Motor Trader e-magazine, June 2020

JUNE 2020

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From the Editor Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland HEAD OFFICE Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 P.O. Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: publications@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au EDITOR Jonathan Nash ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

JONATHAN NASH EDITOR

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Evangeline Kannis Ian Naylor

H

ELLO AND WELCOME back to Motor Trader.

We have been on hiatus for a couple of months as MTA Queensland has put its full weight into keeping members up to date with vital news and information concerning the coronavirus pandemic through avenues such as our COVID-19 Daily Briefing emails.

THe feedback has been that those email briefings are extremely useful - a single source of the most up-to-date news about the pandemic, as well as guidance and advice from government and other sources.

Now, as the nation begins to emerge from the lockdown and other restrictions that were imposed when the coronavirus pandemic struck, Motor Trader is back.

POLICY Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Marc Wilson // Gypsy media & marketing services

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

gypsy media & marketing services

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

Click here to subscribe MOTOR TRADER PUBLISHING POLICY

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

MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848 CORPORATE PARTNERS

The pandemic, and the reponse to it has, of course, been dominating our lives for weeks.

Lives have been lost, and the reaction of governments to shut everything down was, it seems, the right call to prevent an even more nightmarish outbreak.

However, the measures deemed necessary to combat the virus have had a terrible impact on the economy, and businesses of all sizes and from all industries have battled to stay afloat.

The automotive industry was not spared the disruption and in this edition of Motor Trader we take a look at the pandemic, the response to it, and its impact on our industry. We also talk to some MTA Queensland members about how they dealt with the crisis, and ask them their thoughts on what the future may hold. You can read their stories from page 18.

While we do focus on the pandemic in this edition, there was still plenty of other news coming out of the automotive world and you can check out those stories, as well as our regular features, inside.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Motor Trader. It's nice to be back.

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

20200866

MTA QUEENSLAND WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS Business Name

Principal/s

Address

Email

Division

Allclass Kubota ARB Caboolture Brisbane Car Yard Bullimore Automotive Dual Controls QLD Genesis Autoworks Gladstone Valley Tyres Kedmech Mosley Automotive

Christian Nahrung Roger Vickery Masoud Rahimi Troy Bullimore Joeseph Laspina Nick Manolis Kamardeep Cheema Brian William Keddie Nigel Mosley

16 Parade Ground Pl, WACOL QLD 4076 129 Morayfield Rd, CABOOLTURE QLD 4510 976 Ipswich Rd, MOOROOKA QLD 4105 41548 Bruce Hwy, BLUEWATER QLD 4818 1/17 Tombo St, CAPALABA QLD 4157 64 Morley St COORPAROO QLD 4151 45 Tank St, GLADSTONE CENTRAL QLD 4680 81 Dawson Hwy, MOURA QLD 4718 3673 Pacific Hwy, SLACKS CREEK QLD 4127

QFIMDD QFIMDD ARD AED AED AED TUDQ AED AED

Remy Car Company Selby’s Automotive Services t/as Coast Car Air & Automotive Tyre Plus Northgate

Cameron Remy

86 Moss St, SLACKS CREEK QLD 4127

christian@allclass.com.au sales@arbcaboolture.com.au Info@brisbanecaryard.com.au bullimorewreckers@outlook.com info@dualcontrolsqld.com.au nicko.m@me.com cheemaengg@gmail.com kedmech09@outlook.com mosauto@bigpond.com sales@remycarcompany.com.au

Sheree Carter

2b/ 9-11 Enterprise St, MOLENDINAR QLD 4214

accounts@coastalcarair.com.au

AED

Chris Johnson

217 Toombul Rd, NORTHGATE QLD 4013

northgate@tyreplusdealer.com.au

AED

ARD

June 2020 Motor Trader | 1

vladimir salman / Shutterstock.com

Contents

18 04 08 12 18 44 54 60 77 78

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO POLICY/VIEWPOINT MTA |Q&A ROAD TO RECOVERY AUTO INNOVATION NEWS CARS & COFFEE CLASSIC AUTO NEWS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BUSINESS PROFILES: INTRODUCING OUR MTA QUEENSLAND MEMBERS 91 TRAINING GM'S PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE PERSPECTIVE 93 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY 2020 94 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2020 96 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: APRIL 2020 98 PLUGGED IN 106 CONCEPT CORNER 110 MARKET WRAP 2 | Motor Trader June 2020

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Search for MTA Queensland

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102

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106 June 2020 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO

BRETT DALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

N

ATIONAL CABINET ON Friday, 8 May 2020, after some 100 days of ‘lockdown’ - excepting essential industries, services and their employees agreed on a national framework involving a three-step plan to achieve a COVID-safe economy and society. The goal to move through all the steps to achieve a COVIDsafe economy by July of this year, restart the economy and rebuild confidence is welcome. It provides the pathway forward.

In the words of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, ‘reopening the economy . . . is one of the key issues for confidence.’

Not since the 1918 Spanish flu has the automotive value chain experienced such a devastating biological disaster.

MTA Queensland, as the peak body representing the interests of employers in the retail, service and repair industries, and its diverse membership has endured flood, fire, drought, storm and tempest and financial disasters. The COVID-19 crisis undoubtedly has been the most challenging for business, including the Association, to sustain viable operations and the livelihoods of staff.

In many ways, the Association was fortunate having undertaken an assessment of all the its operational and business systems and Strategic Plan’s 4 | Motor Trader June 2020

goals following the 2019 Annual General Meeting.

This meant a business continuity plan was in place and flexible to accommodate the requirements of the Health Emergency Response COVID-19 Plan (COVID-19 Plan) of hibernation, isolation and the maintenance of the automotive sector, deemed an essential industry. The plan was swiftly enacted, focusing on the health and safety of staff and putting emphasis on members and clients, their needs and plans for recovery.

ROLE The Association’s priority task has been to provide members with the tools to protect and manage their businesses through the health emergency restrictions and the operational shifts needed to trade.

In the first instance, daily briefings outlined the assistance available from the Australian government’s economic stimulus and support packages, the banks' deferred business and housing loans, and the Queensland Government’s measures to assist industry and business.

In practice these were: the COVID-19 Daily Briefings commencing March 20 and now numbering almost forty editions which detailed the essential information and broad industry insights forwarded directly to members; three virtual Zoom meetings to explain government economic stimulus and support packages and to provide a platform for questions; and the MTA Queensland website resource centre which detailed all government, agency and industry advices. This was well used, registering over 8,000 pageviews

“THE ASSOCIATION’S

PRIORITY TASK HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH THE TOOLS TO PROTECT AND MANAGE THEIR BUSINESSES THROUGH THE HEALTH EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS AND THE OPERATIONAL SHIFTS NEEDED TO TRADE.” of COVID-19 content over a two-week timeframe.

Underpinning the daily briefings was the extensive membership engagement to hear firsthand views and requirements and provide advice when necessary. The primary concern of members related to workplace relations issues. These concerned the livelihoods of staff and

their retention under the JobKeeper package and changes to the Fair Work Act to accommodate workplace flexibility.

Our workplace relations team diligently responded to all queries and provided expert and timely briefings and advices.

Although designated an essential industry and able to trade, the cost of COVID-19 to the automotive sector is enormous. This is reflected in the official Australian Bureau of Statistics and bank data released to advise on consumer spending and the viability and finances of industry.

State and regional media highlighted the enormous negative financial effects on automotive businesses and staffing arrangements. Many automotive trade businesses have kept their doors open with skeleton staff to keep the brand alive but with ‘dismal financial returns.’ Media outlets have sought interviews on the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the automotive sector particularly in reference to the lowest motor vehicle sales since 2009 - the height of the global financial crisis - and the latest sales results which represented the 24th consecutive month of negative growth for Australia’s new motor vehicle industry.

ADVOCACY From the time the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus was activated at the end of February 2020, the Association was in regular dialogue with industry stakeholders advocating the essential June 2020 Motor Trader | 5

service role of the industry in maintaining supply chains, logistics and public service. Overall, the intent expressed in representations about the needs of the automotive industry as an essential service has been reflected in policy decisions.

Our pre-budget submission to the Federal Treasury for the October 2020 budget and Queensland’s October election policy initiatives will centre on growth and productivity to generate profit and confidence for the automotive value chain. Specifically, the imposition of new levies, taxes or fees to pay for the cost of economic stimulus and program and support packages during the hibernation and isolation phases of the COVID-19 Plan will be opposed. It is pleasing that the Federal Government has indicated it will resist increasing taxes to help the economy recover from COVID-19 and focus on tax incentives to drive business investment, a paring back of environmental approvals and the overhaul of industrial relations.

THE WAY FORWARD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s threestage plan for recovery commencing 15 May detailed the easing of restrictions through to 10 July provides a careful and sustainable path back out of the COVID-19 crisis. Our focus now shifts to recovery as members take a safe and steady approach to establishing a functional business that supports clients, the public and the economy. Essential will be confidence to rebuild, and our job will be to ensure our members have access to the best advice and information on which to recommence their businesses.

The pathway forward will not be easy.

Members and clients in conversation with me have spoken about how they have dealt with and fought on to keep their doors open so that they would be in the best recovery position. Others closed their operations and recognise that the recovery process will be difficult. There 6 | Motor Trader June 2020

has been some remarkable stories of resilience, transformation, adaptation and creative innovative responses to maintain businesses and service niche markets.

Some automotive chain businesses incurred significant financial losses in specific sections of their operation but managed to capitalise on a strong output in other areas to minimise losses.

As the economy reopens, the focus will be on the training and upskilling of workers so that businesses are able to employ them, restore their positions and to increase their hours. For the automotive value chain, the MTA Institute will be there to provide employers with apprentices and trained workers equipped with knowledge of latest technologies and industry requirements.

AND THE LAST THING The last three to four months has been a learning curve demanding that government, business, industry, services and citizens adapt to change caused by the biological disaster. We as a nation succeeded and the automotive value chain as an essential industry is part of that success. Now, we must rise to the next challenge to build economic confidence and momentum in a changed world.

MTA Queensland will contribute to Team Australia’s efforts to restore normality, economic stability, and business and consumer confidence.

Importantly, as we have done for the past 90 years, our priority remains service excellence to our members and strong advocacy to government for recognition and maximum support so that the automotive value chain may prosper, employ and serve to advantage the economy and the nation.

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

Stay Strong Resources now available to help all auto repairers.

Visit Capricorn’s community platform, The Workshop, to access a range of tools to get you through COVID-19 including: • Government Assistance Directory • TaT Videos • Contactless Servicing Resources • Mental Wellness Information • Member Community Forums • And More

Join us online at theworkshop.capricorn.coop

Policy/Viewpoint “A KEY ELEMENT OF OUR

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

A

S GROUP CHIEF Executive Officer Brett Dale says in From the Desk of the CEO, our ‘priority task has been to provide members with the tools to protect and manage their businesses through the health emergency restrictions and the operational shifts needed to trade.’

And that exactly has been the role of all the corporate office staff, functioning within a COVID-19-safe environment.

On a rotational basis some have worked remotely from their homes, whilst others operated from the MTA Queensland corporate office which observed all the necessary health protocols.

COVID-19 exponentially increased the workload of all staff, who seamlessly pivoted to include new duties to provide members with the essential government and assistance measures and industry advices to help them to continue to trade or hibernate their businesses. Each of our service delivery areas worked together to deliver members’ needs.

From working remotely, I’ve come to recognise the necessity of reliable and efficient communications, data and the computer operating systems for networking, accessing and distributing information. The business continuity plan,

8 | Motor Trader June 2020

SERVICE TO MEMBERS HAS BEEN THE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY. ITS TOTAL FOCUS HAS BEEN TO CONTACT MEMBERS IN EVERY LOCATION EITHER

BY TELEPHONE OR EMAIL TO CHECK ON HOW THEIR BUSINESS WAS COPING UNDER THE DURESS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.” although prepared for a fully operational economic and business environment in which the Association and members operated, meant we had the structure and systems in place to weather the COVID-19 crisis conditions.

Fortunately, as the MTA Queensland membership is dispersed across the state, we’ve had in place for some time the communications and data systems to connect with members, clients and stakeholders. These included teleconferencing and skype facilities.

Now Zoom, with its video communication capability, has enabled audio conferencing, collaboration, chat and webinars across all devices. It has removed the issue of location to participate in meetings. All of our divisions, utilising Zoom or other conferencing, continue to function.

Remarkably, despite working from home, staff have been versatile, and indeed increasing productivity to accommodate new duties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. For example, monitoring diverse government announcements, formatting and distributing advices to members.

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY A key element of our service to members has been the Member Engagement Strategy. Its total focus has been to contact members in every location either by telephone or email to check on how their business was coping under the duress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it assured continued corporate office support and assistance for the duration of the crisis and beyond. This approach provided the opportunity to ensure members were receiving the COVID-19 daily briefings which detailed the essential information on government and industry support packages and programs, and the weekly industry bulletins.

The direct comments from members to the corporate office has been rewarding and of appreciation for our service.

Importantly, insights were given on how members in their individual businesses were coping. I share with members a few of the comments received. One member said that the business ‘reduced the number of hours to be worked for each of the employees, each losing a day per week.’

Another said the decision was made to cease weekend trading; and another would drop trading a day or two a week.

We were heartened by the unsolicited and strong membership support for the COVID-19 daily briefings. One member wrote: ‘in such difficult times we have found the wealth of informative, qualitative, and indeed regular communications that we have received from yourselves to be an absolute treasure trove of useful information.

The content we’ve received from the MTAQ far surpasses that of all our other third parties’ suppliers and even government agencies.’

Four webinars, led by our Senior Management team and Workplace Relations staff were held to listen to members’ concerns, answer questions or develop further advice materials.

Participating members were reassured all responses to matters raised about their business operations would be derived from the most current information. The webinars were well attended and received and the engagement level by those on the webinars was high.

The single and predominant issue preoccupying members related to workplace relations matters arising from government COVID-19 directives.

This is evidenced by the large increase in calls on workplace matters and requests for assistance with the drafting of correspondence and operational guidelines from our workplace relation team. This required research and understanding so that our team could competently advise members. Initially, stand-down provisions were the most complex until these were formally resolved in the provision. Changes were made to some Awards, such as the Clerks Private June 2020 Motor Trader | 9

Policy/Viewpoint Sector Award, to allow temporary changes to be made to the workplace due to COVID-19; with significant changes also made to the Fair Work Act.

ADVOCACY The Queensland Government held a Zoom Small Business Roundtable to provide the details of government COVID-19 support measures. It was informative, providing understanding of the packages available to business.

The State Government’s Business and Industry Support Package was detailed by the Minister for Employment and Small Minister and Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman. The COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan was explained

by Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Cameron MacMillan. Of keen interest to some 40 participants, including the MTA Queensland, was the JobKeeper Payment and Boosting Cash Flow for Employers Measure. This was conducted by the Deputy Commissioner for the Australian Taxation Office, Deborah Jenkins.

Pending is the response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) discussion paper and consultation on Agricultural machinery: aftersales markets. The ACCC extended the due date because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Farm and Industrial Machinery Dealers’ Division considered the paper and provided input.

Takata airbags during COVID-19 The ACCC has reminded that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, replacing faulty airbags is a vital and potentially lifesaving task, especially as vehicles may be being used by essential workers and caregivers. Importantly, it is incumbent on people as they start to use their cars again to check if the airbags are safe. ‘Nearly 10 | Motor Trader June 2020

productsafety.gov.au

200,000 vehicles fitted with potentially deadly airbags are still on the roads, and more than 8,000 of these are considered so dangerous they should not be driven at all.’

In addition, a significant number of vehicles fitted with a different type of faulty Takata airbag are yet to be remedied. These vehicles, which are fitted with Takata NADI airbags, are considered so dangerous that manufacturers are offering to buy back the vehicles or to provide a loan vehicle until replacement parts are available. The ACCC advises ‘drivers should check online or with their dealer or manufacturer whether their vehicles are subject to this compulsory recall or the voluntary recall of Takata NADI airbags, and never ignore a notice of recall from your car’s manufacturer’.

FINALLY As CEO Brett Dale said in From the Desk of the CEO, our focus now shifts to recovery as members take a safe and steady approach to establishing a functional business that supports clients, the public and the economy. I assure members we will be with them every step along the way, with support and assistance for the recovery and beyond.

Until next month, take special care and stay safe.

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Peter Triantafillou

MTA|Q&A You would imagine that after winning the title of best mechanic in Brisbane less than a year after starting his own business, 25-year-old Peter Triantafillou isn’t your run-ofthe-mill mechanic – and you’d be right. We talk to a young man whose old-school approach to his trade is winning him customers and has turned a once rundown suburban workshop into an award-winning success.

WORDS & PHOTOS: LINDSAY SAUNDERS

12 | Motor Trader April 2020

Bulimba Service Centre

What services do you offer at Bulimba Service Centre?

PT: We do all general automotive repairs

and servicing, for all makes and models.

What’s your approach to the business?

PT: I firmly believe in customer-focused

service. Giving people value for money and communicating with them throughout the process - that’s key.

I like to talk to people not just about their vehicle but life in general. We’re all human and we should treat each other like that. I also appreciate that different people have different budgets and expectations and we do our best here to meet and manage those. I keep

customers informed about their cars and given them all the options I can – it’s up to them which one they go for or if they don’t want to proceed.

When did you establish this business?

PT: I started operations here on March 11,

2019. It was an existing business and I’ve concentrated on building up my customer base and getting known in the area.

It was a pretty rundown business doing just the bare minimum so establishing it as a service worth using was important. All of that was done really by word of mouth and continues to be – my best advertising is done by my customers telling friends about the business and their satisfaction with what we do.

April 2020 Motor Trader | 13

We do pretty much everything here so it’s a full service, all done by the bloke you talk to when you book in.

How did you get involved in the automotive industry?

PT: I did a school-based apprenticeship

through the MTA Institute from year 10 through to year 12. I was doing one day a week and pushed to get it to two days a week, so I had a pretty busy couple of years with study as I was quite an academic student, and had the apprenticeship and was working at a butcher.

The apprenticeship with MTA Institute was brilliant, second-to-none, and I can’t praise it enough. In fact, my apprentice here at my business is doing his apprenticeship through the institute too.

It was my decision who he’d do it through, and I didn’t even think twice. It’s faultless.

I can’t recommend it enough to owners like myself who is taking on an apprentice.

Where did you work after school?

PT: I entered the family-owned mechanical business Skinny’s Garage in the West End. It was a big operation – it had six hoists – and did a lot of insurance contracts for many companies as well as more general work.

I’ve worked on all kinds of cars thanks to that job, from cars from the 1960s

“I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN

CUSTOMER-FOCUSED SERVICE. GIVING PEOPLE VALUE FOR MONEY AND COMMUNICATING WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS - THAT’S KEY.”

to the newest models, and from budget brands to high-performance marques like Lamborghini.

