and assembly are normally within a
two-hour radius.”
Taiwan’s speciality is rapid launch
and production. Tooling that would
take two months in most western markets can happen in two days but is still
done to a good quality level.
Chou cites the example of a German brand operating in China that
required a USB adaptor. Production
was underway within a week and the
failure rate for the unit was less than
one in a million.
But if Taiwan needs one thing, it’s
partners. Walking around the shows,
we saw products that were amazing in
execution but were in need of a market.
And it appears the successful players are aware of that, with the most
advanced in their overall packages
fronted by managers with foreign
experience or by overseas-based
business partners.
This is a tremendous opportunity
for businesses here to generate business from the technology and parts
Taiwan provides.
Next month: We look at ten
award-winning Taiwan developed
and produced automotive parts and
components.
*Auto Media Group managing
editor Richard Edwards visited
Taiwan with the kind assistance
of the Taiwan External Trade
Development Council.
Max Pichon
DIARYTALK
or
AutoTalk’s seni
journalist Geoff
s back
Dobson look
stories
at the major
onth on
in the past m
our Austrailian
ite
AutoTalk webs
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–
THE
DIARY
April 3
April 4
Victorian
manufacturer
Tomcar plans
electric ATV
Ford leads
autonomous driving
tech, report says
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) manufacturer Tomcar has entered
into a binding Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) with
mineral exploration company
UXA Resources as a preliminary step on the road to an
Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Tomcar, which plans this
year to introduce the LV1
– an electric version of its
petrol or diesel-powered
ATV – has received investment capital of more than $1
million from UXA, Motoring.
com.au reports.
The Tomcar range of ATVs
is being manufactured in
partnership with automotive
supplier MTM and the electric
LV1 is being developed in
partnership with NSW-based
electric vehicle technology
developer Energetique.
New head office
on way for Isuzu
Australia
Construction starts soon
on a new Isuzu Australia
Limited (IAL) head office in
Australia’s trucking heartland
–Truganina.
It’s in the core of Melbourne’s western transport
corridor, on the corner of
Doherty’s Road and Foundation Road.
The more than 21,000
square metre centre will consolidate all of Isuzu’s operations under one roof.
The Ford Motor Company is
in pole position on driverless vehicle technology, a
new report from Navigant
Research reveals.
It’s well ahead of
Google, Tesla and Uber
“‘when it comes to benefiting from the coming age of
autonomous vehicles”, the
report says.
Ranked behind Ford, in
order, are General Motors,
Renault-Nissan Alliance,
Daimler, Volkswagen Group,
BMW, Waymo, Volvo/Autoliv/
Zenuity, Delphi, and Hyundai
Motor Group.
April 5
Renewable energy
needed to drive
uptake of EVs
Plugging into renewable
energy sources is the top reason people consider before
buying an electric vehicle,
according to a new study.
Queensland University
of Technology postdoctoral
research fellow Dr Kenan
Degirmenci, from QUT Business School, says environmental performance – or being green – outweighs even
price or range confidence for
electric vehicle consumers.
Those conclusions are
drawn from his newly published study titled Consumer
purchase intentions for electric
vehicles: Is green more important than price and range?
Isuzu rewards top
dealerships
“Excellence” status has been
bestowed upon nine of
Australia’s highest performing
Isuzu truck dealerships.
The honour comes from
Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL)
through its 2016 Dealer
Excellence Program.
The dealership must maintain superb standards in sales,
customer satisfaction, staff
training, business management and parts for the entire
year to qualify for the award.
Victorian automotive
award winners
announced May
Sixty-two entrants representing the best of Victoria’s
automotive industry have
been short-listed for the 2017
Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC)
Industry awards.
Category winners will
be announced at a black tie
evening, featuring master of ceremonies Shane
Jacobson, on Saturday,
May 20, at the Crown Palladium, Melbourne.
The VACC introduced the
awards in 2016 in recognition
of the many excellent automotive businesses in Victoria
offering exceptional commitment to their customers, staff,
and local communities.
Tide rises on
insurance premiums
in flood hit regions
Australia’s peak body representing the insurance industry
defends reports of “prohibitively expensive” insurance
premiums of up to $30,000
a year in flood-hit parts of
northern New South Wales.
The Insurance Council of
Australia (ICA) says the Federal Government needs to
allocate $200 million in the
next budget for flood mitigation measures for premiums
in the region to come down,
the ABC reports.
Lismore residents in
northern New South Wales
claim flood insurance re-
mains prohibitively expensive, despite a town levee
designed to lower the risk of
catastrophic damage.
April 6
New insurance
partnership
Dawes Underwriting Australia has announced a new
partnership with Allianz
Australia Insurance (Allianz)
covering vehicles.
Under an underwriting
agency agreement, Allianz will
become the new underwriter
for Dawes motor vehicle
insurance products, supporting its portfolio of exotic and
prestige motor vehicles.
This agreement applied
to new business and renewal
transactions from May 1.
Truth About New
Car Servicing
consumer education
kits launched
An in-store consumer information kit delivering factual information on new car servicing
has been launched by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket
Association (AAAA).
It’s designed to directly
challenge the myths and
misinformation put out by
vehicle manufacturers and
their dealers, the AAAA says.
The kit presents the customers’ legal position with
respect to new car servicing
by independent workshops
and was launched at the
AAAA’s Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo.
April 7
New chairman for
Australian Trucking
Association
Geoff Crouch is the new
chairman of the Australian
Trucking Association (ATA).
He was elected unopposed at the ATA’s annual
general meeting in Canberra.
Crouch ended his term as
Continued on page 14
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 13
DIARYTALK
Continued from page 13
president of ATA member association NatRoad in 2015 and
is the managing director of
Ron Crouch Transport, where
he has worked since 1995.
Get real on emissions
testing: AAA tells
government
Do more on vehicle emissions
testing, the Australian Government is being urged, following
a joint initiative on the issue
from London and Paris.
The mayors of London and
Paris have joined forces to
provide car buyers with better
information to make environmentally responsible choices.
That’s welcomed by the
Australian Automobile Association (AAA), which reckons
the Australian Government
should do something similar.
First operational
EV for DHL Express
Australia
DHL Express is putting its
first fully electric vehicle on
Australian roads following a
successful trial.
The fully-electric Renault
Kangoo ZE Van will be used
as the company mail car in
Sydney, driving between DHL
Express offices.
The Kangoo ZE is joining
a DHL Express fleet of hybrid
delivery vans. It can complete
a journey of an estimated 100+
kilometres on a single charge,
eliminating the production of
4.75 tonnes of carbon emissions from the environment
over the course of one year. It
runs on a lithium-ion battery
and takes six to nine hours to
complete a full charge.
Autocare 2018
convention
launching in
Australia
The Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Association (AAAA)
is announcing the launch of a
two-day national convention
for aftermarket parts, service
and repair professionals in
2018.
Called Autocare 2018, the
conference will address the
theme Disruption, Innovation, Rejuvenation with local
and international speakers
covering the topics that
matter to the future of all
businesses and professionals
in the automotive industry.
The initiative is part of a
long-term AAAA strategy to
support growth across all
sectors of the automotive
aftermarket industry.
April 10
Scania introducing
Apple CarPlay
Scania is adding Apple CarPlay to the new generation
truck’s infotainment system,
allowing for safe access to all
the functionality of iPhones
by mirroring them seamlessly.
Scania is among the first
in the industry to offer Apple
CarPlay in heavy trucks.
“Scania’s infotainment
system will work with Apple
CarPlay, allowing a safer way
to use an iPhone while on the
move,” says Scanian Trucks
product management vice
president Björn Fahlström.
Queensland car
yard lender fined
$1.2 million after
breaching consumer
credit laws
The Federal Court fined
Cairns-based lender Channic
Pty Ltd, broker Cash Brokers
Pty Ltd and the sole director of
both companies Colin William
Hulbert $776,000 for breaching consumer credit laws.
The court also ordered
payment of $420,000 in costs.
Channic and Cash Brokers
both operated from Supercheap, a used car dealership
in Cairns which was also
owned by Hulbert.
April 12
Tesla passes GM
Elon Musk’s Tesla has surpassed General Motors to
14 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
become America’s most valuable carmaker.
A week after topping the
Ford Motor company, Tesla
climbed 3.3%, lifting its market capitalisation to $50.9
billion, Bloomberg reports.
The electric-car maker is
valued at about $64 million
more than GM. Musk’s company is now within $1 billion
of the Honda Motor company
and cracking the top-five
automakers worldwide.
The turnabout shows the extent to which investors have
bought into Musk’s vision that
electric vehicles will eventually rule the road.
Hino to reward
dealerships
for customer
satisfaction
For the first time, Hino dealerships will vie for a Customer
Satisfaction Award at the Hino
Dealer of the Year awards in
Sydney on April 22.
“At Hino, we’re driven to
do more for our customers,
and this prestigious new customer award is the perfect
example,” Hino Motor Sales
Australia brand and franchise
development general manager Bill Gillespie says.
“Hino is leading the way
with new initiatives for our
customers and part of that
focus is to reflect the ‘voice of
the customer’ with a Customer Satisfaction award at the
dealership level,” he says.
Toyota bus coasts
into Australia
Toyota has revamped its
Coaster bus line-up.
The new model is stronger, safer, more comfortable
and better equipped and
includes refreshed exterior
and interior designs.
Safety was a priority,
Toyota says. It includes a
stronger and more rigid
frame, the addition of driver
and front-passenger airbags,
and upgraded suspension
hardware and tuning.
Automotive
Holdings Group’s
Essendon Fields deal
Automotive Holdings Group
(AHG) has reached agreement
in principle to acquire the
Ford and Mitsubishi dealerships at the Essendon Fields
automotive precinct near
Melbourne.
AHG is also developing a
new Jaguar and Land Rover
dealership on a greenfield
site at Essendon Fields.
The transaction represents a valuable addition to
the company’s presence in
the Victorian capital, AHG
managing director John McConnell says.
Toyota Australia
sues manager
Toyota Australia is suing one
of its managers for allegedly
spending $2 million of company money on public relations
work that was never done.
The company claims in
court documents that Barry
Money, a corporate manager for the retail division,
paid fake invoices to Sydney
public relations companies,
Brand Navigator and The
Project Group, The Daily
Telegraph reports.
