Motor Trader e-magazine, November 2020

NOV

2020

FINALIST

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FINALIST

FINALIST

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DANIEL O’DEA

GABRIELLE CLIFT

ANTHONY CROUCH

E V E LY N H AY E S

JOSHUA SHEARMAN

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D ’ S APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR FINALIST

FINALIST

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( DA N ) AW N G DA N DAIPHA

ETHAN REID

JOHN B A N C R O F T- A R N O T T

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STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

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QUINTIN SMITH

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From the Editor Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland HEAD OFFICE Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 P.O. Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: publications@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au EDITOR Jonathan Nash ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Evangeline Kannis Ian Naylor POLICY Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Marc Wilson // Gypsy media & marketing services

M: 0419 107 143 Email: advertising@mtaq.com.au

gypsy

JONATHAN NASH EDITOR

H

ELLO AND WELCOME to the November 2020 edition of Motor Trader.

It is usually about this time of year when we would be reporting on the MTA Queensland Industry Dinner - our annual celebration of the auto industry at which the presentation of the Apprentice of the Year award is the centrepiece. The Industry Dinner is always a grand affair and it was unfortunate that this year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had to be cancelled.

However, while the automotive industry dinner may have been a ‘victim’ of the pandemic, the automotive industry itself has not stopped and MTA Queensland resolved that the Apprentice of the Year award presentation would go ahead - acknowledging the hard work, skill, and determination of the thousands of apprentices who have continued to work

media & marketing services

EDITORIAL Editorial submissions are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information email the Editor at publications@mtaq.com.au SUBSCRIPTION RATES Subscribing to the Motor Trader e-magazine is free.

Click here to subscribe MOTOR TRADER PUBLISHING POLICY

Motor Trader is the official publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland. The role of Motor Trader is to inform members of current issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded as the business magazine for the Queensland motor industry. The role of Motor Trader is not to be in competition with the technical magazines already on the market. It will advise of new vehicles being released and of the latest technology incorporated into them; it will advise of latest technology affecting members in each of the MTA Queensland Divisions; it will keep members abreast of the latest in motor industry training and industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed of the latest technical aids available through MTA Queensland Member Services, which will assist members in staying ahead of the technological revolution presently being encountered within the motor industry. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any advertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.

MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848

20200902

CORPORATE PARTNERS

diligently in workshops across the state.

While the calibre of all the finalists was exceptional, it was 21-year-old light vehicle apprentice Gabrielle Clift, from Highfields Mechanical near Toowoomba, who was announced as the winner of the Apprentice of the Year award for 2020. Congratulations to Gabrielle and all the 2020 Apprentice of the Year award finalists. They are a fantastic group. You can find out more about Gabrielle and the revised Award evening from page 30.

Also in this edition - along with our regular automotive news and innovation sections - we talk to Darren Atkins from Wholesale House in Brisbane for our MTA Q&A feature, and take a look at the wonderful new supercar from Maserati, the MC20. We also talk to industry veteran Craig Baills about his new ADAS Calibration-focused business, Hi-Mech Auto Solutions.

I hope you enjoy this edition, and if you have any news to share or have a classic vehicle you’d like to see featured in a future Motor Trader, please do get in contact.

Cheers Jonathan Nash, Editor jonathann@mtaq.com.au

In sad news, we note the passing of industry stalwart and great friend of MTA Queensland, Des Kempster. Des was Managing Editor of Motor Trader for many years through the 1970s and 1980s, was a key member of the Association’s team, and was a highly regarded figure in the automotive industry. Our heartfelt condolences go to Des’ family and friends.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 1

Contents

30 04 FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 08 POLICY/VIEWPOINT 12 MTA QUEENSLAND 2020 FEDERAL BUDGET BRIEF 18 MTA |Q&A 30 MTA QUEENSLAND’S APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2020 38 AN EYE ON INNOVATION 40 AUTO INNOVATION NEWS 52 MASERATI MC20 SUPERCAR 58 OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING 62 AUTO NEWS 70 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 73 TRAINING GM'S PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE PERSPECTIVE 77 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2020 82 CONCEPT CORNER 86 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 88 MARKET WRAP 2 | Motor Trader November 2020

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Search for MTA Queensland

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82 November 2020 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO

BRETT DALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

I

N MAY 2016, the MTA Queensland Board entrusted to me the task of implementing the 2016-18 Strategic Plan. It was for me, the ‘light on the hill’; the goals and actions to take the industry forward. With the support of the corporate office and members, these aspirations have been achieved and itemised in successive report cards. Now, we are in the 2019-21 iteration of that Plan. On 18 November, I’ll pass the MTA Queensland’s leadership role and the responsibilities to complete the implementation of that Plan to Rod Camm, the incoming Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Board of Directors has entrusted to Rod with those important duties.

Rod is highly credentialed and brings to the role of Group CEO his inherent talents and the understandings of MTA Queensland to progress it as the most trusted, influential and engaged industry body. We got to know Rod in his leadership roles at The Australian Council for Private Education and Training when the MTA Institute (MTAI) was involved in the Industry Certification Program – a 360⁰ peer review process. In fact, the MTAI was the first trade Registered Trade Organisation in Australia to be approved under ACPET’s program.

Rod’s previous leadership experiences 4 | Motor Trader November 2020

with the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research and Skills Queensland blends with the Australian Government’s focus on training, retraining and upskilling to support jobs and for investment. The JobTrainer and JobMaker programs were introduced for this purpose. Rod’s expertise will advantage members and the MTAI’s apprentices and trainees in accessing these programs to improve their businesses or careers.

The new Group CEO assumes the role at a challenging time. The sector is grappling with disruption, innovation and technological change, and is in the midst of the COVID-19 recovery phase. Rod will be supported by a highly professional corporate office team and the contemporary and fit-for-purpose operational and business systems as well as the policy and strategic and digital frameworks to guide the pathway forward. These include the MTA Queensland Rules, the Professional Circle, the 2019-21 Strategic Plan, corporate governance ensuring transparency and accountability, and service delivery and communications procedures.

THE RULES The Rules contain the ‘Objects’ which define our goals and the outlay for resources and set the framework in which we operate as an industrial organisation of employers. The Rules are constantly reviewed to ensure compliance. Group Deputy CEO Kellie Dewar, in her current and previous Viewpoint, advises the Rules have been amended and lodged with the Registered Organisation Commission to approve a Rule change for annual general elections to be held over.

PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE The operations of the MTA Queensland

Group are underpinned by the Professional Circle. Introduced in 2015, it establishes the five pillars germane to the functions of the Association. These are: ‘advocacy’, ‘services’, ‘training’, ‘support’ and ‘innovation’. The latter was introduced in 2016 to position MTA Queensland in leading the industry on the impacts of the emerging technologies in automotive and doing business in a digital economy. Each of these pillars has been upheld and our actions have strengthened them. The 10 member values underpin the Professional Circle and set out the industry standards for consumers dealing with a business in the motor trades.

STRATEGIC PLAN The Strategic Plan sets the priorities and actions for serving and achieving industry outcomes for the membership.

During my stewardship as CEO there have been three iterations and now we are mid-way through the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. From the Plans derive the ideas and initiatives to tackle the emerging industry issues of service delivery or technological change. For example, the Carmageddon symposia series informed members and stakeholders on current and future technological and digital transformations to impact the automotive industry and the economy. Specialist keynote speakers from academia, government and industry led the discussions. In all, and commencing in March 2017, three symposia have been held with a fourth, scheduled for July 2020, cancelled due to the pandemic.

The current Strategic Plan has as its first key strategy ‘service excellence’ and was pivotal at the commencement of the COVID-19 health emergency restrictions in swinging the resources to provide members with the tools to protect and manage their business operational shifts

needed to trade. Daily briefings were forwarded directly to members detailing the essential information and broad industry insights to assist them with their business operations.

Underpinning the daily briefings was the extensive membership engagement to hear firsthand views and requirements and provide advice when necessary.

This was not new, as the new Member Engagement Strategy began in August 2019, and again, derived from the Strategic Plan. Its purpose is to listen to members’ views on their specific motor trade, business issues, and policy concerns. Members acknowledged the extensive support during the crisis and now in the recovery phase.

Initiatives with far-reaching benefits to members and the automotive industry have their genesis in the Strategic Plans. For example, the 2016-18 Plan set ‘to promote and lead creativity and innovation’ as a priority. It was, in fact, one of the key performance indicators for my employ as the Association’s CEO. Instrumental in achieving the outcome were the Carmageddon symposia and, in November 2017, the opening of the Innovation Hub (MTAiQ). Its purpose is to cultivate a community of entrepreneurial minds that can come together, collaborate and develop ideas into commercial outcomes.

Currently, Ali Sarfraz, a PhD candidate at the Queensland University of Technology is in residence doing his thesis on “Recycling of automotive parts for additive manufacturing”. He is a recipient of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for M3D Innovation Scholarship. This aligns with our support and involvement in the new and ambitious Waste-Motive Initiative November 2020 Motor Trader | 5

that aims to better manage the automotive industry’s plastic waste.

A significant achievement for the Association was the ARC Training Centre Agreement relating to Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing.

It is a five-year project to be overseen

by Professor Mark Knackstedt from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering. The MTA Queensland Board, when approving our engagement in the project, perceived it to be one of the largest and most exciting projects relevant to the automotive industry.

Unfinished business is the Cooperative and Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI) with the Department of Transport and Main Roads. We are in partnership with the Ipswich City Council to contribute to the nation’s largest connect vehicle trial in Ipswich. Separately, we are collaborating with academia and professional bodies to address mobility issues and a set of problems and opportunities that impact Ipswich. It is recognised that the future of mobility will cause significant disruption in the behaviour and composition of the current workforce which requires understanding.

EVENTS MTA Queensland has made the decision not to continue with future Cars & Coffee events. The Association is proud to have commenced the event which has grown in popularity over the past few years, with both members and the general public being able to share in a common passion. In particular, we are thrilled to have raised money for our Charity Partner Youngcare, from the sausage sizzle and donations. The event has been a platform to showcase some of the most amazing historic, prestige, luxury, exotic, rare and custom bikes and cars. As we move toward 2021, MTA Queensland will continue to focus on our core purpose as outlined in our Strategic Plan, which is to support 6 | Motor Trader November 2020

AS WE MOVE TOWARD 2021, MTA QUEENSLAND WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR CORE PURPOSE AS OUTLINED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN . . . and advocate for our members in the automotive industry. We are excited to announce the 2021 dates for our three core events - Carmageddon on Thursday 22 July, Motor Trades Golf Day on Friday 3 September and the Industry Awards Gala Sat 20 November.

AND THE LAST THING Achievement is a team effort to action the five pillars of ‘advocacy’, ‘services’,’ training’, ‘support’, and ‘innovation’ and return strong dividends to members. MTA Queensland is blessed with a professional, loyal and dedicated team with one aim.

That is to achieve for members. I thank the Board of Directors for your support; the Executive team Group Deputy CEO and General Manager (GM) Member Services Kellie Dewar; MTAI GM and GM Innovation Paul Kulpa; Group Chief Financial Officer and GM Investment Portfolio Kathy Winkcup; and the GM Marketing and Communications Lysa Dugandzic for your solidarity; as well as the corporate office support staff for your enthusiasm and dedication in achieving excellent outcomes for members and the industry. Last but not least, I thank the exceptional trainers who are out in industry preparing our future workforce and industry leaders. Indeed, the state and national awards won by the Association are testimony to you and your high calibre.

Every good wish to you and Rod Camm, for your future progress and achievement.

Adieu.

As Henry Ford, the industrialist and the founder of the Ford motor company said, ‘execute ideas with enthusiasm . . . as it is the bottom of all progress’.

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Policy/Viewpoint

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

N

EW LEARNINGS ARE emerging from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on all sectors of the community. None is immune; all will have to adapt and learn how to adapt to the ‘new normal’. Here at MTA Queensland’s corporate office, we are doing that and more. We are introducing changes in the Member Services division to support members transition through the recovery phase stemming from the pandemic and the massive transformations occurring in the automotive industry.

One of the changes involves bolstering the Member Engagement Strategy with the personnel to assist divisions, expand contacts with members, and augment the flow of information between the membership and the corporate office.

It is clear from members’ comments that they have valued the corporate office support through the pandemic and now in the recovery phase. We will build on that. For that purpose, Marcello Riotto has been appointed Deputy General Manager Member Services to take a lead on the Member Engagement Strategy and assist the Divisions and members with industry matters.

Marcello has extensive industry and

8 | Motor Trader November 2020

ONE OF THE CHANGES INVOLVES BOLSTERING THE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WITH THE PERSONNEL TO ASSIST DIVISIONS, EXPAND CONTACTS WITH MEMBERS, AND AUGMENT THE FLOW OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE CORPORATE OFFICE. corporate knowledge due to his 16 years with the MTA Institute which included the role of Operations Manager. Recently, he was appointed an Industry Skills Advisor for the automotive industry to the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT). In this position he assists DESBT with its Great training for quality jobs Strategy. The role includes engagement with the motor trades and to provide advice and feedback on a range of issues to create jobs and increase productivity in the industry.

He has commenced the liaison with the divisions providing training and industry advices and contributing to discussion on industry issues.

To ensure effective representation and communication, we are appointing an Area Manager to service the Fraser Coast and Central Queensland area. The Area Manager’s role is on the ground, speaking with members at their businesses and providing feed back to the corporate office on the industry issues to be pursued. To ease the increasing workload of Member Services on our current administrative support, an additional support staff member will be engaged. For me, I welcome the changes as it means I and my current staff will not be spread thinly across the several responsibilities that comprise Member Services.

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

DIVISIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS We’ve been meticulous in following all requirements under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 Act and the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) advices, and our Rules pertaining to the holding of the Annual General Meetings of the 11 motor trade Divisions throughout the pandemic. As indicated in last month’s Viewpoint, the continuing governance of the Association was not in jeopardy as all the Association’s positions are filled and functioning. However, a Rule change was necessary to permit all elections to be held over for a 12-month period. The proposed Rule change circulated to members was unanimously approved at the 13 October (via Zoom) General Meeting. I thank members for attending the virtual General Meeting, for considering the proposed Rule change and for supporting it. It has been lodged with the Fair Work Commission and the relevant notice to members is on our website as per the requirements.

The Annual General Meeting of Members and the Board of Directors will be held on 3 December 2020. It will be the first face-to-face meeting since the 23 March shutdown of non-essential services due to the pandemic. The agenda will include consideration of the financial statement, and the annual reports from the President, the Association’s executive, the MTA Institute, and the Chairs of the eleven divisions that comprise the motor trades. All Members are invited and welcome to attend the AGM and we have issued the notice of meeting recently through our Weekly Industry Bulletin.

INDUSTRY NEWS The Australian Competition and Consumer Competition (ACCC) has advised of a class exemption with farreaching benefits and it includes the automotive value chain. From early 2021, small businesses, franchisees and fuel retailers will be permitted to collectively negotiate with their suppliers and processors, franchisor or fuel wholesaler respectively, without first having to seek ACCC approval. It is the first class exemption introduced by the ACCC, and one welcomed by our car dealer franchisees, service station and some small business members.

All franchisees and fuel retailers governed by either the Franchising Code of Conduct or the Oil Code of Conduct will be able to collectively negotiate with their franchisor, regardless of November 2020 Motor Trader | 9

Policy/Viewpoint their aggregated turnover. There have been instances when members have reported difficulties negotiating with much larger offshore manufacturers due to the imbalance of power that currently exists between the two parties. This will provide them with increased negotiation tools and will serve to support them in gaining fairer agreements which ultimately leads to better outcomes for consumers. The class exemption will also apply to businesses and independent contractors who form, or are members of, a bargaining group, and who each had an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million in the financial year before the bargaining group was formed.

To commence the process, bargaining groups will have to fill out a simple, onepage form, and provide it to the ACCC. Legal protection from competition laws will then commence automatically.

There will be no fee for lodging the form.

The start date for the use of the class exemption will be early 2021 - after the expiry of the parliamentary disallowance period. The ACCC has advised it will release further information about the class exemption, including the form businesses need to lodge with the ACCC and a guide to using the class exemption, in early 2021 when the class exemption becomes available for use.