The business’ premises were resumed by the State Government as part of an expansion of the local school in 2017 so it shut down. I decided to do something different and became a mobile crane operator and rigger, working for a Brisbane-based operation. Then I found this business for sale and went for it.

How many staff do you currently have?

PT: There’s me and my apprentice Adam,

and that’s the way I like it right now. I don’t think I want to get any bigger, to be honest. I am very hands on – I became a mechanic to work on vehicles, not manage a workshop from behind a desk. Maybe I’ll feel differently when I get older but right now what I love is fixing vehicles.

I am also big on quality control. I check Adam’s work and he checks mine.

You’ve got to set your standards high and maintain them or customers will go elsewhere. You’re only as good as your last job so it has to be good. I know if the business got bigger I wouldn’t be able to check things myself as much as I want and need to. It’s my name and reputation tied up in the business and I take that seriously.

The Courier Mail 2019 Top 10 Mechanics in Brisbane win must have reinforced you were on the right track?

PT: It was a surprise to be honest. I was

nominated by customers and named in the top 10, then topped the vote of the finalists. I didn’t know about it until customers told me, and it’s really gratifying that customers wanted to nominate me, April 2020 Motor Trader | 15

it in, you’d recondition it. Now, because parts have become so cheap, you just buy YOUR STANDARDS HIGH a new one and throw the old one away. The AND MAINTAIN THEM OR problem I see with that is mechanics won’t know the ‘why’ behind things, they’ll just CUSTOMERS WILL GO be parts replacers.

ELSEWHERE. YOU’RE ONLY Knowing the ‘why’ is crucial. I had an AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST recently of a car not charging, JOB SO IT HAS TO BE GOOD.” example so we replaced the alternator and that didn’t fix it. The reason, we discovered, was that they went to that trouble, and then that the brand-new alternator was faulty. voted for me. I’m not one to big-note I could work that out because I knew myself - I prefer just to get on and do the what should be happening. If you’re just job and do it well - but yes, it felt great to replacing parts you lose the ability to really win that title when, at the time. I’d only diagnose problems. Also, being able to had the business for nine months. fix things means you keep it in house and that then means you have control over the Aside from the Coronavirus and the impact that quality of the work. has had on the industry, what’s the biggest As older mechanics - the ones with issue facing the mechanical sector today? the real engineering skills - are CLICK TO VISIT PT: One thing that I see as a leaving the trade, the knowledge THE BULIMBA growing issue for us is the losing is going too, and that’s to the SERVICE CENTRE WEBSITE of skills. Not so long ago, for detriment of the industry as example, if an alternator packed a whole.

“YOU’VE GOT TO SET

16 | Motor Trader April 2020

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June 2020 Motor Trader | 19

O

N DECEMBER 31, 2019, China reported to the World Health Organisation the news that it was dealing with a cluster of patients afflicted with a new type of viral pneumonia. This cluster of 27 souls was located in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in the central province of Hubei, some 800km inland from the coastal metropolis of Shanghai.

This viral pneumonia would officially become known as COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019), a debilitating disease caused by a virulent type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2).

So infectious has this virus proven to be that less than six months after the announcement of that initial cluster, those 27 cases have mushroomed to number over 4.8 million cases across 213 nations and territories. More than 318,000 deaths have been attributed to the disease.

Australia has not been immune to the outbreak. The nation’s first four cases were recorded in Victoria and NSW on January 25 and, as of May 19, that number has reached more than 7000 cases with 99 deaths.

It has been a quite astonishing couple of months as Australia and the world has 20 | Motor Trader June 2020

“IT HAS BEEN A QUITE

ASTONISHING COUPLE OF MONTHS AS AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD HAS WORKED TO SQUASH THE OUTBREAK OF THE VIRUS THROUGH MEASURES SUCH AS ENFORCED LOCKDOWNS, TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.” worked to squash the outbreak of the virus through measures such as enforced lockdowns, travel restrictions and social distancing. The results, to this point, vary wildly.

China, Europe and the U.S. have been terribly affected, and the number of cases and deaths recorded in those places are staggering. According to the respected Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre in the U.S., China has recorded just over 84,000 cases and nearly 4700 deaths; the UK nearly 250,000 cases and more than 34,000 deaths; and the U.S. an astonishing 1.5 million cases and more than 90,000 deaths. Other countries have registered equally concerning numbers.

While some might argue that the guidelines and restrictions put in place to battle the coronavirus have been too aggressive, it’s hard to argue against their effectiveness

It is deeply dispiriting to reduce the loss of peoples’ lives to statistics - it is an ugly tool by which to compare the relative success of each nation’s battle against the virus. However, it is a metric that matters and the vast disparity in those numbers between nations does need to be noted. As such, and with deep respect to those who have lost loved ones, Australia has done well in keeping the virus under control.

The lockdown, the social distancing measures, the push for improved hygiene, the closing of schools and non-essential businesses, and the restrictions on international and interstate travel - along with the willingness of the Australian public to follow these guidelines - have been successful and while some might argue those actions have been too aggressive, it’s hard to argue against their effectiveness.

However, while the coronavirus has been held at bay, the very measures required to successfully keep it in check and avoid a catastrophic health crisis have had a devastating effect on an economy that thrives on openness and the interaction of its residents and businesses.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT

The federal and state governments, and the medical experts who guide them, are now working towards the goal of ‘reopening’ the country and revealed a plan for that to happen over the coming weeks.

That is a much-needed and welcome development, for while a medical disaster does appear to have been averted, the perfectly reasonable reaction of governments to shut things down to prevent a health catastrophe had the effect of immediately putting businesses on shaky ground.

Bricks and mortar retail businesses, travel enterprises, tourism and hospitality businesses, airlines – just about everyone was set back on their heels.

The automotive industry, locally and internationally, has been struck very hard.

According to the data analytics company GlobalData, in March, global light vehicle sales were 39.4 per cent off levels of a year ago, with first-quarter sales down 27 per cent on last year.

Taking a look at the April VFACTS new-car sales figures for Australia - released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) at the beginning of May - gives an June 2020 Motor Trader | 21

The Road To Recovery

22 | Motor Trader June 2020

“We’ve been working intently with state and federal governments, our union partners and a cross-section of our workforce to reopen our North American facilities,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. “We have reopened our facilities in China, successfully begun our phased restart in Europe and have been producing medical equipment in Michigan for more than six weeks and are using the lessons from all of that to ensure we are taking the right precautions to help keep our workforce here safe.”

This good news follows recent announcements of first-quarter results from the major auto companies – results that were predictably horrifying. A snapshot of news from a handful of major firms reveals how tough things have been. Ford announced a quarterly loss of $US2 billion ($AU3.12 billion). General Motors squeezed out a profit of about $US300 million ($AU467 million) - down from $US2.2 billion ($AU3.43 billion) last year; while Toyota announced a quarterly

vladimir salman / Shutterstock.com

idea of how severe the impact has been at home. The 48.5 per cent fall in April 2020 compared to April 2019 is an astonishing figure and the 38,936 sales recorded for the month compared to the 75,550 in April last year was, the FCAI said, the largest single decrease of any month since the VFACTS recording system began in 1991.

“Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major influence on the April sales result, and reflects a downturn in the broader economy right across the country,” said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI. “Figures recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 31 per cent of Australian citizens have experienced a decrease in income due to the pandemic.

“In addition, 72 per cent of Australian businesses reported that reduced cash flow is expected to have an adverse impact on business over the next two months.

“These conditions inevitably impact consumer confidence and purchase decisions.”

Across the globe, manufacturers of cars, tyres and automotive components were forced to halt production and shutter factories.

Some, such as Ford and GM shifted part of their manufacturing capacity to help fight the pandemic, producing ventilators and respirators.

Only in recent days are manufacturers’ factories beginning to come out of their mothballed or reduced production status and are doing so with stricter safety guidelines in place to protect staff.

Ford, for example, targeted a phased restart for its North America operations beginning May 18, after restarting production at facilities elsewhere.

net income decline of 86 per cent to $US587 million ($AU915 million). Bosch, the world’s leading auto parts supplier, revealed a 17 per cent fall in sales for March.

And it wasn’t just the manufacturers of cars and their components that were in trouble. Even the oil industry, a cornerstone of the world’s economy, was put on edge. On April 20, and for the

first time in history, the price of U.S. oil went negative. That apparently meant that producers were set to pay customers to take oil off their hands.

This happened in part because, with many nations in lockdown, no one was driving. The resultant fall in prices at the bowser - which in Australia saw prices in some areas fall to around 80 cents a litre – were no doubt tempting to car owners but, with the lockdown in effect, no one was able to take advantage of the price fall.

“WE HAVE REOPENED The decline in sales and profits at the OUR FACILITIES IN CHINA, major companies are a sign of the problems SUCCESSFULLY BEGUN OUR facing all auto businesses. If PHASED RESTART IN EUROPE the public is in lockdown AND HAVE BEEN PRODUCING - and rightly concerned FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN about the potential of ABS COVID-19 becoming sick - then SURVEYS HERE MICHIGAN FOR MORE THAN even businesses SIX WEEKS AND ARE USING deemed ‘essential’ and THE LESSONS FROM ALL that have been able to OF THAT TO ENSURE WE keep operating are going to ARE TAKING THE RIGHT struggle for customers.

PRECAUTIONS TO HELP KEEP The Australian Bureau of Statistics OUR WORKFORCE HERE SAFE.” (ABS), in a recent Business Impacts of COVID-19 survey, recorded that, as of May 4, 72 per cent of Australian Car manufacturers are beginning to reopen businesses reported that reduced their factories to full production cash flow is expected to have an adverse impact on business over the next two months; reduced demand for goods and services was expected to impact 69 per cent of businesses over the next two months, and 41 per cent of businesses expect a reduced ability to pay operating expenses.

Add to that the May 14 release by the ABS data for April’s labour force statistics, and the overall picture is not a happy one - 594,300 Australians lost their jobs in the month and the unemployment rate across the nation rose to 6.2 per cent.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 23

The Road To Recovery All this bad news was foreseeable introduced, as was an increased as governments, both state and instant asset write-off enhancement FIND OUT federal, prepared to attempt and a Small and Medium MORE ABOUT to control the spread of the Enterprise (SME) Guarantee FEDERAL GOVT MEASURES HERE coronavirus. And it was equally Scheme that allows businesses to clear that businesses, small and access unsecured loans of up to large, simply could not be ignored $250,000. when the trouble hit.

The biggest ticket items were the Everyone was going to need a helping JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments, with hand. the JobKeeper payment enabling eligible employers to pay their employees at least $1500 per fortnight. Its intent is to help businesses keep those employees’ jobs viable until they can reopen or return to Acknowledging this truth, the federal normal business conditions. government, along with those at the According to the government, under state and territory level, reacted to the the Jobkeeper payment program, an lockdown with much-needed financial estimated six million workers will receive stimulus through a range of packages. the payment.

At the national level, a $1.3 billion All up, the federal government package to help keep apprentices in measures will cost a reported their jobs was revealed in March FIND OUT $320 billion, or 16.4 per cent of enabling eligible employers to MORE ABOUT annual GDP. apply for a wage subsidy of 50 QLD MEASURES The Queensland government per cent of the apprentice’s or HERE opened its treasury’s wallet too. trainee’s wage paid during the Payroll tax exemption and nine months from 1 January 2020 deferral measures, relief measures to 30 September 2020. Employers for commercial tenants and landlords, will be reimbursed up to a maximum of and $1 billion of funding for a 12-month $21,000 per eligible apprentice or trainee interest-free loan program for COVID($7,000 per quarter).

19-affected businesses are some of the A range of tax relief programs were

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed a three-step plan for the economy to reopen

Queensland government measures. of crisis – to be honest this took little Measures like this are vital and for persuading as there was great awareness MTA Queensland, the state and federal that all supply chains are very reliant on governments’ approach has been one to be being mobilized through the support of our applauded. As Queensland’s automotive industry. industry peak body, the Association has “We focused on seeking as much advice not only been a point of contact and about potential support to business and to information for its members, but has ensure that all our members would learn worked with both governments and been about the support available and know part of the deliberation process on what VIDEO: AUSTRALIA TO REOPEN ECONOMY BY JULY measures should be considered in the best IN THREE-STEP PLAN interests of industry.

“We work closely with all levels of government to influence the business environment of our members,” said Dr Brett Dale, CEO of MTA Queensland Group.

“On the scale of potential catastrophe, I concede and commend that the Australian Government has done an exceptional job under the most trying of situations. We felt in synch with the government and at times where to find that support – we have been ahead but not in contradiction, which is doing this through daily briefings and possibly another first. extensive member engagement. On many “For us as an Association, we had a occasions we have provided industrial business continuity plan in place which relations support to assist members with we swiftly enacted and focused on the retaining staff under modified agreements. health and safety of staff. This allowed We maintained our government us to focus completely on members and engagement to ensure that policy captured clients and plan recovery. The government the needs of industry, and in most cases we was planning how to manage the nation’s were successful.” extraction from hibernation and pleasingly it has been about growth and enabling business, not generating profit through taxes and fees. This was also our angle when On May 8, Prime Minister Scott Morrison advocating to state and federal government. revealed a three-step plan for the economy “It seemed clear that the imperatives to reopen. While it is being left to states and were the health and safety of employers territories to make the ultimate decision and their staff, followed closely by the on what opens, when and to what need to push through and trade extent, the national plan laid out to deliver essential services and CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 generate revenue,” added Dr some guidance to the loosening of RESOURCES Dale. “On that basis we pushed restrictions. Stage three – which AVAILABLE to emphasise the role of the allows for employees to return to FROM MTAQ automotive industry and its the workplace and the reopening importance to the nation in a time of business and the community with

THE ROAD FORWARD

June 2020 Motor Trader | 25

The Road To Recovery minimal restrictions – will, hopefully, be in there is light at the end of the tunnel. And place by July. in a May 12 statement, Treasurer Josh The Queensland Government was swift Frydenberg, while sombre on the effects to follow up the Prime Minister’s plan on the economy so far, suggested that with its own and as of May 15, a slew the easing of restrictions would see an of restrictions had been loosened, now economic resurgence. allowing for a gathering of a maximum “The speed at which restrictions are of 10 people in a public space; dining at lifted may differ in each state,” he said. “So restaurants, pubs, clubs, RSLs and cafes too the impact on jobs and GDP from the for a maximum of 10 patrons at one implementation of each stage. time; and recreational travel of a radius “Treasury estimates that the benefits of of up to 150km from home for day trips. just stage one being lifted will lead to more Special allowance has been made for the than 250,000 people going back to work outback regions where there have been and more than $3 billion in additional GDP. no COVID-19 cases with dining in at pubs “This includes 83,000 jobs and $1 billion and cafes allowed for up to 20 locals, and a month in New South Wales; 64,000 jobs recreational travel of a radius of up to and over $715 million in Victoria; 51,000 500km. jobs and $610 million in Queensland; Stage Two, effective from June 13, allows 25,000 jobs and $435 million in Western for further relaxation of the numbers Australia; 17,000 jobs and $178 million in of people who gather in public or clubs South Australia; 5,000 jobs and $50 million and restaurants, as well as holiday travel in Tasmania; 4,000 jobs and $60 million within a person’s region. Stage Three in the ACT; 3,000 jobs and $40 will include reviews of border CLICK HERE million in the Northern Territory.”

TO READ MORE closures and allow for up to 100 ON THE QLD GOVT Those are good numbers. customers in venues.

PLAN FOR LIFTING RESTRICTIONS “These are sensible, gradual steps to a safe COVID recovery that reconnects our communities and keeps the economy moving,” said Queensland Premier Anastacia Palacsuk. “Last weekend we announced the first wave of eased restrictions and Queenslanders did us proud.

“Let’s keep it up to move to stages two and three. We want to keep taking steps forward, not backwards. We don’t want to undo all our good work.”

Things then, are starting to change for the better and 26 | Motor Trader June 2020

procedures that many businesses have introduced - infection prevention and INDUSTRY AND I HOPE WE control policies, for example – may be part of this ‘new’ normal.

CAN LOOK BACK IN SIX The ideas that businesses have MONTHS AND BE AMAZED embraced to adapt to the lockdown AT HOW WELL WE HAVE may stick too, and owners may well find ALL CONTRIBUTED TO A that the sharper focus they have put SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.” into ensuring their business survives will be a trait that sticks. For example, according to car subscription software provider Blinker.com.au, there has been We all hope that these measures work, and a surge of interest from businesses that that Australia can return to something close want to leverage car subscription during to the societal norms we were enjoying less the COVID-19 outbreak. The company than four months ago. says it has seen a 52 per cent increase in It is possible that for some industries dealership enquiries since the lockdowns and sectors – those that are primarily came into effect. Is that an adaptation that office based – there may be some car dealers will pursue? permanent changes: If there is one thing And if some recent surveys concerning we have learned through the lockdown, it the public’s transport concerns prove is that technology can enable us to hold to be prophetic, it may well be that the meetings, to communicate and do some automotive industry can come back with business remotely. real vigour. The preliminary findings of For automotive businesses too, there a University of Sydney national survey may be changes. The ‘COVID safe’ of Australian’s confidence in using public transport suggests there has been a deep dip in confidence in being The exposure has able to stay safe from the been short lived, but a coronavirus. Respondents return to normal will be would rather travel using dependent on how we all their private cars with 84 respond and work to per cent saying that was stimulate the economy the option that made them feel most comfortable.

Interesting.

Where will that lead?

Will there be a surge in interest in electric vehicles as customers see the wellreported improvements in air quality in cities around the world and want the better health outcomes that cleaner air provides?

“WE ARE A RESILIENT

A RETURN TO NORMAL?

June 2020 Motor Trader | 27

The Road To Recovery Or will the drop in fuel prices see a new appreciation of petrol-powered cars?

The global automotive industry was already undergoing great change before the pandemic hit. Australia’s automotive sector was facing the same disruption but has also dealt successfully with other unique challenges in the past – most notably with the end of mass automotive manufacturing – so a robust recovery, a return to normal, and confidence in the future seems entirely plausible.

“The impact and reaction have been variable,” said Dr Dale. “For those who fought through and kept doors opened they seem to have done best. For those who shut down, it is more difficult to plan recovery. Many had areas in their business that dropped significantly but managed to capitalise in other areas to minimise loses. In almost every discussion I have had, there were remarkable stories of

adaptation, and this is what business is about – constant change and adapting to market peaks and troughs - and many businesses did exceptionally well through creative and innovative responses.

“The exposure has been short lived, but a return to normal will be dependent on how we all respond and work to stimulate the economy,” added Dr Dale. “There is no argument that the impact on the economy has been catastrophic, and its time now to build our business and fight for market share as part of the recovery.