Money is defending himself against the $2.25 million
lawsuit, saying he was just
following the company’s
practice of getting rid of
unspent money through “prepayments to suppliers”.
BMW 5 Series wins
praise with five
ANCAP stars.
The new BMW 520d has
achieved the top five star
ANCAP safety rating following independent performance testing.
“The 520d has been assessed against the most stringent 2017 criteria, achieving
high scores in the areas of
adult occupant protection,
child occupant protection
and pedestrian protection,”
ANCAP chief executive officer
James Goodwin says.
Continued on page 15
DIARYTALK
The risk of serious head
injury to adult occupants is
low with all tests revealing
‘good’ results.
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA),
the event featured thousands
of products and services
demonstrated on 437 stands.
April 13
Uber push to
adopt EVs
Continued from page 14
Two-vehicles per
“typical Australian”:
Census
The “typical” Australian is a
38-year-old married woman
with two children in a three
bedroom house having two
vehicles.
So says a preview of the
2016 Census of Population
and Housing released by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
It’s ahead of the first detailed Census data release on
June 27.
The typical Australian male is
37-years-old and the typical
Australian home is owned
with a mortgage.
Key appointments at
Capricorn
Five key appointments have
been made at Capricorn,
Australasia’s largest cooperative in the automotive parts
buying industry.
These enhance the
company’s commitment to
provide the highest levels of
service to more than 17,000
automotive trade businesses
across Australia and New
Zealand, Capricorn says.
Queensland based Chris
Nicol has been promoted to
the role of national key accounts manager.
April 18
Big turnout for
aftermarket expo
Nearly 11,000 visitors attended a highly successful
Australian Auto Aftermarket
Expo and associated Collision
Repair Expo.
The two shows were held
at the Melbourne Exhibition
Centre from April 6-8.
Presented biennially by the
Uber has launched a bid to
push hundreds of its US-based
drivers into electric vehicles
(EVs) over the next two years.
The company’s subsidiary Xchange Leasing
will purchase EVs and lease
them to drivers in the Portland area, Time reports.
Uber’s target is to make
10% of Uber vehicles in Oregon electric by 2019.
Fuso introduces
five-year standard
warranty
Fuso has increased its standard manufacturer’s warranty
to five years on all new trucks
and Rosa bus models.
This makes Fuso the first and
only Japanese truck manufacturer in Australia to offer
this level of cover as standard.
It is a bumper to bumper
manufacturer’s warranty and
includes genuine Fuso parts
and service from an authorised Fuso dealer.
Previously, the standard
warranty was three years.
April 19
UD Trucks launching
new Quon
Volvo Group brand UD Trucks
is launching an all-new Quon
heavy-duty truck series representing a full model change
for the market.
UD Trucks says the allnew Quon with associated
services will move the brand
into a stronger position in
the truck industry.
“The Quon is combining
industry-leading fuel efficiency with an unparalleled driveline that delivers a smooth,
stress-free and comfortable
ride,” says UD Trucks.
Tesla announces
Class 8 EV truck unveiling
April 26
Tesla boss Elon Musk set the
Twittersphere alight over the
Easter weekend announcing
the arrival of an all-electric
powered USA Class 8 Semi
Truck in September 2017 which
he described as “Next Level.”
“[The] Team has done an
amazing job,” tweeted Musk.
According to CNET.Com,
Musk brought up the Tesla
Semi plan during the USA
summer of 2016, when he
unveiled his “master plan.”
which also included the
possibility of a Tesla EV
pick-up truck in the next
12 to 18 months.
Mazda jumps to
second on Australian
annual reputable
company survey
April 21
The Australasian new car
assessment programme (ANCAP) is reporting a two-star
safety rating for the Great Wall
Steed double cab petrol utility.
“Despite claims from
the vehicle brand that the
Chinese dual cab is ‘all-new’
and offers ‘outstanding levels
of performance, value, safety
and comfort,’ the underpinnings of the Steed differ little
to that of the previous generation dual cab ute which carried the V240 model name,”
ANCAP chief executive officer
James Goodwin says.
“This is a disappointing
result for consumers and the
brand,” he says.
Penrite Oil wins
award for its
Enviro Box
Australian family owned company Penrite Oil won an award
for its Enviro Box solution for
safer and more environmentally responsible lubricant
dispensing on the same day it
revealed this package.
The Penrite Enviro Box was
selected by a judging panel as
the winner of the Australian
Auto Aftermarket Association’s 2017 Most Innovative
New Packaging Award.
This was presented at the
AAAA’s innovation awards
breakfast prior to its Melbourne expo from April 6-8.
LDV’s EV trial
LDV electric vans could soon
be on Australian roads as part
of a new 12-month trial.
The Chinese brand’s local
importer, Ateco, is organising its new EV80 vans to be
used by courier companies
and possibly Australia Post.
“We are currently talking to a number of courier
companies and a certain large
postal organisation about
the upcoming trial,” Ateco
spokesman, Edward Rowe,
told Drive.com.au.
Mazda is Australia’s leading
automotive company
by reputation.
It’s jumped from fifth last
year to second on the latest
annual Australian Corporate
Reputation Index.
Previously second placed
Toyota has slipped to fourth.
ANCAP two-star
safety rating for
Great Wall Steed
Huge haul of
counterfeit car parts
The seizure of a further
100,000 counterfeit car parts
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstrates the
scale and seriousness of the
problem, according to the
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ Genuine is
Best initiative.
The seizure included fake
brake pads, head gasket kits
and oil and air filters, valued
at more than A$2.7 million.
The recovery of the dangerous fakes was especially
disturbing after the Easter
and Anzac Day public holiday
period, FCAI chief executive
Tony Weber says.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 15
PEOPLETALK
Coaching the key to
sales success
V
ehicle sales managers’ roles
specific skills.
have become more and more
These are terms we throw around
complex of late. They are exquite loosely but in essence the difpected to be all things to all people
ference is:
• Training is longer term to gain a
and are more accountable than ever
qualification.
for their results.
• Coaching is more short-term to
They are also measured more than
achieve a goal.
ever and are faced with more and
• Mentoring is the use of a more
more onerous factory reporting.
senior person to guide or advise a
The diversity of staff backgrounds and
more junior person.
generations present many challenges
So how can coaching by your veand that’s not to mention the internet
hicle sales managers help your sales
and changing customer expectations.
Staff churn
in vehicle sales
Article by
departments
Craig Rowney [email protected]
is as big as
and
ever, even with
Ian McLean [email protected]
more reasonof Fusion Performace Consulting
able workplace
legislation.
National Automotive Dealer
team improve their performance?
Association statistics suggest it as high
The challenge fits within the definias 60% in United States new vehicle
tion of coaching which is to achieve
departments. Is anyone prepared to
a short-term goal.
suggest we don’t have a similar issue?
Your sales managers should pick a
After working with many original
particular skill that needs development
equipment manufacturers and speakin the same way a football coach might
ing with countless dealerships, it bechoose tackling as the skill that needs
comes obvious what sets the very best
to be coached to win Saturday’s game.
apart - vehicle sales managers who
At Fusion Performance Consulting,
understand and focus on consistent
we have conducted a significant study
coaching of the team, no matter how
on sales processes and found the weakexperienced or new the team member.
est area is lack of follow-up. That might
So what does it mean when we say
not surprise many but the figures supour sales managers should coach their
port the need for greater improvement.
teams? Let’s start with some definitions:
• Training: The action of teaching
We surveyed 3296 new car customa person a particular skill or type
ers and the major dissatisfaction they
of behaviour.
had with the sales process at dealer• Mentoring: Employee training
ships was the lack of or poor follow-up.
• 67% of customers who enquired
system under which a senior or more
by email and were dissatisfied said it
experienced individual (the mentor) is
was due to no or poor follow-up.
assigned to act as an advisor, counsel• 36% of customers who enquired
lor or guide to a junior or trainee.
• Coaching: A method of directby phone and were dissatisfied also said
ing, instructing and training a person
it was due to no or poor follow-up.
or group of people with the aim of
So if you are toying with the idea
achieving some goal or developing
of starting coaching at your dealer16 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
ship, the topic of follow-up would be a
great way to kick off.
If you are going to have a coaching session for the first time on the
quality of your dealership’s followup, you should start with some data
on a sales consultant that shows their
follow-up performance.
Your enquiry tracking system
should tell you who needs improvement. If you do not have an enquiry
tracking system, you should develop
one otherwise you could be missing
sales opportunities.
With the
data in hand,
sit down
and have a
one-on-one
discussion
with each of
your sales
consultants. Talk about the following:
• Why are they not following up all
of their leads?
• Are there any barriers to them following up?
• Look at specific examples to understand what has been happening.
• Find the root cause for the lack of
follow-up.
• Create an action plan designed to
address the issues highlighted.
• Review the action plans and the
performance each week until it is at
dealership average level.
Try this simple structure for coaching on the topic. Once it is addressed,
find another topic (e.g. test drive ratios)
and use the process to address this.
Ideally, there should be a rolling
schedule of coaching designed to
address various problems in the sales
department and lift performance.
Give it a try - you have nothing to
lose. You will probably find your sales
consultants appreciate the opportunity to have some one-on-one time to
focus on improving their skills.
PEOPLETALK
Time for the parallel
import roadblocks to go
I
f you’ve been following the news latemean increased production costs and
ly, you might have noticed that one of
successive federal governments have
the newest vehicles to hit Australian
been reluctant to put any undue finanshowrooms has also hit a brick wall.
cial pressure on our fragile automotive
A great wall, you might say, or notmanufacturing industry, lest the car
so-great if you happen to be trying to
makers pack their bags. convince the public to buy one.
As a result, a vehicle sold in Europe
Despite the Great Wall Steed having
or Japan in 2015, for example, will
six airbags and electronic stability conhave better emissions than any vehicle
trol, ANCAP testing awarded it a lowly
currently sold new in Australia - and by
two-star safety rating.
a considerable margin.
A few months ago, the same twoRemember the VW emissions
star brickbat was dished out to the
cheating software found in overseas
new Ford Mustang.
vehicles? It wasn’t needed to beat our
One of the most consistent messagemissions standards. I’m sure you can
es from opponents of parallel imported
guess why.
vehicles is that Australia’s rigorous vehicle safety and emissions
By Australian Imported Motor
standards will somehow be
Vehicle Industry Association
compromised.
vice-president Kristian Appelt
There are, of course, a number of flaws in that argument.
