Motor Trader e-magazine, June 2021

JUNE 2021

+ MTA QUEENSLAND + MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES AT THE BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW

FIRST PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSE FOR WOMEN

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

+ 1996 DODGE VIPER GTS

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF MTA QUEENSLAND? CLICK HERE

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

MTA QUEENSLAND hosts quarterly Divisional Committee meetings for:

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

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

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

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

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING DATES

20200885

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY

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

JONATHAN NASH

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

EDITOR

H

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

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

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

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

MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848

20210956

CORPORATE PARTNERS

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

One year ago, Motor Trader spoke to a group of MTA Queensland members about how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown and other restrictions that had been imposed through April and May of 2020, had affected their businesses. It was a very difficult time, and with the threat of further COVID-19 outbreaks and restrictions, the future looked very uncertain. One year on and the virus is still with us and, as can be seen from the current lockdown in Melbourne, still a threat to the health of both people and the economy.

However, the nation does seem to have avoided, so far, the ruinous situations we have seen overseas, and Motor Trader took the opportunity to reach out to those business owners we spoke to 12 months ago to see how they were coping today, in a world where living with the threat of COVID-19 is the new normal.

You can read our cover story from page 42.

ONE YEAR ON AND THE VIRUS IS STILL WITH US AND, AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN IN MELBOURNE, STILL A THREAT TO THE HEALTH OF BOTH PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY. Also this month, we talk with Rico Moro from Moro Auto Repairs in Mareeba in Far North Queensland for our member’s Q&A feature (see page 18) and focus on the brutally powerful muscle car-supercar hybrid, the Dodge Viper, for our classic car feature (see page 68).

We also have our Federal Budget Wrap-up on pages 12-15, take a look at the recent Brisbane Truck Show (page 32), and cover the launch of MTA Queensland’s first automotive pre-vocational course for women. Delivered by a qualified female trainer, the is a five-week program designed to teach the skills necessary to go on and gain employment and potentially an apprenticeship in the automotive industry.

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

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

Contents

42

COVID-19 & THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: ONE YEAR ON

04 FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 08 POLICY/VIEWPOINT 12 MTA QUEENSLAND FEDERAL BUDGET BRIEF 18 MTA |Q&A 32 MTA QUEENSLAND AT THE BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW 38 MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES FIRST PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSE FOR WOMEN 42 COVER STORY: COVID-19 & THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: ONE YEAR ON 54 AN EYE ON INNOVATION 56 AUTO INNOVATION NEWS 68 CLASSIC SUPERCAR: 1989 DODGE VIPER RT/10 CONCEPT 80 AUTO NEWS 96 WORKPLACE RELATIONS 99 TRAINING GM'S PERSPECTIVE 106 AUTO CAMP DRIVING INTEREST IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY 113 MTA INSTITUTE GRADUATE LIST 114 CONCEPT CORNER 118 MARKET WRAP

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MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES FIRST PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSE FOR WOMEN AT THE WOMEN ON TOOLS TOOLBOX BREAKFAST

Search for MTA Queensland

68

1989 DODGE VIPER RT/10 CONCEPT

18

AUTO CAMP DRIVING INTEREST IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY

106

MTA | Q&A: RICO MORO OF MORO AUTO REPAIRS

114

MERCEDES-BENZ CONCEPT EQT

June 2021 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO

ROD CAMM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

W

E OFTEN REFLECT that while virtual meetings can be very productive, at times a face-to-face discussion can make all the difference. The MTA Queensland team has been ‘on the road’ in regional Queensland to meet and speak with members and hear their views.

Recently we visited Cairns and Townsville for meetings from which I came away very motivated to be more proactive in our service delivery, encouraged by members’ enthusiasm, ‘no holds barred’ discussions and their commitment to their industries and businesses. Thank you to all who attended and to the organisers of each event.

At each discussion, there was a fantastic turnout including, I’m pleased to say, some non-members, for a hospitable networking event structured around two key workshops.

The first, and undoubtedly a priority for members, was on workplace relations: This is a subject that members continue to identify as a high priority as evidenced by the continual flow of enquiries our team receives every day. The second element was a networking session overviewing what we currently offer, what changes we are planning and what members are looking for in being an MTA Queensland member.

This session demonstrated real energy 4 | Motor Trader June 2021

RECENTLY WE VISITED CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE FOR MEETINGS FROM WHICH I CAME AWAY VERY MOTIVATED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN OUR SERVICE DELIVERY, ENCOURAGED BY MEMBERS’ ENTHUSIASM, ‘NO HOLDS BARRED’ DISCUSSIONS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES. and willingness to discuss the actions and services that work and what doesn’t.

We learnt a great deal from these frank discussions, and they will shape our service reforms. So, what are members looking for? Encouragingly, more opportunities and a regular schedule of meetings and local training with the MTA Queensland team on key local issues. We recognise the timing of these are important, as it is a real challenge to attend during business hours.