The ACCC’s October 2019 recommendation to Government for a new mandatory safety standard for quad bikes came into effect on 11 October. It means all new and imported second-hand quad bikes sold in Australia must now be tested and carry a range of safety measures. Two stakeholders - the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and AgForce, the peak farming body - opposed the mandatory safety standard approach. They favour a 10 | Motor Trader November 2020

IT IS WITH A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PRIDE THAT I SAY FAREWELL TO MY COLLEAGUE, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DR BRETT DALE AS HE EMBARKS ON A NEW CHALLENGE BEFITTING HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS. compulsory national learner training and licence scheme for all riders, with quad bike owners making individual choices about fitting rollover devices. It seems they have a friend; the Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud is sympathetic to their stance.

Some of the major quad bike manufacturers, including Honda and Yamaha, responded to the mandatory fitting of rollover devices by announcing they would quit the Australian market next year. As a consequence, before they exit, there has been a boom in the demand of quad bikes by farmers and recreational users. The sales figures released by the FCAI for the first nine months of the year indicated quads (all-terrain vehicles) and side-by sides soared by 44.4 per cent.

FINALLY It is with a sense of achievement and pride that I say farewell to my colleague, Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Dale as he embarks on a new challenge befitting his leadership skills. He inspired a dedicated team to strive to serve members with their best efforts and led with learned professionalism and confidence on the issues and policies that earned the Association high standing with all stakeholders.

Until next month, take care and stay safe.

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MTA QUEENSLAND 2020

12 | Motor Trader November 2020

FEDERAL BUDGET BRIEF

November 2020 Motor Trader | 13

It has been an extremely challenging year for businesses across Queensland and Australia. The 2020 Federal Budget, revealed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on October 6, had to tackle the crunch that the COVID-19 pandemic caused as well as offer a boost to job seekers, employees and businesses.

B

ELOW IS THE MTA Queensland’s wrap-up of the budget as it affects business and the automotive industry.

low-and middle-income earners will receive a one-off additional benefit of up to $1,080 from the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO).

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

BUSINESS

Deficit: $213.7 billion this year, falling to $66.9 billion by 2023-24.

Net debt: Net debt will increase to $703 billion or 36 per cent of GDP this year and peak at $966 billion or 44 per cent of GDP in June 2024.

Consumer Price Index per cent: GDP: 4¼ per cent Employment: 2¾ per cent Unemployment rate: Unemployment to peak at 8 per cent in the December quarter. Unemployment to fall to 6.5 per cent by the June Quarter 2022.

Wage Price Index: 1¼ per cent Consumer Price Index: 1¾ per cent

Instant Asset Write Off

PERSONAL INCOME TAX

Compliance reduction

The 2020-21 Budget brings forward Stage Two of the Personal Income Tax Plan by two years. From 1 July 2020: • the low income tax offset will increase from $445 to $700; • the top threshold of the 19 per cent tax bracket will increase from $37,000 to $45,000; • the top threshold of the 32.5 per cent tax bracket will increase from $90,000 to $120,000.

The Government will also provide additional targeted support to low- and middle-income Australians. In 2020-21, 14 | Motor Trader November 2020

Over 99 per cent of businesses will be able to write off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase for their business. This will be available for small, medium and larger businesses with a turnover of up to $5 billion until June 2022.

Loss carry back

Companies that have been doing it tough throughout this crisis will be able to use their losses earlier. Losses incurred to June 2022 can be offset against prior profits made in or after the 2018 19 financial year. The combination of the immediate expensing and loss carry-back measures will create an additional 50,000 jobs across the country.

The Government will provide the Commissioner of Taxation with the power to allow employers to rely on existing corporate records, rather than employee declarations and other prescribed records, to finalise their fringe benefits tax (FBT) returns. The measure will have effect from the start of the first FBT year (1 April) after the date of Royal Assent of the enabling legislation.

The Government will expand access to a range of small business tax concessions by increasing the small business entity turnover threshold for these concessions from $10 million to $50 million.

OVER 99 PER CENT OF BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO WRITE OFF THE FULL VALUE OF ANY ELIGIBLE ASSET THEY PURCHASE FOR THEIR BUSINESS. Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of $10 million or more but less than $50 million will for the first time have access to up to ten further small business tax concessions in three phases: • From 1 July 2020, eligible businesses will be able to immediately deduct certain start-up expenses and certain prepaid expenditure.

• From 1 April 2021, eligible businesses will be exempt from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax on car parking and multiple work-related portable electronic devices (such as phones or laptops) provided to employees.

• From 1 July 2021, eligible businesses will be able to access the simplified trading stock rules, remit pay as you go (PAYG) instalments based on GDP adjusted notional tax, and settle excise duty and excise-equivalent customs duty monthly on eligible goods under the small business entity concession. Eligible businesses will also have a two-year amendment period apply to income tax assessments for income years starting from 1 July 2021, excluding entities that have significant international tax dealings or particularly complex affairs.

In addition, from 1 July 2021, the Commissioner of Taxation’s power to create a simplified accounting method determination for GST purposes will be expanded to apply to businesses below the $50 million aggregated annual turnover threshold.

These changes will simplify eligibility and reduce red tape for around 20,000 businesses, as more turnover thresholds

will align to the aggregated annual turnover threshold for a base rate entity for company tax purposes. The eligibility turnover thresholds for other small business tax concessions will remain at their current levels. This measure is estimated to decrease receipts by $105.0 million over the forward estimates period.

SME DIGITAL CAPABILITY $19.2 million in 2020-21 to expand the Australian Small Business Advisory Services— Digital Solutions program to an additional 10,000 small businesses. $3.0 million over four years from 2020-21 to develop a Digital Readiness Assessment tool to help businesses self-assess their digital maturity and provide them with, and to support leaders of Australian organisations to improve their digital literacy and decision-making $2.5 million in 2020-21 to support an industry-led Digital Skills Finder Platform to enable Australian workers and small to medium enterprises to easily find digital skills training courses for reskilling and upskilling in digital literacy.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 15

The Government is providing $796.5 million over four years from 2020-21 through its Digital Business Plan to further drive progress towards Australia becoming a leading digital economy by 2030 and to improve productivity, income growth and jobs by supporting the adoption of digital technologies by Australian businesses.

The measures cover the following pillars: modern digital infrastructure, reduced regulatory barriers, small and medium enterprise (SME) support and capability and a digital government that is easier to do business with.

INFRASTRUCTURE $14 billion in new and accelerated infrastructure projects to support a further 40,000 jobs.

SKILLS & TRAINING JobMaker Hiring Credit

The $4 billion JobMaker Hiring Credit will be payable for up to 12 months for each new job and is available to employers who hire eligible employees aged 16-35.

The Hiring Credit will be paid quarterly

in arrears at the rate of $200 per week for those aged between 16-29, and $100 per week for those aged between 30-35. Eligible employees are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. To be eligible, employers will need to demonstrate an increase in overall employee headcount and payroll for each additional new position created. Treasury estimates that this will support around 450,000 jobs for young people

JobTrainer

$1 billion JobTrainer fund to create up to 340,000 free or low cost training places for school leavers and job seekers.

Committed $2.8 billion to protect 180,000 apprenticeships and trainees.

A new 50 per cent wage subsidy for all businesses that take on new apprentices over the period 5 October 2020 to 30 September 2021. The $1.2 billion Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy will support the next generation of skilled workers through 100,000 new apprentices. The subsidy will be capped at $7,000 per quarter for gross wages for new apprentices and trainees. This measure is in addition to financial support already provided under the Government’s $2.8 billion Supporting Apprentices and Trainees package for existing apprentices and trainees, which is now expected to support 90,000

THE $4 BILLION JOBMAKER HIRING CREDIT WILL BE PAYABLE FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS FOR EACH NEW JOB AND IS AVAILABLE FROM TO EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AGED 16-35.

AUTOMOTIVE TAXATION Luxury Car Tax: $540 million (-$140 million -20.6 per cent) Since the 2019-20 MYEFO, luxury car tax (LCT) receipts have been revised down $0.1 billion in 2020-21 and $0.7 billion over the four years to 2023-24. LCT receipts are forecast to decline by 5.3 per cent in 2020-21, and grow by 0.4 per cent on average over the four years to 2023-24. This is consistent with a decline in the sales of vehicles subject to LCT. Fuels excise: • Petrol $5,550 million (-$700 million -11. 2per cent) • Diesel $11,930 ($690 million -5.5 per cent) Customs duty: • Passenger Vehicles $310 (-$20 million -6.1 percent). employers to keep 180,000 apprentices and trainees in employment and training.

To help Australians get a job funding for: • 50,000 new higher education short courses in agriculture, health, IT, science and teaching • 12,000 new Commonwealth supported places for higher education in 2021 • 2,000 indigenous students through the Clontarf Foundation to complete Year 12 and pursue further education or find employment.

Extra Support for Job Seekers

$49.5 million to fund an additional 14,485 places in the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program to ensure new job seekers who lack basic language, literacy and numeracy skills can access the training and support they need.

FRINGE BENEFIT TAX The Government will introduce an exemption from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax (FBT) for employer provided retraining and reskilling benefits provided to redundant, or soon to be redundant employees where the benefits may not be related to their current employment. This measure applies from announcement.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY STATEMENT $240 million in measures and programs to support: • New cadetships and apprenticeships for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics • Job creation and entrepreneurialism, and • Women’s safety at work and at home

MODERN MANUFACTURING $1.3 BILLION PLAN It will target six national manufacturing priorities: • food and beverage manufacturing • resources technology and critical minerals processing • medical products • recycling and clean energy • defence industry, and • space industry.

This plan is built on the JobMaker platform of enabling our manufacturing businesses to be globally competitive through cheaper and more reliable energy. Better skills and training.

Lower taxes. Less red tape and more flexible workplaces. Research and Development, the adoption of digital technology, and affordable and reliable energy will be critical to Australia’s future economic prosperity.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 17

Darren Atkins, owner of Wholesale House

MTA|Q&A There is no one who wants the dodgy dealers out of the used car business more than Darren Atkins, the owner of Wholesale House in Coopers Plains - and he’s doing something about it in his position on MTA Queensland’s Automotive Remarketing Division. Here, Darren talks doing business during a pandemic, the beauty of specialisation, why location isn’t what it used to be and why Queensland is a dumping ground for written-off vehicles.

WORDS AND PICTURES: LINDSAY SAUNDERS 18 | Motor Trader November 2020

“I DECIDED TO LEAVE AND AFTER WHOLESALING CARS FOR ABOUT A MONTH, I SOLD MY HOUSE AND STARTED OFF WITH ABOUT $100,000. 17 YEARS LATER I’M STILL SLOWLY BUILDING IT UP.”

I decided to leave and after wholesaling cars for about a month, I sold my house and started off with about $100,000. 17 years later I’m still building it up. It has been a long road. We’ve been in this yard about two years, but the business has always been in this part of the world.

When was Wholesale House established?

DA: I started the business in 2003.

Given so much business is now online, is it still important for a yard to have frontage on a busy road?

DA: No. You could have your yard almost

Originally, after I left school, I was a meat worker for 10 years working all around Australia but in 1996, I got a job working for Mike Brennan Wholesale Cars in Moorooka. I was there for about eight years and ended up managing the yard.

It was a high-volume yard, and we would sell 150 cars per month out of there with three salesmen.

anywhere as long as its accessible. Our previous location was on Beaudesert Road and 80,000 cars go past there every day. We were doing 40 vehicles a month there and we’re doing 50 here on a bit of a back street. I did have some concerns when we moved here, but we’ve been smashing it. It’s all internet based.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 19

What makes Wholesale House different to other yards?

DA: The stock. I never buy cars at auctions

– they’re too dear – and get all my vehicles wholesale from a number of yards all over Queensland with which I’ve built up good relationships over the past 17 years or so. I get a lot of my cars from Toowoomba all the way up to Cairns – usually that is, before the pandemic – and my phone’s ringing all day with dealers offering traded vehicles.

If it’s the right vehicle, we get it in and put it through our workshop before it goes for sale. One of the big reasons we moved here is that there’s a great workshop and I’ve got two mechanics as part of the operation.

I’m pretty particular about how we present our cars. Because we sell so many over the phone, sight unseen, it’s vital the vehicles are spot on. Photos don’t show little scratches and the like, so it all needs to be right. People come a long way for a car, walk around it and go, ‘yep, it’s exactly as the photo’, then it’s a sale.

How many are on your staff?

DA: We have me, a manager, two admin staff

and two mechanics. It’s a pretty small crew but we’re doing about 50 cars a month.

We also have a finance broker on site.

Do you specialise in particular vehicles?

DA: Yes, we only do four-wheel-drives, utes

and vans. It’s a good market but it can be tricky – you’ve got to price them right.

Our customers really vary. For some it’s about lifestyle, for some it’s commercial, and some are tradies. I don’t sell the soft-roaders - the RAV4 would be about the closest to that kind of four-wheel-drive we do.

“IT HAS BACKED OFF A LITTLE NOW BUT EARLIER IT WAS SO BUSY. PRE-COVID, WE’D HAVE 50 CARS FOR SALE ONLINE, AND 20 OR MORE GOING THROUGH THE WORKSHOP, AND IT WOULD BE LIKE WHEN WE HAD 10 CARS ARRIVING, WE’D HAVE 10 GOING OUT AS WELL.”

What prompted that decision?

DA: When I first started, I was just doing

cheapies - $2000 to $3000 cars - as I didn’t have much capital. I’d have mums and dads coming to buy their children their first cars. They’d get an RACQ inspection done on say a $2000 automatic Corolla and the report wouldn’t be great – it’s a 20-year-old car after all – so we wouldn’t make the sale.

Then I started getting in a few commercials and it was a different market.

The customers knew what they wanted and would be like, ‘Yeah mate, it drives good, I’ll take it’. You’re dealing with a more aware customer and it’s a lot easier.

It appears that the second-hand market has stayed strong during the current pandemic.

Has that been your experience and, if so, why?

DA: Totally. It has backed off a little now

but earlier it was so busy. Pre-Covid, we’d have 50 cars for sale online, and 20 or more going through the workshop, and it would be like when we had 10 cars arriving, we’d have 10 going out as well.

But around July-August, there were only

about 15 cars in the yard, we were moving them so fast. A truck would arrive, and customers would be saying, ‘I missed out on that one I came in to see, but what about that one? I’ll take it’ while pointing to a vehicle on the back of the truck.

It was just crazy.

I’d say a lot of our customers then were using their superannuation money. If it was mum and dad, they could each get $10,000 each before July and another $10,000 each after July. So, they had $40,000 and cars of around $20,000 then were selling as soon as we had them.

Replacing them was so hard as all the yards and dealers were busy. Demand was so high, prices for wholesale were creeping up and I think the main reason it’s backed off now is just that - finding stock. I did my usual run around Brisbane to the dealers yesterday and there’s just no wholesale cars. Because they’re selling so fast, dealers aren’t wholesaling but are holding on to them and selling them themselves, especially as they have issues getting new cars on the lot because of delays from overseas due to the pandemic.

What do you think will happen over the coming months?

DA: I really don’t know, but I think once the delays of getting new cars in the country are over, they’ll be selling, and things will get a bit more normal. It’s not just cars, its caravans, its jet-skis - it’s just crazy. I think because people haven’t been able to travel overseas, or even interstate, they’re buying a Land Cruiser and a caravan and going to Cairns or Fraser or wherever instead.

How long have you been a member of MTA Queensland and why did you join?

DA: About five years or so, and for the backing.

It’s an important part of the industry.

I’ve had advice and assistance with a few issues over that time, and one of our mechanics, who is very experienced but has no paperwork, is doing his apprenticeship through the MTA Institute.

And it’s nice to have the MTA Queensland sign hanging on the business, and we use it on our advertising too.

It brings confidence to customers that they’re dealing with professionals.

You are more than just a member these days.

DA: I’m the secretary of the Automotive

Remarketing Division and work with Chairman Peter Dever from Supamerc in Coopers Plains. And I love it, absolutely love it.