As the examples mentioned
demonstrate, there isn’t always
a direct correlation between vehicle
Putting the Steed and Mustang to
safety and compliance with Australian
one side, it’s fairly logical to accept
Design Rules.
that, as time has gone on, cars have
Two-star vehicles are still available
become safer and more fuel efficient.
for sale in new car dealerships across
As much as our respective governthe country, despite meeting ADRs.
ments would love to believe that draWould you feel safer in a new Steed or
conian speed enforcement has helped
a near-new BMW 3-series imported
lower the road toll, improved vehicle
from the United Kingdom?
design and safety features should take
For manufacturer representative
the bulk of the credit for keeping us all
groups to somehow imply that their
safer on the roads.
own members’ products sold overseas
It stands to reason that the youngare somehow inferior to Australian
er the Australian fleet, the lower the
delivered models is fairly disingenuous,
emissions will be and the lower our
especially given that, over the past few
road toll will become.
years, Australia has been working to
The easiest way to gauge the relaharmonise its design rules with Europe,
tive health of a nation’s fleet is to look
rather than the other way around.
at the average age of its registered
The differences in safety features
vehicles. In spite of record numbers
of a BMW first sold in Australia, Japan
of new vehicle sales year-on-year for
or the UK are minute at best. the past decade, the average age of
But what about emissions? Australia
Australia’s fleet hovers at around 10.1
has traditionally lagged a long way
years old, significantly higher than that
behind other developed nations when
of, say, the UK at 7.8 years.
it comes to emissions regulations too.
With our average fleet age already
Tighter emissions standards also
looking poor, it’s little wonder our
politicians baulked at the Harper
Review suggesting an “open slather”
policy for all imported vehicles up
to the age of five years old. Surely
bringing in five-year-old vehicles from
overseas would just make the fleet
even older, would it not?
The problem with this assumption is
that it’s based on the hypothetical notion
that someone buying a five-year-old
$30,000 Audi will be doing so instead of
purchasing a new $30,000 Ford Focus.
New Zealand’s experience with
opening up its market proved the opposite is true.
The introduction of parallel imports
forced down the prices of used
cars, thereby enabling those with
20-year-old-plus heavy-polluting death traps to dispatch them
to the great recycling plant in
the sky and trade up into something newer and safer without
having to make the financial leap
to a brand new vehicle. The net result?
A reduction in the average age of the
vehicle fleet rather than an increase.
The discussion around allowing
parallel importation of vehicles into
Australia has generated much hyperbole and a number of old wives’ tales
in Canberra. Parties that have a vested
interest in maintaining the status quo
have been quite content to turn a blind
eye to misleading statements when it
helps their cause.
But as the last of Australia’s vehicle
manufacturers prepare to close their
doors in October, the push to maintain
current protectionist legislation when
there is no local industry to protect is
starting to fall on deaf ears in Parliament.
In an era in which Australia has
worked so hard to remove international trade barriers, the time is now
right for a well-structured parallel
importation scheme to help create a
fairer marketplace where car buyers from all socio-economic backgrounds can benefit.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 17
NEWSTALK
Don’t let some other bugger own
your customer
S
ome days it does not feel like it,
but it has never been simpler to
own your customers - regardless
of where they are in the sales cycle.
The new ‘on trend’ term is customer nurturing - where the focus is
on the complete life cycle of customers, managing them through the
times where they are ‘out of market’
through to the times where they are
‘in market’ and ready to purchase.
Google at its recent Auto Engage conference referred to these as ‘moments’.
Why they defined them as ‘moments’
is very important as it identifies four key
decision points in the customer path to
purchasing a new vehicle. At each point,
it outlines what information a prospective customer has gained, what device
or devices the customer has access to
at this time and the emotional decision that is being made or fulfilled. The
‘moment’ I want to cover is the ‘Digital
to Dealership’ moment which Google
defined as the third step.
The last 12 months has seen a huge
amount of change within the industry
in the way customers are acquired,
managed within the sales process and
the quality of nurturing when outside
the purchase cycle.
While on the surface it looks to have
become more complicated, the advances in available technology and platforms have simplified it in many ways.
The linear model of digital advertising
through the dealership website and
mass listing sites, is now only one option within a fragmented and crowded
marketplace. Many more options have
opened up where you now have direct
control over the customer journey
with the ability to provide targeted and
relevant remarketing. Generally, this
also provides a cheaper cost per sale at
around one third of the cost of using a
traditional listing via a third party.
The key advantage is taking back
the ownership of the customer.
Why let a listing site own your customer and their road to the sale when
you can control and own your own
18 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
customers and prospects?
So, what has changed to allow this
to happen. Like most change, it is
nothing new and in a lot of ways we
are returning to the past pre-internet
age when regardless of the size of
the dealership its brand stood strong
- supported by a great road frontage,
print advertising and a little radio.
Post internet, maintaining the brand
of individual dealerships become harder, and the sales of most non-premium
vehicles became commoditised and
volume based.
Cost and access to technology has
now allowed dealerships access to new
applications to support all stages of the
customer’s journey. For many years,
dealer management systems (DMS) have
been the only enabling platform within
a dealership as they have developed and
where all customer details are maintained from sales to service.
Websites and remarketing go handin-hand and as I stated above, if you
can generate your own leads it can
reduce the overall cost of customer
acquisition. While websites in the past
probably looked better they were
rather static and acted more like brochures than effective sales tools.
Nowadays they make great use of
white space and look more like forms
than brochures. To hark back to our
friends at Google, the reason for this is
that prospective customers are carrying out their research away from and
outside the dealer’s websites.
Even for older vehicles there is a
range of trusted websites offering vehicle reviews and ratings. All this means
that once a prospective customer
starts to interact with your
David Boshier
website you have a very
General manager of AutoPlay, which
limited time to respond
provides app-based lead-management
to them in a relevant way.
tools for dealerships. To find out more,
The change we are seeing
contact [email protected]
here is the move away
from traditional website
matured to bring strong business procompanies to digital agencies.
cess management while holding in most
Then comes the last domain that I
part the complete customer database.
am totally biased about - lead manThe pace of change has now led to
agement. About 22% of customers
the splitting of the customer managechange brands or dealerships because
ment domain into a number of basic
their lead is neither responded to, or is
sections with their own supporting
responded to with a lack of details.
applications. Those customer contacts
This year we have focused on
or prospects deemed to be ‘out of
separating new inbound customer
market’ are now nurtured via a dedileads that need urgent action from
cated CRM solution.
those follow-up events that can be
For AutoPlay in the last 12 months
completed in a less timely manner with
we have integrated directly into more
the introduction of our Prospect/CRM
CRM applications than DMS providers. dashboard. This works well when inteThe simple reason is that for managgrated directly into either your existing
ing the customer, customer commuDMS or CRM applications.
nications and web based analytics a
The goal is to keep reviewing the
dedicated CRM is better suited than a
experience that you are offering your
DMS in most cases.
customers and leveraging any newly
This does not make the DMS reavailable technology for an improvedundant. It has the opposite effect as
ment. The cost might just be mitigated
it can become the complete source of
with a change in spread of your existing
truth as the main dealership customer
spend. Don’t let any other bugger own
database. It becomes the single point
your customer, take the control back!
AUTOTALK.com.au / EVTALK
Kangoo jumps on to Australian
roads with DHL Express
D
HL Express is putting its first
executive officer Gary Edstein says.
edge the environmental impact of our
fully electric vehicle on Austra“Compared to small, densely
day-to-day operations and our responlian roads after a successful trial.
populated European and Asian cities
sibility to reduce this wherever possible.
The Renault Kangoo ZE is joinwhere electric vehicles are currently
“Globally, we have seen a 30%
ing a DHL Express fleet of hybrid
operating, Australian cities have
improvement in our carbon efficiency
delivery vans and will be used as the
unique geographical challenges
since 2008 – and we are aiming to furcompany mail car in Sydney, driving
regarding distance.”
ther improve this through new green inibetween its offices.
tiatives like this electric vehicle.”
The Kangoo ZE can comDHL Express has sucplete a journey of an esticessfully introduced electric
mated 100-plus kilometres
vehicles, including vans and
on a single charge, eliminatscooters, on routes in Gering the production of 4.75
many, Japan and Taiwan.
tonnes of carbon emissions
Its parent company,
from the environment over
Deutsche Post DHL Group,
the course of one year.
is proceeding with increased
It runs on a lithium-ion batproduction of its StreetScooter
tery and takes six to nine hours
electric vehicle in 2017.
to complete a full charge.
In March, the company an“In 2016, we found that
nounced its target of reducing
Standing beside the new fully electric DHL Express Renault Kangoo ZE
a wider rollout of electric
all logistics-related emissions
are, from left, Scott Elliot, Gary Edstein and Olivera Goodwin from DHL.
vehicles within DHL Express
to zero by 2050.
Australia’s courier fleet would
It has also outlined some
require more conveniently located
However, launching the Kangoo
interim goals, including increasing its
electric charging stations in AustralZE is another step towards instituting
carbon efficiency by 50% and operatian cities and vans that can travel
more environmentally friendly solutions
ing 70% of its own first-and-last mile
longer distances without needing to
across DHL Express, Edstein says.
delivery with clean transport solurecharge,” DHL Express Oceania chief
“As a global company, we acknowltions by 2025.
Ten Mercedes-Benz EVs three
years earlier than scheduled
M
ercedes-Benz is set on producing ten electric models three
years earlier than scheduled.
In a 10 billion-Euro (nearly AU$14
billion) project, the world’s largest
luxury car maker intends to release the
EVs by 2022 ahead of the 2025 target
announced at the Paris auto show last
September, Bloomberg reports.
The expedited timeframe reflects
the urgency facing manufacturers as
they brace for a shift away from traditional automotive technologies.
Combustion engines will continue
to be refined for a “transitional period,”
Mercedes parent Daimler AG says.
More fundamental changes will be
required for Daimler to remain successful as the industry adjusts to cars
running on electric motors and capable of driving themselves, its chairman
Manfred Bischoff told the company’s
annual shareholder meeting in Berlin.
Preparing for a future of electric
self-driving cars, Daimler is focusing on
future technologies at the expense of
short-term profits.
