Motor Trader e-magazine, April 2021

APR 2021

UNDERSTANDING

ADAS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

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+ LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF MTA QUEENSLAND? CLICK HERE

M TA Q U E E N S LAN D DI V I SIO NA L CO M MIT T EE M EET IN GS

MTA QUEENSLAND hosts quarterly Divisional Committee meetings for:

USTRALIAN AUTOMOTIVE DEALER ASSOCIATION › A(NEW CAR DEALERS) UTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS DIVISION › A(MECHANICAL REPAIRERS) UTOMOTIVE PARTS RECYCLERS DIVISION › A(PARTS RECYCLERS) UTOMOTIVE REMARKETING DIVISION › A(USED CAR DEALERS) NGINE RECONDITIONERS ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND › E(ENGINE RECONDITIONERS) ATIONAL AUTO COLLISION ALLIANCE › N(PAINT & PANEL / TOW TRUCKS) UEENSLAND FARM & INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY DEALERS DIVISION › Q(FARM & INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY) UEENSLAND MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY DIVISION › Q(MOTORCYCLES) ENTAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY DIVISION › R(RENTAL VEHICLES) ERVICE STATION & CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND › S(SERVICE STATIONS) YRE & UNDERCAR DIVISION OF QUEENSLAND › T(TYRES, BRAKES, SUSPENSIONS) The Agenda topics include:

› robust discussions around the priorities of the Division, › issues that need to be directly presented to government and submissions, › skilling needs, › membership representation, › technical and educational updates, and › innovation opportunities.

The Committee meetings can be attended in-person at MTA Queensland or online.

The meetings are open to members and non-members, but we strongly encourage membership to ensure all member benefits are available.

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING DATES

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CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY

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

JONATHAN NASH

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

EDITOR

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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Evangeline Kannis Ian Naylor POLICY Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Marc Wilson // Gypsy media & marketing services

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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

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CORPORATE PARTNERS

ELLO AND WELCOME to the April 2021 edition of Motor Trader.

As we have said many times over the past couple of years, the automotive industry is going through what is, perhaps, the most radical change in its history. Things move quickly now, and some of the tech we see in cars that are rolling out of factories today would have seemed unthinkable just 20, or even 10, years ago.

Traditional carmakers now embrace battery-electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell innovations, and there are a host of start-ups and tech companies bursting onto the electric vehicle scene.

Running parallel to those headline-making developments are the less showy advances in safety being made possible by the growth of in-vehicle computing power and communication technology.

These advances have allowed for the installation of sensors and other instruments (such as Lidar and Radar) that are enabling quite astounding driver assistance features - from lane keep assist to autonomous emergency

braking and a host of others.

Collectively known as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) - these safety systems are available in every new vehicle sold, and the importance of understanding them, how they work, and ensuring they are always calibrated to do the job for which they are designed is something of which all auto industry businesses must be aware. With that in mind, MTA Queensland, in partnership with ADAS specialist ADAS Solutions Australia, has launched three training courses that together offer a comprehensive introduction to, and examination of, the technology. You can read more about ADAS and those training courses from page 24.

Also this month, we talk with Clinton Stroud of FNQ 4X4 in Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, a business that has been servicing far north Queensland for more than 30 years (read more from page 12), and we take a look at the Lamborghini Countach - the car that, with its bonkers looks and top-notch performance, was the dream machine for many a teenager back in the late 1970s and 1980s. You can read more about that wonderful piece of automotive art from page 48.

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 Motor Trader, please contact us.

Cheers Jonathan Nash, Editor jonathann@mtaq.com.au April 2021 Motor Trader | 1

Contents

24

UNDERSTANDING ADAS: MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES ADAS TRAINING COURSES

04 FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 08 POLICY/VIEWPOINT 12 MTA |Q&A 24 FEATURE: UNDERSTANDING ADAS: MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES ADAS TRAINING COURSES 34 AN EYE ON INNOVATION 36 AUTO INNOVATION NEWS 48 CLASSIC SUPERCAR: LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH (1974-1990) 56 AUTO NEWS 72 WORKPLACE RELATIONS 75 TRAINING GM'S PERSPECTIVE 79 PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE TRAINING 82 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY 2021 84 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2021 85 MTA INSTITUTE GRADUATES 88 CONCEPT CORNER 92 MARKET WRAP

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KIA REVEALS ALL-ELECTRIC EV6 SUV CROSSOVER

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Search for MTA Queensland

48

LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH: 1974-1990

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SEA ELECTRIC LAUNCHES AUSTRALIA’S FIRST LOCALLY ASSEMBLED ELECTRIC TRUCKS TOYOTA AYGO X PROLOGUE

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MTA | Q&A: CLINTON STROUD | 4X4 FNQ

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April 2021 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO

ROD CAMM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

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COLLECTIVE SIGH OF relief was heard across the state when Queensland again seemed to dodge a bullet and the ‘all clear’ was applied to the lockdown of Greater Brisbane.

The timing was perfect. The Easter and school holiday period for business, households, and individuals alike is the opportunity to rebuild, refresh and enjoy.

However, as we now all know, each of us must heed the restrictions, wearing masks when required, social distancing, sanitising and isolating if unwell.

Whilst being out of lockdown is great news, many businesses are in need of our support with JobKeeper now ending. In Greater Brisbane alone there were about 27,636 businesses receiving the payments.

The automotive industry has largely performed well despite COVID restrictions, particularly compared to the tourism and hospitality sector. However, the recovery from the restrictions of 2020/21 has been mixed.

In other news, and with the aim to improve the skills pipeline for our industry, over the coming months we’ll be running prevocational programs designed only for women. I’ve been inspired to do so by the wonderful examples of women succeeding across the industry. It is now 4 | Motor Trader April 2021

commonplace to find women in our workshops, offices and retail operations, and as owners/operators, chief operating offers and CEOs. In June last year, as two months of COVID-19 restrictions imposed across the state began to be loosened, we talked to a number of women who were running automotive businesses and were steering them through the choppy COVID-19 waters. Nearly a year later, these passionate and determined leaders have been successful in guiding those businesses through the unprecedented events of the first COVID-19 outbreak as well as the disruptions and uncertainty of the past few months.

In Mackay, Andrea McCarthy, who with her husband Craig owns and operates McCarthy Panel Works, demonstrated enormous resilience to work through the tensions and uncertainties to keep the business open. There was pre-existing work, but with 15 confirmed cases in the region during those early days of the outbreak, there was ‘fear’ and ‘uncertainties rife’. Initially, staff had to be assured of their jobs, and health protocols put in place to keep employees and customers safe. No stone was left unturned in developing new approaches, increasing efficiency and improving the health and safety of staff and clients. Exploiting technology had a key role in success.

THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY HAS LARGELY PERFORMED WELL DESPITE COVID RESTRICTIONS, PARTICULARLY COMPARED TO THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR.

government departments and insurers. Alison worked to reduce vehicle insurance premiums by about 50 per cent; lapsed registration on about 40 per cent of the vehicles; and worked with local businesses to help distribute parking. Alison and the Hertz Mount Isa team are still in business.

Andrea and Craig McCarthy Fionna Blackburne, who is the owner and operator of Beenleigh Southeast Auto Mechanical, also had to keep watch on the bottom line and drill down for savings to ensure survival. It was a tough experience. The positive was being open and able to trade, but an early, significant decline in work created uncertainty. One staff member was retrenched ‘which was very, very hard to do.’ In the quiet periods, the business was analysed for cost-saving measures and ways to deliver a safe environment for staff and clients. Nothing was too small and many changes made. Fiona’s attention to detail and resilience in tough circumstances brought the business Andrea is the MTA Queensland National through the restrictions.

Auto Collision Alliance Chair.

Rebecca Frizelle, now non-executive Alison Dowling, who with husband director of the Peter Warren Automotive Greg owns and operates Hertz Mount Group, during the pandemic was the chief Isa, had very different challenges. Reliant operating officer of Frizelle Sunshine on the supply of vehicle hires for mining Automotive Prestige. Although on a services operations, things became a different scale, her experience included struggle as only one flight a week came in forced reassessments and changes. In a from Brisbane and Townsville. Virgin had report in the Gold Coast Bulletin, she said: completely ceased flying into the town.

“The first few months for the business The priority was twofold: care for the loyal staff of seven, and save the were really scary.” business. JobKeeper and JobSeeker The world had shut down and the helped in the retention of staff, while long opportunity was taken to step back, hours were spent communicating with reimagine the business, review processes the accountant, financial institutions, and procedures and make it more

NEARLY A YEAR LATER, THESE PASSIONATE AND DETERMINED LEADERS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GUIDING THOSE BUSINESSES THROUGH THE UNPRECEDENTED EVENTS OF THE FIRST COVID-19 OUTBREAK AS WELL AS THE DISRUPTIONS AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

April 2021 Motor Trader | 5

The Auto Camp course offers the opportunity for young people to explore their interest in automotive

efficient. The significant internal Wallace, the 2019 Apprentice of changes combined with the the Year, was a parts interpreter CLICK FOR MORE external economic factors with Morgan Motors in Emerald.

INFORMATION ON accelerated the rebound of the Gabrielle Clift, a third-year light THE AUTO CAMP COURSE business in the aftermath of vehicle mechanic with Highfields the pandemic. Rebecca told the Mechanical (Toowoomba), was Bulletin that, “The silver lining of named the 2020 Apprentice of the the pandemic cloud was it really gave Year at the end of last year. us perspective.”

We are committed to building more Young women seeking a career in opportunities for young women and seeing automotive can start with our Auto Camp more of these success stories. program, scheduled for the school holidays and designed for high school students AND THE LAST THING aged between 14-17 years. The Auto Camp Much store is being placed on workforce course attracts young people to learn about the mechanical basics and explore a skills to assist the nation in its economic recovery from the pandemic and to adjust genuine interest in an automotive career. to the emerging technologies. As important The next Auto Camp is on 13-15 April and as these are, basic fundamentals are more details may be found on the MTA necessary, and to help members we are Queensland website. running monthly webinars on key topics Our new approach to prevocational programs is built on the many successes of such as unfair dismissal, how to avoid wage theft, and many other broader topics. young women through apprenticeships.

Details of the webinars and how to Sarah Gale was the 2014 MTA get involved can be found on the Queensland Apprentice of the Year, CLICK FOR MORE website. and won that award as a secondINFORMATION ON I look forward to continuing year light vehicle apprentice THE MTAQ WEBINAR SERIES the conversation in next month’s with Rego’s Mobile Mechanical Services at Atherton. Kimberley Motor Trader.

6 | Motor Trader April 2021

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Things you should know: ^ Offer available on new Low Fee, Low Fee Gold, Low Rate, Low Rate Gold and Low Rate Business (personal liability) credit cards applied for between 26/02/2021 and 30/06/2021. Offer not available on all other card types including CommBank Essentials and CommBank Neo, existing cards and switches from other card types, and will be forfeited if you switch to a different credit card type during the 15 month period. The 0% p.a. interest rate on purchases (but not balance transfers and cash advances) is valid for 15 months from the date of card approval. At the end of the 15 month period, the interest rate will convert to the standard variable purchase interest rate for your card type at that time. We reserve the right to close the offer prior to 30/06/2021. Eligibility criteria applies and can be found at commbank.com.au/biz-creditcards.

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Applications for finance are subject to the Bank’s normal credit approval processes. Full terms and conditions of use are included in the Letter of Offer issued by the Bank, should an offer be made. Fees and charges apply. This advice has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the advice, please consider its appropriateness to your circumstances.

Motor Trades Association of Queensland may receive a referral fee from Commonwealth Bank of Australia for each successful referral (excludes existing customers) on eligible Business Banking products and services.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL and Australian credit licence 234945.

Policy/Viewpoint

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

I

PREPARED THIS COLUMN under the shadow of the Greater Brisbane COVID-19 lockdown that was imposed at the end of March and which caused much uncertainty as we entered the Easter holiday. Such episodes are, sadly, not completely unexpected as we wait for the vaccination rollout to be completed. We reached out by phone to offer assistance where we could to members in the Greater Brisbane area that were affected, and it was a considerable relief that the lockdown lasted for just three days.

However, even such a relatively short lockdown does have consequences and, unfortunately, our first IR webinar, How to Avoid Wages Theft, had to be postponed.

We will reschedule in due course and hope that the large number who had registered to take part will attend the rearranged event.

ADVOCACY Mutual Recognition

This year, there’s been a busy round of advocacy duties requiring submissions to Commonwealth departments on policy matters relevant to members in the operation of their businesses. Two of these policies are now in the Federal 8 | Motor Trader April 2021

Parliament and being debated which I’m monitoring for their outcome. The Mutual Recognition Bill, which we supported in principle, seeks to introduce a uniform scheme of automatic mutual recognition for licensed occupations across the states and territories. The policy to provide greater ease for those with licensed occupations to pursue their trade across the various jurisdictions in Australia is worthy. We highlighted, however, the need for local registration, particularly in the instance of motor dealers (wreckers) from another jurisdiction operating in Queensland when the licence may have been suspended for an infringement in the original licensing jurisdiction. This means without local registration inappropriate actions could go undetected. Queensland has a strict compliance system (Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014 and the Motor Dealer and Auctioneers Regulation 2014). A Senate inquiry has been foreshadowed about the impact on various occupations in relation to the way in which those regulations apply across jurisdictions. We will make a submission drawing attention to our concerns, which is also shared by Queensland’s Office of Fair Trading.

Motor Vehicle Service and Repair

The second policy relates to the Competition and Consumer Amendment Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme Bill which was introduced into the House of Representatives in the last sitting week.

There is plenty of time for it to be debated as its measures do not come into effect until 1 July 2022. We made a submission, as it relevant to both our new car dealers and repair and vehicle servicing sector.

This bill establishes a mandatory scheme to promote competition in the nation’s

THIS YEAR, THERE’S BEEN A BUSY ROUND OF ADVOCACY DUTIES REQUIRING SUBMISSIONS TO COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENTS ON POLICY MATTERS RELEVANT TO MEMBERS IN THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR BUSINESSES. automotive sector by requiring all motor vehicle service and repair information be made available for purchase by independent repairers at a fair market price. It requires manufacturers to provide independent repairers with the same information they give to their authorised dealers – that is diagnostic, repair and servicing information covering the majority of vehicles including passenger and light-goods vehicles built from 2002.

Motor vehicle servicing and repair is a $23 billion industry with nearly 35,000 businesses with over 106,000 employees.

An issue to which we drew attention was the absence of a standard or uniform application process to access information.

Future Fuels Strategy

Another piece of policy work which is in the process of being signed off is the response to the Commonwealth’s Future

Fuels Strategy Discussion Paper.