“We are a resilient industry and I hope we can look back in six months and be amazed at how well we have all contributed to a successful future.

At MTA Queensland, we will continue to fight for maximum support from government and we will continue to strive for service excellencefor our members and clients.”

MTA Queensland has been working hard to offer the help and advice automotive businesses need to get through the pandemic crisis

28 | Motor Trader June 2020

Members' Stories FIONNA BLACKBURNE

SOUTHEAST AUTO MECHANICAL

F

or Fionna Blackburne, owner of the award-winning Southeast Auto Mechanical in Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, navigating the coronavirus pandemic has been a tough experience.

“It was very scary in the beginning and I am so thankful we were able to be open, but we absolutely had a decline in work,” she said. “The uncertainty has been terrible. It has been up and down with Fionna Blackburne some days being very busy and some very quiet and unfortunately I did have to let someone go, which was very, very apprentice off to pick up things – you just hard to do.” cope and look for the most economical While there have been some very rough way to get what you need. days, the lockdown period enabled Fionna “It is also worth remembering that to analyse how her business could make a business is not just about dealing changes to adapt and make it through with and servicing our customers – we while also delivering a safe environment are actually the customers of other for staff and customers. businesses too and so what affects them “We made lots of little changes, simple has a flow on effect on us.” things, to save costs,” she said. “From how With the nation moving out of the often we empty our big bins to the set-up lockdown stage of the pandemic, Fionna of our phone lines, this situation has really said she could now say that the response us made us look at every little thing. And of the federal and state governments, that is not such a bad thing. as well as the services provided by MTA “People are getting more comfortable Queensland, had been a positive for her as with going out now, but some customers she worked to keep the business going. do stand right back and wear masks and “It is a fair to say that we feel that the so on,” she added. “So, we have sanitiser governments have done quite well,” she at the desk, we are cleaning with hospitalsaid. “This is an unprecedented situation grade wipes and solutions, all customer and I think they have done the best they vehicles are sanitised, and the boys wear can, and I am happy with the way things gloves before and after jobs. have gone.

“Interacting with other businesses and “The COVID-19 briefings from MTA suppliers has changed too,” said Fionna.

Queensland have been very useful too,” “Some of them have had fewer staff which she added. “They have kept us up to date has meant, for example, that we might with what is happening and saved us from have to go and get the parts rather than having to look around for the information wait for them to be delivered. We’ve used the Uber delivery service, sent our that we need.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 29

The Road To Recovery “And I do have confidence in where things are heading now. I have some reservations and am a little nervous about a second outbreak, but the pandemic has changed the way we do business in some areas and that could well be for the better.

So there is, I think, a silver lining.”

JAMES ROBERTSON

BILL ROBERTSON TOYOTA

N

ew car dealers are having a rough time of it thanks to the coronavirus.

The recent revelation of a 48.5 per cent fall in new car sales nationally in April confirmed that dealerships were under enormous pressure from the pandemic lockdown, and dealing with the setback was one the most significant challenges the sector has faced.

For James Robertson, Dealer Principal of Bill Robertson Toyota in Gladstone and chairman of MTA Queensland’s AADA committee, the challenge has been confronted with a focus on communication, the help of dedicated staff and, as it has been for all dealers, a measure of experience from having dealt with downturns and testing times in the past.

“We’ve experienced the significant downturn in sales that everyone in Queensland has,” said Mr Robertson.

“The Gladstone market was down just over 40 per cent in April compared to April last year and workshop demand was down a similar amount. I’ve 30 | Motor Trader June 2020

certainly had times where I’ve had to take a lot of deep breaths and focus on what I can do.

“My staff have been great,” he added.

“As the country shut down, I tried to keep my staff informed as best I could. I kept having our weekly meetings in each department, and I held toolbox meetings when I needed to communicate a change quickly. I also said it was my intention to continue running the business as close to normal as I could.

“Before we were sure we’d qualify for JobKeeper support everyone took some annual leave to reduce our operating expenses. We have some staff working from home, but retail really requires most people to be here, so we implemented social distancing and a lot of sanitising. We have 46 staff, so we had to invest a few thousand dollars in wipes, dispensers and sanitisers.”

The State and Federal governments’ response to the coronavirus pandemic has been a responsible one according to Mr Robertson. In terms of the reaction to the health threat and the economic repercussions, the measures are ones to be supported.

James Robertson

Members' Stories “WE’VE HAD REALLY TOUGH

TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT ANY HELP, SO THIS ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN USEFUL AND WELCOMED. THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYROLL TAX REFUNDS AND FEDERAL CASHFLOW SUPPORT PAYMENTS ABSOLUTELY GAVE ME CONFIDENCE TO SAVE JOBS.” “I think they did what they had to do for public safety and have done more than I expected to help businesses such as mine,” he said.

“We’ve had really tough times before without any help, so this assistance has been useful and welcomed. The early implementation of payroll tax refunds and federal cashflow support payments absolutely gave me confidence to save jobs.

“Being able to keep trained staff ready to meet the needs of customers as they return is extraordinarily supportive,” he added.

“I’m conscious that not every MTA Queensland member is having the same experience and encourage those that need more support to keep seeking the support they need. Be assured AADA and MTA Queensland are continuing to lobby on behalf of all dealers.”

As for the future, and with the economy now slowly reopening, Mr Robertson said that a focus on adjusting to market changes, ensuring governments are always aware of the value dealers bring to the economy, and continuing to provide the excellent service that customers expect would help keep dealers in good stead. There was

also a chance, he said, that the changing attitudes to the health risks posed by sharing public transport during the pandemic may lead to a greater interest in the personal benefits of car ownership.

“Our industry has been operating on high volume and low margins for more than a generation,” he said. “I think it’s important for all motor dealers to remember that we are used to being vigilant in monitoring how our businesses are performing and adapting to the current market.

“We will also survive because we provide an extremely high level of service to our customers and are listening to what they want every day. I don’t think any other businesses have the local infrastructure to meet their customers’ needs the way that motor dealers do.

“Moving forward, we need to continue to ensure governments appreciate what we do and continue to lobby for policies that allow us to be profitable in our core business of selling cars,” he added.

“Customers will not get value for money if we can’t afford to employ trained staff in sales, service, parts and finance. If we don’t exist, customers will have to call an overseas call centre when they have a problem with their $40,000 purchase.

That’s why I’m a member of the MTA Queensland and AADA. “I think long term we’ll be more affected by credit restrictions following the Banking Royal Commission and vehicle electrification. Government stimulus such as the instant tax write-off for vehicles will definitely help dealers sell more vehicles.

“I’m also starting to wonder if people are now going to prefer their ownvehicles over public transport, planes and shared vehicles. The future of private vehicles could be very different from what was being touted only three months ago.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 31

The Road To Recovery ANDREA MCCARTHY

MCCARTHY PANEL WORKS

T

he Mackay region has been spared large numbers of COVID-19 infections, with just 15 confirmed cases (at the time of publication) since the pandemic began. However, just like the cities with large numbers of cases, Mackay has been subject to the same lockdown and social distancing measures as the rest of the state and, just like everywhere else in the nation, there was real concern amongst the region’s residents and business owners about what was going to happen when the virus first hit the country.

“We have only had a few cases in our region, and they weren’t actually in our town but were brought to our hospital,” said Andrea McCarthy who, with husband Craig, owns McCarthy Panel Works in North Mackay. “So, it wasn’t long before people were feeling a lot more at ease with the situation. But there was anxiety at the start of all this. It was huge.”

Preparing for and adapting to the coronavirus lockdown situation was, said Andrea, a real challenge, one exacerbated by the fact that automotive businesses don’t have remote or work-from-home options.

“Those first couple of weeks were tough because we just didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said. “Were we going to be able to trade? The workshop has to be open and people have to be here for the business to function.

“We had to come in and do our jobs every day and face the potential dangers.

I called it the ‘front line’ and, at the time, that is exactly what it felt like. The reality was that we didn’t know who we were coming into contact with and though you can take precautions, there was still genuine fear. It’s difficult to explain that to 32 | Motor Trader June 2020

“THOSE FIRST COUPLE

OF WEEKS WERE TOUGH BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WERE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRADE?” people who aren’t in that situation.”

It was in those early days, when tensions were high and uncertainty rife, that the team at McCarthy Panel Works instigated changes to keep employees and customers as safe as possible, and reassure staff that the business would keep going as the health emergency grew.

“We set up different times for customers to come in, we wiped everything down after each client visit. And we held production meetings outside rather than in the lunchroom so that everyone could stand further apart,” said Andrea.

“We basically said to everyone that it is ‘business as usual until it’s not’. In our case, which I know is not the same as everyone, we did have work to do, so I was saying ‘don’t panic, your job is still here and will be for the foreseeable future’. The reality was that no one really knew what was going to happen but after a couple of weeks we didn’t have the same fear that we were going to be closed.”

The McCarthy Panel Works team also set in motion new policies to help customers not only access the workshop services more efficiently, but to help them through what the team knew was a tough time for everyone.

“A lot of our clients live a couple of hours or more away, and email images to us so we can do estimates that way. Now, IBodyshop has written that option into their program so clients can upload directly to a job. That means we can start up a job for them and

Members' Stories

Andrea and Craig Mccarthy

they can email direct to that job. That’s a terrific change,” said Andrea. “And they have taken it a step further too, and actually reduced fees for a period to help all our clients. That has been pretty huge.”

While McCarthy Panel Works did have work already booked in for much of the lockdown period, Andrea said that new business had been patchy and there were issues with the supply of parts that were now becoming apparent.

“We probably have half as many estimates now, and the ‘quality’ of those estimates has changed - for example, there are people out there who had something happen a year ago and are having it looked at now because they have nothing better to do.

“We were busy going into this period and I think that if we are going to see real impact from this, it is going to be more likely in June and July that we see it.

“The other thing we are seeing, and we anticipated, is issues around parts,” she added. “We are starting to have patchy issues with that now. Parts that have no ETA or are known to have to come in from overseas can create major delays pushing out repair times. So, we have to work

around that too - rejig plans and in some cases where possible repair rather than replace parts, effectively using a different approach.”

With the country now beginning its road back to normality, Andrea said she was pleased with the federal and state governments’ response and the measures that had been introduced for business, all of which made her feel quietly confident about the future.

“I think the lockdown was the right move, I think we had to do it,” she said.

“And I am extremely impressed with the support for business from the government and their efforts to retain jobs. I think they have gone about it in the right manner.

“It does feel now that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There’s a more positive feel about the town at the moment and once we can establish that we are going to be OK, it gives us somewhere to head.

“I think we will be OK on the other side,” she said. “I have to remain a little reserved, but I am quietly confident that we will come out of this all good and, at this stage, I am confident too that the motor industry will keep ticking along.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 33

The Road To Recovery ALISON & TERRY DOWLING

HERTZ MOUNT ISA

M

ount Isa is 1,800km from Brisbane, 900km from Townsville, 1100km from Cairns. It’s a long way out into the Gulf Country and with mining operations and tourism important to the economy, flights to the city are vital for workers and visitors to come and go.

So, when the number of flights into Mount Isa fell dramatically when the pandemic struck and travel restrictions and social distancing measures were introduced, it was a painful blow for local businesses to endure.

“We were shaping up to what we thought was going to be a bonanza year,” said Alison Dowling who, with husband Terry, owns and runs Hertz Mount Isa, last year’s winner of MTA Queensland’s Community Award. “Unfortunately, because most of our vehicle hires are with mining services businesses that come through the Mount Isa airport, that business all but dried up. Qantas went down to just one flight a week from Brisbane and one from Townsville.

Virgin flights stopped completely. It has been very tough.”

Finding a way to navigate the very rough waters of the past few weeks has involved long hours and lots of communicating with their accountant, financial institutions, government departments, insurers and others, and the couple said that they were grateful for the help they had received.

However, when applying for the Queensland government’s COVID-19 Job Support Loan – administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) and designed to assist SME businesses 34 | Motor Trader June 2020

affected by the pandemic to retain employees and maintain their operations – they did run into some trouble.

“It was a little confusing at first as to whether we should go for that loan or access the federal government loan plan,” said Alison. “We were advised to go for the QRIDA loan because if you apply for up to $100,000 you don’t need security.

Unfortunately, we just received an email saying that there were no more funds available even though it is advertised as being available until September.”

The funding for that loan program was increased by $500 million on May 9.

However, the couple have now been told that their loan application is still not eligible due to oversubscription.

With about 100 vehicles on their books, and with a handful of hires coming in, Terry and Alison not only had to find ways to save money on what had become nonproductive assets, but also find somewhere to keep them, and they were able to do both thanks to the support of their insurer and the local business community.

“We worked with our broker and insurance company and reduced our premiums per vehicle per month by about 50 per cent,” said Terry. “We have also let the registrations lapse on about 40 per cent of them.

“We have had to park-up a lot of our vehicles and we are very lucky that we’ve got good relationships with other local businesses who have been very understanding and supportive in allowing us to put our vehicles on their land.

“And we have started to look now at doing some online car sales,” he added.

“We had a rolling replacement program on our vehicles - what we call a guaranteed buyback - but that fell over and so we do now have cars we want to sell. They are great cars – less than a year old, serviced regularly, every vehicle photographed

Members' Stories

Terry and Alison Dowling from Hertz Mount Isa

“WE RELY ON THE TRAVEL MARKET AND I DON’T KNOW WHETHER THINGS WILL GET BACK TO ANY SEMBLANCE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE THE OUTBREAK UNTIL THERE IS A VACCINE.” prior and post hire, cleaned and still under warranty. We are looking at selling them through the wholesale and retail market.”

Terry and Alison have been in business for 16 years and have lived through troubling economic times before – an experience they said had given them some strength to face the current situation. MTA Queensland has also been a tremendously useful resource for the business, they said.

“We were almost at this point when the GFC hit,” said Alison. “At that time, the commodities market crashed and coupled with the regional drought, this mining town was decimated.

“We learned some important survival techniques then that have helped us this time, and the most important is not to

panic. You need to just look at what you can do and be positive in your outlook.

“We have also found that the MTA Queensland COVID-19 daily briefings have been extremely helpful,” she added. “There is a lot of repeated information going around, and that can get very confusing, but those briefings are positive, factual and I’d rather have just one or two trusted places send me that information.

“We have also been able to utilise the MTA Queensland partner lawyers,” she said. “And it was nice to be able to talk to someone who obviously has experience and could keep everything in perspective.

When everything is crashing down around your ears and when you have staff to support, you need to keep nice and calm, so that support was really appreciated.”

Terry and Alison have worked hard to ensure that their team at Hertz Mount Isa maintain a strong connection with the business, even if the economic slowdown means that the work is just not there to keep everyone working their usual hours.

“Our staff have been very good,” said Terry. “When the flights into Mount Isa airport basically stopped, they sensed June 2020 Motor Trader | 35

what was going on and so we discussed the scenario and talked about support such as the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs.

“We have a staff of seven, with two casuals. The casuals are now on JobSeeker and our five other staff are on JobKeeper right now,” added Alison. “But we make sure all staff come in for a few hours a week so they have that contact with us and can stay job-ready. Also, our staff are predominantly Indigenous and Islander, and it is important to us to keep that continuity of engagement with them. That contact is also important because we can make sure that if staff need help in dealing with Centrelink and so on, we can assist with that. We look out for each other.”

The couple’s concept of looking out for each other extends further than this too, as they are encouraging their staff to take advantage of the downtime they have to take online educational courses and are making the computers at work available for them to use. Staff are also aware that the business undertook to sponsor the local Mount Isa Meals on Wheels service with a vehicle in March.

As for the future and life post-pandemic, there is both positivity and caution. Talk of expanding the business to Cloncurry and Longreach that began before the crisis continues, and there is confidence in the direction the federal and state governments have taken. But the question mark remains about when things can truly return to normal.

“We rely on the travel market and I don’t know whether things will get back to any semblance of what it was like before the outbreak until there is a vaccine,” said Alison. “However, no one knew how the virus was going to spread or how quickly, and if it hadn’t been for the lockdowns, we may well have had COVID-19 cases here in Mount Isa, so I do approve of how the state and federal governments responded. They worked together, they cooperated, and that, I think, showed true leadership."

36 | Motor Trader June 2020

MTA INSTITUTE CONTINUES DELIVERY OF LEADING AUTO TRAINING PROGRAMS

T

he lockdown, social distancing requirements and other measures designed to keep the coronavirus in check has affected every industry, including the training sector.

The MTA Institute was affected, as all training organisation were, but thanks to some swiftly implemented strategies, the dedication of staff, and the particular type of method used to deliver training, the organisation was able to offer almost unbroken continuity of training to its apprentices. Only a small number of training days and short course programs were disrupted.

“Obviously, the immediate effect of the COVID-19 was dramatic, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding the health implications,” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of the MTA Institute. “We initially assessed the situation in accordance with government advice, put in place our strategies and communicated this to staff. And we were fortunate that, being an on-site training provider delivering one-on-one training, we didn’t have large training groups to deal with.

"We did, of course, respect the decisions of employers that did not want us at their workplace due to their own COVID polices but, overall, we have been able to continue to offer our training services throughout the pandemic.

“Face-to-face training is very important and provides a rich training interaction between student and trainer. We did look at on-line theory training, but nothing beats a trainer being there to demonstrate the practical training.”

The push to ensure safe delivery of training to students was, and continues to be, vitally important added Mr Kulpa.

The MTA Institute was able to continue to deliver apprenticeship training through the pandemic. All training programs are scheduled to be available again from June.

“WHILE SMALL GROUP TRAINING WAS SUSPENDED MID-MARCH, ALL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING APPRENTICE TRAINING DAYS, PREVOCATIONAL COURSES AND SHORT COURSES ARE TO RECOMMENCE FROM THE START OF JUNE.” “We acknowledged the safety of our staff and others is paramount and implemented a number of processes to ensure their health and safety. We gathered PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for our trainers and made sure to follow up on appointments to ensure there was no one in that workplace who had either been exposed to COVID-19 or was feeling ill. If it was the case, training was rescheduled for another time.”

As the nation moves out of the lockdown and, hopefully, continues its path towards normality, Mr Kulpa said that the Institute would be, with appropriate precautions in

place, moving back to delivering its full range of training offerings.

“We’ve seen a number of changes, from what the expectations are of workplaces for us to enter their premises, standing down of staff, to the slowdown of work.

“While small group training was suspended mid-March, all programs, including apprentice training days, prevocational courses and short courses are to recommence from the start of June.

The Institute is taking the appropriate precautions regarding safety and hygiene and limiting the class numbers depending on the course requirements.

“We’ve handled the situation pretty well, have continued to service our clients and ensure apprentices have been able to progress in a very unusual situation. Our trainers have worked hard to support our plan and we are extremely grateful for their efforts.

