ACCESSORIES & ELECTRICAL
HSP GOING “BEYOND AUSTRALIAN MADE” HSP Vehicle Accessories says it goes beyond the requirements of the Australian Made logo Most Australians recognise the green and gold kangaroo logo instantly: it is one of the most trusted symbols in the country, with close to 99 percent brand recognition across the population. “A lot of consumers assume that if something carries the Australian Made logo, every part of it was built right here on home soil,” HSP Vehicle Accessories Head of Sales and Marketing, Ash Bouyer, said. “The reality is a bit more complicated than that.” To legally display the Australian Made logo, a product must undergo what’s called a “substantial transformation” in Australia, and more than 50 percent of its production costs must be incurred locally. “That sounds reasonable on the surface, though the criteria leave room for interpretation,” Ash said. “Not every component needs to be locally sourced, so the logo can cover a wide range of manufacturing setups. “Even the logo itself isn’t automatically earned. It is a licensed trademark, paid for annually, with fees starting from as little as $300 depending on a company’s revenue. “In industries like automotive aftermarket accessories, this distinction is worth understanding.
“A product can carry the logo while still relying on some foreign components, provided the final assembly and enough of the production costs occurred here. “That’s not the standard we hold ourselves to at HSP - to us, genuinely manufacturing in Australia means sourcing materials locally, employing Australians in skilled roles, and building products that are designed from the ground up for Australian conditions. That’s what we do.” HSP Vehicle Accessories operates three Victorian manufacturing plants producing core products including its electric Roll R Cover, Tub Racks, and Ladder Racks. Ash explains that every step of that process, from local material sourcing through to the finished product rolling off the line, happens in Australia. The accessories are also engineered specifically for the harsh and varied conditions Australians put their vehicles through. “We actually choose not to use the Australian Made logo,” Ash said. “Not because we don’t qualify, but because we think what we do goes well beyond it. For us, it is not a marketing badge. It is a commitment.”
According to Ash, that commitment has tangible benefits for buyers too. “Local manufacturing typically means shorter lead times, tighter quality control under Australian safety standards, and a smaller environmental footprint compared to imported goods that have crossed multiple borders before reaching a driveway,” Ash said. “When you’re investing in accessories for your ute, the origin of the product matters more than the sticker on the box. “The Australian Made logo is a useful starting point, but for those who want the full picture, it pays to look at where and how something was built. “With HSP, the answer is straightforward: all core products are 100 percent designed, sourced, and manufactured in Australia.” To learn more about HSP, visit www.hsputelids.com
SEATING SOLUTIONS BOOST FAMILY CAPACITY IN FULL-SIZE US UTES
Vehicle Engineering Australia offers registered-design rear and front seating upgrades for Ram, Silverado and F-Series owners needing six-seat practicality Vehicle Engineering Australia has developed a pair of locally engineered seating solutions aimed squarely at Australian families running big US utes such as the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500/2500, and Ford F-150/F-250. In standard form, these vehicles typically offer two front seats and a three-seat rear bench, limiting them to five occupants. For many families, particularly those with four small children, that simply isn’t enough. Vehicle Engineering Australia says it first tackled the rear of the cabin with its Kids x 4 rear seat conversion, designed specifically for small children with a seated shoulder height between 350 mm and 490 mm, allowing four of these sized child passengers to travel across the back row. However, as Company Director John Wilson notes, that doesn’t solve every use case. “Once you’ve got older kids, teenagers or even a mother in law to carry, the factory five-seat layout is still a real problem when six people need transport,” John said.
The latest development is a console-replacement adult seat for the front row, turning the cabin into a genuine six-seater while retaining comfort and compliance considerations. The new centre seat incorporates a lap/sash inertia reel seatbelt, a single child restraint anchor point, and an integrated headrest. The seatback folds down to act as a centre armrest when not in use. Vehicle Engineering Australia highlights that there are restrictions on placing child booster seats in the front row, with requirements varying across Australian states and territories, and owners should check local regulations before use. For these products, the engineering has focused heavily on safety and integration, with Finite Element Analysis used to confirm the strength of the adult seat structure. Meanwhile, John says critical headspace requirements have been addressed in line with VSB5, the standard governing the manufacture of aftermarket seats.
Production relies on 3D scanning and printing, laser cutting and precision plate steel bending, and new side panels have been developed to integrate with the original air-conditioning controls, delivering a finished appearance that, in John’s words, “looks like it came from the factory.” Gear shifters originally located in the console or on the dash/column have been successfully repositioned through careful redesign. Both the Kids x 4 rear conversion and the consoleto-adult front seat hold Registered Design status. For more information, contact John Wilson on 0417 230 074.
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine Annual 4WD Magazine 2026
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