It sought feedback on a set of proposed principles and priority areas that included enabling consumer choice, encourages industry development and reduces emissions in the road transport sector. From our perspective, the Discussion Paper missed the urgent need for national policy in the face of changing business and community attitudes to decarbonisation and the global energy transition. Compared with other advanced economies, Australia is behind the sustainable transition to new vehicle technologies incorporating electric and autonomous transport vehicles. By way of contrast, we drew attention to State and Territory jurisdictions which had set carbon emission and energy transition goals. The lack of a national policy and goals is contrary to the medium/longterm evolution of the automotive industry at time when technological advancements have redefined the way vehicles are manufactured, operated and maintained.

Motor Vehicle Safety and Technology

Upcoming is an important work in which members will have interest. I mentioned it in last month’s Viewpoint and it relates to the Queensland Parliament’s Transport and Resources Committee’s Inquiry into Vehicle Safety, Standards and Technology including immobiliser technology. Our Industry Divisions have developed views and policy position on matters that are the subject of the Terms of Reference including vehicle title, written-off vehicles and inspections.

We’ll give a comprehensive response to these and other issues the subject of the inquiry.

There have been some concerns raised with the safety and speed aspects April 2021 Motor Trader | 9

Policy/Viewpoint of electric pushbikes and stand-on scooters. When purchased, they are speed-limited. However, it appears customers are being offered information that could alter the speed limiter so that it can travel at increased speeds. These are not registered; able to be ridden by unlicensed riders on footpaths and parked there; and the only requirement is a bicycle helmet. Undoubtedly, the safety of riders and pedestrians alike is at risk.

We’ll raise alterations to speed-limited pushbikes and scooters in our submission to the Parliamentary Committee and also with officers of the Department of Transport at our next scheduled meeting.

An interesting matter on which that the Parliamentary Committee seeks views relates to remote engine immobilsers (REI). Queensland Police Union President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Leavers, has been a consistent advocate to have the remote technology fitted in all new cars to enable officers to remotely shut down the engines of vehicles involved in pursuits.

Ian Leavers has been proactive in his advocacy having written to the last eight Prime Ministers to have the Australian Design Rules (ADR) changed to require all new vehicles manufactured after a future date to be fitted with REIs. This would need to be a long- term goal as the ADRs are national standards for vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions and must meet international standards governed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Another suggestion from Ian Leaver is for the cost of REI technology and fitment to be defrayed by the insurers which would be one of the beneficiaries of such a scheme. Our submission will include a response to this proposal.

Consumer Guarantees

A timely reminder to members: The Treasury Laws Amendment (Acquisition 10 | Motor Trader April 2021

SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE SALES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN AUSTRALIA. SALES DOUBLED IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR VERSUS THE SAME PERIOD IN 2020. as Consumer- Financial Thresholds) 2020 Regulations come into force in 1 July 2021.

These broaden the Consumers Guarantees regime and provide greater protection for consumers and business customers. From 1 July 2021, the Consumer Guarantees will apply to supplies of goods and services valued up to $100,000 – currently $40,000 – providing greater protection for all consumers and in particular for business customers as they are more likely to purchase goods and services with a higher monetary value. It should be noted, suppliers that fail to comply with the Consumer Guarantees may face significant liabilities beyond the financial costs of remedying their non-compliance.

The Regulations were introduced in response to the Australian Consumer Law review, to which the Association made consistent responses.

FINALLY Some good news on the sales of electric vehicles in Australia. Sales doubled in the first two months of this year versus the same period in 2020. Recent new car sales data reveals 558 electric vehicles were reported as sold in January and February 2021 – an increase of 105.1 per cent over the same months last year. The increase could be higher if Tesla sales were included in official data, but it does not do so although it has operated in Australia since 2014.

Until next month, take care and stay safe.

FOR T H E MTA Q U E E N SL AND AWAR D S ALL FI NALIS RECEI TS VE ON E NIGH ACCO M T ’S M O DA TION ONE R A ND ETURN FLIGH TO BR T ISBAN E WHE THEY RE ARE LO C AT E D OUTSI DE SO UTH E AST QUEEN SLAND !

Awa rd e d to an in d ivi d u al or m em ber business who is a ro le m od e l i n t h e i r commu n i t y an d this is evidenced by their a ctio n s

Awa rd e d to an i n d i vid u al o r business that is suppo rting or i mp l e m e nt in g i n n ovat i on in the a uto m otive/m o bility indus t r y

Awarded to a female leader or business achieving success by their commitment to driving change in the automotive/mobility industry

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ONLY 5 0 0 WOR D S UBMISS ION R EQ U IR E D

Clinton Stroud from 4x4 FNQ

MTA|Q&A Based in Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, 4x4 FNQ has been servicing customers in Far North Queensland including the Gulf and Cape - for more than two decades.

Lara Wilde took the time to learn a little bit more about the business with owner Clinton Stroud.

WORDS AND PICTURES: LARA WILDE 12 | Motor Trader April 2021

How did 4x4 FNQ come to be?

CS: The business was started about 30 years

ago. In 1997 my parents bought 4x4 FNQ as a going concern. I worked for them in the shop before purchasing the business from them in 2013. After 24 years at the helm of 4x4 FNQ I am proud of how the business has grown and evolved.

What is your core business?

CS: At 4x4 FNQ we sell new and secondhand

vehicle parts with many orders being shipped out by courier to customers throughout Far North Queensland including remote properties in the Gulf and Cape York.

We have a mechanical workshop providing

“WE SPECIALISE IN SOURCING FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE SPARE PARTS. IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE BECOME EXPERTS AT SUPPLYING THE HARD-TOFIND PARTS FOR MAJOR REPAIRS. . .” a full range of repairs to two-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles. We specialise in sourcing four-wheel-drive spare parts.

In particular, we have become experts at supplying the hard-to-find parts for major repairs, including but not limited to suspension, transmissions and drivelines.

April 2021 Motor Trader | 13

Who currently makes up the 4x4 FNQ team?

CS: Our team at 4x4 FNQ is constantly

growing and evolving. Currently, Jason is my spare parts interpreter sourcing and supplying parts to customers, and Michelle takes care of our accounts and administration. Out in the mechanical workshop, Matt and Jacob work on cars and dismantle wrecked cars for parts. I am actually looking for an experienced motor mechanic to hire with the intention of then employing an apprentice to learn from them and become a skilled qualified mechanic in the future.

Is there a focus on professional development and training at 4x4 FNQ? CS: Very much so. Both Michelle and I

have completed our Diploma of Business Management, and I hold a Motor Dealers Licence and am a qualified Spare Parts Interpreter. I am currently going through the training required to complete my qualification as a motor mechanic. Many of

CLICK TO VISIT THE 4X4 FNQ FACEBOOK PAGE

14 | Motor Trader April 2021

“WE PLACE A LOT OF VALUE ON HAVING ACCESS TO A SKILLED WORKFORCE AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEAM IS FULLY PREPARED TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.” our past employees have completed their apprenticeships with 4x4 FNQ, going on to follow careers as fully qualified motor mechanics. We place a lot of value on having access to a skilled workforce and making sure that our team is fully prepared to provide the best service to our customers.

How much importance do you place on social media for marketing the business?

CS: Our Facebook page has a consistent

base of followers giving us an online presence that complements the other marketing we do. I have not had enough

April 2021 Motor Trader | 15

Clinton and his team

time of late to make it a bigger priority but building our online presence through social media is a part of our plan for expansion in the next few years.

What do you see as the greatest advancement in technology for your business?

CS: The internet. Being online is an

excellent form of affordable marketing and an important sales tool. The internet also allows us to easily and efficiently source information from our suppliers about parts.

Do you consider that the advancements in electric vehicles will have an impact on your business?

CS: The remote location of many of my customers means that the advancements in electric vehicles will be slower to have an impact on 4x4 FNQ. In the meantime, we are staying abreast of the latest training and developments through the information and resources provided by MTA Queensland.

16 | Motor Trader April 2021

What plans do you have for the 4x4 FNQ business in the next few years?

CS: The team at 4x4 FNQ has a lot to

achieve in the next few years. We are expanding the specialist workshops to meet our customer needs. There is a plan in place to increase our tyre sales and the amount of business driven through the dismantling and wrecking department.

We also have a focus on developing our online presence to drive online sales. By increasing our online capabilities, we will be better prepared to deal with future Covid restrictions and service our more remote customers.

Has Covid impacted your business?

CS: Very much so but we are learning to adapt and improvise.

What strategies have you put in place to address the impact of Covid for you and your customers?

CS: We have paid more attention to our cashflow strategies and business management to safeguard against future

“WE ALSO HAVE A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING OUR ONLINE PRESENCE TO DRIVE ONLINE SALES. BY INCREASING OUR ONLINE CAPABILITIES, WE WILL BE BETTER PREPARED TO DEAL WITH FUTURE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND SERVICE OUR MORE REMOTE CUSTOMERS.” lockdowns and government-sanctioned restrictions. We have also invested heavily in educating our customers about our new style of contactless purchasing and the expectations that our customers have.

What is the greatest challenge facing your business right now?

CS: Like many businesses, we are struggling to find skilled staff. 4x4 FNQ needs to hire an experienced lead mechanic to join

April 2021 Motor Trader | 17

our team. Until we can find that person, the business is being held back as we turn down opportunities to take on more work and expand the business. There is a large hole in the skilled workforce with high-paying employers, such as the mines, taking many of our skilled potential employees. We need more training and support for people to join the industry and become skilled. MTA Queensland does a great job of addressing this issue.

How long have you been a member of MTA Queensland?

CS: 4x4 FNQ first became a member of

MTA Queensland when we bought the business 24 years ago.

What has been the greatest benefit of your MTAQ membership?

CS: The Human Resource team

provides great advice and resources. They are an amazing tool to utilise to manage our staff.

What cars do you own?

CS: Of course, owning 4x4 FNQ 18 | Motor Trader April 2021

“WE NEED MORE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN THE INDUSTRY AND BECOME SKILLED. MTA QUEENSLAND DOES A GREAT JOB OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.” means I have to drive a four-wheel-drive.

I have two Toyota Hilux utes that are very reliable and useful for day-to-day activities in the business.

What do you do with your spare time?

CS: I am a massive fan of the V8 Supercars and Rugby League. When I feel like getting out and getting physical, I ride my mountain bike on some of the great local trails.

CLICK TO VISIT THE 4X4 FNQ WEBSITE

What advice would you give a young Clinton starting out in the business?

CS: Business isn’t always easy, so my

best advice would be to prepare for tough times and be a strong leader.

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Saturday 20 November 2021 6:00pm to 11:00pm

• COMMUNITY AWARD – awarded to an individual or member business who is a role model in their community and this is evidenced by their actions

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• WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARD – awarded to a female leader or business achieving success by their commitment to driving change in the automotive or mobility industry

Emporium Hotel Southbank PACKAGES

PLATINUM GOLD SILVER BRONZE SUPPORTER (4 available) (1 available) $7,500 $3,000 $750 $10,000 $12,000 + GST + GST + GST + GST + GST

INCLUSIONS Opportunity to present one of four awards

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Opportunity to present the guest speaker

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Logo featured on event welcome screen and multiple screens throughout the evening

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Speaking opportunity (2-3 minutes) MC recognition during the event Four Motor Trader e-magazine* quarter page advertisements Mentions in media releases, MTA Queensland website and Motor Trader e-magazine* articles One full page Motor Trader e-magazine* advertisement Inclusion in a pre and post-event MTA Queensland Facebook post

Logo and website link featured on MTA Queensland event webpage Logo, summary and weblink on ticketing website Listing on individual attendee tickets Complimentary tickets for 2021 Industry Awards Gala First right of refusal for same package for 2022 Industry Awards Gala *Motor Trader e-magazine 10,500 subscriptions

ENQUIRIES

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For further information contact events@mtaq.com.au | A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your package.

GET INVOLVED WITH MTA QUEENSLAND’S INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA

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WITH MORE THAN 200 STAKEHOLDERS EXPECTED TO ATTEND, IT IS A KEY OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING AND EXPOSURE THROUGH MOTOR TRADER E-MAGAZINE, SOCIAL MEDIA, MAINSTREAM MEDIA, EVENT COLLATERAL AND FOR SOME, A CHANCE TO SPEAK OR EVEN PRESENT ONE OF THE AWARDS ON THE NIGHT.

HE INDUSTRY AWARDS Gala is one of MTA Queensland’s major events being held in 2021.

This prestigious occasion is filled with entertainment and the presentation of awards to celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals and businesses throughout the state.

With more than 200 stakeholders expected to attend, it is a key opportunity for networking and exposure through Motor Trader e-Magazine, social media, mainstream media, event collateral and for some, a chance to speak or even present one of the awards on the night.

The best way to get involved is through our sponsorship program, but we only have and relevant audience. one Platinum and one Gold package left.

Offered on a first-come-best-dressed There are still Silver, Bronze and Supporter basis, these packages are going quickly, packages available, starting at $750. so get in soon!

These packages offer your CLICK TO VIEW Don’t miss this opportunity to join us at our business a fantastic opportunity SUPPORTER signature automotive event of the year! to directly engage with a captive OPTIONS

April 2021 Motor Trader | 21

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M TA QU E EN S L A N D IS A N I NDU S T RY SKI L L S A DV I S O R TO TH E Q L D G OV T. M AK E YO U R VOIC E H EA R D. CLICK HERE

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As an Industry Skill s Adv is or we en gage with e mployers, small business and industry s takehol ders to p rov ide h ig h qu ality, evidence-based ind us try adv ice an d intel l igen ce abou t cu rrent and emerging industry direc tion , region al s kil l s need s and training so lutio ns, j ob growth an d emp l oy ment opportu nities.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON 2021 AUTOMOTIVE PROJECTS

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WC’S SKILLS FOR Australia has commenced the main round of consultation for their 2021 Automotive Projects.

BACKGROUND Feedback on current automotive training indicates that the skills and knowledge for new technology which have arisen in recent years has created new job requirements in the following areas which are not represented or clearly defined in the national AUR Automotive Retail, Service and Repair and AUM Automotive Manufacturing Training Packages: • Accessory Fitting • Battery Electric Vehicle Repair • Heavy Vehicle Telematics Service and Repair.

If you have experience or interest in the above, PwC’s Skills for Australia is currently undertaking consultations with interested employers, industry

representatives, employees, trainers and assessors, students and other stakeholders to determine what changes must be made to training products to best support these new and emerging skills needs.

If you would like to be part of our upcoming consultation, please register your interest for a consultation and a PwC’s Skills for Australia representative will contact you.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED • Complete a survey. Answer questions via an online survey - click here for the survey.

• Attend a focus group. This can be arranged via a group conference call; • One-on-one phone interviews

FEEDBACK DEADLINE Consultation for these projects will end on Tuesday, 18 May 2021, 5pm AEST.

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE BACK TO WORK PROGRAM THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S Back to Work program is open for applications!

Since 2016, this game-changing program has been providing Queensland employers with the confidence to hire unemployed jobseekers, helping to change lives and improve businesses along the way. And at a time when jobs have never been more important it’s good to know that the Back to Work program has successfully helped connect more than 24,400 unemployed Queenslanders with jobs.