We’ve got a lot on our plate, a lot of issues we’re looking at and pushing for action on with the government.

For example, we pushed for the reintroduction of the one-month statutory warranty. That was dropped in 2015 and for about four years there was no warranty on a car that had done over 160,000 km. We were still fixing cars that would’ve been covered by that anyway - most yards were – due to Federal legislation and other fair-trading laws. Getting that back – covering a month or 1000kms – means there’s a line in the sand now.

Another thing we’re tackling is the re-registering of written-off cars. There are about 12,000-13,000 cars every year that are registered in Queensland after they’ve been written off. A lot of them

“I’M THE SECRETARY OF THE AUTOMOTIVE REMARKETING DIVISION AND WORK WITH CHAIRMAN PETER DEVER FROM SUPAMERC IN COOPERS PLAINS. AND I LOVE IT, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.”

Property Security Register) and when they go to sell it they find out its been written off so it’s worth about two-thirds of what it should be.

Second-hand car dealers have not always enjoyed a great reputation over the years.

Is that warranted?

DA: Yes and no. That’s something Peter

and I are fighting now too - getting the dodgy operators out. In south-east Queensland there are a lot of backyard come from interstate. In Victoria there operators who are just ripping people are only about 600 such registrations. In off. They’re buying cars at the auctions NSW, it’s zero. Why? Because our laws are as a dealer, selling them privately, not lax. There are many cars on the road that offering any warranty, taking the cash, shouldn’t be. It has made Queensland a not paying GST, not paying wages, not dumping ground for these vehicles. And paying for a yard, and if you have ‘backyarders’ are buying the writtena problem with a car from them off vehicles and fixing them up CLICK TO you’re going to get nowhere. enough to get them registered.

VISIT THE WHOLESALE We really want these guys The inspection process is pretty HOUSE out. We want to clean the lax too, I think, plus so many WEBSITE industry up. There’s a lot of us people are getting ripped off.

People are buying a car privately, who do the right thing and it’s they don’t get a PPSR (Personal definitely getting better.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 23

Hi-Mech Auto Solutions, Toowoomba

HI-MECH AUTO SOLUTIONS LAUNCHED TO OFFER HIGH-TECH ADAS SERVICES

I

N THE PAST few years, the development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has been remarkable. The list of the technological safety features available in new passenger cars, particularly highend models, is often long and can read as if it was pulled from the pages of science fiction. There may be Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, Lane departure alert with steering assist and lane keep assist, Dynamic radar cruise control, Road sign assist, Predictive active suspension, Autonomous emergency braking, Lane tracing assist, Tyre pressure monitoring . . . the list goes on and on.

All these features are a positive for the car owner, designed as they are to help make driving safer and easier. To deliver this safety and driveability, ADAS systems rely on a series of sensors - such as Radar, Lidar, and cameras, amongst others – that are placed strategically around

24 | Motor Trader November 2020

the vehicle. These must be aligned and calibrated precisely to ensure the vehicle’s ECU computer receives and interprets the correct information about the car and its surroundings.

Just as with any technology - be it mechanical, electrical or digital – the ADAS system on a car can falter if it is not maintained or repaired when something goes awry. If, for example, the vehicle is involved in an accident and the windscreen or other areas of the body that carry the sensors/cameras need to be replaced, a calibration will have to be performed. Even seemingly minor alterations - such as bull bar replacements or suspension modifications - will require the ADAS system be recalibrated.

So essential have these ADAS systems become that forward-thinking members of the automotive industry are establishing workshops that offer the now very

Aftermarket Association (AAAA), and opened Hi-Mech in September 2020. The new business offers general servicing, diesel tuning, diagnostics, 4x4 services, and roadworthy certificates as well as a suite of ADAS calibration and maintenance services.

Deciding to offer ADAS services – servicing that is, in effect, a new automotive discipline - came after much discussion and research, including of the ADAS calibration equipment available on the market and what requirements there were in creating a physical space suitable for the endeavour.

“The industry has been talking about ADAS for a while and, as that talk went on, the idea was born that we should be doing this,” said Craig. “The more we spoke and thought about it, so the idea slowly grew.

Craig Baills, owner of Hi-Mech Automotive Services “We brought a bit of a group together to discuss this, and Bosch got involved and offered their ADAS equipment. We looked hard at all the equipment on the market - from Hella, Bosch, and Texa – and at what would suit our car parc best, and Bosch seemed to suit that well.”

There are a couple of types of calibrations that may need to be necessary and specialised services to test, performed – static and dynamic. Dynamic repair, maintain and calibrate them. calibration sees the vehicle taken out on One such recently established business the road to allow the system to look for is Hi-Mech Automotive Services in specific targets - such as speed signs, white Toowoomba, founded by industry lines and other vehicles – and for it to be veteran Craig Baills. then adjusted back to OEM configuration.

Also the owner of Highfields Mechanical A static calibration is performed on a Bosch Service Centre, Craig is well stationary vehicle in the workshop known for his advocacy for and involves the use of targets upon CLICK the independent workshop which the vehicle’s sensors are TO VISIT THE HIGHFIELDS sector, not least through his trained. The calibration equipment MECHANICAL position as a Board member then monitors how those sensors WEBSITE of the Australian Automotive measure distance and how the

“THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT ADAS FOR A WHILE AND, AS THAT TALK WENT ON, THE IDEA WAS BORN THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS.”

November 2020 Motor Trader | 25

image of that target is interpreted.

The equipment used to perform these calibrations make precise measurements and are highly sensitive, and for the work to be done correctly, said Craig, a workshop environment with enough space and appropriate lighting is required. Even a slight misalignment could lead to severe consequences.

“You need adequate space - 10m x 5m of floorspace in an ideal world - and good lighting too, as both do have an effect,” he said. “For us, we also invested in wheel alignment equipment to ensure that the vehicles’ cameras are in line and true with the thrust lines of the car.

“When we are setting up for a static calibration in the workshop, it’s down to the millimetre as far as positioning of the machine and the targets. If it is not right it won’t calibrate properly. I like to compare it to the idea that if you’re going to the moon and you’re off by one degree you’re going to miss by miles. It is no different with the radar and cameras on a car. And that’s the point of the calibration – to ensure the cameras and radar are in sync with the thrust line of the car.”

All in all, ADAS calibration is an important, growing and rather specialised area for the automotive industry to Bosch DAS 3000 ADAS calibration machine

consider and establishing Hi-Mech, said Craig, required not only an investigation of the available equipment and potential facilities, but a commitment to training, and major investment in time and money.

“Each manufacturer has their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “Bosch and Hella, for instance, are deeply involved in OEM supply, but when it comes to a make of vehicle for which they haven’t supplied their system, they might struggle. The manufacturers are doing background work all the time to keep updating what they can access, and we have been fortunate with Bosch in that we haven’t needed to turn anyone away. However, like scan tools, not one machine does everything. Eventually, we will end up with another ADAS unit of some description.

“We work hard in training in all areas and knowing ADAS was coming meant we knew it was something we had to commit to,” he added. “You do have to go looking for those training opportunities, because there is not a lot out there yet.

The equipment suppliers do their own training and Bosch also do specific training on how the ADAS systems work and what they do, which is great.

“A lot of it comes down to experience,

understanding ADAS and understanding what the system needs to be calibrated.

If you can get your head around that, it makes it easier to set up what is required.”

As the understanding of the need for ADAS calibration filters through the industry and to the consumer, the development of this relatively new sector will take shape. It may, said Craig, become a sector in which a few businesses specialise and which other areas of automotive which definitively need access to such a service - such as crash repair and the 4WD sector – use when required.

WE WORK HARD IN TRAINING IN ALL AREAS AND KNOWING ADAS WAS COMING MEANT WE KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO COMMIT TO.”

“I don’t think it is going to be for everybody,” said Craig. “Every workshop should have a scan tool but, as far as ADAS goes, it is a big investment and a specialised area. You look at crash repairers, windscreen repairers and the 4WD industry, and those areas do need to access ADAS calibrations. However, do each of those shops need to invest in ADAS equipment? Probably not, because the outlay is huge.

“For us, we have put ourselves in a ‘hub’ area where we can service those groups, and I think that is probably the idea – that every major centre have some workshops that offers those services.”

Acknowledging that the automotive industry is on a course of incredible technological advancement, and recognising that the industry and community will need businesses able to service and maintain that technology has seen Hi-Mech Automotive have a successful first few weeks since its launch. And in 2020 - a year of extraordinary challenges and uncertainty - establishing a new business was a brave move.

“We all went through the same drama in March and April when COVID hit, and sitting down in March trying to predict where we would be today – well, we missed by a mile,” said Craig. “We had no idea. No one did.

“Once we got April out of the way, things began to build and return to normal for us, but to jump in and start another business in amongst all of that – there was probably a certain element CLICK of insanity there!

TO VISIT But we saw the THE HIMECH AUTO SOLUTIONS opportunity and WEBSITE sometimes you just have to jump on it and do it.”

November 2020 Motor Trader | 27

MTAQ CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AUTO BUSINESSES WITH DIGITAL ADVICE

MTA Queensland’s James Orr, Chief Innovation Technology Officer and Lysa Dugandzic, General Manager Marketing & Communications

M

TA QUEENSLAND HAS been undertaking its important role as one of 15 industry associations delivering the Small Business Digital Champion Project as part of the Australian Government’s initiative to assist small businesses to engage with digital technology.

The Small Business Digital Champion project will run through to April 2021 and will see MTA Queensland provide automotive specific business advice to members to assist them in engaging with digital technology and help them be more effective and competitive and, ultimately, more profitable.

“MTA Queensland has already worked with over 600 members providing advice in various aspects of digital adoption,” said Dr Brett Dale CEO of MTA Queensland.

“This has ranged from social media and content development workshops, to the launch of the 2mota asset sharing platform. We have also recently launched a cost-effective website building and maintenance product for members.

28 | Motor Trader November 2020

“MTA QUEENSLAND HAS ALREADY WORKED WITH OVER 600 MEMBERS PROVIDING ADVICE IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DIGITAL ADOPTION.” “We are very excited to continue to work with members and assist them in boosting their digital technology skills and potential,” he added. “With only 50 per cent of Australian businesses having a website and even less using business processing software for accounting and invoicing, our role will be crucial in bringing automotive small businesses upto-speed on the digital resources required to be successful in this era of technology.”

Members can email digital@mtaq.com.au to find out more about 2mota, our website product or other digital support and events.

NEED A NEW WEBSITE? MTA QUEENSLAND HAS GOT YOU COVERED! With five high-quality template designs to choose from, we can build and maintain your website at a very good price!

C LI C K H E R E TO F I N D O U T M O R E L ocally developed A ustralian hosted A brand you can trust

20200890

M TA Q U E E

APPRENTICE FINALIST

FINALIST

FINALIST

FINALIST

FINALIST

DANIEL O’DEA

GABRIELLE CLIFT

ANTHONY CROUCH

E V E LY N H AY E S

JOSHUA SHEARMAN

30 | Motor Trader November 2020

ENSLAND’S

OF THE YEAR FINALIST

FINALIST

FINALIST

( DA N ) AW N G DA N DAIPHA

ETHAN REID

JOHN B A N C R O F T- A R N O T T

FINALIST

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

FINALIST

QUINTIN SMITH

November 2020 Motor Trader | 31

S

INCE 2013, MTA Queensland and the MTA Institute have been recognising outstanding Queensland automotive apprentices through its Apprentice of the Year program.

The finalists for the award come from the talented group of students named as Apprentice of the Month award winners throughout the preceding year – from September through to August – and, under normal circumstances, the prestigious Apprentice of the Year award would be presented to the winner at the MTA Queensland Industry Dinner – a lavish event that brings together leaders and stakeholders from across the automotive industry.

However, in 2020, the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis has altered what is

“THE FINALISTS FOR THE AWARD COME FROM THE TALENTED GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO WERE NAMED AS APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH AWARD WINNERS THROUGHOUT THE PRECEDING YEAR – FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH TO AUGUST . . . ” considered ‘normal’ and this year – and as a precaution that many other associations and businesses have taken for their own conventions, seminars, exhibitions and the like - MTA Queensland cancelled its industry dinner celebration.

Hosted by MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa, the Apprentice of the Year event was attended by many of the finalists - along with their friends, families and colleagues.

32 | Motor Trader November 2020

Previous winners of the award sent in video messages of support to the 2020 finalists and the announcement of Gabrielle Clift as this year’s winner was delivered, also by video message,

by Leeanne Turner, CEO of MTAA Super.

2020 MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year finalists: Evelyn Hayes, Awngdan Daipha, John Bancroft-Arnott, Stephanie Williams, Gabrielle Clift, Ethan Reid and Daniel O’Dea.

What was not cancelled was the desire to acknowledge the hard work and talent of the apprentices training with MTA Institute. While COVID-19 may well have played havoc with our lives, the business of the automotive industry across Queensland has continued, and the thousands of apprentices at businesses large and small across the state continue to strive diligently on their journey to earning their trade.

And so, on October 16, MTA

Queensland held a COVID-safe Apprentice of the Year award ceremony at the association’s head office in Brisbane.

Hosted by MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa, the event was attended by many of the finalists - along with their friends, families and colleagues – and, for the first time, MTA Queensland live-streamed the ceremony on the internet, enabling finalists who could not attend in person – as well as many others interested in the outcome - to participate from afar.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 33

Gabrielle Clift received $2000 as part of the prize for winning the MTA Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year award

OUR WINNER

While the circumstances of the award ceremony were unusual, the excitement surrounding the announcement was as powerful as ever, and that announcement - made by Leeanne Turner, CEO of MTAA Super, via video message – named Gabrielle Clift as MTA Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year for 2020.

It has been a stunning year of success for Gabrielle - the 21-year-old, third-year, light vehicle apprentice from Highfields Mechanical near Toowoomba. Having secured the Apprentice of the Month award back in December, she was named as Capricorn’s Rising Star Apprentice of the Year in July, and now claims the MTA Queensland top apprentice crown.

34 | Motor Trader November 2020

“I WORKED REALLY HARD THIS YEAR AND I KNOW THAT WHEN I GOT NOMINATED LAST DECEMBER, I HAD THE ATTITUDE THAT, ‘I REALLY WANT THIS. I WILL WORK REALLY HARD FOR THIS . . . ” To say she was shocked and happy with her latest achievement would be an understatement.

“It is very humbling,” she said. “I know that the other apprentices – those nominated for the MTA Queensland award as well as those nominated for the Capricorn award – all work extremely hard, so to be nominated for, and then

to win, both those awards is a dream come true.

“I remember sitting there and listening to each of the finalists’ stories and thinking, ‘Wow, these guys are incredible and all stars in their own field,’ she added.

“Their employers and trainers spoke so highly of them and that is really a credit to them and an indication of their work. So, yes, I was shocked. I think I stopped breathing for a second when my named was called!

“I worked really hard this year and I know that when I was nominated last December, I had the attitude that, ‘I really want this. I will work really hard for this’. To see that hard work pay off is really awesome.”

Having started her automotive training as a heavy commercial vehicle apprentice in Moree in northern NSW, Gabrielle moved to Queensland a couple of years ago and was able to secure a light vehicle

apprenticeship position with Highfields Mechanical. Owners Craig and Katherine Baills, who attended the Apprentice of the Year ceremony with Gabrielle, were delighted with the result. It was, they said, a reflection of just how hard Gabrielle works and how much talent she has.

“To get an apprentice or apprentices to a point where we can nominate them, or they can be nominated by someone else, for these awards, is something we always wanted to achieve as far as an apprentice program goes,” said Craig. “It means we are putting them on the right path, and that is awesome from our point of view.

“Gabrielle is very driven to succeed and wants to be the best that she can be and reach high levels in the trade. And that is an attitude that you can’t teach - it has to come with the person.”

Investing the time and effort into training apprentices was, said Craig, very important. Not only does it provide a first step on a career pathway for those looking to get into the industry, but it is vital to the future of the industry as a whole.

“They are the future of the trade and Gabrielle has all those attributes that can

Gabrielle Clift and Paul Kulpa with Gabrielle’s employers, Katherine and Craig Baills from Highfields Mechanical

take her wherever she wants to go,” he said.

