www.autofile.co.nz
JANUARY 2021
THE TRUSTED VOICE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS
Industry braces itself for future challenges Digital strategy key to dealers’ success p 15
Chief executives reflect on a tough year, reveal how doing business has changed and ponder what 2021 may bring
T
he year 2020 will be remembered as the toughest in modern times. It is tragic 25 New Zealanders were among an estimated 1.8 million around the world to die last year after contracting Covid-19. It is also tragic so many people’s jobs and businesses, including some in the automotive industry, have buckled under the enormous economic pressure created by the pandemic. It is, however, an appropriate time to reflect that this country has come through what we hope is the worst of a global crisis relatively
unscathed compared to the plight of many others. That said, 2021 will provide challenges – many unknown – to be overcome and the way the world operates socially and economically is unlikely to return to how it was pre-coronavirus. In this issue of Autofile, we talk to the chief executives of the three lead organisations representing New Zealand’s car industry to get their take on the year that was and what beckons in the future. “I think as we roll into 2021, we’re going to have business as usual initially,” says David Vinsen, of VIA.
“But there will be an underlying concern about what will happen from 2022 onwards regarding the fuel-economy standard.” David Crawford, of the MIA, notes: “With the progressive rollout of a vaccine, we expect 2021 to gradually transform back to more or less a stable economy, but it will take most of the year to do that.” And the MTA’s Craig Pomare says: “We know this government will be likely to make the industry move if it doesn’t do so itself. The pressure is coming on.” Our questions to all three, and their answers, start on page four.
Focus on clean car standard proposals p 16
Time to remember how lucky we are p 19 p 24
Revving up for 50th grand prix
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