Through the program, eligible employers can access support payments of up to $20,000 when they hire jobseekers who have experienced a period of unemployment.

The program is available throughout regional Queensland and in some areas of South East Queensland. Eligibility criteria apply and applications are currently open until 30 June 2021.

To check eligibility criteria and find out how your business could benefit visit www.qld.gov.au/ backtowork or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

April 2021 Motor Trader | 23

UNDERSTANDING

ADAS 24 | Motor Trader April 2021

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HE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY is, as we all know, facing a level of disruption and technological advancement that is as great as it has ever known in its history.

From the electrification of vehicles through battery, hybrid and fuel-cell technology, to the incredible advances in safety standards through new and ever-improving driver assistance systems, vehicles are evolving quickly and the industry with it.

Safety has always been a priority, of course, and researchers, tech companies and automotive manufacturers have been making great strides in this area, developing sophisticated software and hardware that deliver incredible features - such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking - that are designed to make driving safer and easier, mitigating the chance and severity of accidents.

Collectively, the sensors, software and computers that make these safety features possible is called ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) and, in just the past few years, it has become common technology with almost no new model of car being launched without at least a handful of these safety features.

Take, for example, the venerable Toyota Camry. Today, according to the company’s Australian website, you can get an Ascent model with Toyota Safety Sense – a system that offers, amongst other features, Lane Departure Alert, Pre-Collision Safety System with pedestrian detection, Automatic High Beam and All-Speed Active Cruise Control – as well as Antilock Braking with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control, Hill-start Assist Control and Brake Hold, plus a Reversing camera with moving guidelines. Move up the model range and you can add Blind Spot Monitor with

26 | Motor Trader April 2021

Rear Cross Traffic Alert, front and rear clearance sensors and more.

You get the point. 15 years ago, barely any of these features existed, but safety technology has evolved to the point that an entry-level new car comes stuffed to the grilles with powerful, ADAS functionality.

Crucial to all those features working effectively are the

sensors – the gadgetry located strategically on the vehicle that scans the area around it and feeds massive quantities of data to the ECU computers to be processed.

While different manufacturers may use different sensors in different configurations, these sensors will likely include LiDAR (Light Detection and

Ranging), which emits a pulsed laser to measure the range to other objects; Radar (Radio Detecting and Ranging), which uses radio waves to determine the range and speed of objects nearby; Ultrasonic sensors (that send out sound waves to determine the distance to objects); and, of course, cameras, that rely on ‘seeing’ the space

15 YEARS AGO, BARELY ANY OF THESE FEATURES EXISTED, BUT SAFETY TECHNOLOGY HAS EVOLVED TO THE POINT THAT AN ENTRY-LEVEL NEW CAR COMES STUFFED TO THE GRILLES WITH POWERFUL, ADAS FUNCTIONALITY. just about any element of a car – from a windscreen or a bumper, from a grille to a body panel – then it’s very likely, especially on the newest car models, that an ADAS sensor will need to be recalibrated.

While ADAS systems are common, they are complex and, relatively speaking, a new technology. Getting to grips with what it does, how it works, and the requirements of working with it and its calibration, demands training, and that is where MTA Queensland steps in.

MTA QUEENSLAND ADAS COURSES

around them.

Keeping these sensors maintained and set to manufacturers settings is vital – when they are not working as intended, safety is compromised – and every sector of the automotive industry must take them into consideration when doing their work. If a job requires the removal or repair of

As the peak body representing the interests of Queensland automotive businesses, part of MTA Queensland’s mission is to offer members opportunities to upskill and train in a number of areas.

In March, the Association expanded its training offerings by launching ADASspecific courses in partnership with ADAS Solutions Australia – a Brisbane-based company that specialises in ADAS equipment sales and support, calibration services, and training.

Three ADAS courses are being offered – ADAS Awareness, ADAS Technician, and ADAS Vehicle Glass – and the decision to launch the courses is a reflection of how important and ubiquitous ADAS systems have now become and how they will affect every sector of the automotive industry.

“Most, if not all, businesses will need to have at least some understanding of this technology,” said Anthony Bonaccorso, April 2021 Motor Trader | 27

MTA Queensland Senior Business Development Manager. “However, for some, such as those involved in auto glass and collision repair, it is something they simply must know.

“Where possible, MTA Queensland offers the industry new technology training as it comes to fruition. Whether it’s PDR, HEV/ EV, Diesel Particulate Filter technology, or ADAS, it all plays a vital part in today’s vehicle maintenance and care and, at MTA Queensland, we have a responsibility to engage with and help industry as these technologies take hold. These ADAS courses are the latest additions to our training opportunities and will be invaluable to anyone in the industry who takes the arrival of these very complex systems seriously and wants to understand fully how they work and what they mean for their business.”

Founded in 2020 by Adrian Parkes, ADAS Solutions Australia offers what he calls ‘an all-encompassing ADAS solution’.

Calibration, training, technical support, and ADAS calibration equipment sales are all part of the company’s offerings, and the calibration services can be carried out either on-site at the company’s facility in Brisbane, or by a team of mobile technicians who can perform both dynamic or static calibrations if the customer has the space and environmental set-up for such a process to be performed.

It is the requirements of the calibration process that makes ADAS Solutions Australia’s business model of a centralised, 28 | Motor Trader April 2021

“THE INDUSTRY MUST GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ADAS AND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF REPAIRING THESE VEHICLES.” The challenge for the auto industry to understand and work effectively with ADAS systems is a point reinforced by Adrian Parkes, founder of ADAS Solutions Australia.

“We are on the cusp of radical change and there is a real awareness gap,” said Adrian.

“The industry must grasp the importance of the need

Adrian Parkes, ADAS founder

‘hub’ facility servicing other businesses, one that seems likely to be successful.

For Adrian, and his business partner Joe Walsh, ADAS Solutions offers the wider industry access to OEM-standard service without the headaches of the cost of investment in equipment or space. And the ‘hub’ service, in which automotive shops use facilities like ADAS Solutions’ Brisbane shop, is one that they plan to expand to other parts of the country.

In March, MTA Queensland and ADAS Solutions delivered the first of the courses on ADAS Awareness

ADAS Solutions Australia’s facility in Brisbane

As for the training and the partnership with MTA Queensland to deliver the three ADAS courses, Adrian said that with the lack of a recognised qualification within the Australian AUR system, the Association’s support was vital to getting the message out, build the awareness of ADAS systems, and ensure the industry get an idea of how important the technology is to their businesses.

“Having MTA Queensland’s support

does show how relevant and credible these courses are,” he said. “The association is open-minded and progressive in its thinking regarding automotive innovations and training, and I believe these CLICK courses are a great TO VISIT THE offer for members ADAS SOLUTIONS WEBSITE and represent the best introduction to the technology.”

April 2021 Motor Trader | 29

to understand ADAS and what the implications are of repairing these vehicles. At all levels of the industry, we need to understand what we are doing, what we are removing, what we are refitting, and what the implications are when we do that.”

The three ADAS courses on offer deliver a pretty complete look at the technology.

The ADAS Awareness course is aimed at business owners, estimators, assessors and people who need to understand what ADAS is, need to know the fundamentals, and may have a workplace requirement to identify ADAS components. It is a comprehensive introduction to the technology.

The ADAS Vehicle Glass course focuses on windscreen-mounted cameras – perhaps the most common ADAS-related component today, and one of the earliest pieces of ADAS technology to appear on cars.

“Our autoglass course offers an overview of fundamentals and diagnosis but is also

hands-on on how to calibrate and set up the camera,” said Adrian. “We show how that is done, and done properly, to get a successful outcome.”

The two-day ADAS Technician course is aimed at those with prior ADAS diagnostic experience and offers a deep dive into the technology.

“This is an allencompassing course,” said Adrian. “It covers all the fundamentals - the technical information; all facets of radar, lidar, and 360-degree view systems; as well as diagnosis and fault-finding techniques; the risks associated with incorrect repair method

and much more. That course will see us in the workshop, working on a car’s systems, looking at data, calibration methods and actually preforming calibrations.

“In the absence of a qualification in the Australian system – and we may be still

“IN THE ABSENCE OF A QUALIFICATION IN THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM . . .

THESE COURSES REPRESENT THE BEST INTRODUCTION AND TRAINING IN ADAS.” some way from having anything within the AUR system - these courses represent the best introduction and training in ADAS.” In March, MTA Queensland and ADAS Solutions delivered the first of the courses on ADAS Awareness.

Amongst the participants was Mick Hamilton, Hail Repair Commercial Manager for the Action Smart Group – a market leading hail repair specialist.

While Action Smart Group does offer ADAS calibration as part of its repair services, Mick said it was always useful to gain more insight and information, and that being across new technology is a priority.

“Adrian was very informative and

has a great deal of knowledge about ADAS, so it was a very good day,” he said.

“Manufacturers are looking for repairers that are fully aware of the features on their vehicles so they can be repaired correctly and properly, so you have to stay up to date or you fall by the wayside.

“Information is king. The more you understand about a motor vehicle - about how it is put together and about its features - will only assist everybody in the long run.”

Also in attendance was Scott Wiseman, National Key Accounts & OEM Manager – Refinish for Axalta Coating Systems.

“Attending the ADAS Awareness course was a real eye-opener in terms of not just what is in the marketplace now, but continuing technological advances from the OEMs coming down the pipeline,” said Scott.

“Axalta, as a key industry participant, is very focused on the broader collision industry, both here and globally, and understanding what the challenges and impacts are for repair facilities. One of the ways we support the industry is by rolling our sleeves up and getting into the detail of the coal-face issues, and ADAS is a key issue challenging all segments of the industry, both now and into the near future.

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“It is important for Axalta’s teams of Technical and Business Services consultants to be abreast of this, so we can help develop solutions for both our customers and the industry more broadly, and we would encourage industry participants looking to further their knowledge to consider this or other similar education courses to remain at the forefront of the advances in vehicle technology.”

WHAT IS ADAS CALIBRATION?

ADAS calibration essentially boils down to using targets and reflectors to realign the various sensors back to OEM requirements. That sounds simple enough, but the technology - as it is used in cars - is relatively new, and there are plenty of considerations to be taken into account.

There are several manufacturers of calibration equipment – Autel, Hella, Bosch, and Texa are, perhaps, the best known - and several different pieces of equipment may be required for the calibration of different types of sensors: Lidar requires one type of instrument, radar and cameras another, nightvision (infrared) another, and so on.

Even headlights, which can be very sophisticated, may require their own calibration equipment.

Beyond that, there are two different types of calibration processes – dynamic and static.

“Dynamic means the calibration is done on the road and, in that case, we use diagnostic software to instigate calibration and then drive to meet the requirements of that calibration,” explained Adrian. “Some manufacturers - including Ford, Holden, Jeep, Chrysler, and BMW - do favour this type of method.”

Taken into consideration during a dynamic calibration, and depending on the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer, are things such as speed, whether a road 32 | Motor Trader April 2021

“. . . THERE IS AN AWARENESS GAP WITHIN INDUSTRY, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN, THROUGH COURSES SUCH AS THE ONES WE ARE DELIVERING WITH MTA QUEENSLAND, RAISE THAT AWARENESS.” is straight or curved, looking at road signs, looking at white lines, looking at barriers, and maintaining a set distance from a moving vehicle ahead.

“A static calibration takes place in a workshop and strategically placed hardware - such as a target, a reflector, a doppler or night-vision calibrator – is used to perform that job,” said Adrian. “Some manufacturers, including Subaru and Toyota, favour static calibration for their models.”

It is, in fact, the requirements of the calibration process that makes ADAS something of a dilemma for the automotive industry.

The complexity of the technology, the different makes of ADAS components, the number of calibration instruments that may be required to service all those components, and the different requirements of vehicle manufacturers, can make the investment in offering a

full calibration service a heavy burden for any business. On top of that is the environmental requirements for each type of calibration process.

For the dynamic calibration, a vehicle must be taken out on the road and run through a variety of measurement and alignment processes. Some of these require that a vehicle be run at a certain speed for a certain length of time – an option not always available for businesses in a city or town where traffic is heavy.

“If we take the dynamic calibration for a Ford Ranger, for example – amongst other things, the calibration requires that it be able to lock onto another vehicle in front of it that is travelling over 55km/h, and do so for about 15 minutes,” said Adrian. “Put yourself in a major city such as Melbourne on a Friday afternoon and its unlikely you’ll be able to do that, and you might even have to head out of town. That is time-consuming.

“You are also somewhat at the mercy of the weather. A dynamic calibration requires the sensors to see traffic signs, white lines on the road, barriers and so on – and in particularly poor weather that may be a problem.”

While a static calibration means the environment can be controlled, the dilemma here is also one of location.

“A static calibration requires space, and that is something that workshops, even dealerships, may not have,” said Adrian.

“For example, for a calibration on the front radar of a Maxda CX-9, the OEM requirement is that the equipment be set up five metres in front of the vehicle and that there be another five metres of space beyond that. The vehicle itself is five metres long, so that all adds up to 15 metres of space being needed for just that job. That is a lot of space to find in any workshop.”

All this is relatively new to the industry and, as with other technological developments in automotive, the evolution and uptake of ADAS systems moves fast.

“In the last 12 to 18 months, it has developed very rapidly, is being adopted by everyone, and is in just about everything on the road. And the automotive industry has to come to terms with that,” said Adrian.

“I’ve been in the industry basically all my life and while I’ve seen changes in the industry, they have been relatively subtle.

ADAS is the first thing that has come along that is totally outside of the industry norm and concerns components - such as radar and lidar - that are not typically automotive.

“Not surprisingly, there is an awareness gap within industry, and I hope that we can, through CLICK courses such as the ones FOR MORE INFORMATION we are delivering with MTA ON THE ADAS Queensland, raise that COURSES awareness. If you are in the industry, you need to know.

You have to know.”

April 2021 Motor Trader | 33

PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER TRAINING & INNOVATION

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HE PAST FEW years have seen the humble car go through extraordinary technological evolution. Today, they are as much computers and infotainmentsystems-on-wheels as they are modes of transportation we use to get from A to B. Energising this transformation is computing power, and amongst the many lessons we have learned over the past 15 months, it is that computers and computer chips - as well as smartphones and video games consoles - are essential items.

COVID-19 lockdowns fuelled sales of these devices as people across the globe had to work from home (difficult to do without a computer and the ability to hold those Zoom meetings), keep in touch with the outside world and get instant access to news and health alerts (smartphones are extremely useful for that), and find a way to keep the kids occupied while schools were closed and excursions prohibited (video games consoles were clearly a popular choice to accomplish that – and just for the kids, you understand, not for their dads!).