Participants emphasised that sessions are best timed for 5.30pm which should work for most members.

I was pleased that members raised the issue of access to training, both local and online. I know first-hand the reliance of the automotive value chain on a skilled workforce, particularly when human capital is in such high demand. The training priorities mentioned included the recognised courses such as apprenticeships but there was a real push for short, justin-time courses in areas such as welding, electric vehicles, emerging technology and soft skills like customer service, problem solving and what are the important components in pricing a member’s services.

Members highlighted the need for school engagement to introduce the fast-changing

A fantastic turnout in Townsville for the final leg of our regional tour

careers on offer to aspiring school students and career counsellors, and to promote the courses/programs that lead to vocations in the automotive sectors. Engagement courses such as vehicle maintenance for school leavers was suggested similar to Auto Camp which the MTA Institute holds during school holidays for high school students aged between 14-17 years. Our challenge now is how to offer these across Queensland.

Whilst our workplace relations support to members is highly valued, suggestions were put forward for additional assistance such as more comprehensive add-on services such as desk top reviews, workplace health and safety inductions and audits, and policy reviews and development.

We are now in the process of building the feedback into our services review which will be supplemented by further sessions across Queensland. We look forward to more opportunities to hear from members to shape our collective futures.

SERVICE AND SUPPORT In prior From the CEO’s Desk, I’ve spoken about the importance of quality services and support for members as the key feature of what we stand for. In fact, this is central to our reason for being. To us, the

success of members in their businesses is our most important key performance indicator. Of course, we can’t identify what success looks like without talking to you and that is why we are travelling to speak with and listen to your views and also why divisional meetings are so important.

During the COVID-19 restrictions (the current lockdown in Melbourne is a timely reminder that this can happen at any time) and the recovery phase, we provided regular bulletins and advice on health measures and the economic stimulus packages which members valued.

We learnt much from that experience but now we must continue to be relevant and meaningful to members beyond a constant flow of emails and announcements. What does this mean? Simply, we want to keep members close and work with you on a one-to-one basis where this is needed and offer a range of support tools and customised services from the very outset of membership. We want to offer services, information and advices that are useful.

REVIEW We’re still progressing our review of services. New services are being established to inform members on policy June 2021 Motor Trader | 5

developments and web and social media strategies.

The webinars on business issues have proved helpful to some members and there is for the month of June a comprehensive webinar schedule. I draw members’ attention to the two Australian Taxation Office (ATO) webinars: the first on ‘Cash flow for small business success’ (check the website as there are various dates), and the second on ‘Budgeting for your commitments’ on 15 June at midday. Registration details are on the website.

We are progressing short course training on emerging topics. These include: the Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) Glass course and ADAS Awareness course; and the Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set course. To assist members with their business operations there are webinars on video creation, branding and selling safely online.

INDUSTRY DIVISIONS I’m currently into my second round of industry divisions meetings and I must say I am enjoying the interaction and listening to the key issues. It is imperative that all industry and policy matters that need attention are identified so that we can raise these with the appropriate department and agency. Particularly encouraging has been the increased interest and growing participation in meetings and the strong focus on industry development and associated issues.

For all our members outside of the south-east you are welcome to attend your specific industry division meeting via Microsoft Teams. This is your opportunity to share your ideas, raise issues that need 6 | Motor Trader June 2021

WE’RE STILL PROGRESSING OUR REVIEW OF SERVICES. NEW SERVICES ARE BEING ESTABLISHED TO INFORM MEMBERS ON POLICY DEVELOPMENTS AND WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES. advocacy, and to network with others.

All the dates are published on the website.

AND THE LAST THING The ATO has introduced a new tool – Online services for business and replaces the Business Portal and electronic superannuation audit tool (eSAT). Its purpose is to make it easier for users to interact with the ATO providing a secure, modern channel to manage tax and super obligations. The new service can be accessed on multiple devices, including a smart device such as the mobile or tablet.

To start using Online services for business, log in with your myGov ID, similar to accessing the Business Portal.

I look forward to continuing the conversation in next month’s Motor Trader.

LAWS PROTECTING AGAINST HARASSMENT RECENT MEDIA STORIES about what may be happening in some parliamentarian’s offices is a reminder to all employers and business owners that no-one is immune from a sexual harassment claim.

The Fair Work Act and Regulations will soon be amended to give employers more power to sack perpetrators of sexual harassment.

The Federal Government has announced it will amend section 387 of the Act to clarify that sexual harassment can be a valid reason for termination when determining whether a dismissal was unfair.

It will also amend the definition of “serious misconduct” in the Fair Work Regulations to include sexual harassment, to clarify that this behaviour can justify summary dismissal.