“This trade opens a lot of doors. Whether you want to stay on the tools, start your own business, go into other avenues, there are a lot of doors it can open. And her ability and attitude will open a great deal of doors. She has a very sound and solid foundation to move forward to whatever she wants to do.

“When you find good apprentices then everybody benefits, and if we have had an influence on our apprentices to be the best they can be, then we have left our legacy in the industry.”

For Gabrielle, the future could hardly look brighter, and she is fully aware of the advantage she has enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, while working and training at Highfields and with the MTA Institute as she considers where her future might take her.

“Being here with Craig - with all the experience, knowledge, tools and technology we have here – together with the training through the MTA Institute, has made the world of difference to me,” she said.

“I love what I do, and the plan is definitely to stay with Highfields Mechanical for quite a while,” she added.

“I want to look into the auto-electrical side of things and go in-depth on diagnostics Katherine and Craig Baills with Gabrielle Clift at the Highfields Mechanical workshop

36 | Motor Trader November 2020

and so on. So, the plan is to do all these things but not to put a time limit on it. Just work and gain more knowledge.”

Part of that expanding knowledge will include ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) calibration services. It’s a relatively new, but increasingly important, area for the automotive industry to consider, and thanks to Craig and Katherine Baills establishing their new business, Hi-Mech Auto Solutions, to focus on delivering ADAS maintenance, testing, repair and calibration services, Gabrielle will be exposed to this new technology early in her career.

“It is a new ballgame. I have been involved with a couple of calibrations and it is something new and I love it,” she said.

“I am extremely fortunate that Katherine and Craig have put the investment into

“BEING HERE WITH CRAIG - WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE HERE – TOGETHER WITH THE TRAINING THROUGH THE MTA INSTITUTE, HAS MADE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO ME.”

CLICK TO VISIT THE 2020 MTAQ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR WEBSITE

ADAS,” she added. “To be one of the first to get to look at it, especially through my apprenticeship, is pretty cool. Most apprentices won’t get to see this for a long time, so to be at the forefront and see it first-hand now is very exciting.”

Perhaps also exciting is deciding what to do with the $2000 prize money she received for winning the Apprentice of the Year award.

“I think I will be saving it and putting it toward a house,” she said. “If I spend it now, it will 100 per cent go to go-kart parts or be spent on my ute. I love my kart and I love my ute but, at the end of the day, a house is probably the smarter decision!”

Gabrielle no doubt has a tremendous future ahead of her in the automotive industry, and that holds true for all the very talented and hardworking Apprentice of the Year finalists.

And with this year’s finalist group covering a wide range of ages and including three women in their number, it made for an especially exciting snapshot of what is happening in the industry and

what can be achieved by anyone with a passion for automotive.

“Once again, the quality of the nominees was very high,” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of the MTA Institute. “We had nominees from all over Queensland and it was great to see they represented multiple industry sectors, including light vehicle, motorcycle, panel beating and auto electrical.

“The diversity of the nominees also showed there is no barrier to selection.

We had teenagers, mature age, male and female apprentices up for the award and that demonstrates that with the right attitude and commitment, there’s a good chance you can be nominated.

“As for Gabrielle, she has all the attributes to go far in the automotive industry,” he added. “She wants to do well and is keen to adapt to the changing industry, which is a great attribute.

Her employers couldn’t speak more highly of her and I think anyone who talks to her would feel inspired about what she’d be able to do as a future industry leader.”

T H E M TA Q U E E N S L A N D A P P R E N T I C E O F T H E Y E A R E V E N T WA S P R O U D LY S U P P O R T E D B Y O U R C O R P O R AT E P A R T N E R M TA A S U P E R

November 2020 Motor Trader | 37

An Eye on Innovation

PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER TRAINING & INNOVATION

I

N SEPTEMBER, PRESIDENT Xi Jinping of China announced that his country was to commit to being carbon neutral by 2060.

It was quite an announcement and will presumably mean that China will drastically cut its reliance on power derived from coal and other fossil fuels and radically increase its use of renewable energy and nuclear power.

China was not the only country to make such a pledge in recent weeks. In October, Japan followed suit, committing to cutting its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

These two powerful nations join a growing number making such a net-zero emissions promise. Last year, the UK announced its intention to do so by 2050, while Germany, France, Spain, New Zealand, Chile, Sweden - the list goes on have made similar announcements to be at the net-zero mark by 2050 or sooner.

While the automotive industry will be but a part of the solution to reaching the net-zero goal, these announcements surely mean that the seemingly inexorable advance toward vehicle electrification – be it through plug-in battery power or hydrogen fuel cell systems – is all but assured.

And so it was interesting to see, in

38 | Motor Trader November 2020

this atmosphere of emission-slashing excitement, that a vehicle that has often been pointed to as an example of the gas-guzzling extremes we are capable of reaching is to be electrified.

The new Hummer, announced by General Motors last month and due to go into production in late 2021, is now a completely different beast. In its electrified state – using GM’s new Ultium battery and drive system – the Hummer electric vehicle (EV) will still be a big beast but will be emissions-free while also offering supercar performance, decent range and, of course, no requirement to remortgage the house whenever you want to take it on the road and fuel up.

Apparently – and in the vernacular used today to describe something particularly newsworthy and popular - the news of the Hummer EV ‘broke the internet’. The reaction to the truck was overwhelmingly positive and initial demand saw reservation slots for the first model to be announced, the Edition 1, sell out in minutes.

That’s encouraging. If governments push for net zero emissions, then consumers will likely have no choice but to consider purchasing an electric vehicle. It’s good to see such excitement around them when they are launched.

ADAS ON THE MOVE The new Hummer comes with advanced driver assistance features. In the Hummer’s case, these include something called Super Cruise, which enables automatic lanechanging and partly autonomous driving.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that allow for such features as Super Cruise are the norm in new vehicles and are composed of an array of sensors – such as lidar, radar and cameras – that collect information to be analysed and

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS (ADAS) THAT ALLOW FOR SUCH FEATURES AS SUPER CRUISE ARE THE NORM IN NEW VEHICLES AND ARE COMPOSED OF AN ARRAY OF SENSORS – SUCH AS LIDAR, RADAR AND CAMERAS... interpreted by the vehicle’s computers/ ECUs. These ADAS systems make vehicles easier to drive and control and are now a critical part of a new vehicle’s construction.

These complicated systems are relatively new to the auto industry and ensuring ADAS systems and their sensors are in perfect working order will, as the aging Australian vehicle fleet is replaced with newer models, become an integral part of the servicing, maintenance, and repair schedule.

For collision repair businesses, and those that are involved in modification work, this is especially true. The sensors are secured at various spots on a vehicle’s body and any change to that positioning – be it through accident damage, or replacement of parts such as bullbars and windscreens – means the sensors must be recalibrated.

It’s complex stuff, and everyone in the automotive repair sector should be thinking about what it means for them down the line. It is good to note that there are independent workshops being established that offer ADAS calibration services, and it is also an area that is being explored for inclusion in apprenticeship training.

GETTING MOBILE AND FLYING HIGH ADAS systems can be viewed as a stepping-stone to autonomous vehicles.

The safety features included in them – from autonomous emergency braking to automatic emergency steering to adaptive cruise control and the many others – will all be part of the set-up of self-driving cars once the final pieces of that puzzle are solved.

However, while talk often revolves around self-driving vehicles, there is work going on in even more futuristic-sounding areas of the automotive industry.

At the end of October, Dutch company PAL-V, announced that its flying car (yes, flying car!) called Liberty had been approved for road use in Europe. The Liberty had, the company said, completed a ‘rigorous and extensive drive test program carried out on test tracks . . . ’, and had ‘passed the stringent European road admission tests that now allow it on the streets with an official licence plate’.

There is, the company said, still plenty of testing to be done to enable it to secure certification with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), but that is expected in 2022.

The PAL-V news comes after the Toyota-backed flying car start-up Skydrive revealed in September that it had successfully tested its SD-03 prototype in a short flight in Japan. There are a number of other flying car projects also underway.

It shouldn’t be forgotten either that Uber and Hyundai announced they are to develop a PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) to be used in a future aerial ride-share network. and that companies from startups to global behemoths such as Airbus and Boeing are also progressing on the development of these types of flying taxis.

Now, it is true that air taxis are different to flying cars in that they are designed only for flight, but the research in all these areas is not just about the individual technology.

While no one piece of tech will be the absolute game-changer on its own, all these developments – including electric trucks, cars, and small urban-oriented vehicles; self-driving vehicles; air taxis; flying cars; V2V communication and the many others being researched – are about mobility. The revolution comes in how all these elements will interact with each other to make moving around easier, simpler, cheaper, and safer. Exciting stuff !

November 2020 Motor Trader | 39

Auto innovation news

AMPOL AND AUTOGURU TEAM UP ON FUEL CARD PROGRAM

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MPOL AND AUTOMOTIVE servicing and repairs booking site AutoGuru have announced a partnership that will, the companies say, help thousands of auto repairers process fleet work via AmpolCard, while also offering fleets an extended network of service and auto repairers.

AmpolCard, which will replace StarCard over the next two years, currently gives Australian businesses access to more than 1900 petrol and convenience sites. The partnership with AutoGuru will expand the AmpolCard service and repair network to 5,000 auto repairers with hundreds of workshops continuing to sign up.

The first phase of the partnership enables approved service providers to submit Ampol fleet work for authorisation online via AutoGuru’s Workshop Portal, or call Ampol’s maintenance approval phone line which AutoGuru now manages.

The second phase of the partnership will integrate AmpolCard as a payment option into AutoGuru so card holders can book servicing and repairs online at their convenience.

The AmpolCard partnership will, said AutoGuru CEO Eden Shirley, enable repairers to be paid quicker and make the transaction process simple and swift.

“This partnership aligns with our mission to enable auto repairers to transact seamlessly with customers online,” he said. “What we’ve built for Ampol is an industry first that enables

40 | Motor Trader November 2020

workshops to submit fleet work online and get authorised and paid faster.

“Our new fleet software utilises manufacturer repair times and OEM and aftermarket parts pricing to deliver a data-driven method of quoting and authorising fleet work online. My goal within six months is to automate 60 per cent of maintenance pre-auth processes to deliver faster approvals and payment for auto service providers.”

Of the 5,000 repairers already signed up, AutoGuru says that roughly 40 per cent are OEM Dealers and 60 per cent are aftermarket, with half of these being independent.

“Ampol is an iconic Australian brand and a market leader in the fuel cards, and we are so pleased to support our workshops to process AmpolCard fleet work along with some of Australia’s best-known automotive brands,” said Mr Shirley.

Any auto service provider that is interested in processing AmpolCard fleet bookings can do so without becoming a member of AutoGuru.

To find out more contact 07 5612 5347 or email success@autoguru.com.au

EYE ON THE SKY AS FLYING CAR HITS THE ROAD

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LYING CARS HAVE been on the auto industry’s radar for some time and while the concept might seem like science fiction, last month there was news that seems to indicate that reality is inching ever closer.

Dutch company PAL-V has announced that its Liberty flying car has been approved for road use in Europe.

The company said in a statement that the Liberty had passed stringent European road admission tests and was now allowed on the streets with an official licence plate. PAL-V added that this now completed a rigorous and extensive drive test program conducted since February 2020 that included testing on high-speed ovals, as well as brake, emission, and noise pollution testing.

The PAL-V will undergo endurance testing over the coming months and has also been going through aviation certification with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). Finalisation of that step – an important one for a flying car! – is expected in 2022.

According to PAL-V’s website, the two-seater, three-wheel, gyrocopter-type Liberty is good for 160km/h and a range of 1300km when in drive mode. In that mode, the Liberty’s rotors fold away along the roof and it has tilting technology called

PAL-V Liberty

ACCORDING TO PAL-V’S WEBSITE, THE TWO-SEATER, THREE-WHEEL, GYROCOPTER-TYPE LIBERTY IS GOOD FOR 160KM/H AND A RANGE OF 1300KM WHEN IN DRIVE MODE. Dynamic Curve Stabiliser that allows it to lean into a curve, keeping it stable. In flight mode, the Liberty can reach a top speed of 180km/h and has a range of 500km.

The company says reservations for the Liberty are strong with some prospective owners having started the training for a gyroplane flying licence at the company’s FlyDrive Academy.

VIDEO: FLYING CAR PAL-V LIBERTY HITS THE ROAD

November 2020 Motor Trader | 41

Auto innovation news

Nissan Re-Leaf

NISSAN UNVEILS THE RE-LEAF EMERGENCY EV CONCEPT

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ISSAN HAS REVEALED a 100 per cent electric emergency response vehicle concept, designed to provide a mobile power supply following natural disasters or extreme weather events.

Called Re-Leaf, the working concept is based on the Nissan Leaf passenger car and Nissan says that through its integrated energy management system the Re-Leaf can run medical, communications, lighting and other life-supporting equipment.

To help the car navigate roads with obstructions or fallen debris, the Re-Leaf ’s ride height has been raised by 70mm to 225mm with a custom ‘sump guard’ to protect the car’s floor pan. Wider tracks, custom wheel arches, mud flaps and allterrain tyres on 17-inch motorsport wheels add to the capability.

The integrated energy management system can output the Re-Leaf battery’s power at up to 230v. There are three 42 | Motor Trader November 2020

VIDEO: NISSAN RE-LEAF: 100% ELECTRIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE CONCEPT

sockets – two weatherproof external connectors for easy access, and an internal domestic socket mounted in the boot.

The rear seats have been removed and the floor levelled to provide storage for essential equipment. A custom bulkhead cage also separates the front seats from the cargo area.

Once the Re-Leaf arrives at a disaster zone, a pull-out desk extends from the boot with a 32-inch LED screen and

MAHLE AND BALLARD TO COOPERATE ON FUEL CELL DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

A bespoke pull-out desk extends from the boot with a 32-inch LED screen and dedicated power supply

dedicated power supply creating an operational hub to run communications from and manage the recovery process.

Once power is restored, the Re-Leaf can be recharged using three charging profiles, even using domestic sockets if no EV infrastructure is available in the immediate vicinity.

The Re-Leaf can power multiple devices, including: • Electric Jack Hammer – 24 hours – 36kWh • Pressure Ventilation Fan – 24 hours – 21.6kWh • Intensive Care Medical Ventilator – 24 hours – 3kWh • 100-watt LED flood light – 24 hours – 2.4kWh Nissan says it created the Re-Leaf to demonstrate the potential of EVs in disaster recovery and although it’s just a concept, the technology is already being used in the real world. In Japan, Nissan has used the Leaf to provide emergency power and transportation following natural disasters since 2011, and the company has formed partnerships with more than 60 local governments to support disaster relief efforts.

GERMAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP MAHLE and Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems Inc. are to work together on developing fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles of various weight classes.

The long-term goal of the cooperation is to manufacture complete fuel cell systems for the European, North American, and Asian markets.

During the first phase of the cooperation, Ballard will be primarily responsible for system design relating to the fuel cell stack. MAHLE is to bring its experience in the areas of thermal management, power electronics, and packaging.

“Hydrogen as a climate-neutral energy carrier is the solution for CO2neutral mobility and the achievement of climate targets for medium and heavy commercial vehicles,” said Dr. Jörg Stratmann, Chairman of the MAHLE Management Board and CEO. “Through our cooperation with Ballard, we will provide a strong stimulus to the development of fuel cell drives that are suitable for large-scale production.”

November 2020 Motor Trader | 43

Auto innovation news

XCIENT Fuel Cell truck

HYUNDAI DELIVERS FIRST BATCH OF XCIENT FUEL CELL TRUCKS

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YUNDAI HAS DELIVERED the first seven units of its XCIENT Fuel Cell electric heavy-duty truck to customers in Switzerland. A total of 50 are due to hit the roads there this year.

The company says that production capacity of the will reach 2,000 units per year by 2021 to support its expansion into Europe, the U.S. and China as demand for clean mobility grows. The increase in capacity will be backed by a $US1.3 billion ($AU1.8 billion) investment in addition to a previously announced $US6.4 billion ($AU9 billion) stake in establishing a hydrogen ecosystem to support creation of a hydrogen society.