The automotive industry, seeing a dip in demand for their cars as COVID-19 struck at the start of 2020, made the move, quite understandably, to cut its orders for computer chips, and chipmakers shifted

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. . . WHILE 2020 HAS TAUGHT US A LOT, LEARNING TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN AND BEING READY FOR WILD MARKET FLUCTUATIONS IN THIS VERY HIGH-TECH WORLD, HAS BEEN A BIG, AND PAINFUL, LESSON. their production lines to meet the growing demand from those other device sectors.

Towards the end of the year, however, demand for cars was back, and in a big way, and suddenly carmakers found themselves without the chips to build the cars to meet that demand. The chipmakers, meanwhile, were busy fulfilling commitments to the other sectors.

Such is the lead-in time for computer chip orders to be fulfilled that it will reportedly take quite a while for everything to get back to normal and, in the meantime, the shortage has had a significant effect on the auto industry with manufacturers - Hyundai, GM, and Stellantis among them - slowing down or pausing vehicle production at some facilities as they wait on chip supply to catch up.

This does feel like a major stumble by vehicle manufacturers - computer chips are as important to their products now as steel or rubber – and while 2020 has taught us a lot, learning to keep a close eye on your supply chain and being ready for wild market fluctuations in this very high-tech world has been a big, and painful, lesson.

VOLKSWAGEN OR VOLTSWAGEN? I am sure many of you will have read the reports from a few days ago confirming Volkswagen in the U.S. was set to change

Image credit: David Jancik / Shutterstock.com

An Eye on Innovation

its name to Voltswagen – a reflection, the company claimed in a statement on its website, of its commitment to electric vehicle technology and ‘future-forward investment in e-mobility’.

Within a day or two, this brand name announcement was questioned and reported by media outlets to be an early April Fool’s Day gag – a marketing exercise apparently arranged to push the launch of Volkswagen’s ID.4 in the U.S. market.

The clever play on the company’s name certainly made plenty of headlines and, as a marketing exercise, I guess that would make it a success.

Car manufacturers do sometimes put out April Fool’s Day media releases, (it is wise to question everything they say when it gets close to the big day), but the fact that this one really caught on and was, frankly, something that sounded vaguely plausible, demonstrates how much effort is being put into the EV cause. And that commitment is no joke.

A NOTE ON ADAS TRAINING Last month, MTA Queensland, in partnership with ADAS Solutions Australia, delivered the first of its courses focusing on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

That first course was ADAS Awareness – a course aimed at business owners, estimators, assessors, and others who need to understand what ADAS is, need to know its fundamentals, and may have a workplace requirement to identify ADAS components.

The course was exceptionally well received by those who participated, and that feedback does indicate how important it is that MTA Queensland offer such training options. The other ADAS courses available are the ADAS Vehicle Glass course and the two-day ADAS Technician course, which offers a comprehensive, hands-on, deep dive into the technology, calibration, and diagnostics.

I cannot state too strongly how important it is that the industry come to grips with ADAS. The safety features the system enables through sensors such as Lidar and Radar are now common on all new vehicles and just about every sector of the automotive industry – from auto glass to smash repair, from mechanical to tyre fitting and wheel alignments – must understand how important it is that their work include the correct calibration of these sensors. Their accuracy and, by extension, the safe working of the vehicle, is too important to ignore.

MTA Queensland, as the peak industry body for the automotive industry, aims to provide information, advice, and training opportunities on new technologies that impact automotive businesses. ADAS is a big one, and our three ADAS courses offer a great opportunity to be engaged and upskill in this important area.

You can find out more about the courses by clicking HERE. April 2021 Motor Trader | 35

Auto innovation news

SEA ELECTRIC LAUNCHES AUSTRALIA’S FIRST LOCALLY ASSEMBLED ELECTRIC TRUCKS

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HE ELECTRIC VEHICLE revolution, while turning slowly in Australia, is at least turning, and news last month was encouraging with the announcement from Melbourne-based electric commercial vehicle specialist SEA Electric that it has begun the commercial production of electric trucks.

Two SEA Electric-badged vehicles - the SEA 300 and SEA 500 which are based on the Hino 500 Series and Hino 300 Series models - are now available for purchase.

The trucks are powered by SEA Electric’s SEA-Drive Power-System which is available in various performance and range packages to suit applications from 4.5 tonne car licence vehicles 36 | Motor Trader April 2021

THESE TRUCKS TRULY MEET A NEED IN THE MARKETPLACE, AND PRIOR TO THIS LAUNCH, WE HAVE RECEIVED PRE-ORDERS FOR 46 VEHICLES FROM SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST COMPANIES AND COUNCILS. through to 22.5 tonne 3-axle trucks.

Previously only available as a retrofit option for existing diesel vehicles, the trucks are assembled from Semi Knocked Down (SKD) kits, complete with a fully integrated SEA-Drive Power-System from new.

The company says that real-world testing

of in-service vehicles that travel up to 1000km per week has revealed daily recharging costs of less than $14 per day using standard offpeak electricity prices of 15c per kWh. SEA Electric also says that the system is future proofed with an upgradable plug and play architecture, meaning it can be charged using the world’s biggest charging network, which is 415V 3-phase power via the truck’s standard on-board charging equipment, with optional DC fast charging also available.

The fast-charging option enables a charging rate four times faster than standard, meaning range extending topups could be delivered during lunch hour or vehicle loading.

According to the company, interest in the two electric-truck options has been excellent.

“SEA Electric is privileged to be able to bring this Australian first to the marketplace,” said Glen Walker, SEA Electric Regional Director for Oceania.

“These trucks truly meet a need in the marketplace, and prior to this launch, we have received pre-orders for 46 vehicles from some of Australia’s biggest companies and councils.

“It represents an exciting phase in global EV development, and this places SEA Electric at the forefront.

“Our electric Power System features a host of key features, including smooth application of torque, industry-leading range, whisper quiet operation, and importantly, a reduction in the truck’s carbon footprint, with zero emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and

methane,” added Mr Walker.

“SEA-Drive technology performs exceptionally well in congested urban environments, where pollution reduction is needed most, and as demonstrated by realworld experience from our global vehicle deployments it provides competitive whole of life operating costs when compared to traditional diesel vehicles.”

Operating costs, pollution reduction and possible future income streams are all part of the chatter about electric vehicles in general, and SEA electric makes the point that, in the commercial setting, such considerations are even more potent.

“There are a range of advantages provided by the SEA-Drive Power-System, including reduced service costs, with a routine four-hour inspection required every six months, and minimal wear on service brakes due to the use of regenerative braking,” Mr Walker.

“In Australia, carbon dioxide emissions from transport are now the second highest behind electricity generation, and are forecast to continue rising.

“With this announcement, the freight industry can now react – safe in the knowledge that their freight product offering will be enhanced in their clients’ eyes.

“Mass uptake of electric trucks in urban Australia has the potential to save millions of tonnes of CO2 each year, and provide up to 40,000 MWh of mobile battery storage, which is a potential future revenue stream.”

The SEA 300 and SEA 500 ARE currently on sale from 15 fully accredited SEA Electric dealers nationwide that can also provide service and parts support, including any work carried out under the standard three-year warranty.

CLICK TO Roadside Assistance FIND OUT MORE AT SEA ELECTRIC’S will be available via WEBSITE industry leading provider NTI for the life of the warranty period.

April 2021 Motor Trader | 37

Auto innovation news

NISSAN RECYCLING EV BATTERIES FOR USE IN FACTORY LOGISTICS

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HE EVOLUTION OF battery and autonomous technology within the automotive industry is not restricted just to the vehicles on the road, although that is where much media attention is focused. The tech is, in fact, being utilised within the factory and manufacturing setting and Nissan has given an insight into its use of them through its automated guided vehicles, or AGVs. These AGVs are used to deliver parts to workers in a manufacturing facility, and to deliver those components along a predetermined magnetic route as vehicles

VIDEO: NISSAN’S CAR FACTORY ASSISTANTS

are built. This saves the worker time as there is no need for them to search for a component themselves, and it also boosts a plant’s efficiency.

At its Oppama plant, south of Tokyo, Nissan uses more than 700 AGVs, and across its global network of factories, the company says it uses more than 4000 of the units.

The AGVs uses sensors to move autonomously, while power comes from repurposed batteries from the Nissan LEAF EV. The first-generation LEAF was fitted with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack. These lithium-ion packs were made by combining 48 modules. About eight years ago, Nissan says its engineers found a way to take three of these modules, repackage them and fit them inside an AGV. Last year, Nissan says they took this idea to a new level by using

HONDA, KTM, PIAGGIO AND YAMAHA LOOK TO CREATE SWAPPABLE BATTERIES CONSORTIUM

AGVS WITH THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES, NEW OR REPURPOSED, CHARGE FASTER AND WORKERS DO NOT NEED TO TAKE OUT THE BATTERIES TO PLUG THEM IN. repurposed battery modules, instead of new ones, to power AGVs. AGVs with the lithium-ion batteries, new or repurposed, charge faster and workers do not need to take out the batteries to plug them in. The AGVs stop momentarily at a charging station along their route and incrementally top up at each passing.

While the AGVs currently run on a magnetic path created for them, Nissan says that developments in autonomous driving offer exciting potential as AGVs require less technology than cars as they work within a more controlled and predictable environment.

HONDA HAS SIGNED a letter of intent with KTM AG, Piaggio & C SpA and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. to set up a Swappable Batteries Consortium for Motorcycles and Light Electric Vehicles.

According to a statement released by the company in March, ‘the founding members of the Consortium believe that the availability of a standardised swappable battery system would both promote the widespread use of light electric vehicles and contribute to a more sustainable life-cycle management of batteries used in the transport sector’.

The aim of the Consortium will be to define the standardised technical specs of the swappable battery system for vehicles belonging to the L-category – mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles – and the group will start its activities in May this year. The four members encourage all interested stakeholders to join the cooperation.

“The worldwide electrification effort to reduce CO2 on a global scale is accelerating, especially in Europe,” said Noriaki Abe, Managing Office Motorcycle Operations at Honda.

“For the widespread adoption of electric motorcycles, problems such as travel distance and charging times need to be addressed, and swappable batteries are a promising solution.

Considering customer convenience, standardisation of swappable batteries and wide adoption of battery systems is vital, which is why the four member manufacturers agreed to form the Consortium.”

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Auto innovation news

MICHELIN AIMS FOR ITS TYRES TO BE 100% SUSTAINABLE BY 2050

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ICHELIN SAYS IT is committing to making its tyres 100 per cent sustainable by 2050. The company says that nearly 30 per cent of the components used in the manufacture of its tyres are already made from natural, recycled or otherwise sustainable raw materials.

While natural rubber is the main component of its products, Michelin says more than 200 ingredients are used - including metal, fibres and components that strengthen a tyre’s structure, like carbon black, silica and plasticisers - and that it has an R&D team committed to finding ways to improve tyre safety, durability and performance while working towards that 100 per cent sustainability goal.

The company has forged partnerships with companies that it says will help it meet its ambitious target, including

Michelin Pilot Sport EV

Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles - two companies with which it is working on producing bio-sourced butadiene to replace petroleum-based butadiene.

Using the biomass from wood, rice husks, leaves, corn stalks and other plant waste, 4.2 million tonnes of wood chips could be incorporated into Michelin tyres every year.

Another partnership is with Canadabased Pyrowave that can produce recycled styrene from plastics found in packaging – such as yogurt pots and food trays . Styrene is used to manufacture synthetic rubber

MICHELIN SAYS IT IS ALSO WORKING WITH FRENCH START-UP CARBIOS TO RECYCLE PLASTICS INTO THE POLYESTER YARN USED IN TYRE MANUFACTURING.

for tyres and a wide variety of consumer goods.

Michelin says it is also working with French start-up Carbios to recycle plastics into a polyester yarn used in tyre manufacturing. It claims that some four billion plastic bottles could potentially be recycled into its tyres every year.

In February, Michelin also announced that it will launch the construction of its first tyre recycling plant with Swedish company Enviro. The Swedish company has developed a technology to recover carbon black, pyrolysis oil, steel, gas and other new, high-quality reusable materials from end-of-life tyres.

THE PILOT SPORT EV TYRE Along with the announcement of its 100 per cent sustainable tyre goal, Michelin has also launched its first tyre designed to address the specific demands made by electric sports cars – the Michelin Pilot Sport EV. The tyre comes via a development process that benefitted directly from the company’s involvement in the Formula E electric vehicle motorsport series.

The Michelin Pilot Sport EV incorporates ElectricGrip CompoundTM technology which features a hard compound for the centre of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tyre.

The company says the tyre offers optimal grip on dry and wet roads (taking into account the higher weight and weight distribution characteristics associated with electric sports cars), delivers excellent resistance to wear in response to the high torque and acceleration forces of EV performance cars, and increases range. It also offers a substantial decrease in road noise thanks to acoustic technology.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER SAY AIR PURIFICATION TECH INHIBITS VIRUSES AND BACTERIA BY UP TO 97 PER CENT JAGUAR LAND ROVER’S (JLR) has reported that its future cabin air purification technology has been shown in laboratory tests to inhibit viruses and airborne bacteria by as much as 97 per cent. The prototype HVAC system uses Panasonic’s nanoe X technology to inhibit harmful bacteria and viruses.

JLR partnered with microbiology and virology lab Perfectus Biomed Ltd to perform the laboratory-based sealed-chamber test designed to simulate a vehicle ventilation system in recirculation mode over a 30-minute cycle. The company says that the research showed viruses and bacteria were inhibited by as much as 97 per cent and that the nanoe X technology is also able to inhibit the novel coronavirus.

“Our customers’ wellbeing is of paramount importance to us – and now, more than ever, we are all looking for technological solutions that can help take care of our loved ones,” said Dr Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Medical Officer. “The independent research, developed and commissioned by our expert engineers, is just one of the ways we are working to assure our customers that harmful pathogens are being minimised, providing a cleaner environment for passengers inside the cabin and setting new standards in the ownership experience.”

VIDEO: JAGUAR LAND ROVER AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM

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Auto innovation news

BMW GROUP INVESTS IN METHOD FOR CO2-FREE STEEL PRODUCTION

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HE BMW GROUP is investing in an innovative method for CO2-free steel production, developed by American start-up Boston Metal, through its venture capital fund, BMW i Ventures.

Steel is one of the most important materials in car production, and will continue to be for future vehicle generations as a building material for car bodies and many components.

BMW Group press plants in Europe process more than half a million tonnes of steel per year.

The investment by BMW into the Boston Metal process is part of the company’s efforts to significantly reduce CO2 emissions across the supplier network.

In conventional steel production, BMW says blast furnaces are used which generate carbon dioxide. Boston Metal uses electricity for its new technology, which, by means of an electrolysis cell, produces molten iron that is later processed into steel. If electricity from renewable energies is used for this process, then BMW says this process of steel production is carbonfree. The start-up company aims to build demonstration facilities for this process over the next few years and further develop it for use on an industrial scale.