In addition, education and guidance on unfair dismissal and other workplace rights will be updated. The Act will include a ‘stop sexual harassment order’ by clarifying that a stop-bullying order is available in the context of harassment.

model WHS laws for employers to ensure workers are not exposed to health and safety risks, which includes the risk of sexual harassment. Safe Work Australia guidance recently released specifically describes sexual harassment as a systemic risk employers must approach with a safety mindset.

PSYCHOSOCIAL RISKS CODE OF PRACTICE A code of practice on managing psychosocial risks is currently being

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS developed by Safe Work Australia, which is to cover sexual harassment in the

TO MORE THAN 8000 PEOPLE DIRECTLY workplace.

This will help toINVOLVED increase POSITIVE DUTY ALREADY EXISTS IN THE INDUSTRY A positive duty already existsMOTORING under awareness of the duty to manage (website or e-magazine options)

psychosocial health and safety risks and improve compliance, it says, adding it will continue to support this work.

The aim is to create an improved culture of respectful workplace behaviour.

For further information about Policy for your workplace, please contact MTA Queensland.

CLICK HERE FOR MEDIA GUIDE AND COSTS

Policy/Viewpoint

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

I

T’S BEEN A joy to attend the final meetings for this financial year of our industry divisions. I share with members in this Viewpoint, some insights and views expressed. Remarkably, each voiced an optimistic outlook for the ongoing recovery of their industry from the COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions and are confident about future business activities.

Divisions reported those businesses that had shed staff at the start of pandemic have ‘now reemployed them and more’.

This is not to say the pandemic’s invasive tentacles have been severed. Indeed, they are still alive, disrupting supply chains and business operations.

Our Australian Automotive Dealers’ division, although experiencing a strong bounce in the new car market since October 2020 after some 31 months of consistent negative results, now must adjust to stock shortages with some orders unable to be filled until 2022. As said in a previous Viewpoint, manufacturers misjudged consumer demand for new vehicles, curtailed output enabling the makers of the essential semiconductors to shift production to other electronic devices.

Interestingly, our Tyre and Undercar division drew attention to the supply of

8 | Motor Trader June 2021

OUR AUSTRALIAN AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS’ DIVISION, ALTHOUGH EXPERIENCING A STRONG BOUNCE IN THE NEW CAR MARKET SINCE OCTOBER 2020 . . . NOW MUST ADJUST TO STOCK SHORTAGES WITH SOME ORDERS UNABLE TO BE FILLED UNTIL 2022. tyres due to factories experiencing a low level of production or no workload at all.

Similar to the semiconductor shortage that has stifled the manufacture of new cars, a rubber supply scarcity has caught out both automakers and rubber componentry manufacturers. The global COVID-19 lockdown and the practice of the ‘just-intime supply system’ has meant a slowdown in tyre production and the meeting of the automakers’ rubber requirements. There are other issues in play for the shortage, including the suggestion that the exporting countries of the ‘United States and Europe do not have the national stockpiles to draw upon in times of reduced supply – which the market is predicting for the near future.’ Additional challenges arise from freight, shipping times and the associated costs impacting stock levels resulting in wholesalers/retailers buying whatever is available in bulk in an attempt to keep stock levels reasonable.

Probably, it is our Rental Vehicle industry division that remains volatile and susceptible to COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns. On the upside, the demand for rental vehicles in the tourism hotspots such as the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Whitsundays and Cairns has been strong: anecdotally, even to the

extent of customers hiring utilities from Bunnings as they were the only vehicles to hire! On the downside, despite the strength in these markets, rental companies have a diminished fleet size due to the ‘rightsizing’ undertaken during Queensland lockdowns and softer months in 2020. New vehicle availability is an ongoing issue for businesses without the working capital to invest in new fleet.

Common to each of the divisions is the need for skilled and administrative staff to fill vacancies and meet increasing workloads. Queensland’s major newspaper reported that ‘industries across the board are warning of a jobs cliff, with shortages in critical areas, including vacancies for 4400 car mechanics state-wide’. This is not surprising, our north Queensland representative Mark Billingsley reported that generally, each workshop required an additional two mechanics and other qualified trade staff to be fully operational and meet client’s needs. Our Jobs Board too, is indicative of the employment opportunities in the automotive value chain.

Setting aside the issues that challenge, Divisional Chairs overall are upbeat about economic recovery for the near to medium term outlook. The Auto Parts Recyclers division are still smiling from

the successful advocacy for the reduction in the annual fees paid to the Department of Environment and Science for automotive recycling activities. This meant a reduction from some $4000 to about $1692 per annum.

The Commonwealth and State Governments industry support packages during the pandemic’s restriction and recovery phases ‘kept most recyclers afloat and now thriving’.