“Overall, the training continuity has continued and, with the restrictions easing, I believe we will be able to see training continue for the wider auto training industry.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 37

END-OF-LIFE TYRES THE TARGET AS MTAQ INVESTS IN RECYCLING COMPANY

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T IS ESTIMATED that approximately 1.5 billion tyres reach the end of their useable life every year across the globe.

Australia is responsible for just a small slice of that number, about 23 million tyres, but whichever number you choose to focus on, the figure is astonishing.

What exactly is to be done with this extraordinary mass of rubber, steel, assorted fabrics and chemicals has been a headscratcher for manufacturers, the wider automotive industry, governments, and waste management companies for years. After all, tyres are, by the nature of

38 | Motor Trader June 2020

“TO HAVE THE SUPPORT

OF AN ORGANISATION WITH THE INDUSTRY CLOUT THAT MTA QUEENSLAND HAS IS VERY IMPORTANT . . . ” the job they are designed to do, extremely tough and durable and, for all intents and purposes, non-degradable.

Dumping them in landfills or stockpiles was never really a solution – they take up a huge amount of space, can catch fire and belch noxious smoke into the atmosphere,

GDTC’s Chief Operating Officer Trevor Bayley VIDEO: GREEN DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES

and become breeding grounds for all manner of pests and disease– and it can be argued that repurposing tyres by breaking them down for use in, for example, road or playground surfacing, is just shifting them from one form to another.

The holy grail for true tyre recycling is surely to take a whole tyre, break it down into the really useful components from which it is made and sell those back into their respective market.

And that is exactly what Australian company Green Distillation Technologies Corporation (GDTC) can do.

The company has perfected a recycling method that uses a unique development of a process called destructive distillation to extract oil, carbon and steel from a tyre. The tyre does not have to be broken down or shredded before this process is undertaken and, rather remarkably, the process is free of emissions.

It is extremely clever, innovative stuff.

Originally created and developed by GDTC’s now Chief Technical Officer Denis Randall more than 10 years ago as a way to recycle agricultural waste, the concept proved easily transferable to rubber and tyres and this smart technology has been recognised by organisations across the world, winning the 2015 bronze medal at the global Edison Awards and being nominated in the Environmental June 2020 Motor Trader | 39

Achievement of the Year category at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards.

Earlier this year, MTA Queensland took the decision to invest in the company and the talents of those driving GDTC. For the Association, that decision demonstrates the importance it puts in supporting innovative solutions to problems that beset the automotive industry - and endof-life tyres certainly fit into that category.

“This investment exemplifies how seriously we take waste management in our sector and taking the lead and investing in a global solution for end-of-life tyres is a responsible move as an industry leader and a very exciting investment opportunity,” said Dr Brett Dale, MTA Queensland Group CEO. For Trevor Bayley, Chief Operating Officer of GDTC, the MTA Queensland investment marks an important step as the company moves forward in its development and in its growth both home and abroad.

“It is extremely significant,” he said.

“MTA Queensland is an industry association that has recognised the need to get involved in this facet of the industry and is the first one to do so. Their investment is recognition of the fact that they represent an industry in which the 40 | Motor Trader June 2020

disposal of tyres must be responsibly managed, and they have made the determination that our method of disposal and removal from the stream is appropriate.

“For GDTC, the investment is very important, a great step for us, and we are grateful for the interest. To have the support of an organisation with the industry clout that MTA Queensland has is very important, and it is certainly a nice name to have on the share register.”

HOW DOES IT WORK? GTDC’s destructive distillation method involves the application of heat to break down a complete tyre into steel, carbon and oil.

The chemistry is a bit complicated, and the exact method the company has developed is somewhat secret, but it works thanks to the fact that almost all the elements that make up a tyre – the rubber, fillers, fabrics and so on – are carbon-based. The tyres are placed whole into a sealed chamber in which a vacuum is created, and heat is applied to cause a chemical reaction through which the tyre is broken down and carbon and hydrogen atoms are released as a vapour.

“ . . . EXHAUST GAS EMITTED

FROM A GDTC RECYCLING PLANT IS SO FAR BELOW THE REQUIREMENTS DEMANDED

BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES THAT THE FACILITY IS ESSENTIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING AND FREE OF EMISSIONS.” The liberated carbon atoms attach to the hydrogen atoms to form hydrocarbons and this vapour is then condensed into oil.

What is left once this process has taken place and no more oil can be created is the steel from the carcass of the tyre and almost pure carbon – an element that is used, in various forms, in the manufacture

of a huge variety of products.

With the entire process taking place in a vacuum, with about three per cent of the reclaimed oil reused as the heat source, and with various methods utilised to retain unburnt oil and particulate matter in the system, any exhaust gas emitted from a GDTC recycling plant is so far below the requirements demanded by environmental protection agencies that the facility is essentially self-sustaining and free of emissions.

And the products reclaimed by the GDTC process – the steel, oil and carbon - are of a quality that makes them of real value in their respective markets.

“The high-tensile steel is unchanged as the temperatures don’t get hot enough to have any impact upon it,” said Mr Bayley.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 41

“If we were in a country that manufactured tyres, there would be a market for it to go directly back into that industry. However, in Australia it goes back into the pot and gets mixed up with all the other scrap steel, scrap iron and so on.

“The oil is what is called fuel oil. A large percentage, about 70 per cent, is in the diesel range which means it is refinable.

The other 30 per cent is various other fractions such as solvents and kerosene. As a refinery feed stock, this oil is very valuable and there are multiple other uses for it which we are just beginning to explore.”

The carbon that is produced, which is about 90 per cent pure, has incredible potential, and GDTC aims to use it in some high-value and high-growth markets, including in the production of batteries.

The company has an agreement with New Zealand business CarbonScape that has developed a process of producing graphite from a variety of carbon sources. The carbon produced by GDTC is compatible with this process and being able to convert this carbon to graphite opens a market for GDTC that includes the production of lithium ion batteries in which graphite is an integral component. Lithium ion batteries are the source of power for mobile phones, Steel, oil and carbon are produced via the GDTC tyre breakdown process

42 | Motor Trader June 2020

laptop computers, digital cameras and just about any other mobile device you care to mention. They are also the battery type of choice in electric vehicles and that, as we all know, is a sector of the automotive industry that will expand dramatically in the coming years.

THE NUMBERS With 23 million tyres needing to be disposed of each year in Australia, there is an almost limitless supply of ‘fuel’ to feed GDTC facilities and each chamber at the company’s plants will put in a lot of work.

One chamber can process approximately 210kg of tyres per hour and with each plant proposed to comprise of 12 such chambers, about 2.5 tonnes of tyres can be processed per hour. All told, each GDTC plant will be able to process more than 19,000 tonnes per year, and just 10 plants would be able to recycle 40 per cent of Australia’s glut of end-of-life tyres.

“AS A REFINERY FEED STOCK, THIS OIL IS VERY VALUABLE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER USES FOR IT WHICH WE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO EXPLORE.” Fuel oil

What can be consumed by each plant is impressive, but what can be produced is equally so. GDTC claims each typical 10kg car tyre will yield 4 litres of oil, 4kg of carbon, and 2kg of steel, while a 70kg truck tyre will provide 27 litres of oil, 28kg of carbon and 15kg of steel. A 4-tonne oversize mining dump truck tyre will yield 1.6 tonnes of carbon, 0.8 tonne of steel and 1500 litres of oil. Those are impressive numbers.

Build out those numbers to nations with a far larger tyre stockpile to dispose of, and the potential growth of an environmentally friendly, efficient and productive process such as GDTC’s is easy to grasp. And that potential has already been recognised by partners in both the US and South Africa.

In the US, the number of end-of-life tyres reaches gigantic numbers – more than 250 million per year - and GDTC has an agreement in place there that provides funding of up the US$150 million to build several plants.

“If we look at the US, 30 plants represent 18 per cent of the available tyre market,” said Mr Bayley. “And they are much less risk-averse there. The people we are talking to are looking at building 15 plants across the country, they have the first site chosen and 60,000 tonnes of tyres organised and

ready to go. They have markets for the oil and the steel and are very close to securing a market for the carbon. In South Africa too, they are ready to go and are looking at building three plants straight away. We’ll look to start work there probably before the middle of the year.”

Those plants will join the company’s current working facility in Warren, NSW; a government-approved plant to be built at Toowoomba; and several more proposed sites across the nation.

For MTA Queensland, an investment in technology that was developed here in Australia, and that tackles a serious waste management problem while also generating valuable products makes a lot of sense. And it should be remembered that regardless of the fantastical array of vehicles that emerge from the automotive industry’s current technological upheaval, they will still run on tyres and those tyres will still wear down and need to be disposed of once they have lived out their usefulness.

End-of-life tyres are going to be a long-term problem, and MTA Queensland is proud to VISIT be involved in supporting THE GDTC WEBSITE an innovative, profitable and environmentally friendly solution.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 43

Auto innovation news

HONDA HYBRID & EV BATTERIES TO GET ‘SECOND LIFE’ IN NEW RECYCLING INITIATIVE

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ONDA MOTOR EUROPE is expanding its battery recycling partnership with SNAM - Société Nouvelle d’Affinage des Métaux (or New Metal Refining Company) - to advance the sustainable usability of its end-of-life batteries. The pan-European arrangement will see SNAM collect and recycle batteries from Honda's hybrid and electric vehicles and either prepare them for 'second-life' renewable energy storage uses or extract valuable materials for recycling.

Honda and SNAM have worked together since 2013, to ensure the traceability of end-of-life batteries and dispose of them in accordance with European Union environmental standards. The expansion of this agreement will see SNAM collect Lithium-ion and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries from across Honda's dealer network and Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF) in 22 countries, before analysing how suitable they are for recycling and processing them accordingly.

SNAM assesses which battery packs are valid for inclusion in a new energy storage device. These are then repurposed and made available by SNAM for domestic and industrial applications.

When battery cells are damaged and 44 | Motor Trader June 2020

VIDEO: HONDA BATTERY RECYCLING UK

unsuitable for ‘second life’ applications, materials such as cobalt and lithium can be extracted using hydrometallurgy techniques. These can be reused in the production of new batteries, colour pigments or as useful additives for mortar. Other commonly used materials including copper, metal and plastics are recycled and offered to the market.

Dealers can arrange and request the collection of end-of-life batteries for treatment and recycling through SNAM's dedicated online platform.

Collection can be arranged from centralised storage hubs within 15 working days, so that dealers do not have to store batteries at their premises.

The agreement applies to large ‘traction’ batteries used to power motors in hybrid and electric vehicles, as opposed to smaller batteries used for ignition in petrol or diesel cars.

AIWAYS GRANTED PATENTS FOR AUTONOMOUS EV CHARGING SOLUTION

Aiways CARL autonomous charging robot

A

IWAYS, THE SHANGHAI-BASED personal mobility provider and EV manufacturer, has been granted seven patents across Europe and China to develop its autonomous charging robot, including the intelligent robot design and charging method.

The device – named ‘CARL’ – has been developed with 30kwh and 60kwh capacities and can provide a fast charge to any EV with a recognised charging standard.

Aiways says that with the ability to recharge an EV battery to 80 per cent in under 50 minutes, CARL offers a flexible and economical charging solution to private and corporate customers, as well as infrastructure developers and operators.

Having parked their vehicle in public, home or workplace car parks, EV owners can summon a CARL located nearby via a smartphone app. The robot will then use GPS data to locate the vehicle within the

VIDEO: MEET CARL THE CHARGING ROBOT

area in which it operates, plug in and start charging it automatically. Once the charging process is complete, CARL will continue to the next user, or return to its base station.

“Instead of drivers trying to find a charger, the charger will find them,” said Alex Klose, Vice President for Overseas Operations at AIWAYS. “We want to make EV ownership as simple, easy and enjoyable as possible, and CARL provides a blueprint for how EVs can be charged in the future.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 45

Auto innovation news

BYD INTRODUCES NEW BLADE BATTERY DESIGN FOR BEVS

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YD, THE CHINESE electric vehicle manufacturer, has launched its Blade Battery, a development that it says will mitigate safety concerns.

At an online launch event, Wang Chuanfu, BYD Chairman and President, highlighted a video of the Blade Battery successfully passing a nail penetration test, and the company said that while undergoing such tests, the battery emitted neither smoke nor fire, and its surface temperature only reached 30 to 60°C. Under the same conditions, the company added ‘a ternary lithium battery exceeded 500°C and violently burned, and while a conventional lithium iron phosphate block battery did not openly emit flames or smoke, its surface temperature reached dangerous temperatures of 200 to 400°C. This implies that EVs equipped with the Blade Battery would be far less susceptible to catching fire – even when they are severely damaged’.

BYD also said that the Blade Battery passed other extreme test conditions, such as being crushed, bent, being heated in a furnace to 300°C and overcharged by 260 per cent, and that none of these resulted in a fire or explosion.

The singular cells are arranged together

46 | Motor Trader June 2020

in an array and then inserted into a battery pack. Due to its battery pack structure, BYD said the space utilisation of the battery pack is increased by over 50 per cent compared to conventional lithium iron phosphate block batteries.

The Han EV, BYD's flagship sedan model slated for launch this year, will come equipped with the Blade Battery, and the new model will lead the brand's Dynasty Family, boast a cruising range of 605km and an acceleration of 0 to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

In related news, BYD AND Toyota have announced that development of their joint venture company to conduct research and development of battery

BYD Han

SKODA OPENS STATE-OF-THEART CRASH LAB

VIDEO: BYD REVEALS ULTRA-SAFE BLADE BATTERY

electric vehicles has reached a new milestone and operations are scheduled to commence in May 2020. The name of the new company is BYD TOYOTA EV TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (BTET).

This joint venture company will focus on the research and development of battery electric vehicles with technology and knowhow from both China and Japan,” said Zhao Binggen, newly appointed CEO of the company. “The company is committed to promoting and populating high-quality technologies that make battery electric vehicles more environmentally friendly, safe, comfortable, and intelligent. Our vision is to create a future customer-first mobility style, and a harmonious society for humans and nature.”

SKODA AUTO HAS put a state-of-theart crash lab into operation. The test centre near Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic is designed for all known crash test scenarios, most notably the new requirements of the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP).

Skoda has set up a separate area for handling electric cars following a crash test, and the lab will be able to assess the passive safety both of Skoda models and of other Volkswagen Group brand vehicles.

The new crash lab is more than twice the size of the previous test centre. The crash test hall itself is over 180 m long.

A separate hall is specially equipped for disarming electric vehicles. Crash test capacity is being increased to meet the demand for these vehicles and will be gradually expanded by Skoda over the coming years.

At the heart of the lab is an electric drive system that accelerates two vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes to a top speed of 65 km/h, or one weighing up to 3.5 tonnes to a top speed of 120 km/h over the entire length of the track. Other testing equipment includes a ‘Flying Floor’ test sled, which accelerates the cars attached to it for the side pole-impact test.

Another piece of testing equipment is the static rollover simulator. Barriers for offset frontal impact, what is known as the small overlap test, and a barrier vehicle for the rear-impact as well as car-to-car tests cover all current test scenarios.

20 static and 30 on-board high-speed cameras – all in HD – record the results of the crash tests.

Auto innovation news

VOLKSWAGEN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ROLLS OUT AR HEADSETS

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OLKSWAGEN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES is rolling out augmented reality headsets for technicians across its Van Centre network in the UK. The company says the headsets help speed up complex repair work with the system allowing experts based at the VW’s Technical Support Centre (TSC) to send precise visual instructions remotely to technicians at Van Centres and Mobile Service Clinics, ensuring any maintenance issues can be fixed quickly, minimising the time a van spends off the road.

Each of the 67 Van Centres and 30 Authorised Repairers across the UK will have access to a pair of the RealWear glasses, which includes microphone, head camera, display screen and voice activation.

The nationwide rollout follows a successful trial that VW says saved 48 | Motor Trader June 2020

VIDEO: VW AUGMENTED REALITY

customers a year of downtime – equal to almost £250,000 ($AU500,000) – with repair efficiency up by 93 per cent. Not having to physically travel also meant a reduction of over 2.5 tonnes of CO2 for the TSC. If technicians face complex or unusual servicing points, they can use the technology to connect directly with the Technical Support Centre. An expert is then able to support the field technician

LOTUS AGREES PARTNERSHIP WITH UK POWER PROVIDER

If technicians face complex or unusual servicing points, they can use the technology to connect directly with the Technical Support Centre

through the diagnosis and repair by augmenting images, wiring diagrams and adding repair suggestions into their view.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a range of vehicles from Caddy to California and Amarok to Crafter, each with a range of powertrain options and bespoke conversions. This means technicians face a raft of servicing variations each day which might require specialist assistance.

“Following a hugely successful trial, we have decided to invest in the augmented reality technology to allow us to support our world class technicians and valued customers alike,” said David Hanna, Head of Service and Parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “As part of our Working With You promise, we are committed to keeping customer vehicles on the road and minimising downtime – this technology provides the perfect solution by reducing the time a van spends in the workshop as well as improving the sustainability of our technical support operation.”

LOTUS AND CENTRICA plc, the parent company of British Gas, are to work together to develop a new model for electric vehicle ownership that they say fully integrates future mobility and energy. The companies aim is to make the car an 'extension of the home' – one controlled by smart devices – and capable of storing electricity, minimising emissions and generating new income by providing services to the energy market.

Centrica says it will facilitate a sustainability program that leverages low carbon technologies and helps mitigate the environmental impact of everything from manufacturing through to sales and the day-today activities of Lotus employees, helping meet Lotus’ carbon reduction aspirations. Lotus says the new partnership will help establish a new global charging and energy infrastructure for new products as part of its looks to a zero-carbon future.

“Our journey to net-zero carbon is absolutely lock-in-step with the Vision80 strategy for Lotus – taking us to eighty years of the business in 2028,” said Phil Popham, Lotus Cars CEO. “By then we will have transformed Lotus into a truly global player in the high-performance high-technology sector with a new range of cars that remain true to our fundamental promise of always being ‘For The Drivers’. The difference is the energy and infrastructure that will power and support these products in the future.”

Lotus Evija

Auto innovation news

FORD PERFORMANCE REVEALS ALL-ELECTRIC MUSTANG DRAGSTER

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ORD PERFORMANCE HAS recently revealed a one-off, a;;-electric Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag racer.

The battery-powered Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 prototype is purpose-built and projected to deliver over 1,400hp (1044kW) and over 1,100 ft.-lbs. (1491Nm) of instant torque to demonstrate the capabilities of an electric powertrain in one of the most demanding race environments.

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

The car is projected to complete the quarter-mile in the low 8-second range at more than 170 mph (274km/h).