To support the growing hydrogen ecosystem, Hyundai says it has a business case for more than 100 hydrogen fueling stations in Switzerland, which it says is enough not only for commercial vehicles, but also passenger fuel cell electric vehicles.

Elsewhere, Hyundai is collaborating 44 | Motor Trader November 2020

THE COMPANY REVEALED THE FUEL CELL-POWERED HDC-6 NEPTUNE CONCEPT CLASS 8 HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK AT THE NORTH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE (NACV) SHOW IN OCTOBER 2019. with businesses in the US to supply massproduced fuel cell heavy-duty trucks and to build a hydrogen value chain covering everything from hydrogen production and charging stations to service and maintenance. The company revealed the fuel cell-powered HDC-6 NEPTUNE Concept Class 8 heavy-duty truck at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show in October 2019. Hyundai also is working with parties in China where it is reportedly looking to launch three fuel cell electric truck models.

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Auto innovation news

GMC Hummer EV

GM’S HUMMER GOES ELECTRIC

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ACK IN THE 1990s, the Hummer – the civilian version of the multipurpose military vehicle built

by AM General – was something of a ‘poster boy’ for automotive excess and had a reputation for being gas-guzzling behemoths. Whether that was deserved or not, it’s a tag that certainly can’t be placed on this, the new GMC Hummer EV. It’s still a big vehicle, but the new Hummer will no longer be powered by massive V8 engines. Instead, GM’s new Ultium battery and drive system underpins the big beast and that power system really does deliver the goods.

The initial variant will be known as the

46 | Motor Trader November 2020

Edition 1 and it has three electric motors and receives its power from two layers of vertical cell battery modules. The resultant 24-module pack offers a range of 560km.

We all know that electric power can lead to jaw-dropping performance figures and as well as that decent range number, the Hummer EV delivers those too. There’s 746kW on tap and 0-100km/h comes in an astonishing three seconds.

The Edition 1 Hummer EV will be able to take advantage of 350kW fast charging and the 800v system can, GM says, add 160km

THE EDITION 1 HUMMER EV WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 350KW FAST CHARGING AND THE 800V SYSTEM CAN, GM SAYS, ADD 160KM OF RANGE IN 10 MINUTES. of range in 10 minutes.

Other models GM says are on their way include the Hummer EV2, Hummer EV2X, and Hummer EV3X – all with variations of available details and battery/power set-up.

Whichever you choose, the Hummer EV is big and powerful, and there are plenty of nifty and exciting features.

For the Edition 1, there’s something called ‘CrabWalk’ – a mode that, thanks to the four-wheel steering system, turns the rear wheels at the same angle as the front

VIDEO: GMC HUMMER EV

wheels (up to 10 degrees), allowing for diagonal movement of the vehicle. Nice.

There’s also adaptive air suspension allowing the driver to control the suspension height. Available modes are set to include an ‘Extract Mode’, that will allow the Hummer to be raised by six inches and negotiate some extreme terrain and ford deep water.

However, if the terrain is such that the underside of the Hummer is getting a bit November 2020 Motor Trader | 47

Auto innovation news

of a touch-up, fear not, for there is plenty of protection, with five skid plates and underbody shields as well as UltraVision – a system of 18 available camera views that includes front and rear underbody cameras to help drivers navigate trickery obstacles without bashing the Hummer’s underbelly. The Hummer sits on 18inch wheel with 35-inch tyres, but can accommodate 37-inch tyres.

There’s also a Super Cruise feature that includes automatic lane-changing where the system can determine when a lane change is optimal and initiate the move.

On the inside - and in a nod to the offroad adventuring that GM expects will be undertaken in the Hummer - there’s a rugged practicality, with no conventional carpet but rather an easy-to-clean vinyl floor topped with rubber flooring made from recycled material. Rubber inserts 48 | Motor Trader November 2020

INITIAL PRODUCTION OF THE HUMMER IS SLATED TO BEGIN IN LATE 2021 AT GM’S FACTORY ZERO – ITS RECENTLY RETOOLED EV FACTORY IN THE US . . . for each passenger position are designed for easy removal and clean up. There;s also an Infinity Roof and modular sky panels. For the driver, there’s a 12.3-inch Information Centre display and a centremounted 13.4-inch touchscreen for settings control.

Initial production of the Hummer is slated to begin in late 2021 at GM’s Factory ZERO – its recently retooled EV factory in the US into which it has pumped $US2.2 billion ($AU3.1 billion). According to the GMC website the top-spec Edition

TOYOTA, KDDI, AND TELSTRA TO DELIVER CONNECTED VEHICLES Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA) has revealed it is collaborating with Japanese telecommunications operator KDDI Australia and Telstra to bring connected-car capabilities to its vehicles.

The partnership will enable 4G mobile network connectivity for select Toyota vehicles introduced to Australia from late this year, initially for new safety and security services.

The ecosystem builds on a global communications platform to support vehicle connectivity, announced by Toyota Motor Corporation and KDDI Corporation in 2016.

“Cars are the ultimate mobility device, so this connected technology will enable us to provide new, convenient and personalised experiences to our customers while delivering on our commitment of continual improvement to safety,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Vice President Sales and Marketing.

More information about TMCA’s connected services are to be unveiled closer to the launch.

1 Hummer EV – which has already seen reservations filled – will sell for $US112,595 ($AU158,500), the EV3X for $US99,995 ($AU140,740), and the twomotor-powered lower-trim models - the Hummer EV2X and Hummer EV2 - will go for $US89,995 ($AU126,680) and $US79,995 ($AU112,600) respectively.

The various models are planned to be rolled out over the next three years.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 49

Auto innovation news

JAGUAR LAND ROVER TO USE PLASTIC WASTE IN NEXT-GEN LUXURY INTERIORS

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CEAN AND LANDFILL waste may not be the material many would think could become the basis of a luxury car’s interior, but Jaguar Land Rover is looking to dispel that notion and is working with ECONYL nylon to develop highquality interiors for its vehicles.

The company says that nextgeneration Jaguar and Land Rover models will feature floor mats and trims made with ECONYL fibre made from recycled industrial plastic, fabric offcuts from clothing manufacturers and fishing nets.

This commitment to designing sustainable luxury interiors using responsibly sourced and recycled materials is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero mission, with innovation helping to make environments safer and cleaner while offering customers a premium, sustainable option.

The ECONYL regenerated nylon is created by Aquafil - a global leader in the synthetic fibres industry – and is reclaimed from all over the world. In a single year, the company says it recycles as much as 40,000 tonnes of waste.

The waste is analysed, treated and prepared to feed into a chemical plant, where it is broken to its original raw material using a chemical treatment process, known as depolymerization. The

50 | Motor Trader November 2020

raw nylon material is then turned into the ECONYL yarn.

This regenerated nylon polymer can be processed into a fibre for carpet flooring and textiles.

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M A SE R AT I MC

52 | Motor Trader November 2020

C20 S UP ERC AR

November 2020 Motor Trader | 53

M A SE R AT I MC 20 S UP ER C AR

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HIS IS THE Maserati MC20, a brand-new member of the Supercar enthusiast’s wish list.

Unveiled in September, the MC20 is powered by a new Maserati-built engine called the Nettuno – the first in-house engine from the company in 20 years. And, like the car, the Nettuno is thing of beauty too.

A 630hp (470kW) V6 twin-turbocharged unit, the Nettuno delivers on performance with a 0-100 km/h time under 2.9 seconds and a top speed over 325km/h.

Those numbers come not just because the engine is an engineering marvel – which it would appear to be – but also because the car itself has been designed to be extremely aerodynamic and light - the use of lightweight materials in the car’s construction sees it tip the scales at a trim 1500kg.

On the inside, the focus is all on the driver and the driving experience.

54 | Motor Trader November 2020

There are two 10-inch screens - one for the cockpit and the other for the Maserati Multimedia System (MIA) – and simplicity is the key for the carbon fibre-clad central console. There are a few features: the wireless smartphone charger, the driving mode selector, two speed selection buttons, the power window controls, and a storage compartment underneath the armrest. All the other controls are on the steering wheel, with the ignition button on the left and the launch control on the right.

As with almost all modern cars – super or not - the MC20 will be ‘connected’, and in the case of the MC20, that means access to the Maserati Connect program. The full range of services includes connected navigation, Alexa and Wifi Hotspot, with management possible via the Maserati Connect smartphone or smartwatch App.

DRIVING MODES MC20 has five driving modes: WET, GT, SPORT and CORSA and a fifth - ESC Off which deactivates the control functions.

GT Mode is the default driving mode and is designed for everyday driving and provides the maximum ease of use and comfort.

WET mode offers the highest level of control on wet or damp road surfaces, to prevent skidding during acceleration or cornering.

SPORT mode offers the highest performances in high-traction conditions and is ideal for use on the track.

CORSA mode offers the driver the most extreme experience. Traction control is much less active and stability control is active but with very high thresholds.

This mode provides the maximum enjoyment, says Maserati, but also the most challenging handling. In CORSA mode, the driver can activate the Launch Control using the steering wheel button.

The production launch of the MC20 is scheduled for the end of 2020. Maserati says there are more versions of the supercar on the cards with a convertible version and a fully electric model planned.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 57

Office of Fair Trading

by Brian Bauer, Executive Director

CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDO CHEATS

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HE QUEENSLAND OFFICE of Fair Trading (OFT) is cracking down on odometer tampering after a rise in consumer complaints in recent months.

Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said there had been 22 complaints about odometer rollbacks this year.

“The OFT is currently investigating 17 individuals suspected of falsely representing the mileage on a vehicle, while three other matters are about to be prosecuted through the courts,” said Mr Bauer.

“If we have evidence of odometer tampering, we will come after perpetrators whether they are licensed motor dealers or not.

“Odometer readings determine a vehicle’s value and consumers impacted are losing thousands of dollars on their vehicles.

“However, more importantly, vehicles sold with tampered odometers can be a safety risk to the purchasers.

“The odometer readings are a key contributor to a vehicle’s safety and servicing schedule. Important components due to be checked such as brakes might be missed if the new owner and their mechanic are not aware of the true distance a vehicle has travelled.”

False representations about a vehicle’s mileage and tampering with a vehicle’s odometer are offences under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014.

The maximum fine for wilfully making a false representation is $72,063, and the

58 | Motor Trader November 2020

maximum penalty for tampering with an odometer is $26,690 or two-years’ imprisonment.

“Offenders can be charged with these offences even if they are not a motor dealer, however motor dealers have a higher duty of care under the Act,” said Mr Bauer.

“Any change in a vehicle’s odometer reading while the vehicle is in the possession of a motor dealer is evidence of odometer tampering.

“Therefore, motor dealers must ensure that any changes to odometer readings are fully documented and disclosed.”

Earlier this year the OFT prosecuted a Gold Coast man for falsifying odometer readings. Mr Simon Birch pleaded guilty and was fined $17,000 for buying four used vehicles and re-selling them with a lower mileage.

MOTOR DEALERS CAUGHT IN FAIR TRADING WARRANTY STING OPERATION

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RISBANE MOTOR DEALERS have been caught in a warranty sting operation by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for selling vehicles without mandatory consumer protections.

Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said the OFT compliance team carried out a surprise operation on eight businesses in September after receiving a tip off.

“Some of the motor dealers’ advertisements made representations such as: ‘no warranty’ and ‘as is/where is’,” said Mr Bauer.

“We launched the compliance operation after finding certain motor dealers across the city were advertising vehicles without statutory warranties.”

Under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014, unless a specific exemption applies, statutory warranties must be provided by motor dealers to protect consumers from purchasing defective vehicles.

In addition, the Australian Consumer Law protects consumers by guaranteeing that motor vehicles purchased are of an acceptable quality and fit for purpose.

A class B statutory warranty provides the purchaser with a 30-day or 1,000 km warranty. Class B warranties are for used motor vehicles more than 10 years old or with 160,000 km or more on the odometer.

This class of warranty came into effect on 1 September 2019.

A class A statutory warranty applies when a vehicle has an odometer reading of less than 160,000 km and is less than 10 years old. The class A warranty expires after three months or 5,000 km.

Motor vehicles that are unregistered and are incapable of being registered within

“IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS BEHAVIOUR IS GOING ON JUST 12 MONTHS AFTER THE NEW CLASS B STATUTORY WARRANTY LAWS CAME INTO EFFECT. Queensland, written-off vehicles, vehicles sold on consignment (unless the owner is a motor dealer or auctioneer), caravans, motorcycles and commercial vehicles are not covered by a statutory warranty.

If a vehicle is more than 20 years old and is sold for restoration purposes, class A or class B statutory warranty can be waived.

The motor dealer must declare to the buyer that it is a restorable vehicle prior to entering into a contract and the buyer may choose to waive the statutory warranty for the vehicle.

If a restorable vehicle is sold at auction, the statutory warranty is automatically waived.

Mr Bauer said statutory warranties were specifically designed to protect vulnerable consumers.

“It is disappointing that this behaviour is going on just 12 months after the new class B statutory warranty laws came into effect,” said Mr Bauer.

“The issues identified during the surprise operation are at various stages of investigation and if sufficient evidence is obtained to substantiate offences, the traders will be dealt with appropriately in due course.”

More information about managing a motor dealer business and a self-assessment checklist as well as on the guarantees and warranties for second-hand vehicles, visit the Fair Trading website, or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

November 2020 Motor Trader | 59

Office of Fair Trading

by Brian Bauer, Executive Director

TOYOTA COROLLAS ADDED TO URGENT COMPULSORY TAKATA RECALL

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Y NOW MOST industry professionals are probably aware that certain Toyota Corollas have recently been added to the urgent existing Takata Compulsory Recall.

Up to 6,000 Corolla ZZE122 and ZZE123 models from production years 2003- 2005 are fitted with the dangerous Takata PSAN airbags.

As the Takata recall continues to expand globally, the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) would like to remind the motoring industry about the list of vehicles involved in the world’s largest automotive recall. These recalls affect a large number of car makes and models and a small number of motorcycles. ›› Complete Takata airbag recalls list Takata critical (including alpha) airbags require immediate replacement.

Consumers and industry need to take immediate steps to have their airbags replaced if their car is under ‘critical’ recall.

Takata airbags in the critical category pose a heightened risk of injury or death. ›› Takata critical (including alpha) airbags recalls list Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said the motoring industry is doing a great job in helping ensure these dangerous airbags are removed from circulation.

“Please continue to spread the word about the recall to your clients and urge anyone you know with an older vehicle to do a quick online check at ismyairbagsafe.com.au, or visit the Product Safety Australia website to check if their vehicle is affected,” he said.

60 | Motor Trader November 2020

“THESE RECALLS AFFECT A LARGE NUMBER OF CAR MAKES AND MODELS AND A SMALL NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLES.” TAKATA CRITICAL AIRBAGS RECALLS LIST MAKE AND MODEL YEAR RANGE BMW 3 Series E46 2001 - 2003 BMW 5 Series E39, 2001-2006 3 Series E46, X5 E53 Holden Cruze (Nationwide) 2010 Honda Accord 2001-2007 Honda Accord Euro 2001-2004 Honda CR-V 2001-2014 Honda Civic 2001-2004 and 2006-2012 Honda Civic Hybrid 2003-2004 Honda Jazz 2001-2014 Honda Jazz Hybrid 2006-2014 Honda MDX 2001-2007 Honda City 2004-2014 Honda Insight 2006-2014 Honda Legend 2006-2012 Lexus SC430 2000-2003 Mazda 6, RX-8 2003-2004 Mitsubishi ML and MN Triton 2007-2014 Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, 2000-2004 D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail Toyota Corolla, Avensis Verso 2000-2004 Toyota Echo, Rav 4 2002-2005 Toyota Corolla ZZE122 2004-2007

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LIGHTS GO GREEN ON VANWALL F1 CONTINUATION CARS

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OR THOSE INTERESTED in motorsport (which, surely, is all of us!) and more particularly the history of Formula One, the name Vanwall will be very recognisable. The British motor racing team was spectacularly successful for a handful of years in the later 1950s, taking out the inaugural Formula One Constructors’ Championship in 1958 after winning six

of the nine Grand Prix it entered that season. Drivers for Vanwall that year were Mike Hawthorn, who won the drivers’ championship, and the legendary Stirling Moss, who placed second.