Undoubtedly, the division with the widest smile belongs to our Automotive Remarketing division. The used car market Is buoyant. The primary challenge is finding the quality stock and responding to the new issue of insurance and finance values failing to keep pace with the market impacting a client’s ability to finance and insure their purchase.

Pleased too, with the economic outlook is our Farm and Industrial Machinery Dealers’ division. Tractor, machinery and parts sales are in demand after years of drought, and agriculture now is making a strong contribution to local economies and businesses. Also ‘riding the wave of increased business since COVID-19 started’ is our Engine Reconditioners division, although parts supply from manufacturers is a major issue. Our Automotive Engineers division and our National Auto Collision Alliance report busy workshops and increasing workloads.

ADVOCACY Divisions’ members, through their workshops on a daily basis, feel the pulse of the economy. Their views are important as they contribute to the content of the Association’s advocacy to both the

Policy/Viewpoint Australian and Queensland Governments.

The recent Commonwealth Budget (11 May) included initiatives that we nominated as priorities in our pre-budget submission for the automotive value chain. The State Government’s budget will be delivered on 15 June to which we submitted member’s priorities.

The role of divisions, defined in the Objects of the Association’s constitution, is critical to the function of the MTA Queensland. The divisional policy positions and views on trade/industry issues are represented by their Chair on the MTA Queensland Board. I and other MTA Queensland staff attend each divisional meeting to engage, assist with policy processes and undertake any advocacy to advance the issue with the appropriate department or agency either in direct communications or in written submissions.

A recent significant achievement was the reform of the laws governing the repairs standards for written-off vehicles announced by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey. Included in the changes was the requirement for light vehicles, which are considered uneconomical to repair, will be categorised as statutory written-off vehicles and become ineligible for reregistration.

Vehicles will then only be permitted to be repaired where they meet specific exemption criteria. This includes ensuring written-off vehicles being reregistered for sale do not contain stolen parts; and prevent substandard repairs and rebirthed vehicles from being on the roads. These

reforms have been a long-term objective of our Automotive Remarketing Division.

Chief Executive Officer Rod Camm and I gave evidence before the Parliamentary Transport and Resources Committee Inquiry into Vehicle Safety, Standards and Technology, including Engine Immobiliser Technology to which we had provided a written submission. The Committee was focused on vehicle safety and the writtenoff-vehicle scheme.

On a regular basis, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission seeks the views of selected stakeholders on the current factors and trends influencing the cost of insurance under the statutory insurance scheme (Compulsory Third Party). We’ll respond, indicating a preference for no change to the $351.60 (annual) premium for the Class 1 Vehicle on the basis the up-coming State Budget more than likely will increase vehicle registrations (new and renewal) above inflation.

FINALLY Member’s attention is drawn to extension of the 2020-21 Budget measure titled JobMaker Plan — temporary full expensing to support investment and jobs for 12 months until 30 June 2023. The extension will allow eligible businesses with aggregated annual turnover or total income of less than $5 billion to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value, acquired from 7:30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 and first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2023.

Until next month, take care and stay safe.

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members BUSINESS NAME

ADDRESS

EMAIL

DIVISION

Cairns Cars Ev North Rivercity Roadworthy’s and Mechanical Toowoomba Engine and Servicing Pty Ltd

303-309 Mulgrave Road, Cairns 4870 Unit 10/43 Camuglia St, Garbutt 4814 161 Stercullia Avenue, Holland Park West 4121 132A Campbell St, Toowoomba 4350

alanr@cairnscars.com michael@evnorth.com.au admin@rivercityroadworthys.com bartkda@gmail.com

AADA AED AED AED

10 | Motor Trader June 2021

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

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

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

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

CL I C K HE R E TO N O M I N AT E NOMI N ATI ON S C LO S E F R IDAY 2 5 J UNE 2 0 2 1 WINNERS A N N OU N C ED AT T HE IND UST RY AWAR D S GA LA, SATU R DAY 2 0 NOVE M BE R 2 0 2 1

20210933

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

MTA QUEENSLAND FEDERAL BUDGET BRIEF 6 OCTOBER 2020

The Federal Budget includes the priorities that the MTA Queensland submitted to provide Members with the confidence to invest and employ.

ECONOMIC STATISTICS Deficit • $161 billion this year, falling to $57 billion in 2024 25.

Net debt • $617.5 billion or 30.per cent of GDP this year and peak at $980.6 billion or 40.9 per cent of GDP in June 2025.

Real GDP • 4.25% (2021-22 forecast) • 2.50% (2022-23 forecast) 12 | Motor Trader June 2021

Employment • 1% (2021-22 forecast) • 1% (2022-23 forecast) Unemployment rate • 5% (2021-22 forecast) • 4.75% (2022-23 forecast) Wage Price Index • 1.50 (2021-22 forecast) • 2.25 (2022-23 forecast) Consumer Price Index • 1.75 (2021-22 forecast) • 2.25 (2022-23 forecast)

PERSONAL INCOME TAX • Over 10 million low and middle income earners will receive up to $1,080 for individuals or $2,160 for couples.