“We systematically identify the raw materials and components in our supplier network with the highest CO2 emissions from production. Steel is one of them, but it is vital to car production. For this reason, we have set ourselves the goal of

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continuously reducing CO2 emissions in the steel supply chain. By 2030, CO2 emissions should be about two million tonnes lower than today’s figure,” said Dr Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network.

The BMW Group has committed to increasing its percentage of recycled raw materials by 2030 and to use raw materials multiple times. The company says that all steel waste produced at its press plants – for example, when doors are punched out – is either reused through a direct material cycle or sent back to the steel producer via steel traders and processed into new steel.

The use of secondary material reduces CO2 emissions substantially compared to primary material, conserves natural resources and also reduces the amount of energy needed for production.

TOYOTA OPENS HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FACILITY IN VICTORIA

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OYOTA HAS COMMISSIONED Victoria’s first commercial-grade permanent hydrogen production, storage and refuelling facility at its former manufacturing site at Altona in Melbourne.

Hydrogen is produced on site by a 200kW electrolyser that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen components and has the capacity to produce up to 80kg of hydrogen per day.

Power for the electrolyser is drawn from a combination of an 87kW solar array, a 100kW battery storage and mains grid depending on what’s available at the time.

The hydrogen is then stored in a bank of storage tubes at medium and high pressure to be able to refuel both the fuel-cell forklifts that Toyota uses in other parts of the Altona complex, as well as FCEVs like the Mirai.

The challenge to the broad-scale introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles in Australia has been a lack of refuelling infrastructure and Toyota’s facility is, the company says, an important step in addressing this challenge.

“GLOBALLY, TOYOTA IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS FROM ITS VEHICLES AND PLANTS UNDER THE TOYOTA ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE 2050. . .”

“Globally, Toyota is committed to achieving zero CO2 emissions from its vehicles and plants under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 and the commissioning of our hydrogen refuelling facility is an important step towards achieving that goal,” said Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor.

“By demonstrating the viability of renewably-produced hydrogen as an automotive and energy fuel through this project, Toyota and its partners in government and business are pioneering a cleaner, more sustainable future that will encourage the further acceptance of this technology.”

Toyota Hydrogen Centre, Victoria

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Auto innovation news

ACT GOVT REGISTERS HYUNDAI FUEL-CELL NEXO INTO ITS FLEET

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0 ZERO-EMISSION HYUNDAI NEXO hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles have been registered as part of the ACT government fleet.

The NEXO fleet represents the first deployment of fully certified, ADR-approved Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) in Australia, as well as the first use of hydrogen vehicles by a Government in the country.

According to Hyundai, the initial 20 ACT government NEXO vehicles are due to be followed by a fleet of five for the QLD government.

Queensland Treasurer, Cameron Dick MP said in the company’s statement that the aim is to demonstrate the viability of an FCEV for normal road use, whether for private motorists or the government.

“We want to demonstrate to the Queensland community that these Hyundai NEXO

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vehicles can be on the road like any other vehicle,” he said.

“They’ll be seamlessly introduced into the QFleet range of vehicles to show the public that hydrogen can be used safely.”

The NEXO has a range of 666km - on the World harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) - with a refueling time of three to five minutes.

As an FCEV, the NEXO emits only water vapour from its exhaust and, creates less

“THEY’LL BE SEAMLESSLY INTRODUCED INTO THE QFLEET RANGE OF VEHICLES TO SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT HYDROGEN CAN BE USED SAFELY.”

HYUNDAI & SHELL SIGN NEW CLEAN ENERGY AGREEMENT

Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell

external noise than a conventional vehicle, features a suite of advanced driving capabilities and has a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

“The deployment of 20 NEXO fuel cell electric vehicles for the ACT government is a significant milestone in Hyundai’s longterm commitment to hydrogen as a key to zero-emissions transport solutions for Australia,” said Jun Heo, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company Australia.

“As part of a line-up that includes the hybrid and plug-in hybrid IONIQ, and the pure electric IONIQ and Kona models, NEXO also underscores Hyundai’s leadership in eco-mobility.”

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY has signed a new five-year Global Business Cooperation Agreement with energy giant Shell. The agreement, which runs through 2026, marks the fourth extension of the partnership, with the new deal focusing on clean energy and carbon reduction.

Hyundai says it is looking to increase eco-friendly production and continue its transformation as a Smart Mobility Solution Provider.

Shell will look to expand its role in providing Hyundai with cleaner mobility solutions.

The partnership will undertake cooperative projects, including a plan to establish new type of service channels specialised for mobility service providers, primarily in Asia.

Both companies will also discuss cooperation schemes for energy supply business, such as EV and FCEV charging services.

There is a mutual commitment to leverage technology to deliver the energy transition, and the global cooperation agreement also maintains Hyundai’s recommendation for Shell lubricants across its global aftermarket network. The two companies run joint R&D programs including for the first-fill lubricants to meet Hyundai’s specific engine requirements, which could extend for collaboration on e-Fluids development for EVs.

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Auto innovation news

Triumph TE-1 electric bike

TRIUMPH AND WILLIAMS ADVANCED ENGINEERING REVEAL E-POWERTRAIN FOR TE-1 PROJECT

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RIUMPH IS A famous name in the motorcycle world and has, in its original incarnation as well as the new, delivered innovative, attractive twowheeled machines. And that track record looks set to continue as the company, along with partners, has revealed more details on its TE-1 electric bike project as it completes phase 2 of a four-phase program.

Starting in May 2019, the TE-1 project has focused on developing specialist electric motorcycle technology and integrated solutions, and comes via a collaboration between Triumph, Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG at the 46 | Motor Trader April 2021

VIDEO: PROJECT TRIUMPH TE-1

University of Warwick. Funding has been provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles via Innovate UK – a public body that is part of the government’s UK Research and Innovation organisation.

Central to the project is the new battery powertrain developed by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), and the companies claim the battery system will allow riders to use more electric power and deliver outstanding performance regardless of battery charge, as well as offering rapid charging times.

The all-new battery has peak power of 170kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorbike to deliver 130kW of peak power and 80kW of continuous power. The 360volt system also enables a fast-charging time of under 20mins (0-80 per cent), and will, the companies say, be paired with a market-leading target range.

WAE provided the lightweight battery design and integration capability, using its test and development facilities to deliver a battery management system combined with vehicle control unit. Results have, the company says, resulted in performance that exceeds any current technology in terms of power and energy density.

WAE also adjusted the battery module layout to balance mass and positioning within the prototype chassis taking into consideration centre of gravity, space and relationship with the powertrain and charging approach. A bespoke vehicle control unit has been integrated into the battery pack to minimise weight and packaging.

“The completion of Phase 2, and the promising results achieved to date, provide an exciting glimpse of the potential electric future and showcase the talent and innovation of this unique British collaboration,” said Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO, in a statement. “This important project will provide one of the foundations for our future electric motorcycle strategy, which is ultimately focused on delivering what riders want from their Triumph; the perfect balance of performance, handling and real-world usability, with genuine Triumph character.”

SMARTPHONE GIANT XIAOMI TO ENTER EV MARKET CHINA’S XIAOMI – the world’s thirdlargest maker of smartphones– has announced plans to establish an electric vehicle business and invest a whopping $US10 billion ($AU13.1 billion) into the project over the next decade.

Xiaomi’s founder and current Chairman and CEO, Lei Jun, will also head-up the EV business as CEO. “Xiaomi hopes to offer quality smart electric vehicles to let everyone in the world enjoy smart living anytime, anywhere,” the company said in a statement.

The company’s plan to enter the EV market is, in the current climate, not a surprise. Other technology companies – including Foxconn, Sony, Baidu and, if the rumours turn out to be true, Apple – are already involved in the sector.

EVs are also, of course, electronic ‘gadgets’, and it doesn’t take a massive leap in thinking to believe a tech company’s expertise in the world of smartphones and other small devices can be beefed up to electric cars.

Add to all that the belief that the growth in EV sales will be enormous in the coming years and we can probably expect more tech companies to get in on the action.

Quoted on the Xiaomi blog pages, Lei Jun said: ““Smart electric vehicles represent one of the largest business opportunities in the next decade and represent an indispensable component of smart living. Entering this business is a natural choice for us as we expand our smart AIoT ecosystem and fulfill our mission of letting everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology.”

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Classic supercar

LAMBORGHIN 48 | Motor Trader April 2021

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition

19 74-199 0

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Lamborghini Countach Concept LP500

1974-1990

LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH F OR THOSE OF us who are approaching, or are already in, that period of our existence when slightly aching joints are a permanent fact of life and hair has, for some unknown and thoroughly unfair evolutionary reason, migrated from the top of our heads to our ears, there is a car that was pretty much the only one that mattered when we were kids.

That car was the Lamborghini Countach.

It looked outrageous; was capable, we were certain, of warp speed; and anyone driving it was so incredibly cool as to be some combination of James Bond and Steve McQueen. Its bonkers futuristic styling, together with brutal power and monster performance, made it THE supercar to aspire to own, and posters of the Countach

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. . . THE LP500, PAINTED IN A SUITABLY FLAMBOYANT YELLOW, HAD THE INTERNAL COMPANY CODE NUMBER OF LP112 - WHERE LP INDICATED THE REAR LONGITUDINAL POSITION . . . OF THE CONCEPT’S MASSIVE 5-LITRE, V12 ENGINE. adorned many a teenager’s bedroom wall in the 1970s and ’80s.

The Countach project began when Lamborghini’s founder – Ferruccio Lamborghini – began planning for a suitable replacement for the company’s aging, though still beautiful, Miura model. Keen to maintain the image of the company as being at the forefront

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Lamborghini Countach LP400

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of style and technology, the development team included designer Marcello Gandini (responsible for the Miura and early iterations of Bugatti’s EB110) and resulted in the unveiling of the Countach prototype at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971.

That particular car, the LP500, painted in a suitably flamboyant yellow, had the internal company code number of LP112 - where LP indicated the rear longitudinal position (‘Longitudinale Posteriore’ in Italian) of the concept’s massive 5-litre, V12 engine, and was unveiled in Geneva to a rapturous response. The company moved to satisfy the clamour from potential customers and transform the futuristic show car into a production model.

This first incarnation of the production Countach, the LP400, was launched in 1974, and set the standard for all future models.

It was low and wide, had the famous scissor

THIS FIRST INCARNATION OF THE COUNTACH, THE LP400, WAS LAUNCHED IN 1974, AND SET THE STANDARD FOR ALL FUTURE MODELS.

doors (the first production car to have them) with huge air ducts sitting just behind them and, in this debut model, had an innovative ‘periscope’ mirror system so drivers could actually see what was going on behind them.

The Countach was trim at 1275kg thanks to the use of materials such as fibreglass and aluminium in its construction, and had independent suspension all round, disc brakes, and sat on 14-inch wheels that were 7.5 inches wide at the front and 9.5 inches wide at the rear.

Inside, the Countach was a smart affair.

While Lamborghini had toyed with the idea of digital dash system, analogue gauges were eventually used, and everything was swathed in suede and leather.

Powering the original Countach was not the 5-litre of the LP500 concept but rather Lamborghini’s 4-litre, V12 that developed 276kW and 361Nm of torque. That power was sent through the company’s own fivespeed gearbox and was good enough to punt the car to a top speed of 260km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds – pretty special performance numbers for the time.

Around 150 units of the LP400 were built between 1974 and 1978, and from then on there were updates and modifications

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Lamborghini Countach LP500S

that saw a growing number of Countach variations produced, including the LP500S and LP5000 Quattrovalvole of the early and mid-1980s that sported the famous, and massive, rear wing.

The last version of the Countach appeared in 1988, and the 25th Anniversary edition was also the most popular, selling some 650 units. Much modified compared to the original LP400, this version had a restyled

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THE LAST VERSION OF THE COUNTACH APPEARED IN 1988, AND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WAS ALSO THE MOST POPULAR, SELLING SOME 650 UNITS.

body (the handiwork of one Horacio Pagani), improved features (such as electric windows) and a boost in power from a 5.2-litre V12 that developed 335kW and 500Nm. Top speed was now 298km/h and 0-100km/h could be reached in 4.8 seconds.

The Countach was followed in 1990 by the more refined-looking Diablo (although the Diablo was still pretty bonkers), but

the Countach continues to a benchmark for supercars – perhaps one of a handful that will be remembered as being truly groundbreaking in that particular niche of the automotive market. Startling in its styling, but with the under-the-skin muscle to move as quickly and aggressively as it looked, the Countach, in all its variations, really was something special.

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition

April 2021 Motor Trader | 55

Auto news

KIA REVEALS ALL-ELECTRIC EV6 SUV CROSSOVER

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IA HAS REVEALED the EV6, its new competitor in the electric vehicle market and a very smart-looking crossover SUV that is based on the company’s new platform (which it shares with Hyundai) for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

The EV6 will be available in three variants – Standard, GT-Line, and GT - and power will come from a choice of multiple long-range, zero-emissions powertrain configurations.

The Standard model comes with a 58kWh battery pack, the GT-Line with either a 58kWh or a 77.4kWh battery pack, while the EV6 GT features the long-range battery pack only. Two-wheel-drive (2WD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) options are available across the range.

The 77.4kWh battery pack is paired with a 168kW electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models, a 239kW electric motor powers the front and rear wheels. The 58kWh battery pack is paired with a 125kW electric motor powering the

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VIDEO: THE KIA EV6 | WORLD PREMIERE

rear wheels and for AWD models a 173kW electric motor powers the front and rear wheels.

The top-of-the-range AWD GT is equipped with 430kW dual motors and with 740Nm of torque, packs some significant punch. 0-to-100 km/h is reached in an exceptional 3.5 seconds, and top speed is 260km/h.

Kia claims good range numbers too, with the 2WD 77.4kWh EV6 able to travel over 510km on a single charge (on the WLTP combined cycle).

The E-GMP platform is equipped with 800V charging capability, meaning the EV6 can go from 10 to 80 per cent battery

INSIDE, AND THANKS TO THE PLATFORM LAYOUT AVAILABLE IN BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THERE IS PLENTY OF SPACE AND THE EV6 IS PACKED WITH HIGHTECH INFOTAINMENT GADGETRY AND SAFETY FEATURES. charge in 18 minutes. 100km of charge can be attained in less than 5 minutes.

A new vehicle-to-load (V2L) function is available, which means up to 3.6kWkW of power can be supplied to external devices.

The system can even be used to charge another EV if needed, and with more than 35 per cent charge left in the battery, the EV6 can tow items weighing up to 1,600 kg.

Inside, and thanks to the platform layout available in battery electric vehicles, there

is plenty of space, and the EV6 is packed with high-tech infotainment gadgetry and safety features.

The infotainment system includes 12inch dual screens in a curved display that extends from the steering wheel to the centre of the car. It displays a digital cluster in front of the driver and infotainment system above the centre console.

There’s an augmented reality (AR) head-up display system, and the system displays alerts from the Advanced Driver Assistance System plus details of vehicle speed, and navigation instructions.