"This project was a challenge for all of us at Ford Performance, but a challenge we loved jumping into,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We saw the Cobra Jet 1400 project as an VIDEO: THE ALL-ELECTRIC MUSTANG COBRA JET 1400

KIA UNVEILS NEW BLIND-SPOT VIEW MONITOR TECH KIA HAS REVEALED details of its new Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) technology included with the all-new Sorento SUV. The tech is designed to enhance safety for by eliminating a driver’s left and right-side blind spots.

BVM enhances drivers’ vision either side of the car when driving on the road and is linked with the car’s turn signal.

It displays a high-resolution video feed on the left or right side of the TFTLCD instrument cluster if the driver indicates to change lane with another vehicle hidden in their blind spot. The video feed comes from wide-angle, high-resolution cameras, one hidden in each of the door mirror housings.

This BVM technology is being offered to European Sorento buyers as part of a package which includes a Surround View Monitor and Parking CollisionAvoidance Assist (PCA), as well as a Bose Performance Series audio system.

This package of technologies is available on European vehicles equipped with Kia’s Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) function.

opportunity to start developing electric powertrains in a race car package that we already had a lot of experience with, so we had performance benchmarks we wanted to match and beat right now. This has been a fantastic project to work on, and we hope the first of many coming from our team at Ford Performance Motorsports."

Ford Performance continues to test Cobra Jet 1400 ahead of its world debut later this year at a drag racing event where fans, media and competitors will get to see exactly what it’s capable of.

Auto innovation news

GOODYEAR ROLLS OUT RECHARGE CONCEPT TYRE

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HE AUTO INDUSTRY has been going through some rapid technological development. Electric cars, autonomous driving tech, assisted driving safety systems - there’s a lot going on and tyre manufacturers are not being shabby in providing their own concepts that complement these developments.

Some pretty interesting tyre concepts are being created and Goodyear recently revealed its latest effort – the reCharge - that includes a number of innovative features.

Most interesting is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules. Filled with a customised

52 | Motor Trader June 2020

liquid compound, these capsules apparently allow the tread to regenerate – as it wears down on the tyre face, the compound exits the capsule to replace the worn tread. Clever.

VIDEO: GOODYEAR RECHARGE CONCEPT TYRE: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY

Xpeng EV Sports Sedan

Xpeng XPENG MOTORS LAUNCHES Motors Launches the P7 Long-Range EV

THE P7 LONG-RANGE EV

Goodyear says the compound itself would be made from a biological material and would be reinforced with fibres inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world - spider silk! This would make it both extremely durable and 100 percent biodegradable. The tread would be supported by a lightweight, non-pneumatic frame and talland-narrow shape. The thin, lowmaintenance construction would, the company says, eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.

Goodyear Recharge Concept

CHINA’S XPENG MOTORS has announced the launch of its P7 super-long range, high-performance, fast-charging intelligent EV sports sedan, its second production model.

The P7 is immediately available for order in China, in 3 versions and 8 configurations, and the company says customer deliveries will commence at the end of June 2020.

Xpeng Motors claims that the P7 is the first Level 3 autonomous-ready production vehicle in the Chinese market; has an NEDC (New European Driving Cycle ) range of 706km, and a 0-100km time of 4.3 seconds in some configurations. It is the first production model in any market to be powered by NVIDIA’s Drive AGX Xavier system-ona-chip, delivering 30 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) performance while consuming only 30 watts of power.

Fast charging performance is claimed to go from 30 per cent to 80 per cent charge as fast as 28 minutes, with 120km range available in 10 minutes.

The P7 will be available through Xpeng’s growing sales network, reportedly now 113 outlets across 57 cities, and its service network of 73 stores in 52 cities. Xpeng says its Supercharging stations for the P7 have reached 164 contracted and signed units across 35 cities, while its 3rdparty charging pile networks number some 200,000+ units across China.

The Xpeng P7 is available in China in various configurations, with prices starting from US$32,462.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 53

MBER'S E M

HOLDEN 54 | Motor Trader September 2019

MAKE: HOLDEN MODEL: HQ ONE TONNER UTE YEAR: 1971 ENGINE: LS1 V8 OWNER: DAVID GILIBERTO

N HERO

September 2019 Motor Trader | 55

XXXX.

HOLDEN HERO

WORDS & PHOTOS: LARA WILDE

D

AVID GILIBERTO OF Guido’s Panel and Paint is a Holden man. He has owned dozens of them, ranging from new Colorado tradies' utes to classic twodoor Monaros. Now in his thirties, he is the proud owner of some collectible Holdens but his red ute named Guido is his favourite.

Guido is a 1971 Holden HQ One Tonner with a cammed LS running on E85. Fully street registered and street driven, the ute does daily driver shop duties during the week and cuts loose on the burnout pad for local comps on the weekend.

David is the second owner of Guido and the ute had a very boring past until it came to the Gilberto shed.

In 2014, an older guy who lived up the road from David’s parents, came to see 56 | Motor Trader June 2020

David at the shop. The guy had originally purchased the ute in 1971 from the local Holden dealership in Ingham - Origlasso Motors. He had all the original paperwork.

He was a builder and had used the ute for work carrying tools and supplies around the local area. He was getting too old to drive it, so dropped in to see if David and his dad were interested in buying it.

“The next day he brought it to the shop and offered it to me for $1,000,” said David.

“On the spot, I bought it. I just couldn’t help myself.”

When the ute first arrived at the panel and paint shop it was rough but solid.

It was beige in colour with a stock sixcylinder 202 motor, a steel work tray and a bench seat. Being at a panel and paint shop, David cleaned up the body and interior straight away but decided to leave the 202 for a while as it was just a shop ute. However, a while is not a long time in

David Giliberto of Guido’s Panel and Paint

David’s shed.

Two weeks after deciding to leave Guido stock as the shop ute it was on a trailer to Cairns as a rolling shell to have a 5-litre naturally aspirated V8 installed by Kev Tier and Loz Sultana. That V8 served David well until 2017 when he swapped it for an LS. David wanted a motor that could enter burnout comps but still be reliable as a street-driven daily. That was the first LS swap but there have been a few more since then.

David is a regular at motorsport events throughout Far North Queensland. Not only does he take the red one-tonner out every chance he gets but he is also the President of the Ingham Motorplex, building a premier motorsport facility in his hometown. With the support of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council, David and the Ingham Motorplex team have been working hard to get their own dedicated motorsport facility in Ingham. They now

have a block of land and the Council is working with them to install the first burnout pad for competitions. In the long term, they have plans for a drag racing track and driver training facilities.

“The council have been very supportive and we can’t thank them enough for getting behind the Ingham motorsport community,” said David.

Guido is a regular up and down the coast for competitions and car shows. In 2018, David competed in the Northern Nats event at Springmount Raceway in the burnout competition. Guido made the top 5 in a strong field of competitors and, much to David’s delight, at the end of the weekend Guido still drove on a trailer.

While driving on the trailer after a solid weekend of competition was a great feeling, catching fire and watching the motor burn down was the lowest of low feelings! In 2018, the same year as the June 2020 Motor Trader | 57

Northern Nats high, Guido caught fire at the Ingham Auto Fest.

During the lead-up to the event, a lot of work was done on the ute. David made the most of a Townsville dyno shop to fine tune the motor, leaving nothing about Guido’s performance to chance. Just as David was about to finish the first skid, the motor leaned out at 7,200 revs leaving it starving for fuel. The motor was still demanding fuel and in no time at all it caught fire.

Flames engulfed the ute burning the motor, wiring and plumbing. “Of course, I was deeply concerned for the welfare of my ute so I wasted no time in leaping on the tray for a photo opportunity!� said David.

The Ingham crowd went wild with photos quickly going viral on social media. Amazingly, the paint survived unscarred despite the flames. David headed back to the shop to rebuild the engine and prep Guido for more competitions. Since then the onetonner has competed consistently and was a finalist at the 2019 NQ Burnouts competition in Cairns.

58 | Motor Trader June 2020

When the ute first arrived at the panel and paint shop it was rough but solid.

The 2020 season was set to be a big one for David and Guido but as with many events from all walks of life, the coronavirus pandemic has put the brakes on motorsport gatherings. The Northern Nats, set for the beginning of May but now postponed to at least October, was where David was hoping to get Guido on the burnout pad with some of the biggest cars in the North. Closer to home, the Ingham Autofest has also been postponed.

However, while trophies and viral social media fame are lovely, for David they are not the best parts of owning a ute like Guido. A highlight for him was taking his mum and dad cruising in Guido at the Northern Nats. The look on his mum’s face in the passenger seat as they drove out on the burnout pad was priceless. David will tell you, “My favourite thing is that the ute is road registered and driven almost daily.

Guido is not hidden in the shed and I can

hand on heart say the onetonner is built not bought.”

CLICK TO VISIT So what does the future THE GUIDO’S hold for David and Guido?

PANEL AND PAINT WEBSITE “Guido is complete as it is. Now my attention goes to the next build, a 1971, four-door VF Valiant with a small block 360 Chrysler motor. The Valiant will be a show car and burnout car but still street registered.”

We can’t wait to see Guido with the Valiant stablemate at a show in Far North Queensland soon.

DO YOU HAVE A PRIDE AND JOY IN THE GARAGE THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN THE PAGES OF MOTOR TRADER?

!

Contact Jonathan Nash at jonathann@mtaq.com.au and let’s see if we can share your classic with other members.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 59

Auto news

Kia Sorento

KIA’S NEW SORENTO REVEALED

K

IA REVEALED THE fourth generation of its Sorento SUV in March.

The new Sorento is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV platform and will be available with the company’s new ‘Smartstream’ electrified powertrains – the first time that hybrid power has featured in the Sorento line-up.

The new model is the result of a collaborative design effort between all three studios within Kia’s worldwide design network, in Korea, Europe and North America and embraces a concept that Kia calls ‘refined boldness’. The result of that work is a visually appealing machine with plenty of sharp lines and creases and a more sculpted look than its predecessor.

The interior ups the quality over earlier models.

There’s a smart 12.3-inch digital driver

60 | Motor Trader June 2020

instrument cluster that is twinned with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system at the centre of the dashboard. The car’s functions can be controlled with new haptic buttons on either side of the screen and the cabin integrates a range of other technologies, including an available Mood Lighting system that emits soft ambient downlighting from beneath the dashboard and door trim. A wireless smartphone charger also sits at the base of the centre console, while a BOSE surround-sound system is also available.

The cabin blends metallic trim, leather upholstery, and embossed satin-effect surfaces. In Australia, the Sorento will be

There will be a new four-cylinder 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 148kW and 440 Nm torque, and reports suggest a 2.5-litre 207Kw/421Nm petrol engine will be available too.

TECHNOLOGY

available (grade dependent) with embossed black cloth, leather appointed black cloth and black quilted Nappa leather.

POWERTRAINS The Sorento will be available with hybrid power – although reports suggest that option may not come to Australia - and Kia says there will eventually be both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.

The Hybrid is powered by a new ‘Smartstream’ electrified powertrain, pairing a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) with a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and 44.2 kW electric motor. That set-up produces 227hp and 350Nm of torque.

The Sorento will come packed with a suite of technologies that enhance safety, connectivity and infotainment The infotainment system allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently, while front passengers can also plug in their mobile devices via two USB chargers. For second-row passengers, two USB charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the two front seats, with a third found at the rear of the front-row centre console. Both third-row passengers also have their own charging points.

The Sorento is also available with a head-up display, which projects driving information onto the base of the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight.

The system displays alerts from the car’s numerous driver assistance technologies.

And there are plenty of those. Depending on specification, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) range includes Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection; Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM); Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-spot Collision-avoid Assist (BCA); Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA); Smart Cruise Control with Stop&Go (SCC) and Navigation-based SCC (NSCC); Lane Following Assist (LFA); Driver Attention Warning (DAW); and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

Kia’s ‘level two’ autonomous driving tech - Lane Following Assist - controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front and operates at up to 180km/h June 2020 Motor Trader | 61

Auto news

ASTON MARTIN UNVEILS THE V12 SPEEDSTER

A

STON MARTIN HAS created some stunning cars over the years and the V12 Speedster, which the company revealed at the beginning of March, looks to be another cracking example of the company’s design and engineering skill.

Created by the company’s bespoke customisation service ‘Q by Aston Martin’, the Aston Martin V12 Speedster has gone from drawing board to near production in around a year and just 88 units are due for production.

Utilising Aston Martin’s latest bonded aluminium architecture, the V12 Speedster uses elements from both the DBS Superleggera and Vantage model lines to create its own unique platform. There’s independent double wishbone front; multilink rear suspension with coil springs and adaptive damping offering Sport, Sport+

62 | Motor Trader June 2020

and Track modes; and the Speedster also benefits from standard 21-inch forged centre lock alloy wheels. Carbon Ceramic Brakes of 410mm on the front and 360mm at the rear are also standard equipment.

Over the unique chassis is a bespoke body constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre.

The interior uses a mix of traditional and modern materials. There’s structural satin carbon fibre, hand-crafted Saddle Leather, chrome, aluminium and even 3D printed rubber. In front of the passenger is a removable leather bag in place of a traditional glove box, while there’s additional storage space under the rear bumps for luggage.

The Speedster is finished in Skyfall Silver with contrasting satin black on the exhaust tips, vent grilles and vanes. The dark theme is carried through to the interior, with

satin dark chrome, machined aluminium, black leather, black technical textile, black carpets and vivid red Aston Martin scripted door pulls.

Underneath all this brilliant work is Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre, twin-turbo V12 engine, with a peak output of 700hp (522kW) and 753Nm of torque. Front

mid-mounted, the all alloy, quad cam 48-valve engine is mated to a ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission with a limited-slip differential driving the rear wheels. Aston Martin claims the V12 Speedster is able to accelerate to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds on the way to a limited top speed of 300km/h.

“Nothing demonstrates Aston Martin’s commitment to providing unique, special models to its customers more than the V12 Speedster,” said Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO. “The 88 hand-built cars will be sought after by driving enthusiasts and collectors alike all around the world. I’m excited not just about what it offer drivers, but of what it represents. The V12 Speedster not just showcases our incredible engineering capability and ambition, but also celebrating Aston Martin’s rich heritage.”

Orders are now being taken for the V12 Speedster, with pricing starting at £765,000 ($AU1.5 million) including tax.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 63

Auto news

POLESTAR 2 PRODUCTION BEGINS IN CHINA

Polestar 2

W

HILE MOST MANUFACTURERS put a brake on production as the coronavirus swept across the world, Polestar - the maker of electrified cars that is part of the Volvo Group and Zhejiang Geely Holdings - announced in March that production of the Polestar 2 had officially begun in Luqiao, China.

For initial delivery into Europe, followed

by China and North America, the new performance fastback is the first electric vehicle to be produced by the facility.

The fully electric performance fastback is available for the first year of production with 300kW (408 hp) and 660Nm, all-wheel drive and a 78kWh battery pack which, Polestar claims, enables a range of 470km (WLTP). Polestar 2 also features a built-in infotainment system powered by Android, featuring Google Maps, Google Assistant

64 | Motor Trader June 2020

VIDEO: INTRODUCING THE POLESTAR 2

and the Google Play Store.

“The world is facing enormous upheaval in the face of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “We start production now under these challenging circumstances, with a strong focus on the health and safety of our people. This is a great achievement and the result of huge efforts from the staff in the factory and the team securing the supply

TAKATA WEBSITE REACHES 10 MILLION

chain. I have a huge amount of respect for the entire team – thanks to them!”

Revealed in February 2019, Polestar 2 is available in ten global markets in Europe, China and North America. Initially available to reserve with a refundable deposit, final order books in each launch market are now being opened. The Polestar will reportedly be available in Australia late in the year.

ACCORDING TO THE Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), by March Australians had made more than 10 million vehicle checks on the Takata Airbag recall website www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au Of these, more than 1.64 million vehicles have been found to be equipped with faulty airbag inflators.

A faulty Takata airbag has the potential to seriously injure, or even kill, vehicle drivers and passengers.

“The heavy volume to the industry website clearly shows its effectiveness in such an important public recall,” said Tony Weber, FCAI chief executive.

“The real strength of the website is that vehicle owners can check the recall status of their vehicles simply and quickly, and in their own time.”

Mr Weber added that the 10 million milestone mark represented more than 56 per cent of the 17.8 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles on Australian roads.

Vehicle owners still unsure of the recall status of their vehicles should immediately check by visiting the industry website or by texting the word TAKATA to 0487 247 224. Vehicle status can be identified simply by entering the registration plate number and state or territory.

“Vehicle owners should check their vehicles on the website as soon as possible,” Mr Weber said.

“Don’t risk your safety and that of your passengers.

CLICK The consequences could TO VISIT be deadly. Get your THE INDUSTRY’S vehicle rectified as soon AIRBAG RECALL WEBSITE as possible, and please note, all rectification work is free.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 65

Auto news

UK’S VAUXHALL CELEBRATES AUSSIE CONNECTION

T

HE NEWS REGARDING the axing of Holden has, like just about everything else of note, all but disappeared from the public consciousness as the nation grapples with COVID-19. But while that story, and the apparent battle of wills between GM and Holden dealers, continues to rumble along, the demise of the Aussie icon has rippled across the world.

Holden cars, often performance models, were exported to other nations and rebadged as models from whichever local brand was owned by GM - think the Pontiac GTO of the mid-2000s in the U.S., which was a rebadged Monaro with a slightly different facia.

In the UK, these models were renamed under the Vauxhall brand.

Vauxhall, like Holden to Australia, is a foundation automotive business – a manufacturer that became a national icon – and the company has, over the past few months, been celebrating its 12th decade in business by showcasing some of its past models.

On the list are some classics, including the outstanding Lotus Carlton from the early 1990s and the VXR Concept from the 1960s. Joining this stellar list is the VXR8 GTS-R, the final performance version of a Vauxhall VXR

66 | Motor Trader June 2020

VIDEO: THE VXR8 | VAUXHALL VXR RANGE

car based on the Holden Commodore.

Powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine, it produced 595PS (587hp) and 740Nm of torque, making it the most powerful car in Vauxhall’s 117-year history.

The model was exclusive to the UK. Sending drive via a limited slip differential to the rear wheels, the GTS-R retained the previous version’s torque vectoring system but added an upgraded braking system with six-piston, monoblock calipers and 410mm discs up front. The GTS-R wore all-new 20-inch forged alloy rims of 10-inch width at the rear and looked fantastic Just 15 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-Rs went to the UK, at an on-the-road price of £74,500 ($AU146,000).

It’s nice to see the Holden legacy celebrated elsewhere. Looks like the Brits are just as upset at the company’s demise as we are.

HYUNDAI UNVEILS THE NEW VELOSTER N WITH 8-SPEED DCT Hyundai Veloster N

H

YUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY has unveiled the enhanced Veloster N equipped with the all-new N 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT).

Hyundai says it developed the N DCT to provide the 'engaging experience of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission'. With the N DCT, Hyundai says the new Veloster N can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

N DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the double clutch, providing ride comfort and fuel efficiency.