• Increase Medicare levy for low-income thresholds for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners from 1 July 2020.

BUSINESS • Extension of the 2020-21 Budget measure JobMaker Plan — temporary full expensing to support investment and jobs for 12 months until 30 June 2023 to further support business investment and the creation of more jobs. The extension will allow eligible businesses with aggregated annual turnover or total income of less than $5 billion to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value, acquired from 7:30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 and first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2023.

• Extension of the 2020-21 Budget measure JobMaker Plan — temporary loss carry-back to support cash flow. The extension will allow eligible companies to carry back (utilise) tax losses from the 2022-23 income year to offset previously taxed profits as far back as the 2018-19 income year when they lodge their 202223 tax return.

• $5.0 million over three years from 202122 to support small businesses to adopt the Australasian Recycling Label.

• $15.5 million over two years from 2020-21 to provide more people the opportunity to explore and start their own small business, by providing an additional 1,000 places under the

New Business Assistance with New Enterprise Incentive Scheme program and an additional 350 places under the Exploring Being My Own Boss Workshop program • An additional $16.0 million over four years from 2021-22 to ensure the effective operation of the Payment Times Reporting Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2021. The Scheme requires large businesses to report on their payment times to small businesses.

• The power of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) will be extended to pause or modify ATO debt recovery action in relation to disputed debts that are being reviewed by the Small Business Taxation Division (SBTD) of the AAT.

COMPLIANCE REDUCTION STRATEGY INCLUDES: • $11.0 million over three years from 2021-22 to support the implementation of automatic mutual recognition of occupation licences across states and territories.

• $10.0 million over four years from 2021-22 to modernise business communication by amending legislation in the Treasury Portfolio to be technology neutral.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 13

• $10.0 million over four years from 2021-22 (and $1.2 million ongoing per year) to implement regulatory technology solutions to assist employers to interpret and comply with modern awards, and to explore and promote new ways of assisting employers through regulatory technology.

• $7.2 million over three years from 2021-22 to invest in the improvement, maintenance and review of the Employment Contract Tool, which helps small business employers to make employment contracts that comply with workplace laws.

• Establishment of a reinsurance pool for cyclones and related flooding, to commence from 1 July 2022 and be backed by an annually reinstated $10 billion government guarantee. This means the cost of providing insurance would be lower, and these savings would be passed on to consumers and small business in the form of lower premiums.

The reinsurance pool would also increase insurance availability in high-risk areas by helping insurers manage their exposure to cyclone risk. The scheme would cover consumers with home building, home contents, residential strata, residential mixed-use and certain small business property insurance policies in cyclone-prone areas.

SME DIGITAL CAPABILITY • $15.3 million over three years from 2021-22 to promote and accelerate the adoption of e-invoicing by businesses and across all levels of Government • $12.7 million in 2021-22 to expand the Australian Small Business Advisory Service Digital Solutions program reach to up to 17,000 small businesses.

SKILLS & TRAINING • Exclusion of the first $250 of deductions for prescribed courses of education. It 14 | Motor Trader June 2021

will have effect from the first income year after the date of Royal Assent of the enabling legislation • $506.3 million over two years from 2021-22 to extend the JobTrainer Fund to deliver around 163,000 additional low fee and free training places in areas of skills need, including 33,800 additional training places to support aged care skills needs and 10,000 places for digital skills courses. Eligibility for the Fund will be expanded to include selected employed cohorts that are continuing to be affected by COVID-19. This measure also includes $6.3 million for a campaign to encourage take-up of training opportunities • $2.7 billion over four years from 2020-21 to expand the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy to further support businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees. This measure will uncap the number of eligible places and increase the duration of the 50 per cent wage subsidy to 12 months from the date an apprentice or trainee commences with their employer. From 5 October 2020 to 31 March 2022, businesses of any size can claim the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy for new apprentices or

T HE INCENTIVES FOR AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIPS PROGRAM WILL BE DELAYED BY THREE MONTHS TO COMMENCE ON 1 OCTOBER 2021 . . . trainees who commence during this period. Eligible businesses will be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of an apprentice or trainee’s wages of up to $7,000 per quarter for 12 months.

• Provision of 5,000 additional gateway service places and in-training support services to encourage and support more women commencing in non-traditional trade occupations.

• The Incentives for Australian Apprenticeships Program will be delayed by three months to commence on 1 October 2021 replacing the current Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Program (AAIP) with a simplified Australian Apprenticeships pathway, which will be easier for employers to access and navigate. The AAIP and Additional Identified Skills Shortage payments will also be extended to 30 September 2021 to ensure eligible apprentices continue to receive support throughout the deferral period and minimise disruption to apprentices and their employers. This measure builds on the 2020-21 Budget measure titled JobMaker Plan — boosting apprenticeships wage subsidy.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY STATEMENT • $1.8 billion over five years from 202021 to improve women’s workforce participation and economic security • $998.1 million over four years from 2021-22 (and $2.3 million in 2025-26) for initiatives to reduce, and support the victims of Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) against women and children.