The latest version of Kia’s connected car system ‘Kia Connect’ is included, featuring a range of Kia real time services and over-the-air (OTA) updates. Kia Connect allows users to find locations and pricing of EV charging points, view their vehicle’s charging status, plan smart charging schedules and check the range radius based on the remaining charge.

Advanced Driver Assistance tech is topnotch and includes Remote Smart Parking Assist, Safe Exit Assist (which helps people avoid collisions with a rear side vehicle when exiting the EV6), Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist 2 (which helps maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead when driving on a highway.

Reports suggest the KIA EV6 will be available in Australia at some point, with further details on model choice and price to come closer to that launch date.

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Auto news

BMW IX ALL-ELECTRIC SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE TO ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA IN Q4 2021

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MW’S HIGH-TECH IX electric SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) is headed to Australia in xDrive40 and xDrive50 variants.

The iX power is delivered via two electric motors – one at the front axle and one at the rear – and that power comes from a 100kWh battery pack in the xDrive50 and a 70kWh battery unit in the xDrive40.

BMW iX Maximum output for the xDrive50 is over 370kW, while the xDrive40 gets 240kW. The BMW iX The iX drive system comes via the fifth xDrive50 posts acceleration of 0 to 100 generation of BMW eDrive technology km/h in under 5.0 seconds, while the centred around a drive unit which BMW iX xDrive40 hits the same mark in brings together the electric motor, a touch over 6 seconds. The top speed of power electronics and transmission as both model variants is an electronically an integrated package within a single governed 200 km/h. housing. BMW says that this design Range is in excess of 600km (in the approach enables a power density around 30 per cent greater than earlier electric WLTP combined test cycle) for the drive systems could offer. xDrive50 and 400km for the xDrive40.

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The company adds that the compact and light construction – of aluminium and carbon fibre structure - also benefits the drive system’s efficiency.

New charging technology enables DC fast charging. BMW says the XDrive50 can be replenished at up to 200kW – meaning a 10-minute plug-in time will deliver 120km of range. Maximum charging capacity for the xDrive40 is 150kW, meaning a 10-minute charge delivers 90km of range.

In both variants, the high-voltage battery’s charge can be increased from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in under 40 minutes.

The smart-looking design of the iX models includes the famous kidney grille, although in this case, since the electric drive system requires only a small amount of cooling air, the grille’s role is now digital.

Camera technology, radar functions and other sensors are integrated into it behind a transparent surface.

Standard are 20-inch light-alloy wheels with an aerodynamically optimised design.

BMW says the Air Performance Wheels – optionally available in 21-inch and 22inch formats – help to reduce drag. They comprise of an aluminium base wheel with customised inserts between the spokes that give them a flat design, resulting in far smoother airflow. Range is increased, the company claims, by as much as 15km courtesy of these wheels.

On the inside, the BMW Curved Display, making its production vehicle debut, is a frameless, single-piece glass

surface, and serves as the central control element, bringing together the 12.3-inch Information Display and the 14.9-inch Control Display to form a single unit angled towards the driver. The latest generation of the BMW Head-Up Display is also available.

The Curved Display teams up with the next-generation BMW Operating System to deliver a new graphics experience with customisable display options.

The space gained from the absence of a centre tunnel has been used to create additional stowage in the centre console arean where there is a smartphone tray with inductive charging, a 12V power connection and two USB-C ports.

The BMW iX comes with 2.5-zone automatic climate control as standard, with the option of upgrading to a fourzone system. Nanofibre filter technology is used to purify the air inside the car.

The iX is available with the option of a panoramic glass roof – a single piece transparent surface, that includes electrochromatic shading.

A bespoke Harman Kardon Surround Sound System available as an option.

The newly developed seats for the driver and front passenger have integral head restraints and the option of integrating speakers into the seat structure. They offer multi-way electric adjustment and there is an option for a massage function.

In Germany, the BMW iX xDrive40 will be available from €77,300 ($AU118,915).

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TOYOTA CAMRY GETS A FACELIFT AND A FOCUS ON HYBRID TECH

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OYOTA WILL LAUNCH the facelifted Camry this month with a revised line-up featuring four hybrid grades and a single entry-level petrol variant. The model range reflects the strong appeal of the Hybrid that accounted for 70 per cent of current model Camry sales in 2020 and a V6 power option will no longer be available.

Alongside the focus on the improved 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain, the upgraded Camry gets new front-end styling, a new dash offering better ergonomics and featuring a larger 9-inch touchscreen display (7-inch for Ascent grade), and additional Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance features.

The hybrid powertrain in the new Camry uses a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine that works in combination with a pair of electric motor generators to deliver a maximum output of 160kW.

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THE NEW 2.5-LITRE PETROL FOURCYLINDER DYNAMIC FORCE ENGINE OFFERED IN THE ASCENT GENERATES A MAXIMUM POWER OF 152KW WHILE RETURNING A COMBINED CYCLE FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 6.8L/100KM. Combined cycle fuel consumption is as low as 4.2l/100km for Ascent and Ascent Sport grades with 4.5l/100km for SL and 4.7l/100km for SX. The new 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine offered in the Ascent generates a maximum power of 152kW while returning a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.8l/100km.

Among the safety upgrades is the introduction of Toyota Connected Services,together with new features for Toyota Safety Sense with the addition of road sign assist, emergency steering assist and intersection turn assistance on every model.

This builds upon existing features that include pre-collision safety system with pedestrian and day cyclist detection, active cruise control, lane trace assist and auto high beam.

The entry-level Ascent features LED lights, alloy wheels, a reversing camera and the latest generation multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The Ascent Sport gains additional such as dual-zone climate control, smart entry and start and satellite navigation with a 9-inch touchscreen display, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and parking sensors as standard.

The SX is gets leather-accented front seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, paddle shifters for the CVT and interior leather-accented trim.

As the top-of-the-range variant, the SL model features heated and cooled front seats, electric boot opening, head-up

display, electrochromatic interior mirror, panoramic roof, panoramic view monitor and a nine-speaker JBL audio system.

“When we launched the first Camry Hybrid 10 years ago, it was only the second hybrid model after Prius,” said Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley in a media statement.

“Today, we offer the hybrid powertrain in seven model lines and with over 70 per cent of current Camry buyers opting for the hybrid version, it is our biggest seller.

“Customers have come to appreciate the significant benefits to their bottom line, practicality and their environmental footprint and now with this facelifted model, we are further improving the proposition with a more stylish aesthetic inside and out and more advanced safety and comfort technology,” he said.

PRICING Ascent 2.5 petrol automatic $30,990 Ascent 2.5 hybrid CVT $33,490 Ascent Sport 2.5 hybrid CVT $36,290 SX 2.5 hybrid CVT $39,190 SL 2.5 hybrid CVT $46,990.

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Auto news

Mazda BT-50 Thunder

MAZDA UNLEASHES THE BT-50 THUNDER

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HIS MONTH SEES the launch of the Mazda BT-50 Thunder – a version of the rugged dual-cab ute that is exclusive to the Australian market and one that has been tweaked and modified with parts developed by Mazda Australia’s in-house engineering team.

The Thunder’s standard spec is based on the BT-50 GT Dual Cab 4x4, and the upgraded ute gets new styling that includes a bold front-end treatment with a single hoop steel bullbar and a Lightforce dual-row LED lightbar.

There are also 18-inch black alloy wheels, wide fender flares and side steps and, at the rear, a premium sports bar and an electric roller tonneau which covers a tub liner for additional tray protection.

Power comes from the turbocharged 3-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine 62 | Motor Trader April 2021

that generates 140kW peak power and 450Nm torque, the latter provided from 1,600 to 2,600rpm. A six-speed manual transmission, or six-speed automatic transmission are available. A dual-range 4x4 system is fitted as standard, with switchable locking rear differential.

The Thunder also has a comprehensive suite of technology and safety features.

Tech features include 9-inch full-colour infotainment touchscreen, satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control with stop & go (automatic transmission), Apple CarPlay (wireless and USB) and Android Auto (USB), Bluetooth hands-free telephone and audio capability, and rearseat USB charging point.

Safety features include Reverse camera, Attention Assist, Automatic High Beam, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor, Emergency Lane Keeping – Overtaking, Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Traction Control System, amongst many others.

All Mazda BT-50 exterior colours are available for BT-50 Thunder, with no additional cost.

Manufacturer’s Retail Listed Pricing for the Thunder is $65,990 (plus on-road costs) for the manual, and $68,990 for the automatic.

VIEW PAST ISSUES OF MOTOR TRADER MAGAZINE AT WWW.MTAQ.COM.AU/PUBLICATIONS

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PAST ISSUES OF MOTOR TRADER

Auto news

Cupra’s high-performance range

STYLISH CUPRA BRAND COMING TO AUSTRALIA

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T IS ALWAYS pleasing to see a new car brand enter our market, and it looks like Australians are going to be able to get their hands on some slick new vehicles thanks to the arrival of Cupra.

Founded in 2018, Cupra is the performance arm of SEAT of Spain and, through that relationship, part of the Volkswagen Group.

Cupra President Wayne Griffiths confirmed the introduction of the brand for early next year, explaining in a statement that, “Australia will be a key

64 | Motor Trader April 2021

“AUSTRALIA IS A YOUNG MARKET AND CUPRA IS A YOUNG BRAND. CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING FOR NEW BRANDS, THERE IS A HIGH MIDDLE-CLASS INCOME, AND IT IS A PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT CUPRA CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COUNTRY.”

Interior of the Cupra Formentor

move towards expanding Cupra in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In the three years it has been in the market, Cupra has sold more than 70,000 cars, and its model range includes the Ateca, a high-performance SUV; the Leon compact car; and the Formentor, an SUV and the company’s first model.

In 2021, Cupra aims to launch the plugin hybrid versions of the Leon and the Formentor as well as its first all-electric model, the Born. Also confirmed for is the company’s second electric model, the Tavascan SUV-coupe, based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. It is slated to

be launched in 2024.

“Australia is a young market and CUPRA is a young brand. Customers are looking for new brands, there is a high middle-class income, and it is a progressive society. We are confident that CUPRA can be successful in this country,” said Mr Griffiths.

“Volkswagen Group Australia is expanding,” added the Group’s Managing Director Michael Bartsch said. “With its unique models combining stimulating style and contemporary performance, Cupra could scarcely be a range better bespoke to a certain Australian customer set.”

April 2021 Motor Trader | 65

Auto news

CAR DEALERS GET A WIN AS GOVT ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO FRANCHISING RULES

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HE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has announced significant, industrychanging amendments to the franchising laws in Australia - amendments that will go a long way to improve new car dealers’ rights against their franchised manufacturers.

The government made the announcement in March that it would step into the debate between dealers and manufacturers and, amongst other measures, introduce significant financial penalties for wrongdoing under the Franchising Code of Conduct.

In a statement (read the statement HERE), the government said the new measures will: • Increase available penalties under the Franchising Code to up to $10 million.

This will strengthen penalties for wilful, egregious and systemic breaches of the Franchising Code by large and profitable multinational companies.

• Establish best practice by transforming existing voluntary principles into mandatory obligations under the Franchising Code. This will address concerns multi-national manufacturers won’t follow voluntary principles.

• Ensure that the Franchising Code keeps 66 | Motor Trader April 2021

pace with changes to business practice by explicitly recognising that dealers operating as a manufacturer’s agent in relation to new vehicle sales are still protected by the Franchising Code.

“By protecting these businesses, we will be protecting the thousands of jobs that rely on the sector, including many apprentices,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Rod Camm, Group Chief Executive for the Motor Trades Association of Queensland said, “We are really happy about this decision and the impact it will have on MTA Queensland’s dealerships and the people they employ. This decision protects Australian businesses and jobs.

The voluntary “Best Practice Principles” will become mandatory, requiring manufacturers to go into arbitration if negotiations fail, which will ensure dealers get compensated fairly, rather than the “take it or leave it” approach we have seen.

“We have worked closely with the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) to address the inadequacies of the Franchising Code and we stand together to celebrate this win for car dealer networks and Australian consumers and communities.”

MTAQ MEMBER SIGNAGE MTA Queensland has developed a series of posters that can be downloaded free of charge for members only. These are signs commonly asked for, and used, in workshops.

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

WARNING

RIGHT TO RETAIN

QUALIFIED/TRAINED TECHNICIAN

No admittance into the workshop – Staff Only.

We reserve the right to retain your vehicle until payment is made in full.

A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

This automotive business guarantees only qualified and trained technicians will be working on your vehicle.

A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

CUSTOMERS RIGHT TO CHOOSE A REPAIRER

CUSTOMER SUPPLIED PARTS

Please note that you, as a consumer, have the legal right to choose who repairs your vehicle.

This automotive business will not install customer supplied parts because it cannot warrant or guarantee the quality, fitment and/ or the intended outcome of fitting these parts.

Independent repairers can complete log book servicing on your vehicle, even while it is under the warranty period, without affecting the manufacturer’s warranty.

A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

This business is willing and able to diagnose and assess the vehicle’s problem and supply you with competitively priced, high quality parts in order to fix your vehicle.

This will ensure you are provided with all of the warranties and guarantees in accordance with the Australian Consumer Law. A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

CLICK HERE TO SIGN-IN OR REGISTER FOR ACCESS TO MEMBER SIGNAGE

A LWAY S C H O O S E A N M TA Q U E E N S L A N D MEMBER

April 2021 Motor Trader | 67

20210946

We hope to build a library of commonly needed signs, so please contact info@mtaq.com.au if you have suggestions.

Auto news

AUTOMOTIVE DATASHARING LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD

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HE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT announced last month the introduction of new legislation establishing a mandatory sharing scheme for motor vehicle service and repair information.

The scheme will come into effect on 1 July 2022 and will require car manufacturers to provide independent mechanical repairers with the same information provided to their authorised dealers, concerning the technical specifics of vehicles. This information will be provided at a reasonable price and only to appropriately skilled repairers.

“There are nearly 35,000 automotive service and repair businesses in Australia, employing over 106,000 Australians,” said

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar in a statement confirming the legislative move.

“We need a strong service and repair industry to keep Australia’s 19.8 million vehicles on the road. Currently, around one in 10 vehicles taken to repair workshops in

“INDEPENDENT REPAIRERS WHO CHOOSE TO COMMIT TO SIMILAR LEVELS OF INVESTMENT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AND ARE SUITABLY QUALIFIED SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO COMPETE WITH DEALERS ON FAIR AND REASONABLE GROUNDS . . .”

Australia are affected by a lack of access to service and repair information. In Europe and the United States, similar schemes are delivering lower repair and maintenance costs for consumers.”

MTA Queensland has advocated on the importance of fairness when it comes to sharing service and repair information and welcomes the legislation, which will increase opportunities for the independent repair businesses around Australia to compete fairly with authorised dealers.

“We are extremely happy with this outcome and look forward to the benefits it will provide to MTA Queensland’s mechanical repairers who will now be able to invest in the technical information they need to service various vehicles and grow their business,” said MTA Queensland CEO Rod Camm.