Unlike a dry double-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, which is typical of higher torque applications.

Hyundai says the N DCT comes with video game-like features that enhance driving fun. N Grin Shift (NGS) increases torque by 7 per cent by allowing turbocharger overboost and maximises transmission response for 20 seconds.

Additionally, N Power Shift (NPS) engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 per cent of throttle, mitigating any reduction in torque by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels.

The N DCT also comes with N Track Sense Shift (NTS) that discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing to provide

optimal performance.

These features can be configured in Veloster N’s improved infotainment system, using the latest operating system shown on a larger high-definition 8-inch display. The infotainment system is paired with a JBL premium sound system.

Along with other updated features, such as Rev Matching, Launch Control and Overboost, Veloster N is optimised to automatically sense the customer’s driving style as well as the road conditions to optimise shift points. For example, if the car is going downhill, the car will use engine brake to reduce the risk of overheating the disc brakes. If the driver is pushing the car on a racetrack, the car will use the full spectrum of available engine revolutions to maximise performance.

Veloster N comes with Hyundai SmartSense safety technologies, including Front Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), and Rear CrossTraffic Collision Warning (RCCW).

Veloster N will first go on sale in South Korea this month followed by other markets.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 67

Auto news

Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid

NEW 2021 HYUNDAI i30 SEDAN BREAKS COVER

H

YUNDAI LAUNCHED ITS all-new 2021 i30 Sedan and i30 Sedan Hybrid – aka Elantra – in March and the new car, which through its various incarnations has racked up nearly 14 million sales globally, is an extremely attractive proposition. It certainly looks fantastic with Hyundai engineers and designers using the Group’s K3 vehicle platform; making the new sedan longer, lower, and wider compared to the previous model; and using a new body design language called ‘Parametric Dynamics’.

In the US, the i30 will be available with a hybrid powertrain which features a 1.6-litre GDI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine. The hybrid’s permanent-magnet 68 | Motor Trader June 2020

electric motor delivers 32kW powered by a lithium-ion-polymer battery. The 1.6-litre GDI engine combined with the electric motor delivers a total system output of 103kW and up to 264Nm torque.

This engine mates with Hyundai’s quick-shifting, six-speed, dual-clutch transmission. The electric motor has an electric-only driving mode.

The standard model i30 gets a 2.0-litre MPI Atkinson Cycle engine that has a focus on fuel economy. This engine generates 109kW at 6,200rpm and 179Nm of torque at 4,500rpm. The engine comes with Intelligent Variable Transmission allowing for improved fuel economy at higher gear ratios and improved performance at lower ratios.

Inside, there is an ‘immersive cocoon’ interior layout that envelops the driver like an airplane cockpit. There’s a large interface consisting of two connected 10.25-inch displays and an angled touchscreen for ease of use.

The two 10.25-inch screens offer different views: utility, driver assistance and navigation. The optional infotainment system displays a variety of useful information across its 10.25-inch split touchscreen.

The navigation system includes a bird’seye view in navigation maps, and drivers get connected routing. Connected routing provides multiple navigation options and real-time route updates. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported and dual Bluetooth support is also available, so two devices can be paired at the same time.

All major manufacturers pack their new vehicles with the latest safety features and the 2021 i30 comes fully loaded.

Standard features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection; Lane Keeping Assist (LKA); Lane Following Assist (LFA); High Beam Assist (HBA); Driver Attention Warning (DAW); and Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines. Optional features (available in the US market) include BlindSpot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA); Smart Cruise Control (SCC); Highway Driving Assist (HDA); Safe Exit Warning (SEW); and Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA).

Along with these high-tech features, the all-new i30 Sedan has an optional smartphone-based Hyundai Digital Key. The Digital Key uses a dedicated mobile app, Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to allow a vehicle to be unlocked, started and driven without a physical key via applicable Android smartphones.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 69

Auto news

Kluger Hybrid

NEXT-GEN KLUGER TO GET HYBRID POWER

T

HE NEXT-GENERATION KLUGER SUV will offer both hybrid and petrol engine options when it arrives in Australia in the first half of next year.

The seven-seat Kluger will have a similar dual-powertrain strategy to that adopted by the Yaris Cross SUV due later this year and the latest-generation C-HR and RAV4.

It will be the first time a hybrid powertrain has been offered on Kluger in Australia with the hybrid range now accounting for more

70 | Motor Trader June 2020

than one in every five Toyota sales.

Customers will have the choice of a 2.5-litre new-generation, 179kW hybrid system or a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine.

The quad-cam V6 is expected to deliver 218kW to the road through a direct shift eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new Kluger will also offer front and all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction alternatives for the V6, with the hybrid drivetrain equipped exclusively with an intelligent

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA SECURES ADDITIONAL RAV4 HYBRID SUPPLY

AWD system that incorporates front and rear electric motors.

The fourth-generation Kluger sits on the Toyota New Global Architecture GA-K platform that Toyota says has enabled engineers to develop a lightweight and highly rigid bodyshell with a low centre of gravity - features that provide the new SUV with nimble handling and comfortable driving around town and on the highway.

Equipment will include the advanced Toyota Safety Sense active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic situations.

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA EXPECTS to have an extra 8,000 RAV4 Hybrid SUVs arriving in local dealerships from July and through the second half of 2020.

Australia will also receive a substantial number of Camry Hybrids over the same period.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said the significant injection of additional hybrids had been negotiated to substantially reduce wait times for local customers.

"Demand for hybrids, particularly RAV4, has skyrocketed over the past year due to their combination of performance and economy, but that has unfortunately meant some customers have faced extended delays in receiving their vehicles," Mr Hanley said.

"We appreciate the support of our parent company in helping us to address this issue by agreeing to provide us with more hybrids to help us better serve our customers - and we thank affected customers for their patience and loyalty."

The current-generation RAV4, launched in May last year, has won multiple awards and is now Australia's best-selling SUV. Toyota's electrified hybrids represent almost one-quarter of the brand's sales so far this year, led by RAV4.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Auto news

NEW MINI ELECTRIC HATCH SPECS REVEALED

M

INI HAS REVEALED the local pricing and arrival schedule for its first-ever all-electric MINI. Priced at $59,900, a limited number of launch special First Edition variants are due to arrive in Australian dealerships from August 2020.

The Mini Electric Hatch is based on the design of the three-door ICE-powered Mini Cooper S but with exterior accents unique to Mini’s first EV. The Mini Electric Hatch is powered by a 32.6kWh latest-generation lithium-ion battery, producing 135kW of power delivering a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.3 seconds.

The company says the Mini is capable of a 232km range on a single charge and can be charged to 80 per cent in just 35 minutes when using a 50kW DC public charger.

Key highlights of the MINI Electric Hatch include: • Four colour choices Mini Electric Hatch

72 | Motor Trader June 2020

VIDEO: THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC MINI | PERFORMANCE

• 17-inch Mini Electric Power Spoke wheels paired to White Silver and Midnight Black • 17-inch Mini Tentacle Spoke wheels paired to Chili Red and British Racing Green • Adaptive LED Headlights • Mini Electric Interior • Leather Cross Punch Sports Seats with seat heating for driver and front passenger • Head-Up Display

NEW NISSAN JUKE AWARDED FIVE-STAR ANCAP RATING

• Digital Dash Display • Harman Kardon Hi-Fi Sound System The MINI Electric Hatch includes the following technical data specifications: • 32.6kWh Lithium Ion Battery • 135kW / 270Nm • 232km range • 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds • Front wheel drive Customers can select from four specifications and make an online deposit with the Mini dealer of their choice.

THE ALL-NEW Nissan Juke will arrive in Australia with a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The result follows comprehensive testing overseas, where Euro NCAP also awarded the Juke a full five-star safety rating.

ANCAP awarded the Juke a perfect score for adult and child occupant protection in the side impact test, a perfect score for its child restraint installation assessment, and high scores in each of the other testing areas.

The Juke also recorded a score of 81 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, a category that focuses on pedestrians and cyclists. The vehicle features several active safety systems, including Intelligent Emergency Braking, which warns the driver and applies the brakes if the car anticipates an impact with a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist. This system is standard across the range.

The Juke also has accident avoidance tech including Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning and Intelligent Lane Intervention.

Automatic LED headlights with High Beam Assist, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Intelligent Driver Alert also appear as standard.

An Around-View Monitor 360-degree camera system, Moving Object Detection, Intelligent Cruise Control and Tyre Pressure Monitoring are also available on other trim levels.

The new JUKE is scheduled to be available in Nissan dealerships mid-year.

Nissan Juke

Auto news

Toyota Yaris Cross

TOYOTA CONFIRMS NEW YARIS CROSS SUV FOR AUSTRALIA

T

OYOTA IS SET to introduce its Yaris Cross SUV to Australia later in 2020, and it will be offered with both petrol and hybrid powertrains.

Entering the new SUV Light segment, the Yaris Cross is, Toyota says, based on a ‘big-small’ design and packaging concept, presenting a 'roomy and flexible interior within compact exterior dimensions'.

The company says that the Yaris Cross is also a genuine SUV with its raised ride height, higher driving position, practicality, interior space and available all-wheel drive (AWD). Compared with the upcoming new Yaris hatch, ground clearance is 30mm higher and the vehicle is taller and wider overall - by 90mm and 20mm respectively.

The SUV is built on Toyota's new GA-B 74 | Motor Trader June 2020

compact car platform and Yaris and Yaris Cross are the first models to use Toyota's new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine technology.

While the Yaris Cross has all-wheel-drive technology, in normal driving the SUV operates with front-wheel drive. when low-grip conditions are detected, AWD is engaged automatically.

An intelligent AWD system is available with the hybrid powertrain and Toyota says it is more compact and weighs less than traditional mechanical AWD units. The electric system directs drive torque to the rear axle when pulling

away and when accelerating. It is expected to achieve better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions than any of its AWD segment competitors.

Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) active

safety systems can help support safe driving practices by providing driver information, early warnings and, when necessary, automatic braking and steering intervention.

Adding Yaris Cross to the local line-up will expand Toyota's SUV range in Australia to seven vehicles, spanning the light (Yaris Cross), small (C-HR), medium (RAV4), large (Prado, Kluger, Fortuner) and upper-large (LandCruiser wagon) segments.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 75

Auto news

BRABHAM AUTOMOTIVE DELIVERS ITS FIRST BT62 COMPETITION MODEL

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RABHAM AUTOMOTIVE HAS built and delivered its first BT62 – a Competition model.

The company says it has been able to sustain production over the last few months and the hypercar has been delivered to the Horsepower Racing team in the UK to compete in this year’s Britcar Endurance Championship.

The BT62 Competition features a 700hp, naturally aspirated V8 and 6-speed sequential drivetrain driving a lightweight chromoly safety cell and carbon fibre body with powerful carbon-carbon brakes delivering stopping power. The chassis is FIA compliant and ready for racing along with the onboard data and telemetry system. The car is fitted with lightweight wheels shod with Goodyear slick racing tyres (with wets supplied) and a telematic control carbon-fibre steering wheel.

Brabham says that the fact the BT62 has been completed and delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic is an outcome made possible by the Brabham Automotive team’s resilience, planning and commitment to

maintaining operations across its vertically integrated capabilities in a safe manner along with a strong engagement with suppliers on continuity planning.

The company says it will continue to produce both track and road variants in the coming months, delivering them across Europe, Australia and New Zealand as restrictions are lifted.

The BT62 is limited to 70 vehicles, with each vehicle hand-built to order.

“The growth of Brabham Automotive over the last couple of years is a testament to the up-front planning that we put in place operationally and the depth of infrastructure that we can call upon from the broader Fusion Capital group,” said Dan Marks, CEO of Brabham Automotive.

“This ensures that we can scale Brabham to meet demand and as future vehicle variants come online. The Brabham Automotive team is highly skilled and has shown great resilience in what has been a trying time for everybody around the world. We are extremely proud of what has been achieved.”

Brabham BT62

76 | Motor Trader June 2020

Industrial relations are not eligible for JobKeeper to make some workplace flexibility arrangements, including the ability to direct the reduction of hours and pay, and taking of annual leave in some circumstances, under the terms of the Vehicle Manufacturing Repair Services and Retail Award.

EVANGELINE KANNIS SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

DECISION SUPPORTING DIRECTING OF ANNUAL LEAVE DURING COVID-19 STAND DOWN

MODERNISED VEHICLE REPAIR SERVICES & RETAIL AWARD FINALISED

IN A DECISION MADE by Commissioner Hunt of the Fair Work Commission on 13 May 2020, it was concluded that under the particular circumstances of this case the employee had been properly AFTER A LENGTHY TIME, the Fair stood down and the employer, Village Work Commission has finished the Road Shows Theme Parks, had issued a modernisation of our automotive industry JobKeeper enabling direction that Award which is finally expected to be the applicant, Ms McCreedy, not operative on and from 29 May, 2020. For attend work. access to the summary of changes and In addition, the employer also asked Ms the new Award for your information, and McCreedy to take a day of annual leave to meet legal compliance obligations of each week until either 27 September 2020, having a copy of the Award accessible to when the coronavirus provisions cease employees, log on to the MTAQ Member to take effect, or when her leave balance Portal and go to the Wages and Awards has reduced to four days (which ever tab. happens first, and in accordance with their registered Enterprise agreement).

In these circumstances, the Commission found that Ms McCreedy’s refusal to take one days’ annual leave per week was unreasonable. The Commissioner CLICK TO VISIT issued an order that remains THERE IS A TEMPORARY THE MTAQ effective until the end of 27 KNOWLEDGE schedule of clauses for employers BASE September 2020. who are not eligible for JobKeeper As always, each workplace but who still need workplace situation is unique, and advice along flexibility in response to declining with assistance is available for members revenues and customers. from MTA Queensland’s Workplace Schedules have now been added to our Relations Advisors.

Award, enabling those employers who

WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY FOR BUSINESS THAT FELT THE BITE

June 2020 Motor Trader | 77

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

S TA R K E Y M O T O R G R O U P With many key staff in the dealership having worked with the products for more than 10 years, our knowledge of the vehicles is second to none.

CLICK TO VISIT THE STARKEY MOTOR GROUP WEBSITE

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

BUSINESS ADDRESS 723 Deception Bay Road, Rothwell.

SERVICES PROVIDED New and used vehicle sales. Specialising in RAM Trucks, LDV, SsangYong, Mahindra & Foton.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

We have been operating since 1972.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

We are one of the last original, familyowned and operated multi-franchise dealerships in Redcliffe. We believe in good, old-fashioned values and customer service. Our owner, Ross, still works in the dealership daily and absolutely believes in the terrific products we sell.

With the technology in vehicles changing faster than ever before, we carry the latest scan tools and diagnostics equipment from our manufacturers that are specific to the vehicles we sell and service. With direct technical support from our manufacturers, as well as regular manufacturers’ product training, we strive to keep up with the latest information and technology relating to our customers’ vehicles.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

We have supported numerous charitable organisations and community organisations over the years, including the Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league team, the Men of League Golf, B105 Christmas Children’s hospital appeal in conjunction with Proton Cars Australia, as well as local soccer and football teams.

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A C A C I A A U T O M AT I C TRANSMISSION SERVICES service for more than 47 years.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

CLICK TO VISIT THE ACACIA AUTOMATICS TRANSMISSION SERVICES WEBSITE

We use the latest equipment and up-to-date diagnostic technology to deliver services to our customers.

BUSINESS ADDRESS 1/37 Ada St, Coopers Plains, 4108.

SERVICES PROVIDED We specialise in all aspects of automatic transmission repairs, servicing, parts replacement, upgrades and rebuilds.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

48 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

Our experience. We have more been working in the automatic transmission industry and delivering quality customer

80 | Motor Trader June 2020

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

We are involved with the community we serve and do commit to charity sponsorships.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

Business owner Wayne Bretherton has over 47 years’ experience in the automatic transmission industry and has been running the business for more than 40 years.

OTHER INFO?

We have a comprehensive network of professional businesses and can address any issue for all vehicle makes.

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

DC POWER AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS

BUSINESS ADDRESS 30 Palmer St, North Mackay.

SERVICES PROVIDED Auto electrical and air conditioning services and parts.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

11 months.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

Customers have high expectations, so we take our customer service very seriously and offer a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship. We build relationships with our customers through our work, honesty and building trust. As a skilled migrant who came here to fulfill an auto-electrical skills shortage, I think that’s the number one thing that sets us apart. We have a sense of gratitude just by being here, and we want to share it through this business – through the skill that brought us here.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

We are in a world in which vehicles have a computer at their heart. Technology built these cars and we use technology to fix them. In a few more years, all cars will

be 100 per cent electric. We have access to thousands of CLICK TO VISIT THE DC POWER online vehicle manuals and AUTOMOTIVE our technicians have the SOLUTIONS information they need at WEBSITE the tip of their fingers.

Almost everyone uses the internet, so we must be there too. We use the internet to reach more customers and we can be found through Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. The shopping experience has also changed - most people do their shopping online - so we have made ways to reach those customers too.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

Since we are a new business, our community involvement is limited for now.

However, there are some ways that we have contributed to our community. We make sure that farm equipment and machinery run perfectly to ensure that farms are operating to serve the community with fresh produce. Also, we join environmental conservation campaigns such as tree planting as a support to the Marine Reef Initiative. And we ensure that our customer’s cars are fixed properly to prevent accidents that may harm members of our community. We can also do so much more in the coming years. We plan to stay on and innovate along with technology to service our community even better.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

As a new business, we have made a significant impact in our town. Having feedback from our customers is a great achievement. To have happy and satisfied customers is our main objective.

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DIRECT WHOLESALE TYRES

BUSINESS ADDRESS 29-33 Curley Circuit, Roseneath Townsville 4811.

SERVICES PROVIDED Supply and fit all truck, trailer, earthmover, agricultural, passenger and 4x4 tyres. Wheel alignment from passenger to light truck vehicles.

Delivery of tyres on bulk deals.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

12 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

We have triple road train access, deliver excellent customer service, and our distribution network stretches throughout North Queensland.

82 | Motor Trader June 2020

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

CLICK TO VISIT THE DIRECT WHOLESALE TYRES PTY LTD WEBSITE

We sponsor the Mendi Blackhawks rugby league team and the Northern Rays netball team, and support community events across regional Queensland.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

We are very proud of all the staff at Direct Tyres. They are dedicated and offer a great service to all our clients!

OTHER INFO?

We are a Hankook master store dealer.

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

HIGHFIELDS MECHANICAL We are fully equipped CLICK with the latest TO VISIT equipment and THE HIGHFIELDS MECHANICAL technology, including WEBSITE current up-to-date scan tools; scope, data and information packages from several suppliers; smoke machine, hybrid equipment, and the list goes on.

We also ensure constant training and advancement for all staff.