This year, Vanwall Group, the successor to that legendary motor racing team, has announced the renaissance of the historic name with plans to build six new

UK SURVEY SAYS COVID HAS CAUSED MILLIONS TO CHANGE CAR-BUYING PLANS

continuation cars to celebrate the motor racing team’s success.

Five of the continuation cars will be offered for private sale, with the sixth forming the core of a Vanwall Historic Racing Team. The continuation cars will feature the 270bhp (201kW) 2,489cc Vanwall engine, engineered from original drawings and blueprints from the 1950s.

While these Vanwall cars will be faithful reproductions of its most famous racing machine, the company says it does plan to investigate whether the brand could be revived for a vehicle for the 2020s, and there are studies ongoing into future road and race car programs.

Vanwall Group, the successor to that legendary motor racing team, has announced the renaissance of the historic name with plans to build six new continuation cars.

RESEARCH FROM UK automotive servicing and repair company Kwik Fit has suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the vehicle purchase intentions of UK drivers.

The survey of 2000 UK adults suggests that just over half of UK drivers are less likely to buy a new or used car in the next 12 months.

Of the drivers more likely to buy a new or used car in the coming year as a result of Covid-19, 20 per cent said they will be using their car more as they do not want to use public transport, while 18 per cent said that they had seen the environmental benefits of lower traffic and so wanted to buy a more ecofriendly car.

Interestingly, and despite the UK government’s desire to stop the sale of all petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035, all three fuel systems remain more appealing to drivers than full electric models. Just 8 per cent of car owners expect their next one to be fully electric.

16 per cent of respondents said the lockdown made them realise that they need a car more than they thought - a reason perhaps related to the concerns over public transport.

13 per cent of respondents said that they were more likely to change their car because they want to enjoy life and so would be looking to buy the car they really want.

Auto news

MUSTANG MACH 1 CONFIRMED FOR AUSSIE SHOWROOMS

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HE ICONIC MACH 1 will join the Ford Mustang line-up in Australia for the first time in 2021. The Limited Edition Mustang Mach 1 will join the Aussie Ford Mustang family thanks to the first ever factory-built right-hand drive program from North America.

Ford says the Mustang Mach 1 will bring a ‘new pinnacle of naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 pony car performance’ and will have additional power, a driver-focused cockpit and track-focused upgrades above the current big-selling Mustang GT. Since its arrival in Australia in 2015, the Ford Mustang Mach 1

FORD SAYS THE MUSTANG MACH 1 WILL BRING A ‘NEW PINNACLE OF NATURALLY ASPIRATED 5.0-LITRE V8 PONY CAR PERFORMANCE’ .

Mustang has become the best-selling sports car in Australia, and has seen a handful of special edition models make their debut, including the Mustang BULLITT and the supercharged Mustang R-SPEC. The Mach 1 will be offered alongside the

Mustang 2.3L High Performance model with its 2.3-litre inline 4 turbocharged engine, and the 5-litre V8-powered Mustang GT. While the Australian specification and pricing is to be announced closer to launch, the Mach 1 has been revealed in the US and sports some tasty updates. There’s a new look to the front end and tweaks to the engine mean that integrated into the Mach 1 engine are revised Shelby GT350 components including the intake manifold, oil filter adapter and engine oil cooler. The specially calibrated 5.0-liter V8 engine has a projected 358kW and 570Nm on tap.

The Mach 1 comes standard with a Tremec 3160 6-speed manual transmission from the Shelby GT350. Ford has outfitted the system with rev-matching and the transmission is paired with the GT350 oil cooler system and Mustang GT’s twin-

disc clutch and short-throw shifter.

Drivers can also opt for an available 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with an upgraded torque converter and calibration that enables optimising torque capability, shift character and overall enhanced performance.

To improve ride and handling, the US Mach 1 features the latest MagneRide calibration, a stiffer steering I-shaft, new EPAS calibration, stiffer sway bars and front springs, a brake booster from the Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2, 9.5-inch/10-inch split fitment wheels with Michelin PS4 tyres, a rear subframe with stiffer bushings and a rear toe-link from the Shelby GT500.

The Limited Edition 2021 Mustang Mach 1 will be available in the U.S. in the spring of 2021.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 65

Auto news

Audi RS Q8

AUDI’S MONSTER RS Q8 SUV NOW AVAILABLE

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UDI’S HIGH-PERFORMANCE RS Q8 SUV has made landfall in Australia. And it really is a highperformance beast.

Powered by a 4.0-litre TFSI V8 with twin turbochargers that produces 441kW of power and 800Nm of torque, the RS Q8 can sprint to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and on to 200 km/h in 13.7 seconds before reaching a limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The RS Q8 is equipped with a quick-shifting eight-speed tiptronic transmission, directing power to the road via Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Under normal driving conditions, torque is distributed 40:60, front to rear respectively. However, up to 85 per cent of engine torque can be directed to the rear wheels. The quattro sport differential can provide further adjustment, directing almost all of the rear axle’s torque to either wheel.

During deceleration and braking, the RS Q8 can draw on the 48-volt mild-hybrid 66 | Motor Trader November 2020

VIDEO: THE ALL-NEW AUDI RS Q8

(MHEV) system and recover up to 12kW of power while coasting or under light throttle. The start/stop system also draws on the 48V electrical system and functions at speeds up to 22km/h, saving up to 0.8 litres of fuel per 100km. Additionally, cylinder-on-demand (CoD) technology can shut down four cylinders under light throttle load.

The standard braking system comprises of steel brakes, with red 10-piston calipers clamping 420mm front discs, with 370mm at the rear. The optional RS ceramic

braking system saves 34kg in unsprung weight and comprises 440mm front discs and a choice of colours for the calipers (grey, red or blue).

The RS Q8 also benefits from dynamic all-wheel steering as standard. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds, reducing the turning circle by up to one metre, while turning the same direction as the front wheels at speed. There’s also RS-specific adaptive air suspension that can adjust both the ride height by up to 90mm, and the balance between suppleness and firmness depending on the driving conditions.

The RS Q8 also features an electromechanical active roll stabilisation system that reduces the body movements on uneven roads when driving in a straight line and, when cornering, reduces the tendency of the car to lean into the bend.

23-inch alloy wheels feature as standard, alongside a range of other features, including Anti-theft wheel bolts w/ loose wheel detection, Electric tailgate, Powerassisted door closure, Privacy glass, and Panoramic glass sunroof.

There are plenty of luxurious features in the RS Q8 cabin and with up to 1,755 litres

with the backrests folded down, plenty of luggage capacity too. The cabin is upholstered in Valcona leather with honeycomb stitching and standard equipment highlights include four-zone climate control air conditioning; multi-function, 3-spoke ‘RS’ leather steering wheel; electric sunblind for rear side windows and manual sunblind for rear window; and an air quality package.

There’s a 10.1-inch and an 8.6-inch (lower) touch screen - controlled via Audi’s Multi-Media Interface (MMI) touch response system - plus Audi virtual cockpit and Audi Smartphone Interface with approved app integration (Android auto, wireless Apple CarPlay). Additional features include the Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System, wireless charging for mobile phones, Audi music interface with 2 rear USB outlets and Audi connect plus for a range of infotainment, security and assistance services.

The full suite of available Audi driver assistance systems are fitted to the RS Q8 as standard, including Adaptive cruise assist with Stop&Go and traffic jam assist, front and rear parking sensors, Audi presense front and rear, active lane assist and side assist with cross traffic assist, collision avoidance and turn assist and 360-degree cameras with kerb view. Additionally, there’s tyre pressure monitoring, an alarm and head-up display.

Equipment option packages include a Sensory package, two exterior styling packages, the RS design package and the RS Dynamic package plus (with ceramic brakes and raised 305 km/h speed limit).

A selection of eight exterior colours and three interior trims are available.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 67

Auto news

LIMITED EDITION BMW X5 M AND X6 M COMPETITION MODELS DUE IN 2021

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MW AUSTRALIA SAYS it has secured four First Edition BMW X5 M and X6 M Competition variants for the local market. Just 250 examples of each model is to be produced.

Two First Edition X5 M Competition and two First Edition X6 M Competition models will come to Australia in early 2021 and be available for customer order via BMW Australia’s new BMW Shop.

First Edition variants of the X5 M and X6 M Competition will get the M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that delivers 460kW and 750Nm. BMW say 0-100km/h can be achieved in just 3.8 seconds. There will also be a bunch of tweaks and enhancements to the body and interior.

There’s BMW Individual Frozen Dark Silver special matte paint - available exclusively for the special edition models – BMW X6 First Edition

68 | Motor Trader November 2020

BMW SAY 0-100KM/H CAN BE ACHIEVED IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A BUNCH OF TWEAKS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BODY AND INTERIOR while both models can also be specified with the BMW Individual Frozen Marina Bay Blue special paint finish.

There are touches of carbon fibre around the cars – including the rear spoiler fitted to the X6 M - plus M light-alloy wheels (21-inch front and 22-inch rear) in starspoke design with a Jet Black, high-gloss finish that is also exclusive to the First Edition variants. An M Carbon engine BMW X5 First Edition

NEW-VEHICLE SALES FIGURES FOR OCTOBER SHOW INDUSTRY RECOVERING

compartment cover is also part of First Edition specification line-up. Carbon fibre also features in the interior of the special edition models, where there’s also plenty of Merino leather trim.

BMW Australia will reveal pricing and other details of the First Edition variants in early 2021 ahead of their local arrival.

THE FEDERAL CHAMBER of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has reported that new-vehicle sales figures for October 2020 were 81,220, down just 1,236 units, or 1.5 per cent, from October 2019.

During the month, 17,794 Passenger Vehicles were sold, representing 21.9 per cent of the total market, down 24.5 per cent from October 2019. SUVs claimed 50.8 per cent of the market with a total of 41,220 sales, up 6.7 per cent from October 2019. Light Commercial vehicles claimed 23.6 per cent of the market with 19,152 sales, up 11.6 per cent from October 2019.

Toyota was the top selling brand for the month, with 19,505 sales, followed by Mazda with 7,457 sales, Hyundai with 5,951 sales, Ford with 5,744 sales and Kia with 5,304 sales.

The top five selling models for the month were the Toyota HiLux with 4,444 sales, the Ford Ranger with 4,217 sales, the Toyota RAV4 with 4,084 sales, the Toyota Landcruiser with 2,429 sales and the Toyota Prado with 2,207 sales.

Year-to-date figures reflected the difficult times the industry has experienced during 2019 and 2020. For the period from January to October 2020, new vehicle sales totalled 726,111. That’s an 18.8 per cent decrease when compared to the same period in 2019.

According to the FCAI, Electrified vehicles experienced a surge during the month, more than doubling in their total sales compared to October 2019.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 69

Industrial relations

EVANGELINE KANNIS SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

ACCESS LATEST WAGE RATES

Keeping up to date with ever-changing rules and wage rates in this unprecedented year is made easier with the new Clerks - Private Sector Award MTAQ Wages Guide which incorporates the 2020 National Wage Case.

It is applied from the first full pay period on or after 1st November 2020 (and not in a part-pay-week).

It is now available for Members on the MTAQ Member Portal.

Also available are the Manufacturing Award Wages and the Trainee Award Wages which also increase as of the first full pay period on or after 1st November 2020.

As previously advised, the Vehicle Repair Services and Retail Award 2020 MTAQ Wages Guide for members will be available in January 2021, in time for the 1st February 2020 wages increase.

SPIKE IN UNFAIR DISMISSAL CLAIMS HIGHLIGHTS URGENT NEED FOR CHANGE

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says a significant spike in the number of unfair dismissal claims before the Fair Work Commission is further proof the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code is not working in the way it was originally intended.

“In 2019/20, the Fair Work Commission has received over 16,500 unfair dismissal 70 | Motor Trader November 2020

CLICK TO VISIT THE MTAQ MEMBER PORTAL

claims - a jump of over 2,600 claims compared to the previous year and proportionally accounting for about half (49 per cent) of the Commission’s caseload,” said Ms Carnell. Claims have consistently remained at high levels.

Members are reminded of the exceptional representation and assistance that may be provided in such claims, or in General Protections, by the MTAQ Workplace Relations Advisors. Please call the office on 07 3237 8777 for advice and assistance.

DIFFICULT EMPLOYEE “OBLIVIOUS TO HER OWN BEHAVIOUR”

In a recent case, an employee who claimed she was being bullied had made application for a “stop bullying order” against her managers. Instead, the Fair Work Commission found the applicant saw herself as highly competent and believed the criticism of her was unjustified, but the evidence suggested otherwise and the claim was denied.

The Commissioner noted that bullying “can often involve subtle actions, that is the person who is behaving unreasonably can often target the recipient in ways that are less obvious and without considering the conduct in the context of the overall circumstances the behaviours can at times seem perfectly reasonable”.

On carefully considering the evidence, the employee was found to be completely oblivious or ignorant of the fact that she could possibly be attributing to the situation she had found herself in. The employer submitted that the employee had “little or no insight” into her conduct and how it was affecting workplace relationships, didn’t take kindly to having her views disagreed with, and rejected feedback that didn’t fit with her own view.

This case shows the importance of interviewing and conducting investigations impartially.

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER IN 2021 WITH AN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR FEMALE LEADER’S SCHOLARSHIP​ Partial scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 are available for our career building leadership courses.

Courses are available for women at all management levels.

Register your interest by Friday 4th of December.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR LEADERSHIP COURSES ACROSS AUSTRALIA​ See course outlines below

EARLY CAREER MANAGERS Delivered part-time over four months, Leading Edge is designed to enable the transition of aspiring and early career female managers into confident, capable and motivated leaders.

SCHOLARSHIP $1,000 partial scholarship DURATION 4 Months COMMITMENT 2 hours per week (average) FORMAT Online

MID-LEVEL MANAGERS Delivered part-time over seven months, Executive Ready is designed to stretch mid-level leaders and propel them towards executive level performance, behaviours and mindsets.

SCHOLARSHIP $3,000 partial scholarship DURATION 7 Months COMMITMENT 2 hours per week (average) FORMAT Online

SENIOR AND EXECUTIVE LEADERS Delivered part-time over twelve months, the Advanced Leadership Program is a high-impact and challenging developmental course for senior and executive leaders.

SCHOLARSHIP $5,000 partial scholarship DURATION 12 Months COMMITMENT 2 hours per week (average) FORMAT Online

CLICK HE R E TO EN QUIRE N OW

OUR VISION IS TO BE QUEENSLAND’S MOST TRUSTED, INFLUENTIAL & ENGAGED INDUSTRY BODY The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) is the peak organisation in the state representing the specific interests of businesses in the retail, repair & service sectors of the automotive industry.

Member benefits include: Advocacy MTA Queensland will represent you to state & federal governments on BIG issues affecting your business & the industry.

Service Receive FREE expert advice on going digital & Industrial Relations matters.

Training Receive 20% discount on MTA Institute’s non-government funded short courses for MTA Queensland members.

Support • Our corporate partners offer substantial savings on EFTPOS fees, electricity & gas bills & business & residential insurance • Library of online business resources & templates • Weekly industry bulletin • FREE Jobs Board • Discounts on stationery & workshop products • Monthly subscription to the Motor Trader e-magazine • Regular specials & discounts

Innovation Stay ahead of the automotive digital revolution with access to MTAiQ, Australia’s first automotive innovation hub.

20170597

Freeway Office Park, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains www.mtaq.com.au | info@mtaq.com.au (07) 3237 8777

GENERAL MANAGER TRAINING & INNOVATION

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E RECENTLY HELD our MTA Queensland 2020 Apprentice of the Year event and, in a year like no other, it was pleasing to see the amount of people attending in person and, given the COVID-19 environment, also online.

It was our 8th Apprentice of the Year award ceremony – an award that acknowledges the work of automotive apprentices and their contribution throughout the Queensland automotive industry.