AUTOMOTIVE TAXATION Luxury Car Tax • $800m (2020-21) • $680m (2021-22 est.)

Luxury car tax (LCT) receipts have been revised up $260 million in 2020-21 and $480 million over the four years to 2023-24. LCT receipts are forecast to increase by 40.3 per cent in 2020-21 but decrease by 15.0 per cent in 2021-22. This is consistent with stronger-than-expected purchases of motor vehicles in the current year, but the expectation is that this will moderate in the latter years of the forward estimates.

FUELS EXCISE Petrol • $5,850m (2020-21) • $6,100m (2021-22 est.)

Diesel • $12,530m (2020-21 est.)

• $13,140m (2021-22 est.)

CUSTOMS DUTY Passenger Motor Vehicles • $340m (2020-21) • $310m (2021-22 est.)

AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Tariff Concession Extension of the automotive research and development tariff concession for a further four years until 30 June 2025.

The extension took effect on 1 April 2021.

Companies that are registered under the Automotive Transformation Scheme Act 2009 as at 31 December 2020 will continue to be able to claim a tariff concession of up to five per cent on the value of imports used for automotive research and development in Australia.

Infrastructure An additional $15.2 billion over ten years to fund infrastructure commitments.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 15

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(L-R) Rico Moro, owner of Moro Auto Repairs with business partner, Joe Moro

MTA|Q&A

While many modern mechanic shops focus on the quick turnaround of customers, tucked away in the back streets of Mareeba in Far North Queensland is one garage that focuses on providing a detailed service to customers from start to finish, no matter how long it takes. Rico Moro of Moro Auto Repairs took time out to answer some questions for Motor Trader this month.

WORDS AND PICTURES: LARA WILDE

18 | Motor Trader June 2021

How did Moro Auto Repairs come to be?

RM: Mareeba is a close-knit community.

My friends and I did our trade and started our families here. We grew up building muscle cars and testing their limits at local motorsport venues and to this day we are all good friends and compete in motorsport together. In 1990, we opened the Moro Auto Repairs workshop to follow our passion for building cars and to solve problems for cars old and new.

What services do you offer at Moro Auto Repairs?

RM: Moro Auto Repairs provides mechanical repairs, mechanical inspections, road worthy certificates and modification authorisations. We work on almost anything and everything - from vintage Massey Ferguson tractors to daily-

“WE WORK ON ALMOST ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING - FROM VINTAGE MASSEY FERGUSON TRACTORS TO DAILY-DRIVER COMMODORES, FROM MORRIS MINORS IN FOR A COMPLETE RESTORATION AND ON THROUGH TO 7-SECOND RACE CARS.” driver Commodores, from Morris Minors in for a complete restoration and on through to 7-second race cars. We do it all in full consultation with the owner taking into consideration their intended use of the vehicle, their budget and their timeframe.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 19

Do you specialise in any particular service?

RM: A few years ago, we began specialising

in repairing and installing exhaust systems on a range of vehicles. From Mum’s shopping trolley through to performance cars we provide a custom service for our customers. We are known as @theexhaustspecialists on Facebook.

Why did you decide to specialise in exhaust systems?

RM: As I started to get older, I looked for a speciality that was easy to do with a hoist and didn’t require too much technology or physical strength. Exhausts were a simple choice. The parts required do not deteriorate in storage and almost every vehicle on the road has one.

What is your background in the automotive industry?

RM: I was born with a natural intuition for all things mechanical. Growing up on a farm I faced many mechanical challenges with farm vehicles and machinery. I enjoyed problem-solving on motors and so in 1985 I began my mechanic apprenticeship with Jim Plozza. In 1989, I finished my apprenticeship under the guidance of John Spena who had bought the business from Jim.

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER QUALITY WORK AND PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. AND WITH THE BUSINESS TICKING ALONG CONSISTENTLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME AT THE TRACK DRAG RACING.” Since completing your apprenticeship have you undertaken any additional professional development?

RM: While I was still studying as an

apprentice mechanic, I undertook extra training to become qualified to provide Roadworthy inspections for vehicles.

Once I was trade qualified as a mechanic, I went on to complete a Heavy Commercial vehicle course. With that course successfully completed I undertook an A Grade Mechanic certificate. I have always sought out and taken every opportunity to learn new skills particularly training that related to technology in new vehicles and diagnostic tools.

(L-R) Apprentice Anthony

20 | Motor Trader June 2021

an active Facebook page, and we utilise the social media tool to promote our business and our love of motorsport.