The company plans to spend more
than 1 billion Euros (AU$1.4b) on its
global battery production facilities,
about half of which will go to a subsidiary in Kamenz, Germany.
Continued on page 22
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 19
EVTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/EVTALK
New Outlander PHEV on fast
charge and increased range
T
he new 2017 Outlander PHEV
is a revolution in Mitsubishi’s
advance towards more environmentally friendly motoring.
Not only has its battery range extended to 54km and the battery warranty
pushed out to eight years but it now
comes equipped with DC fast charge
capability, boosting battery power from
0%-80% in about 20 minutes. The Outlander has a DC fast charge
socket alongside the AC mains connection point. That gives the driver the
ability to charge overnight (6.5 hours
from empty) in the garage and get a
quick top-up on the go.
In addition to a five-year,
100,000km mechanical warranty, the
battery will be covered for eight years
or 160,000km, whichever comes first.
Fuel economy for the twolitre petrol engine is an improved
1.7L/100km – and with DC fast
charge rates at 25c/minute + 25c/
kWh, owners can expect a swift return on their initial investment.
Other features include a new EV priority mode which can be activated to
The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has DC Fast Charge capability.
prevent the petrol engine from starting
up automatically.
An updated EV remote control
smartphone app allows owners to set
charging times and climate mode.
A smartphone link display audio is
another standard upgrade for 2017 and
a rear view camera comes online to
help with reversing.
The XLS and VRX both exceed fivestar ANCAP safety requirements.
Auto high beam and lane departure
warning, adaptive cruise control and
forward collision mitigation are additions to the XLS.
The VRX gets blind-spot warning technology and rear cross traffic
alert, which registers vehicles approaching from either side as a driver
reverses. New radar sensors detect
vehicles at a greater distance for
increased warning time.
An electric park brake auto releases
as the accelerator is applied and,
with brake auto hold, is now standard
across the range.
Lucid Motors plans EV early 2019
L
ucid Motors displayed its luxury
electric sedan, dubbed the Lucid
Air, and showcased another test
vehicle at the New York International
Auto Show.
The Silicon Valley start-up, whose
leaders include former Tesla Model S
engineer Peter Rawlinson, announced
last year it would build a $700 million
(A$930m) plant in Arizona early this
year, USA Today reports
AutoPacific analyst Dave Sullivan
says Lucid’s prototypes “have a more
production-intent feel” and “their
management team feels more cohesive” but challenges remain.
“Long-term chances for success are
likely to be small because just as Lucid
20 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
intends to start production,
the United States and German
manufacturers will open the
floodgates on all of their electric vehicles,” Sullivan says.
“And they are the ones who
already have a service and distriThe Lucid Air luxury electric sedan from Lucid Motors.
bution network.”
Lucid Motors says the
Lucid Air will have “up to” 400 miles
Lucid says it will start manufactur(643.7km) of battery range and 1000
ing in the first half of 2019, with plans to
horsepower, which would make it
assemble 10,000 vehicles within its first
one of the most powerful street-legal
year and 130,000 units annually by 2022.
vehicles in the world.
The company says its investors
The base model would start at
include American investment firm Ven$52,500 (A$70,046.70) after federal tax
rock, Japan-based Mitsui and Chinacredits, offering 400 horsepower and
based Tsing Capital.
battery range of 240 miles (386km).
Continued on page 21
EVTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/EVTALK
Ford leading the autonomous
driving pack
T
he Ford Motor Company is in
developing automated driving sysetary Leaderboard methodology, compole position on autonomous
tems. Players are rated on ten criteria:
panies are profiled, rated and ranked
vehicle technology, a
with the goal of providing
new report from Navigant
an objective assessment of
Research reveals.
their relative strengths and
It’s well ahead of Google,
weaknesses in the global
Tesla and Uber “‘when it
market for automated drivcomes to benefiting from
ing systems.
the coming age of autonoThe report says automous vehicles”, the Navimated driving is increasingly
gant Research Leaderboard
being considered the key
Report says.
technology to address sociRanked behind Ford, in
etal problems caused by the
order, are General Motors,
proliferation of automobiles
Renault-Nissan Alliance,
around the world.
Daimler, Volkswagen Group,
“These include trafFord Targets fully autonomous vehicles for ride sharing in 2021.
BMW, Waymo, Volvo/Autoliv/
fic congestion, injuries,
Zenuity, Delphi, and Hyundai
fatalities and air quality. The
Motor Group.
vision; go-to market strategy; partners;
development of automated driving
Among “contenders” are PSA, Tesla,
production strategy; technology; sales,
has accelerated in the last decade,
Toyota and ZE. “Challengers” are
marketing, and distribution; product caenabled by advancements in comHonda, Uber, nuTonomy and Baidu.
pability; product quality and reliability;
putational architectures and sensing
The report examines the strategy
product portfolio; and staying power.
technology, along with dramatic
and execution of 18 leading companies
Using Navigant Research’s propricost reductions.”
Is New Zealand the El Dorado of
the electric car?
C
anada is pondering whether
New Zealand is the coming El
Dorado of the electric car.
In a country where more than 90%
of its electricity is produced from
renewable resources, New Zealand
is emerging as the new hope for the
development of the EV market, The
Quebec Times reports.
Likening New Zealand to Canada
in terms of being one of the world’s
largest renewable energy producers,
the article says the country has the
Continued from page 20
Lucid spokeswoman Amanda Hundt
says the company has raised three
rounds of funding worth “hundreds of
potential to supply a future fleet
of EVs, which could reach around
three million.
It quotes from a report by Waikato
University’s Professor Barry Barton
who studied laws and policy measures
that could be introduced to encourage EV uptake.
The newspaper says green electricity could feed 80% of the fleet of “this
archipelago off the coast of Australia”.
It says by early this year there
were more than 3000 zero-emission
vehicle owners in New Zealand. Most
opted for the Nissan Leaf, the world’s
best-selling EV at 250,000 units.
New Zealand companies and individuals are already anticipating the
more massive arrival of EVs but the
necessary investments in infrastructure have been slow.
However, with the arrival of
the likes of ChargeNet and others, the charging network will be
strengthened next year, The Quebec
Times says.
millions” and is seeking a fourth round
of financing.
The company will sell directly to
consumers — a strategy similar to
Tesla’s, she says.
“We will start by opening retail
stores and build up to a steady rollout
plan throughout 2018 and beyond.”
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 21
EVTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/EVTALK
EV car sharing in ultra-compacts
A
round-trip car-sharing service featuring an ultra-compact electric
vehicle, the Nissan New Mobility
Concept, has been launched in Japan.
The service, Choimobi Yokohama,
enables users who register online to
pick up and return cars in 14 locations around Yokohama Station.
Cars can be reserved 30 minutes in
advance and can be driven within
the city, Nissan says.
Nissan Motor Co and the City of
Yokohama have introduced the service
which costs 250 yen (A$2.96) for 15
minutes, plus a 200 yen (A$2.37) basic
charge with a maximum daily charge
of 3000 yen (A$35.53).
Users need a Japanese driver’s
licence, a smartphone and a Japanissued credit card.
Nissan and the City of Yokohama
previously held a two-year trial of Jaand build a sustainable business model
pan’s first one-way car-sharing service
through public-private cooperation.
using ultra-compact electric vehicles,
Guided tours around central Yokostarting in October 2013.
hama and long-term car rentals for
The aim was to encourage lowbusinesses will be included.
emission transport
options, improve
the quality of
transportation and
promote tourism.
In October 2015,
the partnership
began renting
cars to local tour
operators and
businesses.
The new
round-trip service is meant to
The Nissan New Mobility Concept allows users to register online to drive
promote ultraultra-compact electric cars around Yokohama.
compact mobility
Easyjet eyes electric aircraft service
A
n electric-powered commercial
aircraft could be flying from
London to Paris in 10 years.
British low-cost airline Easyjet is
interested in the technology.
“Easyjet has had discussions with
Wright Electric Airplanes and is actively providing an airline operator’s
perspective on the development of
this exciting technology,” the airline
told BBC News.
The plane, yet to go into development, would carry 150 people on
journeys of less than 483km.
United States based Wright Electric
says by removing the need for jet fuel, the
price of travel could drop dramatically.
But significant hurdles need to be
overcome if the company is to make the
Wright One plane a reality, the BBC says.
It is relying heavily on battery
technology improving at its current
rate. If not, the firm won’t be able to
build in enough power to give the
plane the range it needs or it could
opt for a hybrid.
Wright Electric is working alongside
American inventor Chip Yates, whose
own electric aircraft the Long-ESA
holds the world record for fastest electric aircraft.
Wright Electric’s competitors
include aviation giant Airbus which
has been developing its electric twoseater plane E-Fan since 2014.
Airbus plans to create its own shorthaul electric aircraft seating 70 to 90
passengers, the BBC says.
Y Combinator, Silicon Valley’s most
highly-regarded start-up incubator
program, is backing Wright Electric.
Alumni of the scheme include
companies such as AirBnB, file storage company Dropbox and HR management software firm Zenefits.
Wright Electric’s goal is to make all
short-haul flights electric-powered
within the next 20 years – that’s about
30% of all flights made globally.
The company says the technology could have a major added benefit
for the public in being less noisy than
conventional aircraft.
Planes wouldn’t have to sit on the
tarmac while power is replenished
either because the batteries would be
charged separately.
Wright Electric’s website says
one person also wants its electric
150-seater as his fifth private jet.
Mercedes-Benz EVs earlier than scheduled
Continued from page 19
To bridge the gap toward an era
of fully electric vehicles, Daimler is
22 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
continuing to develop plug-in hybrids.
Mercedes already has eight such models for sale, with upcoming versions set
to include a new hybrid S-Class sedan
with an extended battery range of as
much as 50km.
Australia’s news source for road transport, logistics & heavy equipment industries
AUTOTALK.com.au / DIESELTALK
Crouch takes ATA chair ahead of
Trucking 2017
T
he Australia Trucking Association has appointed Geoff
Couch
as its new
chairperson
ahead of its
Trucking 2017
event in Darwin from June
21 to 23.
Crouch
was elected
unopposed at
the ATA’s April
annual general meeting
Geoff Crouch
in Canberra
replacing the
retiring Noelene Watson.
He is a former president of ATA
member association NatRoad and
is the managing director of Ron
Crouch Transport.