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) said that it would work with government and industry on the scheme.

“Dealers recognise that independent repairers have an important role to play in servicing and repairing the tens of millions of motor vehicles on our roads,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

“This information will be shared on fair and reasonable commercial terms and sensitive information will only be made available to suitably vetted and qualified technicians.

“Franchised Dealers take great pride in the quality of service they provide to their customers. Dealers make huge investments in factory training of their qualified technicians along with having the latest tools, equipment and facilities.

“Independent repairers who choose to commit to similar levels of investment for their customers and are suitably qualified should be entitled to compete with Dealers on fair and reasonable grounds and this legislation will give them the chance to do that.”

MASERATI SUPERCAR WINS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGN AWARD THE MASERATI MC20 supercar has taken out the prize for “Best of the Best” at the Red Dot Awards 2021 in the Product Design category.

The Red Dot Awards is an international design competition which has been assessing and selecting the most ‘aesthetically exciting, functional, intelligent, and innovative products’ from across the world since 1955.

Every year, the competition rewards excellence in the field of product and brand design and communication, and a jury of 50 international experts chooses products in almost 50 different categories, including automotive.

The MC20 certainly is a jawdroppingly beautiful sports car, and its design is matched by some brilliant engineering under that skin.

Performance is top-notch, and the 325km/h top speed and 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds comes courtesy not only of the light and aerodynamic body, but the potent Nettuno 470kW, twin-turbo V6 READ MORE engine – the first new ABOUT THE MC20 & NETTUNO engine developed ENGINE IN THE

by Maserati (the NOV 2020 MOTOR TRADER company had been using engines built be Ferrari) in 20 years.

April 2021 Motor Trader | 69

Auto news

The oldest surviving Bentley - the 3-litre EXP 2 from 1920 - and the 200,000th - a Bentayga Hybrid

BENTLEY CELEBRATES 200,000TH CAR MILESTONE

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ENTLEY MOTORS HAS built its 200,000th luxury car. The company, founded in 1919, certainly has taken its time to get to that number, but the 200,000th car - a Bentayga Hybrid – marks a two decade period of success for the company, thanks to the popularity of it modern models such as the Continental GT. The company says that it is now building 85 cars per day - the same output it was managing per month 20 years ago.

“This production of the 200,000th car is just the latest landmark on the extraordinary journey that Bentley has been travelling since its foundation in 1919,” said Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark.

“In 2003, the introduction of the Continental GT represented a transformative moment for the brand, and this Bentley alone has represented 80,000 sales of our total 200,000, and created both a new segment, and a contemporary image foundation for the Bentley business.

“The pace of progress has accelerated significantly since 2003 and we are now 70 | Motor Trader April 2021

entering the next period of transformation as we pursue our Beyond100 strategy, with the aim of positioning Bentley as the global leader in sustainable luxury mobility.”

While the Continental GT has been a big success for the luxury brand, the Bentayga SUV, launched in 2015, is hot on its heels with 25,000 having been produced so far.

Bentley says it expects the Bentayga could surpass total sales of the Continental GT within a decade and become the biggest selling Bentley model in history.

Also a decent seller for the company is the Flying Spur luxury sports sedan, of which 40,000 have been built since 2005.

Looking to the future, the ambitious plans Bentley Motors has for car production were outlined last year its Beyond100 strategy. The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 and move to full electrification – PHEV or BEV only – by 2026, then switch the entire model range to battery electric vehicles by 2030.

Just for context, it’s worth pointing out that Toyota sold 204,000 vehicles in 2020.

That’s in one year . . . in Australia.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO MORE THAN 8000 PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE MOTORING INDUSTRY (website or e-magazine options)

April 2021 Motor Trader | 71 CLICK HERE FOR MEDIA GUIDE AND COSTS

Workplace relations

IAN NAYLOR SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE NOW comes in limitless forms, thanks to rapid advances in technology.

Capturing and storing data has never been easier - which is of great benefit across all areas of the workplace - but it’s important to remember that the fundamental principles around privacy, data retention and employee rights apply to workplace surveillance, whatever form it may take.

Technology has also leapt well beyond the legislation that regulates surveillance in Queensland, however recent case law is proving that workplaces can find themselves in the spotlight if they don’t manage their surveillance activities in line with employee rights.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO Workplace surveillance can range from data monitoring ( for example, email, phone, and internet history collection), optical and auditory recordings (using a smartphone) to sophisticated GPS tracking mechanisms, drones, and biological surveillance ( for example, drug and alcohol testing, and fingerprint detection).

Surveillance data can be a valuable source of objective, unbiased evidence 72 | Motor Trader April 2021

when investigating allegations of workplace misconduct and helps to improve safety, training, security, and production outcomes.

But it’s crucial for employers to be aware of the risks to worker morale, privacy, and trust if surveillance is not implemented and managed carefully. This is especially the case as work and home life increasingly overlap.

The Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 (Qld) regulates surveillance in Queensland and is explicit about the use of listening devices to covertly overhear, record, monitor or listen to private conversations.

Under the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971

IT’S CRUCIAL FOR EMPLOYERS TO BE AWARE OF THE RISKS TO WORKER MORALE, PRIVACY, AND TRUST IF SURVEILLANCE IS NOT IMPLEMENTED AND MANAGED CAREFULLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE AS WORK AND HOME LIFE INCREASINGLY OVERLAP.

(Qld), it is generally permissible for a person to record a ‘private’ conversation that they are a party to without the consent of the other participants. There are no legal restrictions on conversations which are not ‘private’. However, such a recording can only then be communicated or published under certain circumstances, including: with consent; in the course of legal proceedings; if it is in the public interest; or if it is made to a person who is believed by the person making the communication or publication to have such an interest in the private conversation as to make it reasonable in the circumstances.

The Act does not, however, address other common forms of surveillance, such as optical recordings or GPS tracking, nor does it specifically address workplace surveillance.

SURVEILLANCE AND THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP While Queensland has little formal regulation around workplace surveillance, other contractual and regulatory protections applicable to the general employment relationship still apply.

The appropriateness of monitoring and intervening in an employee’s personal social media accounts is an increasingly common challenge for workplaces.

BEST PRACTICE To ensure workplace surveillance is used appropriately, including managing the employment relationship, employers should: • consider providing clear notice or obvious signage that surveillance may be conducted; • ensure policies regarding the use of information systems and how they may be monitored are developed, implemented, and understood by all staff; • regularly conduct and document training on appropriate workplace behaviour and expected standards of conduct; • focus on procedural fairness when surveillance material is used to make employment and other decisions; and • be aware that different jurisdictional laws may apply.

Employees should also: • carefully read and understand the terms of their contract as well as internal policies and procedures about workplace surveillance activities that may be undertaken covertly or overtly in their workplace; • consider and understand the expectations, policies and procedures that apply to their use of social media; • understand that they may be subject to legal or internal restrictions on how they can personally undertake surveillance, such as using a phone to covertly record meetings or other conversations in the workplace; and • ask to review any workplace surveillance material that supports an allegation.

The implementation of workplace surveillance can create tension between an employer and its workers, as striking the right balance between justified workplace surveillance and not unreasonably CLICK TO intruding into the privacy of VISIT THE MTAQ MEMBER individuals can be challenging.

If you have any enquires, please phone the Workplace Relations Advisors on 3237 8777.

PORTAL

April 2021 Motor Trader | 73

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 & Workplace 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.

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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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S OF THE 31st January 2021, the number of apprentices and trainees currently in training throughout Queensland stands at 6625.

This number covers all the following qualifications:

APPRENTICESHIPS • Certificate III in Bicycle Workshop Operations • Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology • Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology • Certificate III in Marine Mechanical Technology • Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology • Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment Technology • Certificate III in Motorcycle Mechanical Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Sales • Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology • Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology

TRAINEESHIPS • Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology • Certificate II in Bicycle Mechanical Technology • Certificate II in Automotive Electrical Technology

MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS

Contents 79 Student satisfaction a top priority for MTA Institute 82 Apprentice of the Month: February 2021 84 Apprentice of the Month: March 2021 85 MTA Institute Graduates 87 Wayne Herring receives MTA Queensland VET Trainer Scholarship

April 2021 Motor Trader | 75

E S S E N T I A L S

PAUL KULPA

• Certificate III in Automotive Engine Reconditioning • Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Fuel Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Engine Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Drivetrain Technology • Certificate III in Forklift Technology • Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Trailer Technology • Certificate III in Elevating Work Platform Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Glazing Technology • Certificate III in Automotive and Marine Trimming Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Underbody Technology

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

M E M B E R S

E S S E N T I A L S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective • Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology • Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology • Certificate II in Automotive Underbody Technology • Certificate II in Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology • Certificate III in Automotive Sales This is a very impressive reach and can only be achieved through businesses looking at their workforce and giving them opportunity to have a go. What I’ve seen over the last few months is an increase in numbers and confidence to put on an apprentice or trainee. I know the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) has certainly helped make the decisionmaking process a little easier with the wage subsidy providing up to 50 per cent of Australian Apprentice’s gross wage paid, with a maximum $7,000 per quarter per eligible Australian Apprentice. The wage is paid over the 12-month period from date of commencement or recommencement and it’s for Australian apprentices commencing or recommencing between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021. We are certainly

seeing the increased uptake of apprentices and trainees due to this initiative.

When finishing an apprenticeship, it certainly can take you many places and I had the chance to speak to a previous apprentice - now tradesperson (or should I say “Journeyman”) - Elliot Lemmon, who is working at BMW Vancouver. Elliot was the recipient of the Queensland Oversea Foundation Automotive Scholarship in 2019 and has taken his trade and applied it internationally. It was great to talk to Elliot and see what he’s been up to – he has already purchased and used four cars in a little over 12 months! It was interesting to hear the local tales. He has to stay put at the moment due to COVID, but is planning a big road trip once restrictions are lifted.

It was a great reminder of where a trade in the automotive industry can take you.

We’ve also just announced the MTA Queensland VET scholarship winner, and it is Wayne Herring from Cricks.

His enthusiasm about sharing his wealth of industry knowledge to anyone in, or out of, the automotive industry was contagious. Congratulations to Wayne and all the best with your study.

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 76 | Motor Trader April 2021

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES AIR CONDITIONING COURSE

SKILL SET GAP TRAINING (3 DAY) 21 - 23 April 2021 18 - 20 August 2021 Click for more information.

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

RTO No: 31529

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

4 - 7 May 2021 SOLD OUT! 31 August - 3 September 2021 Click for more information.

VOCATIONAL PREPARATION COURSE 26 April - 28 May 2021 26 July - 27 August 2021 (FOR WOMEN) Click for more information.

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

MTA QUEENSLAND COURSES MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE 11 May 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm 10 August 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS COURSES AWARENESS COURSE 25 May | 27 July

VEHICLE GLASS COURSE 26 May | 28 July

TECHNICIAN COURSE 27-28 May | 29-30 July Click for more information.

11 May 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm 10 August 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

AUTO CAMP

13 - 15 April 2021 29 June - 1 July 2021 Click for more information.

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

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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE

RTO No: 31529

NEW GOVE LIMITED P RNMENT FUND LACES APP ING LY NOW

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

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Get Your Trade Skills Recognised Do you have trade skills and experience but no formal qualification?

Trade Recognition Trade Recognition is the process of having your skills and work experience formally assessed against industry and educational requirements for the purpose of gaining a formal trade qualification.

MTA Institute offers a Government Subsidised Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training Program for the following qualifications: • AUR30316 – Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology • AUR30416 – Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology • AUR30616 – Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology • AUR30716 – Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment • AUR30816 – Certificate III in Motorcycle Mechanical Technology • AUR31016 – Certificate III in Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreting) • AUR31116 – Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology • AUR31216 – Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology

• AUR32116 – Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology • AUR32416 – Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology • AUR32518 – Certificate III in Automotive Underbody Technology

Eligibility Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: i) Aged 21 years or over ii) Have not completed a trade qualification in the same industry area iii) Permanently reside in Queensland iv) Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or hold an eligible visa as identified by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training; or v) Meet any additional eligibility requirements identified through this Initiative and: a. Individuals assessed as demonstrating substantial competency in a prospective trade qualification, who require gap training in no more than 40% of the funded competencies of that Priority Trade Qualification; and b. Express a commitment to gain the entire qualification.

Fee information This program is mostly subsidised by the Queensland Government; however, mandatory student co-contribution fees are applicable for all units requiring gap training.

Course length The course duration will depend upon individual circumstances and the amount of gap training required.

The duration and applicable fees will be advised upon a successful application.

Enrol Training and assessment can be arranged at either MTA Institute’s premises or an approved automotive workplace.

Please refer to www.mtai.edu.au for full details or for further information contact one of our friendly team members using the contact details below.

MTA Institute

Search for MTA Queensland

Free guest Wifi at MTA Institute

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Address Freeway Office Park, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Postal PO Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Tel (07) 3722 3000 Toll Free 1800 884 137 Email courses@mtai.edu.au Website www.mtai.edu.au

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HE National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) has released a report detailing the outcomes of students who completed nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) in 2019, with the MTA Institute (RTO31529) once again ranking highly among graduates.

The VET Student Outcomes 2020 report compiles statistics on the satisfactions and outcomes reported by qualification completers and includes details on the student’s reasons for training, employment outcomes, further study outcomes and satisfaction with the training provider.

As Queensland’s largest independent Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for automotive apprenticeships, the MTA Institute prides itself on delivering strong levels of student satisfaction and are proud of the results in the report. Highlights of MTA Institute graduates include: • 91.8 per cent were satisfied with the overall quality of their training compared to 87.4 per cent for private providers and 89.5 per cent for TAFE. • 91 per cent would recommend their training provider compared to 82.9 per cent for private providers and 86.6 per cent for TAFE. • 91.1 per cent were satisfied with learning resources compared to 83.9 per cent for private providers and 86.6 per cent for TAFE MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa said the report’s findings reflected

the Institute’s commitment to providing the highest level of training quality.

“We are extremely pleased to see the results in the latest VET student outcomes report,” he said. “Providing a supportive environment conducive to the highest level of training quality remains our top priority, while also ensuring that our training delivery remains relevant to the real-world and directly connects student’s ability and employers wants. To see such positive results reflects the hard work put in by the entire team to ensure these levels are maintained.”

The results of the report show MTA Institute ranked higher than the average of independent training providers in Queensland, nationally and all training providers in satisfaction outcomes for facilities, learning resources, location of training and support services, a fact MTA Group CEO Rod Camm said was indicative of the Institute’s workplacebased training delivery methods.

“The MTA Institute has once again proven itself as a national leader when it comes to providing high quality training that delivers tangible results and presents real benefits to the automotive industry.

By offering work-based training, where students can remain comfortable in their surroundings and learn through real world application, we provide a point of difference, which has been resoundingly approved by our apprentices,” said Mr Camm.

Student satisfaction remains a top priority for the MTA Institute going forward.