BUSINESS ADDRESS 1&2 / 1 Darian St, Highfields.

SERVICES PROVIDED Full general service and repair workshop covering all aspects of the vehicles presented.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

Highfields Mechanical has been in operation for 13 years, having been established in 2007.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

25kms and a desire to be the best workshop we can be!

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

We sponsor various sporting activities and functions in our community.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

Our business started as single-man operation and has expanded to 10 staff and a fully functional and operational workshop covering all automotive requirements. As well as focussing on the workshop, owner Craig Baills is a huge advocate for the industry, is part of small business advisory boards for his local state member, has an association with many industry groups and is a director of the AAAA.

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MECHANICS 2 U

BUSINESS ADDRESS 1849 Ipswich Road, Rocklea.

SERVICES PROVIDED Light vehicle servicing & repairs, diagnosis, air conditioning servicing & repairs, safety certificate & COI inspections, auto electrical, brake & clutch repairs, diesel repairs, EFI, tyres & wheel alignments, 4WD servicing & repairs, trailer repairs & safety certificates, light truck servicing & repairs, mobile fleet servicing, loan cars available, vehicle pick up & drop off available.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

34+ years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

As part of the Repco Authorised Service group our customers benefit from the combined knowledge of over 450 workshops, along with a nationwide warranty. We are independently owned and operated, so customers can be certain they will receive friendly local service that goes that extra mile and be able to talk to the mechanic who works on their car.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

Absolutely! Our customers benefit from the latest in digital reporting technology.

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CLICK TO VISIT THE MECHANICS 2 U WEBSITE

Developed and created in-house by the team at Mechanics 2 U, the Digital Service Report is an industry-leading online reporting tool allowing us to report our work digitally and send that information directly to customers. We have also invested in the new Safe-T-Stop Platetronic test lane that measures a vehicle’s braking performance, alignment, suspension rebound and weight distribution. The Repco network also holds regular training and information sessions, ensuring we are at the forefront of trends, techniques and equipment.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

Mechanics 2 U & the Repco Authorised Service Network support the Starlight Foundation and have contributed to the recent drought and bushfire appeals. In addition, Mechanics 2 U have provided volunteer work and financial support to repair the local school in the Fijian village of Yolobi. We also support apprentices.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

We have been in business for over 34 years, which is a testament to the service we offer. Most of our work is derived from repeat busines and we have received several accolades over the years, including the Quest Newspaper Customer Service Regional Award & the Repco Outstanding Customer Service National Award.

OTHER INFO?

Our furry workshop manager Zuess likes to come in most weeks to oversee the operations (and gets lots of attention!).

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

999 AUTOMOTIVE

BUSINESS ADDRESS 3/806 Beaudesert Road, Coopers Plains.

SERVICES PROVIDED Logbook service, repair, performance tuning, suspension, engine overhaul, engine build, clutch, brakes, fabrication, ECU Dyno tuning, transmission tuning. Specialising in Volkswagen Auto Group vehicles.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

20 years.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

Yes, we are always keeping a close CLICK TO VISIT THE eye on what’s 999 AUTOMOTIVE happening in the WEBSITE innovation and technology space as we work on a lot of performance and prestige cars and use the latest upto-date technology to work on these types of vehicles.

We have all the latest scan tools and rely on evolving technology to ensure we offer the best service on these highly technical performance vehicles.

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ABSOLUTE CAR CARE leader in technology in our industry and keeping abreast of current trends and client requirements.

CLICK TO VISIT THE ABSOLUTE CAR CARE WEBSITE

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

BUSINESS ADDRESS 113 Norman Street, East Brisbane.

SERVICES PROVIDED Logbook servicing, computer diagnostics, general mechanical repairs and maintenance, tyres, wheel alignments, exhaust systems and upgrades.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

19 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

We are a one-stop shop and can do everything the dealer can do and more. We provide the service at a better price point with a higher level of quality, and we do this by employing highly skilled staff, the latest diagnostic tooling, having access to the latest software, and using state-of-theart workshop equipment and tools. We go the extra mile on service reporting and give our clients options and full control when it comes to the purchasing decision on their vehicle’s maintenance.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

YES! We pride ourselves on being a 86 | Motor Trader June 2020

We are a small business and do support local business and the wider community. We have sponsored our local soccer club – Olympic FC - for the last 10 years and also support numerous other non-profit organisations.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

Our owner, Steve Georgas, was HSV Apprentice of the Year, while our technician Luke Roxburgh was MTA Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year in 2015.

OTHER INFO?

Absolute Car Care is a leading Brisbanebased vehicle service and repair specialist.

We have been servicing Brisbane for 19 years and have recruited only the most experienced and thorough mechanics in the industry. We service all makes and models, have the latest computer diagnostics, and do everything a dealership can do and more on all new, modern Japanese and European cars. We have the right computer tools to maintain a vehicle’s warranty.

Our customers have the peace of mind of knowing that when they bring their car to us, they get friendly local service and are able to speak to the mechanic that looks after their car! We give a written 12-month warranty on all our servicing and repairs.

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

FAV E R O M O T O R S

BUSINESS ADDRESS 55 High St, Stanthorpe.

SERVICES PROVIDED All automotive repairs, including collision repair, vehicle servicing, tyre fitting and wheel alignments, air conditioning, auto electrical, 24-hour roadside assistance approved repairer.

Also a Windscreens O’Brien agency.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

49 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

The services we provide, delivering customer satisfaction and our excellent reputation.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

We use the latest up-to-date vehicle

diagnostic equipment and staff training practices to deliver the best customer experience.

CLICK TO VISIT THE FAVERO MOTORS WEBSITE

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

We do support a variety of community and sporting events through sponsorship.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

We were named RACQ Contracted Service Provider of the Year 2013, and received an RACQ Service Provider Years of Service Award when we reached 45 years in business.

OTHER INFO?

We are a family-owned business, and the business was established in 1971.

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P R O G R E S S H E AV Y V E H I C L E R E PA I R DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

BUSINESS ADDRESS Unit 1, 636 Progress Rd, Wacol.

SERVICES PROVIDED Heavy Vehicle Service and Repair. Servicing; fleet maintenance; repairs and modifications; brake relines; full engine rebuilds; Chassis, axles, differential overhaul and repairs; exhausts; gearbox, steering and suspension overhaul and repairs; air conditioning repairs and service; clutch replacement and repairs; auto electrical repairs; wheel alignments; welding repairs; battery supply.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

23 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

We are an approved inspection station for Certificates of Inspection, Measure Ups and Defect Notices. We have a brake roller tester in line with Queensland Transport.

We have a well-equipped workshop with a drive-through service bay for large vehicles and B Double trailers, and have service pits and an overhead crane. All our mechanics are trade qualified and five are approved examiners. We can help with anything from a truck service to a full engine rebuild.

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CLICK TO VISIT THE PROGRESS HEAVY VEHICLE REPAIR WEBSITE

As all new trucks now are electronic, we utilise the latest diagnostic tools to download fault codes and diagnose problems. A mechanical workshop would not be able to operate properly these days without this technology and at Progress Heavy Vehicle Repair we continually strive to keep up with the latest innovations.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

We are always happy to support the community whether it be by supporting local schools by giving opportunities to work experience students in or by sponsoring local charities. We have, on a few occasions, sponsored our customers while doing the Variety Bash or other fundraising events.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

We are very proud of our business. Our staff have great knowledge and are an asset to the company and we have been servicing our loyal customers for 23 years now. Many of them are return customers, while a lot of new customers come to us via word of mouth. This is an achievement for us to be proud of.

OTHER INFO?

As a local family-owned and operated business, we take pride in our reputation for delivering top quality servicing and repairs at a reasonable price.

M TA Q U E E N S L A N D M E M B E R

SOUTHSIDE CYLINDER HEAD SERVICE diagnostic software, as CLICK well as a state-of-theTO VISIT THE SOUTHSIDE art, 400-litre ultrasonic CYLINDER HEAD cleaning machine for SERVICE everything from inlet WEBSITE manifolds and EGR valves, to cylinder head and engine block cleaning.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

BUSINESS ADDRESS 10/547 Kessels Road, Macgregor.

SERVICES PROVIDED Cylinder head reconditioning, engine reconditioning, diagnostics and fitting.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING?

43 Years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

We are a full-service workshop, offering services including engine machining, assembly and removal/fitting. This approach saves our customers money and simplifies the process. All work is done in house and is not subbed out. In an evershrinking industry we have expanded our operations and invested over $200,000 in new equipment to help meet the demand of our growing customer base.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

We utilise a fully computerised job allocation and quality control system so our staff can work efficiently whilst maintaining the high standards our customers have come to expect of us. We also have at our disposal all the latest in scan tool and

During our 40-plus years in the industry, we have put through more than 20 apprentices who have gone on to have successful careers, as well as taken on school-based kids for work experience.

Last year, we sponsored a car in the Mystery Box Rally which supports and raises funds for the Cancer Council. Our sponsorship helped raise over $3500 to go towards support services and research for people affected by cancer.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY?

We are very proud to have been in the industry for over 40 years as a family-owned and operated business and have maintained and exceeded our expectations whilst building a formidable reputation. During our 40 years we have evolved from cylinder head specialists to a fully equipped engine reconditioning workshop, also offering a complete fitting and diagnostic service.

OTHER INFO?

From minor cylinder head repairs right through to complete engine overhauls and upgrades, we cater for all customers’ needs throughout Brisbane, and Australia-wide.

The public can also keep up to date with the latest in industry news and technical advice through our website and facebook page.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 89

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

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

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

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

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

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

20170597

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

GENERAL MANAGER MTA INSTITUTE

I

CAN’T REMEMBER A time as hectic and as busy as the last couple of months. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us some of the biggest life and work challenges about the way we operate.

At MTA Institute, we’ve worked hard to maintain our training continuity through the pandemic. Trainers and administration staff have accepted the challenges and maintained a professional approach to working with employers and training apprentices. Trainers have continued their on-site training, taking the appropriate precautions prior to entering and leaving their facilities. I must say, some of the resilience shown by business is great to see - wanting to help where they can when they are also dealing with their own challenges.

We’ve provided all our trainers with appropriate PPE and have had constant communication with all our stakeholders to support them through this time.

Our admin staff have worked from home and are now starting to come back into the office, but I don’t think it’ll ever be ‘business as usual’. However, getting the team back to close to pre-COVID normalcy is a goal.

Our courses at the Institute were suspended mid-March. However, all programs, including Apprentice Training

Days, Pre-vocational courses and Short courses are now back and recommencing at the start of June 2020. Obviously, the Institute is taking the appropriate precautions regarding safety and hygiene and limiting the class numbers depending on the course requirements. It has been good to see the courses already reach maximum capacity giving some sign that training and the industry is coming back slowly.

It will be interesting to see where apprenticeship numbers go. I believe everyone is trying to hang in there and keep staff on, but the next couple of months will see where businesses are at with their workflows and, consequently, staffing requirements. To this effect, we are supported by the recently announced MTAQ Industry Skills Advisory (ISA) Role. The MTAQ ISA role will provide the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) with great intel to support automotive business in relation to training and skilling. Immediately, it will be how to support business through the COVID-19 crisis and will certainly be a great line of communication for the automotive industry to have its say back to government on what it wants in the way of training and skilling issues.

If there are any issues you have regarding workforce, training or skilling issues, please reach out and we’ll be able to help. Until next time, all the best.

MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS Contents 93 Apprentice of the Month: February 2020 94 Apprentice of the Month: March 2020 96 Apprentice of the Month: April 2020 98 Plugged In

June 2020 Motor Trader | 91

E S S E N T I A L S

PAUL KULPA

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES

RTO No: 31529

AIR CONDITIONING COURSE

BATTERY ELECTRIC AND HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES COURSE

19 - 21 August 2020 7 - 9 October 2020 Click for more information.

1 - 4 September 2020 SOLD OUT 27 - 30 October 2020 Click for more information.

SKILL SET GAP TRAINING (3 DAY)

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

SKILL SET TRAINING (4 DAY)

VOCATIONAL PREPARATION COURSE 24 July - 28 August 2020 SOLD OUT 28 September - 30 October 2020 Click for more information.

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

MTA QUEENSLAND COURSES MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE

11 August 2020, 8:30am - 12:30pm SOLD OUT 24 November 2020, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

11 August 2020 24 November 2020 Click for more information.

AUTO CAMP

30 June - 2 July 2020 SOLD OUT 22 - 24 September 2020 Click for more information.

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

20170566

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE

E

“EVELYN DESERVES THIS

RECOGNITION FOR SHOWING SUCH ENTHUSIASM FOR HER TRAINING AND FOR THE FACT SHE IS PROGRESSING SO WELL . . .

HER PRODUCTIVITY IN THE WORKSHOP IS EXCEPTIONAL AND SHE IS SHOWING ALL THE SIGNS OF BEING A VERY PROMISING MECHANIC.”

VELYN HAYES IS the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month award winner for February.

The 19-year-old, second-year light vehicle apprentice has been working at am now I’m doing more complex work Scenic Motors – a Hyundai, Mitsubishi such as tyres and suspensions and and Ford dealership - since starting her so on and I am really enjoying it. And training at the beginning of 2019, and I enjoy the training too - the on-site both her employer and trainer have training really works for me.” been impressed with her dedication to As a young woman working in what learning her craft. is still a male-dominated industry, “Evelyn deserves this recognition for Evelyn said, apart from some physical showing such enthusiasm for her training challenges with the work, everything and for the fact she is progressing so had been positive, and she was well,” said her MTA Institute trainer unquestionably part of a great team.

Andrew Bellars. “Her productivity in “It can be a bit hard sometimes, the workshop is exceptional and she when they ask to move a gearbox or is showing all the signs of being a very engine around or something like that, promising mechanic.” but I find a way to work around those Always interested in cars and things - I find a smarter way,” she said. automotive thanks to her mum being a “It’s going really well, and I definitely fleet allocator and her dad a truck driver fit in here.” who she would help work on his own cars At just 19 and with at least a couple at home, Evelyn was keen to get involved of years to go with her training, Evelyn in the industry and at the start of 2019, said the important thing for her now she struck out to see if she could find a was to keep studying, keep working light vehicle apprenticeship. hard, and put in the effort to complete “I was just looking around and asking her apprenticeship. people if they needed anyone and Scenic “I haven’t really thought about took me on,” she said. “And the work where my career might go. At the here is a lot of fun. I work across all moment I am concentrating on CLICK TO VISIT THE of Scenic’s brands and I’m always my apprenticeship, enjoying SCENIC MOTORS WEBSITE learning new things. I started by the work and the training and doing mostly servicing jobs but learning everything I can.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 93

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APPRENTICE: EVELYN HAYES WORKPLACE: SCENIC MOTORS, BEAUDESERT APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE

M E M B E R S

Apprentice of the Month: February 2020

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

Apprentice of the Month: March 2020 APPRENTICE: JOSHUA SHEARMAN WORKPLACE: COMPLETE MECHANICAL SUPPORT, MORANBAH APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE

J

“I LOVE WHAT I DO NOW,

BUT I DO THINK THAT I WILL LOOK AT DOING MORE TRAINING . . . THE WAY CARS ARE CHANGING IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO GAIN MORE SKILLS.”

another job when that business closed, OSHUA SHEARMAN IS the and eventually found a new home at Apprentice of the Month award Complete Mechanical Support. After a winner for March 2020. period settling in and proving himself, The 20-year-old completed his training Joshua was offered the chance to restart at the beginning of the year and works as his training with MTA Institute. part of a team of seven tradespeople and “I came in to speak to Warren and he apprentices in the workshop of Warren put me on as a TA and then put me on to Allen’s Complete Mechanical Support in complete my apprenticeship,” said Joshua.

Moranbah, a mining town located a couple “And the training was really good. I think the of hours southwest of Mackay. one-on-one aspect of it is much better than Having finished his training in about learning in a classroom with other students. three years, Joshua proved himself to I didn’t really do that well in school, so the be an excellent apprentice – one that one-on-one training really helped me.” his employer said grew and developed Working at Complete Mechanical to the point that he was taking younger Support means Joshua trained and works employees under his wing and explaining on a wide variety of vehicles but, he said, to them the 'how' and 'why' of a job. light trucks were particularly plentiful.

Developing into a top-class apprentice “We do work on any vehicle here but, in and tradesperson was always likely for the main, and seeing as this is a mining area, Joshua - with his father being both a light we do work on a lot of Landcruisers and vehicle mechanic as well as a diesel fitter, HiLuxes,” he said. “You get to learn them he was immersed in the car world from the inside and out, and I have a HiLux myself !” earliest age.

Though he is now a qualified tradesman, “I grew up around cars,” he said. “I was like many young people entering the always mucking around the shed working profession, Joshua recognises that on motorbikes and cars with my dad. I the fast-changing nature of the auto didn’t really know anything else and just manufacturers’ products means that knew I wanted to be a mechanic. I liked constant training and updating skills is doing the work, I was doing it at home, so something that must be considered. it seemed a natural thing to do.”

“I love what I do now, but I do think that After leaving school early, Joshua found I will look at doing more training,” he said. work as a technician’s assistant (TA) at “The way cars are changing it would be a local workshop that, after about a a good idea to gain more skills and CLICK TO VISIT THE year, offered him the chance to start perhaps do something like autoCOMPLETE an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, electrical training. Every year the MECHANICAL SUPPORT and about a year into his training, cars that are appearing are different WEBSITE Joshua had to go looking for and there’s always more to learn.”

94 | Motor Trader June 2020

The following is a list of Queenslandbased collision repair industry employees who received I-CAR Platinum Individual Accreditation in March 2020: • Tony Wieben RACQ Insurance • Chris Petrie RACQ Insurance • Peter Sullivan RACQ Insurance • Peter Carrasco RACQ Insurance • David Alexander RACQ Insurance • Mark Pescud RACQ Insurance • Mark Ferguson Cooroy Smash Repairs • Tom Lehmann Cooroy Smash Repairs • Daniel Sanders Cooroy Smash Repairs • Sam Davies Miami Smash Repairs • Jack Mountford Cooroy Smash Repairs • Myles O’Mahoney Suncorp • Dane Calvert Cooroy Smash Repairs • Jack Gardener Sowerby’s Crash Repairs • Kameka Little PJ’s Panel Repairs • Simon Davis Hadwens Prestige

Collision Repairs There were no new I-CAR Welding Certifications issued in March.

There was one new I-CAR Platinum Individual Accreditation issued in April 2020: • Quenton Hausler Suncorp

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 June 2020 Motor Trader | 95

E S S E N T I A L S

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 CLICK achieved I-CAR Platinum TO VISIT THE I-CAR Individual accreditation and WEBSITE I-CAR Welding Certification.