Thanking his predecessor
Watson “for all of her tireless efforts,”
Crouch says he is looking forward
to working “with our state and
territory member
associations and
all our sponsors
to maintain and
improve road safety,
industry viability and
professionalism.”
Megatrends at
Trucking 2017
The freight
industry will be dramatically different
by 2050 according
to the ATA, and at
Trucking 2017 there
will be a discussion about megatrends
such as demographic changes in
populations and how technological
innovation will modify and impact
every aspect of business operation.
“It is important for everyone in the
trucking industry to think about the
future and work backwards with a big
picture viewpoint,” says Ferrier Hodgson partner Brendan Richards.
Richards is speaking at a plenary session called, ‘Preparing for the Future’,
along with Michelle Hendy from the
National Transport Commission and
Brendan Tenison-Woods from Driver
Education Centre of Australia (DECA).
Richards has more than 20 years
of corporate advisory and restructuring experience.
He will be showcasing research
on upcoming changes in the trucking and freight industries, as well as
information on how to prepare for the
impending change.
“As we see more and more emerging technologies like drones and 3D
printing, those advances will change
how we interact with freight transportation,” says Richards.
“An increased and ageing population
will also have an effect on infrastructure
and transportation,” he says.
Joy for Komatsu
K
omatsu America, a subsidiary of
Komatsu Ltd, has completed its
acquisition of mining equipment
specialist Joy Global Inc. Retaining its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joy Global will be
renamed Komatsu Mining Corp and
operate as a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd.
The company will continue to promote and invest in the P&H, Joy and
Montabert product brands. Komatsu says it remains committed
to directly servicing the global mining industry and through its products, services
and technologies it is focusing on helping customers improve productivity and
safety in their operations worldwide. “The combination of our Komatsu-
brand surface mining equipment with
the P&H, Joy and Montabert brands of
surface and underground products will
allow us to offer a complete range of
solutions for our customers,” Komatsu
chief executive and president Tetsuji
Ohashi says. “We plan to build on the strength
of our shared cultures, including our
belief in safety first and our passion
for providing innovative solutions, to
become an unrivalled mining solutions
and services provider.” The move adds more than 10,000
people with knowledge and experience in the mining industry, bringing
Komatsu’s global total to more than
57,000 employees. It plans to leverage the best practices of both companies while aligning the organisation and operation for
optimal customer support. The new leader of Komatsu Mining
Corp is Jeffery Dawes who previously
led Komatsu Latin America. Dawes and
his management team will operate
from Milwaukee.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 23
DIESELTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/DIESELTALK
Truck sales for April 2017
T-Mark Market Segment: HD
April 2017
Australia
Report Run: 5 May 2017
Manufacturer
KENWORTH
VOLVO
ISUZU
MACK
MERCEDES-BENZ
IVECO
SCANIA
WESTERN STAR
MAN
DAF
UD TRUCKS
FREIGHTLINER
FUSO
HINO
DENNIS EAGLE
CAT
TOTAL Truck
TM
TM%
131
17.5
110
14.7
89
11.9
68
9.1
50
6.7
43
5.7
41
5.5
36
4.8
34
4.5
26
3.5
26
3.5
25
3.3
23
3.1
23
3.1
23
3.1
2
0.3
750
100
YTD YTD%
480
16.7
428
14.9
319
11.1
262
9.1
153
5.3
137
4.8
221
7.7
117
4.1
147
5.1
115
4
98
3.4
116
4
115
4
87
3
53
1.8
18
0.6
2866
100
April 2017
Manufacturer
Australia
TM
MERCEDES-BENZ
RENAULT
FORD
VOLKSWAGEN
FIAT
IVECO
Total Truck
171
76
49
41
30
24
391
TM%
43.7
19.4
12.5
10.5
7.7
6.1
100
YTD
578
577
183
148
137
97
1720
YTD%
33.6
33.5
10.6
8.6
8
5.6
100
T-Mark Market Segment: CDL
April 2017
Australia
Report Run: 5 May 2017
Manufacturer
MERCEDES-BENZ
ISUZU
HINO
RENAULT
FUSO
FORD
IVECO
FIAT
VOLKSWAGEN
FOTON
Total Truck
TM
227
172
107
86
71
63
58
48
41
2
875
TM%
25.9
19.7
12.2
9.8
8.1
7.2
6.6
5.5
4.7
0.2
100
YTD YTD%
733 19.9
782 21.3
415
11.3
618 16.8
319
8.7
225
6.1
228
6.2
201
5.5
151
4.1
7
0.2
3679
100
Australia
Manufacturer
ISUZU
HINO
FUSO
UD TRUCKS
MAN
IVECO
MERCEDES-BENZ
DAF
VOLVO
FOTON
Total Truck
TM
235
170
84
48
9
8
6
2
1
0
563
MD
LD
YTD YTD%
822 42.3
610
31.4
274
14.1
158
8.1
18
.9
28
1.4
18
.9
8
.4
4
.2
2
0
1942
100
Australia
Report Run: 5 May 2017
Manufacturer
ISUZU
HINO
FUSO
MERCEDES-BENZ
IVECO
FIAT
FORD
RENAULT
FOTON
VOLKSWAGEN
Total Truck
TM
172
107
71
57
41
18
14
10
2
0
492
TM%
35
21.7
14.4
11.6
8.3
3.7
2.8
2
.4
0
100
Isuzu remains top of the
list of monthly truck sales,
with 644 units sold during
April 2017, 25.6% of the
market.
It headed the list of heavy
vehicles released by the
Truck Industry Council in
March and February as well.
Hino maintained second
place with 341 sales, 13.5%
of the market, and Fuso was
again third with 271 sales,
or 10.8% of the market.
These three continue
to dominate the rankings,
although all were down
slightly on the previous
month, probably due to
fewer sales days and
April’s holidays.
LDV
Light Duty Van Segment is defined as enclosed van (non passenger carrying)
vehicles with Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3,501 kg to 8,000 kg inclusive.
LD1
Trucks 3501kg GVM – 4500kg GVM (Car Drivers Licence trucks)
LD2
Trucks 4501kg GVM – 8000kg GVM (light rigid truck licence trucks)
CDL
LD1 + LDV trucks and vans 3501kg GVM – 4500kg GVM
(Car Drivers Licence trucks and vans)
Australia
Manufacturer
ISUZU
FUSO
HINO
MERCEDES-BENZ
IVECO
FIAT
FORD
RENAULT
FOTON
VOLKSWAGEN
Total Truck
TM
320
164
148
61
48
45
14
10
3
0
813
YTD YTD%
1295
41.2
653
20.7
582
18.5
178
5.7
194
6.2
150
4.8
42
1.3
41
1.3
9
.3
3
0
3147
100
April 2017
Australia
Report Run: 5 May 2017
YTD YTD%
782
39.2
415
20.8
319
16
161
8.1
159
8
64
3.2
42
2.1
41
2.1
7
.4
3
0
1993
100
TM%
39.4
20.2
18.2
7.5
5.9
5.5
1.7
1.2
.4
0
100
T-Mark Market Segment: LD2
April 2017
Heavy Duty Truck Segment is defined as cab-chassis type vehicles
(both rigid and prime mover application) with:
a) Three or more axles; or
b) Two axles, a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) greater than 8,000 kg,
AND a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of more than 39,000 kg.
Medium Duty Truck Segment is defined as cab-chassis type vehicles with
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of greater than 8,000 kg, but with a Gross
Combined Mass up to and including 39,000 kg.
Light Duty Truck Segment is defined as cab-chassis type vehicles with
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3,501 kg to 8,000 kg inclusive.
24 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MARCH 2017
TM%
41.7
30.2
14.9
8.5
1.6
1.4
1.1
.4
.2
0
100
April 2017
Report Run: 5 May 2017
T-Mark Market Segment: LD1
Truck Industry Council T-Mark
Data Segment Definitions
HD
T-Mark Market Segment: LD
April 2017
Report Run: 5 May 2017
T-Mark Market Segment: LDV
Report Run: 5 May 2017
T-Mark Market Segment: MD
Manufacturer
ISUZU
FUSO
HINO
FIAT
IVECO
MERCEDES-BENZ
FOTON
Total Truck
TM
148
93
41
27
7
4
1
321
TM%
46.1
29
12.8
8.4
2.2
1.2
0.3
100
YTD YTD%
513
44.5
334
28.9
167
14.5
86
7.5
35
3
17
1.5
2
0.2
1154
100
T-Mark Market Segment: ALL
April 2017
Australia
Report Run: 5 May 2017
Manufacturer
ISUZU
HINO
FUSO
KENWORTH
VOLVO
IVECO
MERCEDES-BENZ
MACK
UD TRUCKS
SCANIA
MAN
FIAT
DAF
WESTERN STAR
FREIGHTLINER
DENNIS EAGLE
FORD
RENAULT
CAT
FOTON
VOLKSWAGEN
MERCEDES-BENZ Vans
RENAULT Vans
FORD Vans
VOLKSWAGEN Vans
FIAT Vans
IVECO Vans
Total Truck
TM
644
341
271
131
111
99
117
68
74
41
43
45
TM%
25.6
13.5
10.8
5.2
4.4
3.9
4.6
2.7
2.9
1.6
1.7
1.8
YTD
2436
1279
1042
480
432
359
349
262
256
221
165
150
YTD%
25.2
13.2
10.8
5
4.5
3.7
3.6
2.7
2.6
2.3
1.7
1.6
28
36
25
23
14
10
2
3
0
1.1
1.4
1
.9
.6
.4
.1
.1
0
123
117
116
53
42
41
18
11
3
1.3
1.2
1.2
.5
.4
.4
.2
.1
0
171
76
49
41
30
24
2517
6.8
3
1.9
1.6
1.2
1
100
578
577
183
148
137
97
9675
6
6
1.9
1.5
1.4
1
100
DIESELTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/DIESELTALK
New HQ for Isuzu
C
onstruction is set to start on a
new Isuzu Australia Ltd head
office in Australia’s trucking
heartland –Truganina.
It’s in the core of Melbourne’s
western transport corridor, on
the corner of Doherty’s Road and
Foundation Road.
The more than 21,000 square metre
centre will bring all of Isuzu’s operations under one roof.
The six-hectare site will house the
company’s national head office, ad-
ministration and sales departments,
a showroom, engineering and parts
facilities, as well as its off-highway
engines team and a training centre.