We know the automotive industry is an industry of innovation and change, and to try and keep up with that change, you just have to keep learning and thirsting to learn! The apprenticeship is typically the first step on the automotive industry career ladder and there is always opportunity ahead. Our Apprentice of the Year finalists are already well on their way to success.

It was exciting to see Gabrielle Clift as our winner. A light vehicle apprentice at Highfields Mechanical & Offroad in Highfields near Toowoomba, Gabrielle has proven to be an outstanding apprentice and employee. She is extremely dedicated to both her training and her workplace and is

IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE GABRIELLE CLIFT AS OUR WINNER. A LIGHT VEHICLE APPRENTICE AT HIGHFIELDS MECHANICAL & OFFROAD IN HIGHFIELDS NEAR TOOWOOMBA, GABRIELLE HAS PROVEN TO BE AN OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE AND EMPLOYEE. an excellent example to other apprentices and tradespeople. Well done Gabrielle!

It was also great to highlight to everyone in attendance and watching online the programs we support. These include: • The automotive industry ambassador program, which is open to late-stage apprentices and early tradespeople.

The Automotive Industry Ambassador Program is a series of free short courses that offer leadership and communication skills to recently graduated apprentices who show leadership potential in the workplace.

• The Queensland automotive trades scholarship fund offered through the Queensland Overseas Foundation. This scholarship assists people in automotive trades in the Queensland to travel and work overseas in their chosen vocation

MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS Contents 77 Apprentice of the Month: September 2020 78 MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members 80 I-CAR Graduates

November 2020 Motor Trader | 73

E S S E N T I A L S

PAUL KULPA

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective for 12 months. It gives them the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, with funds provided for travel related expenses and a settling in allowance up to $7,500. It provides valuable international work experience and return to Queensland to contribute more broadly to industry with their learnings.

• The MTA Queensland Automotive Trainer Scholarship, which is awarded to recipients with a fully funded Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) to allow them to progress their career into automotive training. It’s great to see we’ve received a number of applications so far and we’ll have the applications open until the 1st March 2021, with the recipient announced on 1st April 2021.

All this underpins what we do to support ongoing professional development for people within the automotive industry.

We’ve seen an increase in enquiries for the federal government’s wage subsidy scheme and, from all accounts, this scheme is off to a strong start. More than 6,000 applications have already been received from employers for the $1.2 billion Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements wage subsidy, Senate Estimates heard last week.

The government made a number of changes to the scheme to restrict existing workers following concerns it could be exploited by some unscrupulous employers or training providers.

There will be no restrictions on trade commencements by existing workers. For traineeships, there will be a cap of 30 per employer and only where a casual worker is transferring to part-time or full-time, or a part-time worker is transferring to full-time. For more information on the scheme, please contact your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network.

2020 is a year no one will forget, dominated by conversation regarding safety, the economy and work/life balance. It has been a rough year for everyone, but I have been fortunate to work alongside a great group of people and come out the other side OK. I would particularly like to thank Dr Brett Dale, CEO of the MTA Queensland Group for the past four years, who is pulling up stumps on his work with us and moving on to a fresh challenge. I have appreciated his professionalism, his dedication to MTA Queensland, and his support of the training group. Thank you Brett for your work and support over the years. We wish you the best in your future endeavours!

NOMINATE FOR THE MTA INSTITUTE APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH AWARD • Are you employing an apprentice who is excelling in the workplace?

• Do you have a high-achieving apprentice colleague?

• Are they training with MTA Institute?

If the answer is 'yes', then nominate them for the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month award.

CLICK FOR MORE INFO 74 | Motor Trader November 2020

SKILL SET GAP TRAINING (3 DAY) 7 - 9 October 2020 Click for more information.

SALES/DEALERS/WRECKERS LICENCING COURSES AVAILABLE ONLINE - ENROL NOW Click for more information.

BATTERY ELECTRIC AND HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES COURSE SKILL SET TRAINING (4 DAY)

27 - 30 October 2020 Click for more information.

E S S E N T I A L S

AIR CONDITIONING COURSE

RTO No: 31529

M E M B E R S

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES

VOCATIONAL PREPARATION COURSE 28 September - 30 October 2020 Click for more information.

Enquiries to: courses@mtai.edu.au Website www.mtai.edu.au

MTA QUEENSLAND COURSES MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE 24 November 2020, 8:30am - 12:30pm SOLD OUT Click for more information.

24 November 2020 Click for more information.

AUTO CAMP

9 - 11 December 2020 Click for more information.

Enquiries to: courses@mtai.edu.au Website www.mtaq.com.au

20170566

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE

LOOKING FOR WORK? Check out MTA Queensland’s Job Board for all the latest opportunities in the automotive industry.

Visit www.mtaq.com.au today

76 | Motor Trader September 2020

November 2020 Motor Trader | 77

E S S E N T I A L S

tough time.

“I have had trouble reading since I was little,” he said.

“But becoming involved with Igor Do Nascimento automotive and receives his Apprentice mechanical work has helped me of the Month certificate a lot and helped from MTA Institute me function IGOR DO NASCIMENTO trainer Neil Bovey much better.

IS the Apprentice of “When I was the Month for September 2020. working here while still at school my teachers The 21-year-old recently completed his Light Vehicle saw a lot of improvement and it has really helped apprenticeship at Mackay Diesel Centre (MDC) - a me not just start my career but to finish workshop with which he has a long relationship.

Year 12 with really good grades.”

At the age of just 14, and extremely keen to learn as While Igor has qualified as a Light Vehicle much about cars as he could, Igor approached MDC mechanic and does that work for MDC, the looking for a chance to get some work experience. company specialises in diesels and Igor already What followed was three years of voluntarily spending has his sights on more training aimed at that side as much time as possible in the workshop, absorbing of the business. as much as he could about everything he saw.

“I am really lucky here because although I am “I really wanted to know everything before taking a light vehicle mechanic I am going to train as a on an apprenticeship,” said Igor. “I walked in there diesel technician too,” he said. “We do all that not really knowing anything, but went in after school work here - rebuilding injectors, fuel pumps and so every day, and every school holiday I would spend - and I am really interested in that, as well as all the at the workshop annoying all the qualified guys and repairs and servicing we do on other vehicles too. asking them every question I could think of!”

“There’s always something new to learn, and I Igor’s interest in cars does not, as many do learn something every day working with diesels. apprentice stories do, have its roots in his family’s I just want to keep on learning.” working history. Instead, said Igor, he is the first in Already a light vehicle tradesperson, and with his family to look at automotive as a career. a diesel qualification in his sights, the next few “My family is involved in farming and I just had the years should be interesting for Igor, and he has a feeling that I wanted to do something different,” he pretty clear idea of how he would like to see his said. “Since I was little, I wanted to find out how things career progress. function, and I would pull things apart to see how they “In the next five years I hope to have gained a worked. I went on to become really interested in cars lot more knowledge and experience and my main and wanted to learn all I could about them.” goal is to stick with Mackay Diesel Centre,” he As it happens, Igor’s training with the MTA said. “They have really helped me a lot and I‘ve Institute and working in automotive has had benefits become very attached to it and everyone here. beyond putting him on the path to a long-lasting I like to think I could become a supervisor career. Having moved here from Brazil when and, hopefully, the company will expand, CLICK TO VISIT THE he was just six years old and when he did and I plan to be here to help that happen MACKAY DIESEL not speak any English, Igor had a bit of a and see the company grow.”

CENTRE WEBSITE APPRENTICE: IGOR DO NASCIMENTO WORKPLACE: MACKAY DIESEL CENTRE, MACKAY APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

M E M B E R S

Apprentice of the Month: September 2020

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members BUSINESS NAME Verified Auto Shop Pty Ltd Action Smart Group Puma Bucasia Abingdon MOTORS Avoca Smash Repairs Beaudesert Collision Repairs Certified Mining Services Coachworks Curtis Coast Automotive Garden City Tyres Plus Gardiner Smash Repairs Gatton Power Sports Gold Coast Paint & Panel Harris Motors J M O'brien Mechanical Ja-Max Industries Pty Ltd John's Mechanical Repairs K & S Freighters Karupt Customz Kunda Park Automotive Logan Priest Auto Electrics Mechanicare Noosa Mike's Panel And Paint Repairs Mitch's Auto Repairs MLS Automotive Qld Motorcycles R Us Motorline Bmw Mototech Automotive New Image Paint And Panel Nippon Performance North Brisbane Automotive Northern Performance Paint 1 Automotive Palmview Mechanical Repairs Peter Ritchie Premier Motors Phantom Auto Works Projex Electrix Pty Ltd R.S.A.R Revolution Paint & Panel Rockhampton Volkswagen Scania Australia Pty Ltd Pinkenba Signature Mechanical Sleeping Beauties Solarcity Auto Electrical Stagg Automotive Supa Auto Services Superior Alignments Transit Mechanical Universal Diesel Service Yandina Automotive Repairs Brisbane 4wd Specialist Caboolture Motorcycle Tyres Contract Panel Beating Coorparoo Paint And Panel CQ Diesel Fitting - Eagle Farm D & F Autocare DTJ Contracting Elite Motorcycles

ADDRESS 4102 - Woolloongabba, Qld 4207 - Yatala, Qld 4750 - Bucasia, Qld 4102 - Dutton Park, Qld 4670 - Bundaberg, Qld 4285 - Beaudesert, Qld 4350 - Torrington, Qld 4110 - Acacia Ridge, Qld 4680 - Gladstone, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4455 - Roma, Qld 4343 - Gatton, Qld 4216 - Biggera Waters, Qld 4207 - Buccan, Qld 4510 - Caboolture, Qld 4717 - Blackwater, Qld 4555 - Palmwoods, Qld 4108 - Coopers Plains, Qld 4211 - Carrara, Qld 4556 - Kunda Park, Qld 4178 - Wynnum, Qld 4566 - Noosaville, Qld 4680 - Gladstone, Qld 4655 - Pialba, Qld 4119 - Underwood, Qld 4119 - Underwood, Qld 4127 - Springwood, Qld 4051 - Enoggera, Qld 4119 - Underwood, Qld 4102 - Woolloongabba, Qld 4501 - Lawnton, Qld 4878 - Smithfield, Qld 4566 - Noosaville, Qld 4553 - Palmview, Qld 4575 - Warana, Qld 4019 - Clontarf, Qld 4157 - Capalaba, Qld 4650 - Maryborough West, Qld 4013 - Northgate, Qld 4701 - Berserker, Qld 4008 - Pinkenba, Qld 4680 - Gladstone, Qld 4105 - Moorooka, Qld 4650 - Maryborough, Qld 4573 - Coolum Beach, Qld 4670 - Bundaberg, Qld 4504 - Narangba, Qld 4501 - Lawnton, Qld 4207 - Stapylton, Qld 4561 - Yandina, Qld 4031 - Kedron, Qld 4510 - Caboolture, Qld 4341 - Laidley, Qld 4151 - Coorparoo, Qld 4009 - Eagle Farm, Qld 4550 - Landsborough, Qld 4106 - Rocklea, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld

Engage Ag JT Automotive Kantow Taverner Motor Sports

4350 - Torrington, Qld 4500 - Brendale, Qld 4124 - Greenbank, Qld 4006 - Bowen Hills, Qld 4074 - Sumner Park Bc, Qld 4370 - Warwick, Qld 4076 - Darra, Qld 4061 - The Gap, Qld

Velseis Pty Ltd Warwick Automotive SMP Automotive The Gap Mechanical & Service Centre

78 | Motor Trader November 2020

EMAIL bookings@verifiedautoshop.com smoynihan@actionsmartgroup.com pumabucasia@hotmail.com office@mgcity.com.au avoca_smash_repairs@hotmail.com paul@beaudesertcollision.com.au info@certifiedminingservices.com.au evan@coachworks.com.au reception@curtiscoastautomotive.com.au info@gardencitytyres.com.au info@gardinersmash.com.au grant@gattonpowersports.com.au darranhutchings@live.com.au jill@harrismotors.com.au justinmobrien@bigpond.com jamax3108@gmail.com johnsmechanicalrepairs@outlook.com Robert.leishman@ksgroup.com.au jamie@karuptcustomz.com.au kundaparkautomotive@outlook.com lpautoelectrics@gmail.com office@mechanicare.com.au admin@mikespanelandpaint.com.au mitchsautorepairs@bigpond.com info@mlsautomotiveqld.com.au admin@motorcyclesrus.com.au service@motorline.com.au mototech1@optusnet.com.au russellscott65@hotmail.com service@nippon-performance.com.au gary@northbrisbaneautomotive.com.au max@northernperformance.com.au paint1auto@outlook.com peterison001@gmail.com premiermotorswarana@gmail.com Phantomautoworks@outlook.com paul@projexelectrix.com.au rsar@activ8.net.au enq@revolutionpaintpanel.com.au jackie@rp1.com.au peter.churcher@scania.com.au bradley.kunst@bigpond.com sleepingbeauties@bigpond.com.au solarcityautoelectrical@gmail.com jamie@staggautomotive.com.au cm_olive@bigpond.net.au superioralignments@bigpond.com transitm@tpg.com.au universaldieselservice@gmail.com enquire@yandinaautorepairs.com.au admin@brisbane4wd.com.au admin@cmtyres.com.au contractpanels@bigpond.com info@cpnp.com.au gordon.moore@cqdieselfitting.com.au lee-ann@dfautocare.com.au dtjcontracting@bigpond.com admin@elitemotorcycles.com.au Michael@engage-ag.com.au admin_jtauto@bigpond.com kantow@msn.com enquiries@tavernermotorsports.com.au info@velseis.com.au Chris.johnson@warwickautomotive.com.au info@smpautomotive.com.au thegapmechanic.dj@gmail.com

DIVISION AED NACA AED AADA NACA NACA QFIMDD NACA AADA TUDQ NACA QMID NACA ARD AED AED AED AED QMID AED AED AED NACA AED ARD QMID AADA AED NACA AED AED QMID NACA AED AED AED AED AED NACA AADA AADA AED NACA AED AED AED AED AED ERAQ AED ARD QMID NACA NACA QFIMDD AED ERAQ QMID

QFIMDD AED NACA QMID QFIMDD AADA AED AED

Roberg Truck & Electrical & Air Conditioning Pty Ltd Ron Gooleys Mechanical Repairs Sebring Mechanical Simon's Car Clinic Tate Auto Elec & Air Conditioning Taylor's Mechanical Service Roma Pty Ltd Trucks On The Run 3Gen Auto Repairs A Grade Auto & Marine Mechanical Services Alan Brett Mechanical Aplus Mechanical A-Tech Auto Auto Elac Auto Electrics 2 U Auto Service Plus Bethania Mechanical Repairs Blatch's Mechanical Repairs Bramwell Auto Group Browns Plains Mechanical Bundamba Auto Electrics Currey Customs and Mechanical Diesel Electrics F.G.H Auto - Woodridge First Priority Auto Electrical & Air Conditioning Gladstone Road Garage Glen Aplin Autos Harveys Mechanical & Welding Service Pty Ltd Horsepower Solutions JE Automotive Mechanic KC Mechanical King St Mechanical Logan City Automotive Coolum Motors Big Wheels Truck Alignment - Mackay G & T Auto Services Ultra Tune Rockhampton