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

RM: While there are many great diagnostic

tools and instruments, the simplest and greatest advancement in technology for us has been the internet. The ability to more efficiently market and administer the business while also researching, exchanging information and sourcing parts has been invaluable to Moro Auto Repairs.

What are your plans for Moro Auto Repairs in the next few years?

RM: We will continue to deliver quality work and provide an excellent service to our customers. And with the business ticking along consistently we will be able to spend more time at the track drag racing.

How much advice do you place on social media for your business?

RM: We believe in promoting our business

and social media is another tool to get our story out there. Moro Auto Repairs has

Do you consider that the advancements in electric vehicles will have an impact on Moro Auto Repairs and if so, how?

RM: Of course electric cars will have an

impact on our business. For example, we specialise in exhaust systems and electric cars do not have an exhaust. We will have to learn more about how electric vehicles operate. While we do have a lot to learn we are also confident that we can adapt and continue to provide a quality service for our customers. Even electric cars will suffer wear and tear, and will breakdown and require a mechanic to fix them.

y Cifuentes Henderson, with mechanic Edward Escriva

June 2021 Motor Trader | 21

Moro Auto Repairs has been involved in motorsport since the business was established

Has Covid-19 impacted your business?

RM: Overall, Covid had a positive impact

on the Moro Auto Repairs business.

We put in place the Governmentrecommended strategies with a WHS plan to maintain social distancing and increase personal hygiene. The increase in government payments meant that many of our customers had cash to spend on their cars. This meant that the workshop remained busy throughout 2020. Now we are starting to see an impact from those payments being reduced.

Who is in the current Moro Auto Repairs team?

RM: I am the head mechanic and

business owner. Joe Moro is my business partner and Sherri Soncin is the account manager. Edward Escriva is our other trade mechanic and Anthony Cifuentes Henderson is our apprentice mechanic.

How does motorsport play a role in Moro Auto Repairs?

RM: Moro Auto Repairs competes

“WE CONSIDER IT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DO THAT THROUGH SUPPORTING LOCAL MOTORSPORT AND SPONSORING LOCAL COMMUNITY SPORT SUCH AS OUR TWO LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAMS.” support our local drag racing track, Springmount Raceway. We consider it to be very important to give back to our community and we do that through supporting local motorsport and sponsoring local community sport such as our two local football teams.

What has been the greatest benefit of your MTA Queensland membership?

RM: We have been members of MTA

Queensland off and on since we opened Moro Auto Repairs in 1990. The greatest benefit has been accessing training for our apprentices and knowing that the training they are receiving is some of the best in the automotive industry.

regularly with our Ford Probe drag race car. This provides an opportunity for us to build our relationship as a work team and deliver professional CLICK TO development to fine tune our VISIT THE MORO mechanic skills. It is also an AUTO REPAIRS FACEBOOK PAGE excellent opportunity for us to promote our business in the motorsport community and 22 | Motor Trader June 2021

in 1990

What advice would you give a young Rico starting out in the automotive industry?

RM: Stay longer in your trade and never sell yourself short.

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

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

ENQUIRIES

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

GET INVOLVED WITH MTA QUEENSLAND’S INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 2021 Motor Trader | 25

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HE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S Back to Work program is open for applications!

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June 2021 Motor Trader | 27

Carmageddon is the fourth event in the Motor Trades Association of Queensland’s series that educate on all aspects of innovation connected to the automotive and mobility industries.

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HE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY is going through incredible transformation. Developments in connectivity, battery-cell technology, fuelcell technology, manufacturing, and digital technology are changing the industry landscape and it can be tricky keeping up to speed with it all and understanding where the industry is heading.

MTA Queensland’s Carmageddon symposium is an event that aims to tackle that problem by bringing together leading figures from industry, academia, and government to discuss the changes, developments, and concepts the industry is addressing today.

This July, the Association will host its fourth Carmageddon event, and a tremendous group of industry and technology leaders – experts in areas including electric vehicles (EVs), digital transformation, the circular economy, recycling, autonomous vehicles, and more – will be in attendance to share their knowledge and experience.

There will also be a showcase of some of the latest automotive technology, including new and retro-fitted EVs, last-mile mobility vehicles, and university research projects.

28 | Motor Trader June 2021

At the last Carmageddon event, held in 2019, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, then the Australian Government’s Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, opened proceedings by saying: ‘The future of Australia’s automotive sector lies in embracing new technology. It lies in linking into global value chains and developing high value-added clients and services, be they aftermarket manufacturing, engineering and design, servicing and smash repairs, or sales and aftersales.

The future also lies in developing a workforce relevant to an era of rapid technological disruption and transformation . . .’

These words hold true today and will become more relevant in a world that’s seeing both the public and carmakers embrace EVs and which, post-COVID-19, demands new thinking about consumer engagement and business strategy.