Designed and built by Dexus Property Group, it also provides for the
company’s focus on the Isuzu
Care Program.
The centre will allow Isuzu Trucks
to streamline and optimise coordination between business operations
while continuing to develop innovative technology for the Australian
road transport sector.
“It’s becoming more and more
critical to have our whole team
working together efficiently and in
a location where we can provide the
best possible service to our customers,” chief operating officer Phil
Taylor says.
“The new development will ensure
Isuzu’s expanding requirements are
aptly catered for.”
The centre is expected to open
by January.
New look for Coaster
T
oyota has revamped its Coaster
bus line-up. The new model is
stronger, safer, more comfortable, better equipped and includes
refreshed exterior and interior designs.
Safety was a priority, Toyota says. It
includes a stronger, more rigid frame,
the addition of driver and front-passenger airbags and upgraded suspension hardware and tuning.
Coaster’s new body is 70mm taller
and 45mm wider with more upright
sides, giving
greater interior
comfort and
space, including more
headroom
when walking
down the aisle.
The roomier
cabin has
enabled Toyota
to install an
additional seat
opposite the
driver, lifting
passenger capacity to 21.
New headlamps and taillights, twin rear
doors with an
emergency exit, a larger entry step, and
rear fog and high-mounted stop lamps
are included.
The three-vehicle Coaster range
features an automatic version added
to the standard grade while the deluxe manual version has been deleted.
The auto deluxe has an electrically
operated sliding side door while the
standard model has a folding side door.
A modernised dashboard layout provides a more functional work space for
the driver, including better visibility and
additional storage options. An overhead
luggage rack has been added.
A new 6.1-inch touchscreen incorporates satellite navigation and
upgraded audio operations with a CD
player, USB port and the ability to use
speech commands.
All Coaster models are equipped
with reversing camera, air-conditioning,
tilt-and-telescopic adjustment for the
steering column and a 95-litre fuel tank.
Price rises have been contained to
less than 2.5%.
Toyota Australia sales and marketing executive director Tony Cramb
says the Coaster upgrades will appeal
to buyers including tourism operators,
sporting and
social clubs,
large medical
facilities and
conversion
companies.
Coaster is
celebrating the
40th anniversary of its 1977
introduction to
Australia. Local
sales recently
passed 20,000
vehicles while
global sales
have exceeded
550,000.
Coaster
prices are
around
$119,500 (standard manual),
$126,500 (standard auto) and
$130,500 (deluxe auto).
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MARCH 2017 | 25
DIESELTALK
AUTOTALK.COM.AU/DIESELTALK
Fuso extends its standard warranty
F
uso has increased its standard
manufacturer’s warranty to five
years on all new trucks and Rosa
bus models.
The move makes it the first Japanese truck manufacturer in
Australia to offer that level of
cover as standard.
It is a bumper-to-bumper
manufacturer’s warranty and
includes genuine Fuso parts
and service from an authorised
Fuso dealer.
The standard warranty was
previously three years. The
new version lasts five years
or, varying between models, a
certain number of kilometres
or operating hours, whichever
comes first. Distance or hours
covered depend on the model. “Fuso is prepared to back our great
vehicles with a class-leading warranty
that gives our customers real peace
of mind,” Fuso Truck and Bus director
Justin Whitford says.
“This initiative, along with our recent
introduction of a complimentary first
scheduled service, makes owning a
Fuso more attractive than ever.”
The warranty covers almost everything on the vehicles except for tyres,
consumables, accidental damage,
wear and tear items, non-factory supplied accessories and non-approved
aftermarket modifications.
It covers five years, 500,000km or
10,000 operating hours for the FP,
FV and FS heavy models. It’s also five
years, 350,000km or 7000 operating hours for the FM and FN
Fighter medium duty trucks.
The FK Fighter is covered
for five years, 300,000km or
6000 operating hours while
the Canter light duty truck
and Rosa bus have a warranty
for five years, 200,000km or
4000 operating hours. The new warranty applies only to trucks and buses
registered and operated in
normal conditions in Australia.
Vehicles operated in severe
service applications, such as
off-road, underground mining, crop
spraying or on beaches, are covered under warranty for 12 months,
50,000km or 1000 hours, whichever
comes first.
Pedestrians safer thanks to new
system T
he Brisbane Truck Show will see
Mercedes-Benz Trucks introduce a
new safety system than can automatically initiate braking for pedestrians
in its new generation Actros models. Active brake assist 4 (ABA4) is
becoming available for on-highway
Mercedes-Benz Actros prime movers
as well as the new Mercedes-Benz
rigid models (18-tonne and above).
The new system will be revealed at
the Brisbane Exhibition Centre from
May 25 to 28. Mercedes-Benz Trucks says it
became the first manufacturer to
introduce the smart new pedestrianfocused safety technology in Europe
late last year.
“We take safety very seriously at
Mercedes-Benz and we are pleased to be
able to offer this feature to our Australian
26 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
customers,” director Michael May says.
The ABA4 system warns the driver
of imminent collisions with moving pedestrians and automatically
initiates partial braking. It is the first
system of its type in the world
and enables the driver to avoid a
collision by emergency braking or a
steering manoeuvre.
An enhancement of the ABA3 system, the ABA4 provides an emergency
stop when moving or when detecting
stationary obstacles within its boundaries. It also detects moving pedestrians in almost all traffic situations, for
example when they cross the truck’s
path, step out from behind an obstacle
or are moving along the carriageway. Automated alerts and braking
initiated by pedestrian detection are
active up to a speed of 50kmh. The system uses next-generation
radar technology which operates independent of prevailing light and largely
irrespective of weather conditions. Radar determines distances and relative
speeds precisely and is also able to ‘see’
at night and in rain and fog.
ABA4 is part of a safety pack that
also includes lane keeping assist,
proximity control assist and attention
assist. Since the launch of the new
generation Mercedes-Benz truck
in September last year, more than
90% of units delivered have the
safety pack. Actros models also feature as standard anti-locking electronic braking,
traction control, stability control assist,
driver’s airbag and a cab that exceeds
the Swedish cab strength test and the
ECE R29 standards.
STATSTALK
Light commercials hold up
in a reduced April outcome
The Toyota Hilux topped April’s vehicle sales.
S
trong growth was experienced
in light commercial vehicle
sales, especially 4X4 utilities,
despite a weaker April sales outcome,
the motor industry’s statistical service
VFACTS reports.
Although total vehicle sales for
April were at 83,135 compared with
87,571 in April 2016, light commercials
were up by 3.1%, with 4X4 utilities
up 11.1%.
Two light commercials, the
Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger,
were first and second respectively
in national sales during April.
On a year-to-date basis, sales
of both light commercial vehicles
(LCVs) and sport utility vehicles
(SUVs) are tracking ahead of last
year, with LCVs up by 1.8% and
SUVs by 1.7%.
All the states and territories
were affected by April’s sales
decline, although the two volume
selling states - Victoria and NSW were least affected, both markets
down by 2.8%.
The notable market growth across
the segments was in medium SUVs,
which grew by 10% in April compared with the same month in 2016.
Among the passenger cars, the
medium segment was the bestperformed, down just 0.2% on April
last year. The sale of micro, light
and small cars were all adversely
affected by the monthly decline.
Business sales, particularly in the
light commercial utility segment,
were reasonably healthy during April,
as were sales to rental fleets. Sales to
business were up by 1.7%, although
private sales declined 13% and sales to
government by 14.8%.
That was followed by another light
commercial, the Ford Ranger, with
3120 sales.
In third place was the Toyota Corolla with 2555 sales, followed by the
Mazda3 (2313 sales) and the Mazda
CX-5, which posted 2166 sales and
rounded out the top five.
The rest, in order, are the Hyundai
i30 (1979), Toyota Camry (1885),
Holden Colorado (1824), Toyota
Top 10 car brands March 2017
Land Cruiser (1629) and the Hyundai Tucson (1530).
1. Toyota
16,090
Toyota dominated the April
2. Mazda
8,630
market with a 19.4% share, fol6,850
3. Hyundai
lowed by Mazda with 10.4%, Hyun5,804
4. Holden
dai with 8.2%, Holden (5804) and
5. Ford
5,802
Ford (5802) both with a 7% share
5,470
6. Mitsubishi
of the total market.
7. Nissan
3,350
8. Volkswagen
3,867
Key points:
9. Kia
4,120
• The April 2017 market of
10. Subaru
3,854
83,135 new vehicle sales is a
decrease of 4436 vehicle sales or
Top 10 models March 2017
minus 5.1% on April 2016 (87,571)
1. Toyota Hilux
3430
vehicle sales. April 2017 (22) had
2. Ford Ranger
3120
two less selling days than April 2016
3. Toyota Corolla
2555
(24), which resulted in a decrease
4. Mazda3
2313
of 130.1 vehicle sales per day.
5. Mazda CX-5
2166
• The passenger vehicle market
6. Hyundai i30
1979
is down 4524 vehicle sales (minus
7. Toyota Camry
1885
12.3%) over the same month last
8. Holden Colorado
1824
year, the sport utility market is
9. Toyota Landcruiser
1629
down by 415 vehicle sales (minus
10. Hyundai Tucson
1530
1.3%), the light commercial market
is up by 516 vehicle sales (3.1%);
and the heavy commercial vehicle
“But added to this was the dampen- market is down by 13 vehicle sales
(minus 0.5%) versus April 2016.
ing effect that the holiday period had
• Toyota was the market leader in
on dealership traffic as many families
April, followed by Mazda and Hyunheaded off to enjoy a final break bedai. Toyota led Mazda with a margin
fore winter.”
The Toyota Hilux topped the market of 7460 vehicle sales and 9.0 market
share points.
with 3430 sales.
Market activity during April was affected by the impact of the Easter long
weekend break, Anzac Day and national school holidays, Federal Chamber of
Automotive Industries chief executive
Tony Weber says.
“There were two less selling days
overall in April this year compared with
last,” he says.
AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017 | 27
STATSTALK
TOTAL MARKET SEGMENTATION APRIL 2017
VFACTS National
Passenger
SUV
Light Commercial
Heavy Commercial
Total Market
Micro
Light
Small
Medium
Large
Upper Large
People Movers
Sports
SUV Small
SUV Medium
SUV Large
SUV Upper Large
Light Buses < 20 Seats
Light Buses => 20 Seats
Vans/CC <= 2.5t
Vans/CC 2.5-3.5t
PU/CC 4X2
PU/CC 4X4
Heavy Commercial
Total Market
Month
2017
2016
32,147
36,671
31,368
31,783
17,111
16,595
2,509
2,522
83,135
87,571
Month
489
698
5,533
7,079
15,343
17,298
5,076
5,085
2,364
2,963
144
185
1,022
973
2,176
2,390
7,601
7,959
12,877
11,705
9,646
10,487
1,244
1,632
256
266
96
68
248
310
1,589
1,746
3,040
3,509
11,882
10,696
2,509
2,522
83,135
87,571
YTD
2017
2016
140,779
155,095
142,476
140,152
69,557
68,352
9,668
9,300
362,480
372,899
YTD
2,423
2,593
25,655
32,395
68,753
73,027
19,904
21,272
10,222
11,876
513
810
4,185
4,090
9,124
9,032
34,094
36,147
58,811
53,686
44,570
45,674
5,001
4,645
955
849
256
208
968
1,040
6,474
6,322
12,500
13,939
48,404
45,994
9,668
9,300
362,480
372,899
MTH
-4,524
-415
516
-13
-4,436
-209
-1,546
-1,955
-9
-599
-41
49
-214
-358
1,172
-841
-388
-10
28
-62
-157
-469
1,186
-13
-4,436
Variance +/- Vol. & %
YTD
MTH
-14,316
-12.3
2,324
-1.3
1,205
3.1
368
-0.5
-10,419
-5.1
Variance +/- Vol. & %
-170
-29.9
-6,740
-21.8
-4,274
-11.3
-1,368
-0.2
-1,654
-20.2
-297
-22.2
95
5.0
92
-9.0
-2,053
-4.5
5,125
10.0
-1,104
-8.0
356
-23.8
106
-3.8
48
41.2
-72
-20.0
152
-9.0
-1,439
-13.4
2,410
11.1
368
-0.5
-10,419
-5.1
YTD
-9.2
1.7
1.8
4.0
-2.8
-6.6
-20.8
-5.9
-6.4
-13.9
-36.7
2.3
1.0
-5.7
9.5
-2.4
7.7
12.5
23.1
-6.9
2.4
-10.3
5.2
4.0
-2.8
PERCENTAGE MIX
Month
2017
Passenger
SUV
Light Commercial
Heavy Commercial
Total Market
Micro
Light
Small
Medium
Large
Upper Large
People Movers
Sports
SUV Small
SUV Medium
SUV Large
SUV Upper Large
Light Buses < 20 Seats
Light Buses => 20 Seats
Vans/CC <= 2.5t
Vans/CC 2.5-3.5t
PU/CC 4X2
PU/CC 4X4
Heavy Commercial
Total Market
YTD
2016
38.7
37.7
20.6
3.0
100.0
Month
0.6
6.7
18.5
6.1
2.8
0.2
1.2
2.6
9.1
15.5
11.6
1.5
0.3
0.1
0.3
1.9
3.7
14.3
3.0
100.0
2017
41.9
36.3
19.0
2.9
100.0
2016
38.8
39.3
19.2
2.7
100.0
YTD
0.7
7.1
19.0
5.5
2.8
0.1
1.2
2.5
9.4
16.2
12.3
1.4
0.3
0.1
0.3
1.8
3.4
13.4
2.7
100.0
0.8
8.1
19.8
5.8
3.4
0.2
1.1
2.7
9.1
13.4
12.0
1.9
0.3
0.1
0.4
2.0
4.0
12.2
2.9
100.0
41.6
37.6
18.3
2.5
100.0
0.7
8.7
19.6
5.7
3.2
0.2
1.1
2.4
9.7
14.4
12.2
1.2
0.2
0.1
0.3
1.7
3.7
12.3
2.5
100.0
Yr to Yr change +/MTH
YTD
-3.2
1.4
1.6
0.1
0.0
Yr to Yr change +/-0.2
-1.4
-1.3
0.3
-0.5
0.0
0.1
-0.1
0.1
2.1
-0.4
-0.4
0.0
0.0
-0.1
-0.1
-0.4
2.1
0.1
0.0
-2.8
1.7
0.9
0.2
0.0
0.0
-1.6
-0.6
-0.2
-0.4
-0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.3
1.8
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
-0.3
1.0
0.2
0.0
NEW VEHICLE SALES / APRIL 2017
Total Market
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
NEW SOUTH WALES
NORTHERN TERRITORY
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TASMANIA
VICTORIA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
2017
Month
2016
1,407
1,257
28,565
29,391
910
969
16,312
17,753
4,951
5,174
1,214
1,308
23,292
23,968
6,634
7,601
2017
5,817
123,531
3,268
70,712
21,826
5,421
101,996
29,909
YTD
2016
5,894
126,379
3,469
75,127
22,457
5,431
100,901
33,241
MTH
-150
-826
-59
-1,441
-223
-94
-676
-967
Total
83,135
362,480
372,899
-4,436
28 | AUTOTALK.COM.AU | MAY 2017
87,571
Variance +/- Vol. & %
YTD
MTH
-77
-10.7%
-2,848
-2.8%
-201
-6.1%
-4,415
-8.1%
-631
-4.3%
-10
-7.2%
1,095
-2.8%
-3,332
-12.7%
-10,419
-5.1%
YTD
-1.3%
-2.3%
-5.8%
-5.9%
-2.8%
-0.2%
1.1%
-10.0%
-2.8%
STATSTALK
NEW VEHICLE SALES BY MARQUE APRIL 2017
VFACTS National
Total Market
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Caterham
Chery
Chrysler
Citroen
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fiat Professional
Ford
Foton Light
Fuso
Great Wall
Haval
Holden
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Isuzu Ute
Jaguar
Jeep
Kia
Lamborghini
Land Rover
LDV
Lexus
Lotus
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
MG
MINI
Mitsubishi
Morgan
Nissan
Peugeot
Porsche
Proton
RAM
Renault
Rolls-Royce
Skoda
Ssangyong
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota
UD Trucks
Volkswagen
Volvo Car
Caterpillar
Daf
Dennis Eagle
Foton Heavy
Freightliner
Hino
Isuzu
Iveco
Kenworth
Mack
Man
Scania
Volvo Commercial
Western Star
Total
Month
2017
86
12
1,391
10
1,802
0
0
20
40
0
6
161
82
5,802
37
308
38
45
5,804
2,827
6,850
25
1,665
199
677
4,120
12
552
165
689
3
59
8,630
10
3,312
55
272
5,470
0
3,350
134
371
1
30
677
0
374
4
3,854
1,191
16,090
74
3,867
263
2
28
23
3
25
341
644
123
131
68
43
41
111
36
83,135
YTD
2016
63
13
1,726
7
2,456
0
2
47
64
46
13
162
103
6,842
60
366
6
0
6,710
2,107
8,643
50
1,598
189
1,070
3,025
8
926
110
802
0
44
8,461
2
3,303
0
303
4,178
0
4,044
365
336
14
29
988
3
370
41
3,156
1,328
16,567
57
4,732
406
4
24
8
10
54
349
642
129
135
58
27
58
111
21
87,571
Variance +/- Vol. & %
2017
2016
277
54
6,635
52
8,132
0
3
92
196
0
58
680
318
24,235
218
1,182
137
186
25,923
12,599
29,256
310
6,160
1,019
2,602
16,993
45
4,500
625
2,944
18
275
39,092
37
13,712
216
1,165
23,886
1
18,407
745
1,813
11
102
3,296
7
1,471
42
16,615
6,069
64,604
256
17,602
1,438
18
123
53
11
116
1,279
2,436
456
480
262
165
221
432
117
362,480
295
42
7,886
30
9,934
1
8
182
332
191
59
772
401
25,483
288
1,192
7
0
29,229
11,705
33,045
241
7,210
869
4,857
12,574
52
5,019
486
2,988
6
184
38,910
10
13,366
0
1,211
22,385
1
21,407
1,401
1,753
87
83
3,374
8
1,433
188
14,924
6,470
63,060
210
19,311
1,889
22
92
12
47
189
1,237
2,315
437
535
210
81
125
425
123
372,899
MTH
23
-1
-335
3
-654
0
-2
-27
-24
-46
-7
-1
-21
-1,040
-23
-58
32
45
-906
720
-1,793
-25
67
10
-393
1,095
4
-374
55
-113
3
15
169
8
9
55
-31
1,292
0
-694
-231
35
-13
1
-311
-3
4
-37
698
-137
-477
17
-865
-143
-2
4
15
-7
-29
-8
2
-6
-4
10
16
-17
0
15
-4,436
YTD
-18
12
-1,251
22
-1,802
-1
-5
-90
-136
-191
-1
-92
-83
-1,248
-70
-10
130
186
-3,306
894
-3,789
69
-1,050
150
-2,255
4,419
-7
-519
139
-44
12
91
182
27
346
216
-46
1,501
0
-3,000
-656
60
-76
19
-78
-1
38
-146
1,691
-401
1,544
46
-1,709
-451
-4
31
41
-36
-73
42
121
19
-55
52
84
96
7
-6
-10,419
MTH
36.5%
-7.7%
-19.4%
42.9%
-26.6%
-100.0%
-57.4%
-37.5%
-100.0%
-53.8%
-0.6%
-20.4%
-15.2%
-38.3%
-15.8%
533.3%
-13.5%
34.2%
-20.7%
-50.0%
4.2%
5.3%
-36.7%
36.2%
50.0%
-40.4%
50.0%
-14.1%
34.1%
2.0%
400.0%
0.3%
-10.2%
30.9%
-17.2%
-63.3%
10.4%
-92.9%
3.4%
-31.5%
-100.0%
1.1%
-90.2%
22.1%
-10.3%
-2.9%
29.8%
-18.3%
-35.2%
-50.0%
16.7%
187.5%
-70.0%
-53.7%
-2.3%
0.3%
-4.7%
-3.0%
17.2%
59.3%
-29.3%
0.0%
71.4%
-5.1%
YTD
-6.1%
28.6%
-15.9%
73.3%
-18.1%
-100.0%
-62.5%
-49.5%
-41.0%
-100.0%
-1.7%
-11.9%
-20.7%
-4.9%
-24.3%
-0.8%
>999%
-11.3%
7.6%
-11.5%
28.6%
-14.6%
17.3%
-46.4%
35.1%
-13.5%
-10.3%
28.6%
-1.5%
200.0%
49.5%
0.5%
270.0%
2.6%
-3.8%
6.7%
0.0%
-14.0%
-46.8%
3.4%
-87.4%
22.9%
-2.3%
-12.5%
2.7%
-77.7%
11.3%
-6.2%
2.4%
21.9%
-8.8%
-23.9%
-18.2%
33.7%
341.7%
-76.6%
-38.6%
3.4%
5.2%
4.3%
-10.3%
24.8%
103.7%
76.8%
1.6%
-4.9%
-2.8%
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THE
DIARY
Fewer large
barrier to cars no
safety
January 7
Swift range
revised
after ten
years at
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top
To celebrate
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l 1.4-litre
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ing Uber
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of
transmissi the
Zealand
NCAP.
using their
bile Associatio
allegedly
Automoon model.