4814 - Garbutt, Qld 4009 - Eagle Farm, Qld 4300 - Augustine Heights, Qld 4500 - Brendale, Qld 4110 - Acacia Ridge, Qld 4650 - Maryborough, Qld 4680 - Boyne Island, Qld 4124 - Greenbank, Qld 4655 - Torquay, Qld 4660 - Childers, Qld 4670 - Bundaberg West, Qld 4655 - Pialba, Qld 4163 - Cleveland, Qld 4370 - Warwick, Qld 4030 - Windsor, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4184 - Russell Island, Qld 4350 - South Toowoomba, Qld 4108 - Coopers Plains, Qld 4285 - Beaudesert, Qld 4352 - Toowoomba Mc, Qld 4413 - Chinchilla, Qld 4074 - Sumner, Qld 4077 - Richlands, Qld 4212 - Helensvale, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4106 - Rocklea, Qld 4215 - Southport, Qld 4163 - Cleveland, Qld 4405 - Dalby, Qld 4108 - Archerfield, Qld 4127 - Slacks Creek, Qld 4218 - Mermaid Beach, Qld 4270 - Tamborine, Qld 4405 - Dalby, Qld 4455 - Roma, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4114 - Woodridge, Qld 4215 - Southport, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4670 - Bundaberg East, Qld 4131 - Meadowbrook, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4163 - Cleveland, Qld 4157 - Capalaba, Qld 4205 - Bethania, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4341 - Laidley North, Qld 4118 - Browns Plains, Qld 4304 - Bundamba, Qld 4207 - Yatala, Qld 4405 - Dalby, Qld 4114 - Woodridge, Qld 4405 - Dalby, Qld 4101 - Highgate Hill, Qld 4380 - Stanthorpe, Qld 4125 - Park Ridge, Qld 4157 - Capalaba, Qld 4107 - Salisbury, Qld 4350 - Toowoomba, Qld 4370 - Warwick, Qld 4127 - Slacks Creek, Qld 4573 - Coolum Beach, Qld 4740 - Paget, Qld 4670 - Bundaberg, Qld 4700 - Rockhampton, Qld

EMAIL myteam@townsvillecustomcycles.com.au j.walker@duttonwholesale.com.au cesar@emperormotors.com.au admin@weberautomotive.com.au info@leomotors.com.au admin@6starmotors.com.au ben@mesgladstone.com.au allcars_auto@yahoo.com.au mandysykus@hotmail.com amcmechanical@outlook.com.au wadebarrett50@yahoo.com.au mobile.mechanic@hotmail.com.au ultimateautocare@live.com.au steve@warwickautoelectrical.com.au admin@alloydoctor.com.au makerneylonmotors@bigpond.com jamiemancer1@gmail.com markbrackstonemotors@gmail.com marksmaintenance.office@gmail.com mckennamechanical@yahoo.com.au micktighe@mtmworkshops.com.au admin@minimotorservice.com.au enquiries@mobileautomotiveservices.com.au omgexhaust@gmail.com admin@oxenfordservicecentre.com.au info@paramountperformance.com Niko@quinntruckservices.com.au robinforlaca@yahoo.ie info@rabybayauto.com.au raw_automotive@bigpond.com.au jenclaire@bigpond.com rongooley@bigpond.com fixit@sebringmechanical.com bromleykenna@bigpond.com tateauto@bigpond.net.au aimee@taylorsmechanical.com trucksontherun@bigpond.com marsonnaidoo@hotmail.com craigpasquill@hotmail.com albrett@sctelco.net.au andrew@aplusmechnaical.com info@a-techauto.com.au accounts@autoelac.com.au ae2u@optusnet.com.au autoserviceplus@bigpond.com enquiry@bethaniamechanical.com.au keith.blatch@bigpond.com bag@live.com.au mcgaughey.chris@gmail.com sales@bundambaautoelectrics.com.au info@curreycustoms.com.au scheduler@dieselelectrics.com fghauto@hotmail.com jgooderh@bigpond.net.au georgemourginos@gmail.com glenaplinautos@hotmail.com admin@harveysmechanical.com.au info@horsepowersolutions.com.au Jeautosalisbury@gmail.com tim@kcmechanical.com.au ksm04@bigpond.net.au lca5.qae@bigpond.com admin@coolummotors.com.au mackay@bigwheels.net.au tracy@gtautoservices.com.au ultratunecqbk@gmail.com

DIVISION

AED ARD ARD AED ARD AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED NACA AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED AED TUDQ AED AED

November 2020 Motor Trader | 79

E S S E N T I A L S

RAW Automotive & Performance

ADDRESS

M E M B E R S

BUSINESS NAME Townsville Custom Cycles Dutton Garage Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd Emperor Motors Weber Automotive Leo Motors 6 Star Motors AAA Mechanical & Air Conditioning Allcars Auto Clinic All-U-Need Automotive AMC Mechanical Barrett's Auto Electrical & Diesel Dyno Tuning Bay City Quality Mobile Mechanic Ultimate Autocare Warwick Auto Electrical & Air Conditioning Alloy Doctor Maker Neylon Motors Mancer's Mechanical Mark Brackstone Motors Mark's Maintenance Solutions McKenna Mechanical Mick Tighe Mechanical Mini Motors Service Mobile Automotive Services OMG Custom Exhaust and Mechanical Oxenford Service Centre Paramount Automotive Performance Quinn Truck Services R & D Auto Airconditioning Raby Bay Automatics & Mechanical Repairs

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

I-CAR Graduates

ACKNOWLEDGING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES IN QUEENSLAND

I-CAR AUSTRALIA - the organisation that delivers information, training and education to the collision repair industry - is acknowledging the achievements of industry employees from across the country who have achieved I-CAR Platinum Individual accreditation and I-CAR Welding Certification.

The following is a list of Queenslandbased collision repair industry employees who received I-CAR Platinum Individual Accreditation in September 2020:

• Greg Fink • Brian McFadden • Nathan Davey • Brendan Osborn • Kurt Johnson • Scott Campbell • Michael Smith • Isaac Braiden • Trevor Plant • Jimmy Koek • Kyle Alderson • Andrew Pick

Airport Smash Repairs (ASR) IAG Airport Smash Repairs (ASR) Coastal Collision Repairs Willmot Smash Repairs Airport Smash Repairs (ASR) Auto & General Insurance Services Eagle Smash Repairs Eagle Smash Repairs Euro Collision Centre Euro Collision Centre Brisbane BMW

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Guard Insurance Brokers specialises in insurance and risk management solutions and offers dedicated service to MTAQ members at market leading rates.

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Providing legal services across a number of core areas, Bennett & Philp Lawyers have been providing effective legal solutions to meet the needs of dealers, suppliers, racers, financiers and other motor vehicle professionals for more than ten years.

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openpay is a leading buy now, pay later service favoured by the automotive industry. Openpay gives customers longer to pay for servicing and parts through interest-free payment plans, while you get paid the next business day. Not just a payment method, but a smarter way to triple your Average Transaction Value.

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Safety Help provides the automotive industry with a service dedicated to making your business compliant.

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Specalising in matters such as print solutions, finance, electricity, gas rates and solar; Core SME is a vendor neutral business with one simple objective; reduce costs, increase profits and streamline workflows for your business.

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illion is the leading independent provider of trusted data and analytics products and services in Australasia. Members are eligible for substantial savings on annual subscriptions.

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Stay ahead of the automotive digital revolution with access to events and MTAiQ.

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INNOVATION

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Our corporate partners offer substantial savings on EFTPOS fees, electricity & gas bills and business & residential insurance Library of online business resources and templates Weekly industry bulletin FREE Jobs Board Discounts on stationery & workshop products Monthly subscription to the Motor Trader e-magazine Regular specials & discounts

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SUPPORT

Capricorn makes it easier for its members buy parts, earn reward points and share in the benefits of being a member of the largest and oldest automotive parts buying cooperatives in Australasia.

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Receive 20% off MTA Institute short industry courses, including licensing and management courses.

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TRAINING

The Commonwealth Bank offers members some of the lowest EFTPOS charges in the country. Members have saved thousands with CBA.

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Receive FREE expert advice on Industrial Relations matters, saving your business thousands on legal expenses!

MTAA Superannuation is the industry’s superfund.

Our superannuation partner has over 200,000 members who enjoy excellent service and returns.

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SERVICES

2mota is a new platform for mechanics and repairers to get their business online. It has many benefits including support of Industry; automatic free 12-month membership subscription for MTA Queensland members; supports the best interest of businesses in getting a fair and reasonable price; allows businesses to temporarily hire qualified mechanics and borrow/share tools; a fraction of the cost of competitor platforms; and a secure and safe environment for businesses and customers to do businesss.

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MTA Queensland will represent you to state and federal governments on BIG issues affecting your business and the industry. We represent service stations, new & used car dealers, tyre businesses, paint & panel, repairers, parts recyclers, engine re-conditioners, farm & industrial machinery businesses, motorcycle sales and rental vehicles, so can actively espouse direct industry perspective.

SAVE WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

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ADVOCACY

MTA Queensland Address Freeway Office Park, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Queensland, Australia 4113 Phone (07) 3237 8777 Fax +61 7 3844 4488 Email info@mtaq.com.au Website www.mtaq.com.au Postal PO Box 4530 Eight Mile Plains, Queensland, Australia 4113

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Concept corner

T HE R EN AULT M 82 | Motor Trader November 2020

EG ANE eV IS ION November 2020 Motor Trader | 83

Concept corner

T HE R E N A ULT M E G A N E eV IS I O N

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HIS IS THE Renault Megane eVision, a new concept car previewing the latest in the line of the French manufacturer’s electric vehicles.

A nifty-looking machine, the eVision takes inspiration and details from the MORPHOZ concept car with (which was featured in Motor Trader in our July 2020 edition) and while the large wheels, body height and robust design are reminiscent of an SUV, the short overhangs and long wheelbase ensure a compact look.

On the inside, the eVision is set to showcase Renault’s LIVINGTECH technological ecosystem, designed to be an VIDEO: RENAULT EVISION CONCEPT

84 | Motor Trader November 2020

POWER COMES FROM AN ELECTRIC MOTOR DELIVERING 160KW OF POWER AND 300NM OF TORQUE, DELIVERING ACCELERATION FROM 0-100KM/H IN UNDER EIGHT SECONDS. intuitive and smart interior environment.

Based on the company’s new modular CMF-EV (Common Module Family – Electric Vehicle) platform, the eVision features what Renault claims is one of the thinnest batteries on the market and an ultra-compact powertrain that provides for plenty of space inside.

Power comes from an electric motor delivering 160kW of power and 300Nm of torque, delivering acceleration from 0-100km/h in under eight seconds. The 60kWh battery is equipped with DC charging (up to 130kW), so there is decent range as well as fast charging capability.

The CMF-EV platform can, says Renault,

accommodate a variety of vehicle bodies from sedans to larger SUVs and different modular batteries can be fitted vertically and horizontally. It is also modular in length, offering plenty of scope for vehicles with more powerful batteries and longer driving range. The platform is able to accommodate a second rear engine for

more powerful four-wheel drive models.

Renault says that an innovative feature of the newly designed batteries is that they are structural and form an integral part of the car, helping to absorb energy in the event of a side collision. The production version of the MĂŠgane eVision is set to be introduced in the UK in 2022.

November 2020 Motor Trader | 85

Motor Trader’s Christmas Gift Guide ❶ HOLDEN BEACH LIGHT UP TIN SIGN

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Holden may be gone, but the name and the memories remain and here’s something for the man cave that will help keep those memories alive.

The red arrow points you towards the beach, and there’s a retro-style print of a classic Holden EH Wagon. The lights along the arrow are battery powered. Dimensions: Approx: 40cm x 30cm Two AA batteries required (not included) Price: $99.99 Available from www.yellowoctopus.com.au

❷M OTORCYCLE TABLE LAMP Display your love of motorcycles with this tidylooking lamp. It emits a glow bright enough to shed some light on the man cave but not so harsh that it ruins the mood, and the silver & red design will look great even when it isn't lit up. The lamp is powered by the built-in USB cable which comes with a mains adaptor so it can fit into your office or lounge easily. There’s a low-voltage adaptor too.

Dimensions: 25cm x 16cm x 10cm Price: $54.99 Available from www.yellowoctopus.com.au

❸ SET OF 4 RACING DRIVER COASTERS A great gift for any motoring fan is this set of 4 coasters, hand-made in the UK using the finest Italian Porcelain ceramic tiles and depicting legends from the world of Formula 1 racing with quotes that typify their approach to life and racing.

The coasters feature Sir Stirling Moss, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna and Graham HIll. Suitable for hot and cold drinks, the coasters have a protective lacquer and are easily cleaned with a damp cloth.

Complete with a cork backing for extra protection.

Dimensions: 9.7cm x 9.7cm Price: £25 (Approx: $45) Available from www.meandmycar.co.uk 86 | Motor Trader November 2019

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❸

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❹ RACING NUMBER GREY WEEKEND BAG A very stylish weekend travel bag made from reclaimed car seat fabric with genuine seatbelt webbing and sporting a racing roundel and stripes. Each bag is created with great attention to detail. The straps are made from upcycled seat belts and the recycled leather stripes and racing roundel all add to the overall motoring style. A great bag to use for longer breaks with capacity for all your kit. The bag has one zipped pocket on the exterior and on two patch pockets inside for storage of smaller items or valuables. There’s a shoulder strap too for ease of carrying. Dimensions: 60cm x 28cm x 24cm Price: £200 (Approx: $355) Available from www.meandmycar.co.uk

❺ BMW R 90 S MODEL ENGINE KIT

VIDEO: BMW R90S ENGINE

A kit of the engine from the classic BMW R 90 S motorcycle from the 1970s. The kit includes a transparent, functional model of the two-cylinder flat engine, including its five-speed gearbox. The model consists of 200 parts which are easily stuck or screwed together to create the working replica. No glue is required. The accompanying book is not only the manual for the assembly instructions but is also provides a history of BMW’s motorbikes and the highly successful flat twin engine. The finished model is powered by 3 x AA batteries which are not supplied. Dimensions of finished model (approx.): 34cm x 25.5cm x 31cm. Not suitable for children 14 years and under.

Price: £175 (Approx: $310) Available from www.meandmycar.co.uk November 2019 Motor Trader | 87

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

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NTERNATIONAL EQUITIES WERE mixed in October. The Chinese market outperformed its peers during the period as its continued success in managing the virus contrasts the growing second and third waves seen elsewhere.

Both the Hang Seng (+2.8%) and the CSI 300 (+2.4%) finished higher, dragging the MSCI Emerging Markets index with it (1.4%). Japan (Nikkei 225 -0.9%) and Korea (KOSPI -2.5%) also outperformed their Western counterparts, with both U.S indices down (NASDAQ -2.3%, S&P 500 -2.8%). The United Kingdom (FTSE -4.9%) and Europe (MSCI Europe ex-UK -5.5%) were the worst performers as COVID-19 cases surge to new highs across the continent Domestically, the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index was up 1.93% during the period. Information Technology (+9.0%) was the best performing sector during the month as Link Administrative Holdings (LNK +27.9%) was the subject of a private equity bid and Afterpay (APT +21.0%) continued its strong run. Financials (6.3%) also outperformed the broader market, with banks and fund managers benefiting from a targeted value rally, typified by Virgin Money UK (VUK +26.9%) and Pendal (PDL +18.5%) respectively. Industrials (-3.92%) was the worst performing sector with major 88 | Motor Trader November 2020

names such as Aurizon (AZJ -12.6%) and Brambles (BXB -8.8%) struggling to attract investors ahead of key quarterly updates.

Utilities (-1.5%) also performed poorly, with energy assets in particular suffering from the uncertainty surrounding the impact of a widespread renewables push.

AGL (AGL -8.4%) and Spark Infrastructure (SKI -3.2%) were the key detractors.

DISCLAIMER This document has been prepared by DNR Capital Pty Ltd, AFS Representative - 294844 of DNR AFSL Pty Ltd ABN 39 118 946 400, AFSL 301658. It is general information only and is not intended to be a recommendation to invest in any product or financial service mentioned above. Whilst DNR Capital has used its best endeavours to ensure the information within this document is accurate it cannot be relied upon in any way and recipients must make their own enquiries concerning the accuracy of the information within. The general information in this document has been prepared without reference to any recipient’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any financial investment decisions we recommend recipients obtain legal and taxation advice appropriate to their particular needs. Investment in a DNR Capital managed account can only be made on completion of all the required documentation.

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Please join us and donate to this life-changing organisation!

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MTAA Super is issued by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), Trustee of the MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited has ownership interests in Industry Super Holdings Pty Ltd and Members Equity Bank Limited. The information provided is of a general nature and does not take into account your specific needs or personal situation. You should assess your financial position and personal objectives before making any decision based on this information. We also recommend that you seek advice from a licensed financial adviser. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for MTAA Super in deciding whether MTAA Super is appropriate for you. The PDS can be obtained by calling MTAA Super on 1300 362 415 or visiting mtaasuper.com.au/handbooks