The following is a list of Queensland-based collision repair industry employees who received I-CAR Platinum Individual Accreditation in February 2020: • Layton Hopper Sowerby's Crash Repairs • Jonathan Reissman Mangano Body Repairs • Matthew Thompson Mangano Body Repairs • Michael Young Mangano Body Repairs • Tony Abberton Mangano Body Repairs • Cha Bee Xiong Stanley's Panel Works • Gavin Mansfield H Harvey Prestige • Mark Hooper Stanley's Panel Works • Jason Middlemass Drive Accident Solutions • Steve Brogan Brisbane BMW • Byron Kidd Euro Collision Centre There was one new I-CAR Welding Certifications issued in February 2020.

• Byron Kidd Euro Collision Centre

M E M B E R S

ACKNOWLEDGING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES IN QUEENSLAND

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

Apprentice of the Month: April 2020 apprenticeship, but I think employers were looking for someone a bit younger than me. I tried for about 18 months to find someone to take me on but was always rejected,” said Dan. “Then, a friend of a friend who ran a workshop in Brisbane offered me a job, so I moved up here in 2015. I worked in that workshop on a trial basis for a few months and was signed up for an apprenticeship, but just a few months later the business WNGDAN DAIPHA, ALSO known as was sold, and I was unemployed again.

Dan, is the Apprentice of the Month “I managed to get another job, but in award winner for May 2020. the second year of my apprenticeship that The 35-year-old mature age apprentice business was downsized, and I had to look works at Springwood Mechanical in elsewhere again,” added Dan. “I had a lot Brisbane, is in the fourth year of his light going on at the time – I had just got married vehicle apprenticeship and is just a handful and bought a house – so it was great when of months away from completing his Springwood Mechanical took me on. training. While the qualification is now “I come from a farming background in tantalisingly close, it has been a long and northern Myanmar. There were not many bumpy road for Dan to get to this point. cars there,and when I was growing up my His story is quite inspiring. country was locked down and separated Born and brought up in Myanmar from other countries by a dictatorship, so ( formerly Burma), and having learnt the cars that were around were really old.

English from from St. Columban's Catholic That meant the mechanical industry was not Priests and De La Salle Brothers, Dan moved popular and there was not much opportunity. to Australia in 2010, taking a job at Toyota’s “However, I really wanted to do that work, manufacturing plant in Melbourne. so I was very glad to get into the industry here.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the first The sort of passion Dan has shown to significant changes to the nation’s vehicle pursue his automotive dream is enviable and manufacturing capability were being he is proving to be an outstanding apprentice. announced and, following on the heels of “He has overcome significant obstacles Ford and Holden, Toyota revealed in early to achieve his lifelong goal, and he is an 2014 that it was to close its factory. exceptionally good student with his onFor Dan, the closing of the plant was a the-job performance and his theoretical blow, but started him on a new direction work,” said Andrew Bellars, Dan’s MTA in his career journey - a direction that Institute trainer. would see him offered a job, then an The training is unlikely to stop once Dan apprenticeship, in Queensland and, after does achieve that goal of becoming an a couple of false starts, an apprenticeship automotive technician. with Springwood Mechanical. For someone “I really enjoy what I am doing, and I born in the northern, predominantly might start my own business one day,” farming area of Myanmar, it has been he said. “But I will pursue further CLICK TO qualifications too. The industry is a very long road to this point.

VISIT THE SPRINGWOOD changing and I want to be equipped “When I lost my job at the Toyota MECHANICAL, with as much knowledge as I can.

Camry factory, I really wanted to BRISBANE WEBSITE It is a very interesting time.” stay in the industry and get an APPRENTICE: AWNGDAN DAIPHA WORKPLACE: SPRINGWOOD MECHANICAL, BRISBANE APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE

A

96 | Motor Trader June 2020

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97 | Motor Trader June 2020

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

Plugged In: Explaining Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech KEITH MINCHIN TECHNICAL ELECTRICAL TRAINER MTA INSTITUTE

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N MY ROLE as a technical trainer frequently engaged in workplace training, I’m always interested to observe various technicians’ perceptions towards the electrification of vehicles. Whilst we have many enthusiastic technicians that have always embraced change and have kept themselves up-to-date with the latest advancements in all things automotive, I sense a degree of apprehension in others citing various reasons for their lack of enthusiasm towards Hybrid or EV’s.

What has become quite apparent is that some repairers can feel overwhelmed by many articles published speaking of such things as fully autonomous vehicles and the other futuristic whizbang technology implying that cars will magically self-heal, fly, never need fixing, wash themselves, whatever!

Regardless of which technologies actually make it to the mainstream marketplace, we need to take a step back, take a deep breath and de-mystify how EV’s actually work. It’s essential to understand how to test and repair them safely. We need to identify future opportunities for the aftermarket and repair sectors by gaining a clearer picture of the components and operation of a Hybrid/EV. For that reason, over the upcoming editions I want to present an in-depth look at the various systems that come together to make an EV work.

Firstly, I need to point out the obvious danger of working with high voltage systems. While some mild hybrid systems operate on voltages lower than 60V, strong hybrids and full EV’s will operate on voltages above 200V with a large amount of energy in storage. This provides a potentially dangerous situation for those not applying correct procedures, PPE and tooling/equipment. I strongly View of Tesla chassis and battery

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

a low voltage system.

A high voltage system presents us with TECHNOLOGIES ACTUALLY an inherent danger and is defined as a MAKE IT TO THE MAINSTREAM system running 60 or more volts. As with most vehicle design these days, a myriad MARKETPLACE, WE NEED TO of ISO and other standards means that TAKE A STEP BACK, TAKE A engineers / vehicle designers need DEEP BREATH AND DE-MYSTIFY all to comply with a range of mandatory HOW EV’S ACTUALLY WORK.” requirements when developing a typical EV powertrain. In the case of a high voltage recommend that anyone planning HEV / EV the HV battery positive and to engage in Hybrid/EV servicing or negative are completely isolated from the repairs (which will be most of us) chassis of the vehicle however there is a attend an accredited training course 12V system using chassis ground to provide power for many of the regular components where processes such as depowering, we’re accustomed to such as many reinitialising, servicing and maintaining dashboard functions (HVAC will be HV), Hybrid and EV’s are covered in detail. windows, interior lighting, door locking etc.

In low voltage systems, we use a EV’s and HEV’s are designed in a myriad battery (usually 12V or 24V) where the of different layouts and configurations vehicle’s chassis is directly connected to which at first can seem confusing. For battery negative (chassis ground) and example, Toyota Prius and Camry have battery positive is insulated from ground two motor / generators housed in a and distributed to the various systems transaxle; Mitsubishi Outlander has two and components via a maze of fuse / electric MG’s, one located at the front and busbars, splices, relays etc. If there is an one at the rear; Tesla Model 3, RWD drive earth leakage of some description, there motor assembly; GM (Hybrid) BAS system, is a possibility of a blown fuse, leakage belt, alternator starter, parallel current or improper electrical hybrid systems with an electric performance of some kind.

CLICK TO motor taking up the traditional VISIT THE However, none of these events space inside the bellhousing, and MTA INSITUTE are considered life threatening WEBSITE the list goes on. since we are dealing with

“REGARDLESS OF WHICH

June 2020 Motor Trader | 99

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

Despite the range of Hybrid/EV vehicles on the market, they all have many features in common so by understanding the operating principles and purpose of the various components that make up an EV system, we can then apply that knowledge to any make or design we encounter.

The electronic design involved in any contemporary vehicle draws on many disciplines within the industry such as data transfer, processing, programming etc. EV’s are no different, however they draw heavily on power electronics technology. Power electronics is defined as ‘the application of solid-state electronics to the control and conversion of electric power’, which is in contrast to electronic systems concerned with transmission and processing of data.

Starting at the left of the diagram is the PFC (Power Factor Correction Unit) which is simply a power control unit to rectify (AC to DC) and raise or lower the voltage required to charge the batteries. This unit will not be present on an HEV but is necessary on all PHEV and EVs since they require an external charge connection. The unit will most likely have the ability to take power from a single or 3-phase supply. In the centre of the diagram is the HV battery consisting (usually) of Lithium batteries.

We will cover battery types in detail in a later article. To the right of the HV battery

Fig 1 (courtesy of Texas Instruments) shows a typical EV Power Train electrical layout.

100 | Motor Trader June 2020

“WHEN WE BREAK THESE

SYSTEMS DOWN TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR OPERATION, WE ALWAYS ENCOUNTER THE SAME PRINCIPLES OVER AND OVER.” pack is a 3-phase bridge (powers and controls the motor) and a 3-phase motor on the far right. The lower section of the diagram shows a 12V and 48V circuit.

When we break these systems down to fully understand their operation, we always encounter the same principles over and over. For example: DC – DC conversion to shift voltage levels up and down as required (Buck – Boost converters), isolation transformers to increase or decrease an AC voltage, rectification to convert AC to DC, H bridges, 3-phase bridges (motor drive), motor commutation and voltage, Sine PWM techniques, isolation leakage detection, capacitors, safety interlock systems, battery technology and battery management systems, inverter/convertor assemblies, battery and electronics cooling etc.

Over the upcoming articles, we will have a more detailed look at individual components and circuit design. Until then stay tuned!

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Luke Roxburgh with Michael Georgas (Absolute Car Care) and James Dixon (MTA Institute trainer)

LUKE ROXBURGH CONTINUES TO INSPIRE

L

UKE ROXBURGH HAS an incredible become left-handed. story. As the 2015 MTA Queensland His career as a mechanic appeared to Apprentice of the Year, Luke is someone be over before it had started. However, that not only went above and beyond in fast forward ten years and Luke picked up his studies but also overcome enormous his apprenticeship once more after being personal obstacles to get to where he is today, offered work experience with Michael a trade qualified Light Vehicle Mechanic.

Georgas and his team at Absolute Car Now 33, there was a time when Luke Care. And after two years of hard work thought finishing his apprenticeship and grit, that commitment resulted in the would be impossible. At the age of just Apprentice of the Year Award – a result 17, and in his first year as an apprentice that gave Luke extra motivation to battle mechanic, he suffered dreadful injuries through and accomplish his dream of when he was hit by a train before being becoming a tradesperson. trapped beneath it after being dragged More than four years have now passed along the tracks. He was extremely since Luke stood on stage and was fortunate to survive what happened announced as the Apprentice of the Year; that day, though he has been left with permanent physical impairments.

Luke Roxburgh, at the February “I was trapped for about an hour-and2020 Graduation Ceremony a-half and emergency services were considering removing my legs,” said Luke. “Fortunately, they were able to get me out. I was in a coma for a month and had skin, muscle and bone grafts but thanks to great doctors I was able to keep my arm and my legs.”

Luke subsequently spent eight months in hospital, another year wheelchairbound, and had to teach himself to

102 | Motor Trader June 2020

and in that time, he has experienced the unbelievable; he suffered another major accident, this time on a skateboard.

Luke Roxburgh wins the 2015 “I was travelling downhill on a MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year skateboard at 40km/h and I came off fracturing my left ankle, knee and breaking a couple of ribs in the process. up on their studies. I tell them Luke’s story I’ve had to receive a number of additional and explain to them how determined and surgeries with my most recent one being dedicated he is. It makes them re-evaluate only a couple of weeks ago on my knee. their situation and put it into context.”

“In addition to this I’ve also had a “Luke is an excellent role model. As surgery to straighten my toes as they his trainer, it is so rewarding to see him started to curl over which was caused from finish and to stand up at the MTA Institute my injuries when I was hit by the train; as Graduation Ceremony and accept his wellwell as surgery to replace the screws in my deserved and well-earned qualification. I ankle which were becoming worn”. couldn’t be happier for him.”

Luke’s resilience is incredible, and Looking forward, one thing is clear to Luke, despite dealing with more than anyone he loves the industry and wants to stay in it. should ever have to deal with, Luke “I’m thrilled to now be a qualified never lost sight of his goal and recently mechanic, but it’s painful for me to be on celebrating the graduation of his Light my feet all day so a long-term career as Vehicle Mechanical Apprenticeship at the a mechanic would be difficult. I’d like to February 2020 Graduation Ceremony. secure a parts-interpreter apprenticeship “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Luke said. “It’s which would allow me to use my practical what I’ve been working towards for six knowledge whilst remaining in the years and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever automotive industry – something that I’m had to do. I’m so happy to have finally really keen to do.” made it.”

“Luke’s determination and drive will James Dixon, Luke’s trainer said, “He see him succeed at whatever he puts his never lost sight of his goal. Not once. mind to,” said James. “He’s mechanical I often use Luke as inspiration when I knowledge and practical skills will see him meet apprentices and discover that, for make a fantastic Parts-Interpreter and I whatever reason, they’ve lost their drive, look forward to watching him succeed at enthusiasm or just have decided to give that as well”.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 103

MOTORCYCLE APPRENTICE RACING TO SUCCESS

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ACH YEAR AT the end of January, Kye Van Es the southern hemisphere’s largest historic motorcycle meet, the International Island Classic, is held at Philip Island. The event features motorcycles that span a century, from pre-war through to the new era of modern machines. The headline event is the ‘International Challenge’ which includes teams from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, who battle it out for glory. This three-day event is a motorcycle-lovers paradise, and one which second year MTA Institute motorcycle mechanical apprentice Kye Van Es, was lucky enough to attend. an opportunity like that, you don’t pass it up.”

Invited by the Yamaha Racing Team, The Yamaha Racing Team has a long history in road racing and is the flagship Kye attended the 27th International Island Classic from 24-26th January saying, “You get team for Yamaha Motor Australia.

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

104 | Motor Trader June 2020

The team is known for its polished presentation and immaculately prepared Yamaha R1s and Kye was very keen to get up close to the all the action.

“I’d previously done some work with the Yamaha Racing Team’s Head Mechanic and

“I HELPED EVERYWHERE

I COULD AND JUST BEING AMONGST THE ATMOSPHERE, YOU LEARN SO MUCH AND EVEN AT MY LEVEL YOU NEED TO BE REALLY QUICK WHETHER YOU’RE CHANGING TYRES, CLEANING THE BIKES OR CHECKING SUSPENSION.” his father, so I came to mind when they were looking for people to join them for the weekend,” said Kye. “I was really keen to get involved. It’s a hell of an opportunity to get a foot in the door and I’m very lucky to have been considered.”

Although only 21 and two years into his apprenticeship, Kye shows a level of maturity and professional drive that marks him as someone who is going to achieve big things in the motorcycle industry.

“Working in the racing industry is something that I absolutely aspire to do.

“I want to enjoy my job and working with motorcycles is something that I love… but working with the top of the line motorcycles is a whole different world and simply put, you’re working with the best of the best. Learning from experts and working on supreme bikes is an incredible experience, especially for someone as young me.

“I helped everywhere I could and just being amongst the atmosphere, you learn so much and even at my level you need to be really quick whether you’re changing tyres, cleaning the bikes or checking suspension. There’s definitely pressure, but to get experience working under pressure in such an environment was awesome.”

Kye’s work ethic and attitude is something that comes across in his apprenticeship and Terry Palfrey, Kye’s trainer has no doubt that the opportunity was well deserved.

“Kye currently works at Recovery Motorcycles and Repairs in Maryborough and it’s obvious when training him that he’s got the passion and the right attitude to succeed. This has been a fantastic opportunity for him, and I’m absolutely thrilled he got to experience it,” said Terry.

“I’m so appreciative,” said Kye. “The opportunity was incredible, and I will be first in line if the opportunity to work with them presents itself again. If there’s someone thinking about doing the same thing, I’d highly recommend it. In just three days I came away with a wealth of knowledge and I just want to express how thankful I am to the Yamaha Racing team for giving me the opportunity.”

June 2020 Motor Trader | 105

Concept corner

PROPHECY 106 | Motor Trader June 2020

CONCEPT June 2020 Motor Trader | 107

Concept corner

H

YUNDAI HAS UNVEILED its new concept battery electric vehicle, the ‘Prophecy’, and it is a ripper.

The Prophecy has, at least to this writer’s eye, a hint of Porsche 911 about it, but there’s nothing wrong in having some similarity to one of history’s great cars and the extra sleekiness of the design is a mark of its purportedly excellence aerodynamics – a must for any BEV. That aerodynamic excellence is, Hyundai says, aided by the propeller

108 | Motor Trader June 2020

shapes embedded in the vehicle’s wheel that compel air to be drawn in and flow down the side of the body. The integrated rear spoiler harnesses downforce that aids vehicle stability when travelling at speed. A wide air intake installed below the bumper takes fresh air to cool the batteries more effectively.

Progressive lighting technology is integrated into the headlamp, tail lamp and spoiler, and pixelated lamps will, the company says, be carried forward

as a signature design element in future Hyundai models.

Prophecy utilises autonomous driving technology, but drivers can keep control by joysticks, used instead of a steering wheel.

There’s one in the centre console and another on the door trim. Buttons on the joysticks allow drivers to access to a wide variety of functions.

Design changes enabled by using joysticks offer more ‘visual freedom’ to passengers. In Relax mode, there are

virtually no visual obstacles. All that the passengers see is the horizontal pillarto-pillar display and the wing-shaped dashboard. In this mode, the dashboard swivels, allowing for a spacious interior and seat position.

External intakes placed at the bottom of the side doors allow air to circulate through Clean Air Technology, providing a stream of purified air inside the vehicle. In addition, the treated air is circulated back out into the atmosphere as clean air.

June 2020 Motor Trader | 109

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

D

OMESTICALLY, THE S&P/ ASX 200 Accumulation Index was up 8.78% during the period. The month was characterised by a broadbased recovery as investors were prepared to begin looking beyond COVID-19. Energy (+22.0%) was an outperformer over the period as not only did OPEC+ come to an agreement on production cuts, the demand outlook also improved courtesy of the more positive economic sentiment. Information Technology (+22.5%) also outperformed due to companies’ sensitivity to improved growth assumptions and their strength of business models in the face of a pandemic. Consumer Staples (+2.39%) was the worst performer in the period as the money-chasing defensive stocks of March sought better value in April. The defensive nature of Health Care (+4.38%) saw stocks similarly underperform in the April recovery.

Globally, equities were higher as the world began to look past the worst-case COVID-19 scenarios that gripped the markets in April. The US led the recovery (NASDAQ +15.4%, S&P 500 +12.7%) as the last major economy to be hit by the virus began to get on top of the pandemic. By comparison, the European and Asian bourses were not as strong, having seen some of their recovery occur 110 | Motor Trader June 2020

“THE MONTH WAS

CHARACTERISED BY A BROADBASED RECOVERY AS INVESTORS WERE PREPARED TO BEGIN LOOKING BEYOND COVID-19.” last month (UK FTSE +4.0%, MSCI Europe +5.7%, CSI 300 +6.1%, Nikkei +6.7%, KOSPI +9.0%). Emerging markets were middle of the pack, returning 8.6%.

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

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