April 2021 Motor Trader | 79

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STUDENT SATISFACTION A TOP PRIORITY FOR MTA INSTITUTE

M E M B E R S

Professional Circle Training

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 February and March 2021:

FEBRUARY

• Layton Hopper • Jonathan Reissman • Matthew Thompson • Tony Abberton • Jason Middlemass

Sowerby’s Crash Repairs Mangano Body Repairs Mangano Body Repairs Mangano Body Repairs Drive Accident Solutions

MARCH

• Tony Wieben • Chris Petrie • Rhiannen Vidler • Peter Sullivan • Peter Carrasco • David Alexander • Brendan Osborn • Wayne Tidman • Mark Ferguson • Tom Lehmann • Daniel Sanders • Jack Mountford • Myles O’Mahoney • Dane Calvert • Jackson Brown • Alex Townsend

RACQ Insurance RACQ Insurance Alexander Body Works RACQ Insurance RACQ Insurance RACQ Insurance Coastal Collision Repairs Coastal Collision Repairs Cooroy Smash Repairs Cooroy Smash Repairs Cooroy Smash Repairs Cooroy Smash Repairs Suncorp Cooroy Smash Repairs Gabba Collisions Repair Centre Coastal Collision Repairs

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members BUSINESS NAME

ADDRESS

EMAIL

DIVISION

Boonah Automatics & Mechanical Repairs RPM Engine Reconditioning and Mechanical

12 Railway St, Boonah QLD 4310 536 Maroochydore Road Kunda Park 4556 QLD

admin@boonahautomatics.net.au leahblissett@outlook.com

AED ERAQ

80 | Motor Trader April 2021

Can you afford not to be in the circle?

P a

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

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

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

Apprentice of the Month: February 2021 I have always been interested in how things work and was starting to do some things on my own car.

“So, I approached Drew, the boss here at Brisbane 4WD, about doing some work experience, and MTA Institute trainer Roger West with Samuel Hennings AMUEL HENNINGS IS everything sort of fell the Apprentice of the into place. A couple of Month for February 2021. months later I started the apprenticeship.”

Now in the fourth year of his apprenticeship, Sam Some three years have gone by since then and has, according to his employer and his MTA Institute Sam has found the career he was searching for, trainer Roger West, been an outstanding employee his enthusiasm as keen as the day he started his and student, showing real passion for the work training with the MTA Institute and Roger West. and a commitment to ‘get his hands dirty and give The MTA Institute’s method of education delivery everything a go’.

- which involves one-on-one training in the student’s At age 33, Sam’s move into an automotive place of employment - has worked very well for him. apprenticeship has taken an unusual route and “The drive is there, I enjoy all aspects of what we comes after working for several years in healthcare, do, and I’m interested in learning more,” he said. first as a pharmacist and then, briefly, dentistry.

“And the one-on-one training really works. I’m sure Healthcare seems a world away from automotive as a career choice but, like many people, it took Sam all the trainers are great, but I do feel quite lucky to a while to realise what he really wanted to do. Unlike have had Roger as my tutor. He’s really great and very knowledgeable.” many others, however, he decided he would leave Now approaching the end of his apprenticeship, the security of the career he had built and dive into Sam works on just about every job that comes something completely new. through Brisbane 4WD, a business that specialises That’s a gutsy move, but while a shift from healthcare to automotive does seem like a big leap, for in 4WD sales. That means getting vehicles ready for sale, inspections of trade-ins, servicing and warranty Sam the switch was a logical one. work on vehicles sold through the business, and “Out of school, I did what people thought I should fitting accessories such as bullbars and spotlights. do, and so I became a pharmacist and worked in It is, said Sam, enjoyable and varied work, but a hospital for about six years after I graduated,” he recognises that the industry is going through said Sam. “It was good money, but not particularly something of a revolution and that the new career satisfying, and so I started looking around for path on which he has embarked will likely mean something else. I started studying dentistry and did more training is just around the corner. that for about six months but realised I was doing it “There’s more to learn, and I would like to gain for the wrong reasons. more exposure to things like hybrid systems “It was my girlfriend who said I should look out which don’t seem to have filtered across to of the box a bit and start to think about what I CLICK TO four-wheel-drives as yet,” he said. “I think VISIT THE was really interested in.

BRISBANE 4WD that does mean I’ll be looking at more “When I was growing up, my dad was SPECIALISTS WEBSITE training.” always tinkering with the cars he had, and APPRENTICE: SAMUEL HENNINGS WORKPLACE: BRISBANE 4WD SPECIALISTS APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

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82 | Motor Trader April 2021

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

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April 2021 Motor Trader | 83

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

Apprentice of the Month: March 2021 commit ‘to being the best he can at all times.’

Working for the Cricks Group means Joshua has exposure to a wide range of makes and models of cars, as well as to a very successful business operation – the company represents 16 automotive brands in five dealership locations across Queensland’s Sunshine Coast region. It’s a prized place to work and Joshua made a good first Joshua Frampton impression when he applied for a job there.

“Even though I didn’t have any previous OR MANY YOUNG people, deciding what they mechanical experience, I think they could see that, want to do with their lives, what career they as I was willing to spend four years doing a degree want to have, is a difficult decision. Interests and then do an apprenticeship, I was serious!” change, passions switch from one activity to Currently at the Cricks’ Wises Road dealership another, new experiences can swell enthusiasm in Maroochydore – which sells Renault, Suzuki and to different pursuits. It is, one suspects, relatively Ssangyong brands as well as used vehicles - Joshua unusual for a young teenager to know what they has also done a stint at another of the company’s want to do with their lives and even more unusual for sites that sells Mitsubishi, Subaru, Skoda, and VW. them to have a plan that maps out their path to get “Cricks is one of the highest-regarded companies there over more than a decade. here on the coast and it has been invaluable working Joshua Frampton is one such driven individual. in a place like this,” he said. “I have learned so much Now 25, the fourth-year light vehicle apprentice here. I have also learned a tremendous amount from with the Cricks Maroochydore new car dealership my MTA Institute trainer Don Lerm. He has been an is the Apprentice of the Month for March 2021 and, invaluable source of knowledge for me. remarkably, is in the 11th year of a long-term plan “Like anything, there have been good days and that has seen him not only near completion of his bad days, and Don has definitely helped me through apprenticeship but also earn a business degree – all it all. He really is a fantastic teacher.” with the goal of owning a successful mechanical Like many automotive apprentices, Joshua knows workshop business of his own. the future is going to be one in which electrification “I’ve had the plan to open my own mechanical and plays a big part and continual professional restoration shop since high school,” said Joshua. development will be a key to success. Being part of “Originally, I did think about going straight to train the Cricks Group is useful as he is exposed to much as a mechanic, but my father - who spent decades of the latest automotive technology, and will be at in the industry working in wrecking yards, as a parts the front line as brands make their electrical vehicle interpreter and a painter – told me that I should models available in Australia. look at owning my own business. So, that’s what I “The industry is evolving and yes, I absolutely planned. I worked at it, went to uni and completed will be looking at additional qualifications,” he said. a Bachelor’s degree in business management “I have already talked to Don about doing the air and international business and then went for the conditioning course and I am very interested in EVs. apprenticeship.”

Renault do a lot of that in Europe and while I am not Such commitment is paying off, and Joshua being sure about the training they’ll offer here in Australia, named as apprentice of the month comes I imagine they will be doing something in the down to his enthusiasm, skill, and a drive next few years. If I can get anything that will CLICK TO to perform that his employer said sees him help me get ahead, that will be fantastic.

VISIT THE CRICKS WEBSITE I want to learn as much as I can.” go ‘beyond in all aspects of his duties,’ and APPRENTICE: JOSHUA FRAMPTON WORKPLACE: CRICKS MAROOCHYDORE APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

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M E M B E R S

MTA Institute Graduates

THE MTA INSTITUTE is the largest independent provider of automotive apprenticeships and training in Queensland and it is always a proud moment when its APPRENTICE Christopher Lange Shannon Morgan Raymond Pledger Robin Beresford Joshua Coutts Royston Gompelman Benjamin Katsaros Tanakrit Konsumrit Jake Turner Chase Gregory Michael Robson Daniel Squarci Blake Denholm Jerome Head Matthew Standing Jared Bates Joel Carroll Ching-Wei Chang Jesse Chant Anthony Crouch Harrison Finn Troy Green Rielly Hadden Benjamin Kempin Muhammad Mir Kheil Jordan Smith Jakob Whittaker Adam Barbagallo Bradley Thorley

students complete their trade qualification. Congratulations to everyone who qualifed in March 2021 - it is a fantastic achievement!

QUALIFICATION Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology Certificate III in Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreting) Certificate III in Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreting) Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Motorcycle Mechanical Technology Certificate III in Motorcycle Mechanical Technology

TRAINER Shane Palmer Brett Baker Alfio Rotolone Ty Morrison Dennis Shaw Dennis Shaw Dennis Shaw Keith Minchin Dennis Shaw Brett Baker Derrick Pratt Scott Buckley Steve Adams Wayne Abrahams Lloyd Cross Don Lerm Neil Bovey James Dixon Jim Emblen Wayne Abrahams Steven Hudspith Ty Morrison Ross Wilson Neil Bovey Keith Minchin Steven Hudspith Keith Minchin Gavin Jacobs Zak Zuiderduin

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E S S E N T I A L S

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MTA INSTITUTE’S LATEST GRADUATES

MTA QUEENSLAND

2021 EVENTS CARMAGEDDON Thursday 22 July

MTA Queensland, Eight Mile Plains

MOTOR TRADES GOLF DAY Friday 3 September

Virginia Golf Club, Banyo

INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA Saturday 20 November

Emporium Hotel, South Bank

the domestic level of Kia’s annual Skills Cup. He has shown expert knowledge and an interest in learning new skills and technology and is passionate about passing his knowledge on to the next generation of automotive apprentices.

“We are proud to award the first ever Trainer Scholarship to Wayne, who displays passion and commitment to the automotive industry and will now have the opportunity to complete his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and become qualified to deliver training,” said MTA Institute General Manager Training Paul Kulpa.

“I look forward to watching Wayne progress through his training and hope to see many more individuals seize this fantastic opportunity in the future.”

The VET Trainer Scholarship is awarded twice per year and is open to trade-qualified automotive employees based in Queensland with at least five years’ experience in the trade. The next scholarship round will open 1 August 2021.

“I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I CAN’T WAIT TO GET STARTED. I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE MYSELF, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS.”

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E S S E N T I A L S

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TA QUEENSLAND IS pleased to announce the inaugural VET Trainer Scholarship has been awarded to Wayne Herring from Cricks Sunshine Coast.

The Trainer Scholarship provides an opportunity for automotive professionals to further their careers Wayne Herring by undertaking a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) – a course designed to teach the skills and knowledge required to deliver training in the vocational education and training sector.

“Becoming an automotive trainer has always been a goal of mine,” said Wayne.

“I feel really fortunate to be given this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.

I am always trying to improve myself, and I look forward to sharing my skills and knowledge with others.”

With 15 years’ experience in the automotive industry, Wayne holds multiple trade qualifications and manufacturer-specific training certificates and was previously selected as one of six technicians in Australia to compete at

M E M B E R S

WAYNE HERRING RECEIVES MTA QUEENSLAND VET TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP CLICK FOR MORE INFO ON THE MTAQ VET TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP

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TOYOTA AYGO 88 | Motor Trader April 2021

O X PROLOGUE April 2021 Motor Trader | 89

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TOYOTA AYGO X PROLOGUE REPORTS SUGGEST THAT IT T WILL GO INTO PRODUCTION AS HE A-SEGMENT – small, city cars – may not be the big-selling segment it once was, but that doesn’t mean that manufacturers and designers are ignoring the sector. Here, for example, is Toyota’s Aygo X Prologue – a concept that builds on the popular Aygo city car sold in Europe and which provides a glimpse of its future and the bold design language behind it.

You expect daring design in a concept/ prototype, and the Aygo X Prologue has that. It also has, apart from those striking looks, some other nice touches that sets it apart from its production siblings. It sits higher and looks more like an agile crossover/small SUV (helped by those

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A PETROL OR HYBRID-POWERED UNIT, BUT THE DESIGN ALSO POINTS TO THE APPEARANCE OF FUTURE TOYOTA EVS.

large 19-inch wheels set at each corner); has action cameras fitted into the door mirrors; integrated roof rails; and an integrated bike rack mounting point. All of this, one assumes, reflects the intention of the car’s designers at Toyota’s ED2 design

facility in France to promote ‘European style’ for its customers - delivering something that appeals to city dwellers who also have the desire to ‘get out’ - and their aim to ‘reimagine the A-segment’.

Reportedly destined for production, the Aygo X Prologue is shorter than the Yaris hatchback currently on sale in Australia and that gives a hint as to its ability to

nip in and out of traffic and along city streets. Reports suggest that it will go into production as a petrol or hybrid-powered unit, but the design also points to the appearance of future Toyota EVs. It’s small, funky, and looks like it could be a fun way to get about town and venture out of it. Will it appear in Australia?

We can but hope.

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Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

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OMESTICALLY, THE S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index was up 4.25% during the period.

Consumer Discretionary (+6.9%) was the best performing sector. Improving consumer confidence, coupled with strong household savings and a surging housing market has encouraged the sector. Utilities (+6.8%) also outperformed, as the sell-off in bonds moderated, allowing investors to revisit the outlook for bond proxies, including infrastructure and real estate. Materials (-5.0%) was the worst performing sector as iron ore prices slipped from their highs, prompting a sell off in the majors. Information Technology (-3.0%) also underperformed, with long-duration stocks continuing to be challenged by higher bond rate.

Internationally, markets finished largely higher during the month. Europe (MSCI Europe-ex UK) led markets as the global recovery continued, with vaccine rollouts gaining traction. The story was replicated in the United States, with both major indexes (S&P 500 +4.2%, NASDAQ +0.4%) finishing stronger, anticipating a significant fiscal stimulus package on the horizon.

The United Kingdom (FTSE 100 +3.6%) rounded out the major Western markets with their own vaccine drive underway, and the beginnings of an economic plan 92 | Motor Trader April 2021

taking shape post-Brexit. Asian markets were weaker than peers, with Korea (KOSPI +1.9%) outperforming Japan (Nikkei +0.73%). The Chinese (CSI 300 -5.4%) and Hong Kong (Hang Seng -2.1%) markets were the worst performers, as the economic recovery in China slowed.

DISCLAIMER TThis 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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Visit spiritsuper.com.au Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718) is the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913) and issues interests in Spirit Super. You should consider the Product disclosure statement (Member guide) available at spiritsuper.com.au or by calling 1800 005 166 before deciding if the fund is appropriate for you. Any advice in this advertisement is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) (Quadrant). Quadrant is wholly owned by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited, the trustee of Spirit Super. A copy of the Financial services guide for Quadrant is available at spiritsuper.com.au or by calling us on 1800 005 166.