While the
physical
n
taxi meters.smartphones as
are close
“The Mazda3,.
to identical, crash tests
the 2014
meant the At times this has
New Zealand
of the resulting
analysis
leaving
Car of the
data is
of
gers on
along with
different.
Year,
the roadside. passenFrom now, slightly
Volkswag the Toyota Corolla, Giant
results will
Euro NCAP
en Polo
DMS
be released
NZ Hyund
and Honda
Accord
Zealand
have
promises company
and Australia in New
ai dealers
5-star safety all been awarded
being reassessed
without
faster
dig
in
for rally
technology
by ANCAP,
so the New ratings this year,
however
Hyundai
they
WRC works champ
‘down
becoming Zealand fleet is
ANCAP brand. will still carry the
under’
Hayden
driver
safer,” says
Paddon’s
motoring
The formation
partnershi
with Hyundai
AA
services
p
general
manager
DMS company of a giant global
and its dealer New Zealand,
Stella Stocks.
– CDK Global,
network,
Inc. – has
been strengthen
has
Due to strong
been welcomed
ed with
one of the
that will
growth over
a deal
Auckland
by
support
biggest automotiv
the past
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him
softtware
the next
12 months
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e
providers
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looking
sia, TSI.
in AustralaWRC i20
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Buy Right one of
car.
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cially excitingnow has, is espes
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smaller
kets,” says
stock in NZ
• purchasing
TSI’s group marnomics firm issued by ecostock from
manager,
We need
general
Infometric
• pricing
auctions in
Darryn Crothall.
someone
trade in’s
been dismissed
Japan
s has
who can
• analysing
as ‘complete
commit
the used car
incorrect’
weekdays
market trends
suggestions
ly
by
on purchasing
and half
and providing
tor Vehicle the Imported Mo• analysing
day on Saturday
a
Industry
reconditioning strategy
Associatio
incorporated
and
costs for vehicle
The claims
the role
into pricing
may
types to be
by economis n.
strategy
Benje Patterson
few business involve a
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t
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ities include:
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ther dropping , say that furreview
• Assist in
year.
requested
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the Japanese of tariffs from
the
• Ensure
-Australia
vehicle purchase vehicle testing process
Police Minister
In return,
cle trade
the
prices are
maintained
could severelyn vehiMichael
always
at wholesale
successful
Woodhou
the New
market value
taking into
applicant
affect
se
Zealand
account reconditioning/r
after
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to undertake has asked Police
market for
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epair costs
with
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a competitiv
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The successful
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that underpinned the
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ion package
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• A minimum
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nt.
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• Ability to
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criticised
rates fall
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interpret market
• Strong
as taking
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as
trends
off safe
the focus
skills
• Strong
driving.
contacts within
The
number
the NZ dealership
of vehicles
market
New Zealand’s
If this role
leaving
NZ to get
sounds like
fleet rose
Honda
year – but
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a good fit,
this
is
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please email
qiuchee.w s of interest to Qiuchee
behind the still tracking well
ong@buyr
While Jazz,
number
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0274 482
entering.
According
433 if you’d ightcars.co.nz, or
lead Honda Civic and CRV may
to Turner’s
call
like further
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on volume
marinformatio
Zealand,
a total of
in New
n.
vehicles
the
138,805
left the market
confirmed company has
year, up
it
12 | AUTOTALK
last
4% for all
thing more will have someof 2013.
FEBRUARY
interesting
2015 | www.auto
as a
Fiat Chrysle
January 8
3
January 13
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THE
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January 7
halo model
next year.
Managing
Swift range
directo
Sonada
revised
has confirm r Nobuya
after ten
the NSX
ed today
years at
superca
r will be
the
top
launche
d here.
To celebra
te the Suzuki
achievin
Swift
ga
New Zealanddecade of being
’s top selling
car, the
light
New
Call for
tor has axed Zealand distribu
review on
two model
taxi regul
ants, and
varidropped
ation
The leader
the price
the base
on
model
of the Act
has called
party
The entry-le by 5%.
for a review
vel 1.4-litre
governing
model now
While big
GL
cars didn’t
taxi-service of rules
carries
apps, such
a recommended
the ANCAP
From 2015,
dominate
style
retail
as Uber.
list for 2014,
the Australa
plus on-road price of $18,990
range of
New Car
The techno
sian
the
small to
Assessm
, the
costs, for
logy has
medium
ent Promanual
hicles with
gramme
headlin
hit
the
version,
(ANCAP
5-star safety veand $19,990
with Police es in the last week
plus on-road
continues
testing protoco ) will align
ratings
,
to
stoping
costs, for
ls with thoseits
ing Uber
automatic
to the New grow according
the Europea
and findrivers for
of
transmission the
n NCAP.
using their
bile Associa Zealand Automo
allegedly
While the
model.
tion
physical
taxi meters.smartphones as
are close
“The Mazda3.
to identica crash tests
meant the At times this has
New Zealand , the 2014
of the resulting
l, analysis
leaving
Car of the
data is
of
gers on
along with
different.
Year,
the roadsid passenFrom now, slightly
e.
Volkswagenthe Toyota Corolla
results will
Euro NCAP
Giant DMS
be released
,
Polo and
NZ Hyun
Accord
Zealand
Honda
have
promises company
and Australia in New
dai deale
5-star safety all been awarde
being reassess
without
faster
dig in for
rs
d
ratings
ed
techn
by ANCAP,
rally
so the New
however
this year,
Hyundai
ology ‘down
they
WRC works champ
becoming Zealand fleet is
ANCAP brand. will still carry the
under’
Hayden
driver
safer,” says
Paddon’s
motorin
The formatio
partners
with Hyunda
AA
g services
hip
general
manage
DMS compann of a giant global
and its dealeri New Zealand,
r Stella Stocks.
y – CDK
Inc. – has
been strength network, has
Due to strong
been welcomGlobal,
ened with
one of the
that will
growth over
ed by
a deal
Aucklan
support
biggest automo
d’s leading
the past
him
softtwar
the next
12 months
tive
e provide
vehicle retailer
twelve ralliesthrough
looking
rs in Australa
sia, TSI.
WRC i20
for
in his
s, Buy Right one of
car.
STRONG an experienced
Cars, is
“The formati
buyer to
VEHICLE
join a
on of CDK,
PURCHASING
Economist
along with
TEAM.
autonomy the operational
on impo ’s theory
it
rts misse
cially excitingnow has, is espeThe Buyer
s
key
will be responsib
for
point
those of
in the world’s
us
le for:
• purchasing
A think piece – IMVIA
smaller
kets,” says
stock in NZ
mar• purchasing
TSI’s group
nomics firm issued by ecostock from
manage
We need
general
Infometrics
• pricing
auctions in
r, Darryn
someon
trade in’s
been dismisse
Japan
has
Crothall.
e
who can
• analysing
d as ‘comple
commit
the used car
incorrec
weekday
tely
market trends
suggestions
t’ by
s and
on purchasing
and providing
tor Vehicle the Imported Mo• analysing
day on Saturdahalf a
strategy
Industry
reconditioni
ng costs for
y and
Association.
incorporated
The claims
the role
vehicle types
into pricing
may
to be
strategy
Benje Pattersoby economist
few business involve a
Accounta
Speeding
bilities include:
Japan each trips to
ther droppin n, say that furreview
• Assist in
year.
requested
documentin
the Japane g of tariffs from
g the
• Ensure
se-Australian
vehicle purchase vehicle testing process
Police Minister
In return,
cle trade
the
prices are
maintained
could severely vehiMichael
always
at wholesale
success
Woodhouse
the New
ful applican
market
taking into
affect
Zealand
account reconditioni value after
will be rewarde
t
to underta has asked Police
market for
• Secure
vehicle
ng/repair costs
vehicle purchasing
ke
s.
d with
a competi
public messaga review of the
volumes
tive
The successfu
remuner
es that underl applicant
pinned the
ation
would have/be:
and a challengpackage
2014/15
• A minimum
road safety
summer
ing fast
of 5 years
paced
campaign.
experience
either in Japan
environm
The ‘zero
or using contacts as a buyer
ent.
• Honest,
in
trustworthy
campaign tolerance’
and hardworkingNZ
Scrapage
• Ability to
has been
analyse and
criticise
rates fall
interpret market
• Strong
d as taking widely
interpersona
fleet grow
as
trends
l skills
off safe
the focus
• Strong
driving.
contacts within
The number s
the NZ dealership
market
New Zealand of vehicles leaving
If this role
NZ to get
sounds like
Honda
year – but ’s fleet rose this
expressions
a
is
supercar
of interest good fit, please
qiuchee
behind the still tracking well
email
to Qiuchee
.wong@
While Jazz,
number
Wong at
buyright
0274 482
entering
cars.co.nz,
According
433 if you’d
.
lead Honda Civic and CRV may
or call
to Turner’
like further
ket report,
on volume
s marinformat
Zealand
a total of
in New
ion.
, the
vehicles
138,805
left the market
confirmed company has
year, up
it
12 | AUTOTA
last
4% for all
thing more will have someLK FEBRUA
of 2013.
interesting
RY 2015
as a
Fiat Chrys
| www.au
January 5
January 14
Fewer large
barrier to cars no
safety says
AA
ANCAP
aligns
protocols
with Euro
NCAP
January 8
$450
January 13
January 15
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ler NZ boss
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