Events such as Carmageddon are essential in providing a forum for discussion, connection, networking and the sharing of knowledge, and we encourage you to attend this important and informative event.

Of course, here at MTA Queensland we recognise that not everyone who wants

to attend in person will be able to do so - we live in a big State! And so, for the first time, Carmageddon will be broadcast live online, meaning no matter where you are, you can attend virtually. The digital revolution is here!

• Carmageddon will take place on July 22 at MTA Queensland’s head office complex in Brisbane.

• Ticket pricing for in-person attendees is $30 for members and $60 for non-members. This includes the full day program and exhibition (and morning tea and lunch).

• Ticket pricing for online attendees is $20 for members and $50 for non-members.

CLICK HERE to purchase event tickets.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ROD CAMM Chief Executive Officer – MTA Group

Rod Camm was appointed as Group Chief Executive for the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) in November 2020. A 30-year veteran in policy development, industry engagement and tertiary education, Rod has spent the last 25-years at the executive level, leading significant organisational change at leading government agencies, Government owned companies and industry and private sector organisations. Rod has also been involved in proceedings with international organisations including the OECD, UNESCO and the G20 Human Capital Taskforce and has considerable experience at the Board level.

PROF MICHAEL MILFORD QUT Science and Engineering Faculty, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Professor Milford conducts interdisciplinary research across robotics, neuroscience and computer vision and is a multi-award-winning educational entrepreneur. His research models the neural mechanisms in the brain to develop new technologies in robotics and autonomous vehicles. He is one of Australia’s most in demand technological experts and is a passionate science communicator. He currently holds the position of Acting Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics, Professor at the Queensland University of Technology, Microsoft Research Faculty Fellow and Chief Investigator at the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.

PROF PETA ASHWORTH Director Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership - University of Queensland

Peta’s contributions to the field of sustainable energy include leading the social science research program of the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, as well as working alongside Australia’s Chief Scientist in the development of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy and the COAG Hydrogen Working Group. In addition she is a Research Leader for the Future Fuels CRC Social Licence to Operate work package and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2019 for her service to science. She has recently been appointed as Chair for the Hydrogen Taskforce.

DR ANNA KAKSONEN Group Leader – CSIRO

Based in Western Australia, Dr Anna Kaksonen leads the Industrial Biotechnology Group in the Industry Environments Program in CSIRO Land and Water. She is a co-author of a National Report providing the Australian Government with a roadmap for transitioning towards a circular economy for plastic, tyre, glass and paper. Anna focused on exploring circular economy opportunities for end-of-life tyres and is well abreast of the issues facing the industry. She believes there is a great potential for businesses to increase value recovery from used tyres, especially off-the-road tyres (i.e. mining and heavy industry tyres), of which only 11 per cent are collected for value recovery, while 89 per cent are disposed onsite, stockpiled, dumped or landfilled.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 29

Carmageddon

PROGRAM | THURSDAY 22 JULY 2021 Time

Presenter/Topic

08:30

Registration

09:00

WELCOME, TRADITIONAL LANDOWNER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & HOUSEKEEPING Rod Camm, CEO MTA Queensland

09:10

OPENING ADDRESS The Hon Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen & Minister for Public Works

09:20

KEYNOTE 1 – INNOVATION IMPACT & OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY Rod Camm, CEO MTA Queensland

09:40

KEYNOTE 2 – CLEAN FUEL Prof Peta Ashworth OAM, Director Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, Chair Sustainable Energy Futures, UQ & Chair Hydrogen Taskforce

10:10

PANEL 1 – CLEAN FUEL & INFRASTRUCTURE Facilitator: Prof Peta Ashworth OAM • Steve Dunton, CTO, Sola-Drive and Hydro-Drive • Behyad Jafari, CEO, Electric Vehicle Council • Ben Warren, National Manager - Electrification and Mobility, Nissan Motor Co. (Australia) Pty Ltd

10:50

Morning Tea Break (15 mins)

11:05

KEYNOTE 3 – NEW TECH AND FUTURE OF MOBILITY Prof Michael Milford, Acting Director, QUT Centre for Robotics, Electrical Engineering and Robotics School, Faculty of Engineering, QUT

11:35

PANEL 2 – NEW TECH AND FUTURE OF MOBILITY Facilitator: Prof Michael Milford • Wolfgang Roffmann, Founder & CTO, E-Motion Concepts • Dr Mahmood Hikmet, Head of Research and Development, Ohmio (New Zealand) • Dr Kellie Nuttall, Partner, Deloitte Australia - AI Lead

12:15

LUNCH & CHECK OUT THE EXHIBITORS EMoS WYLD, EMoS H7-ZAP, RAP CT-KARGO KOOL, Audi E-Tron, Oz-DIY Electric Vehicle Conversions, Australian Electric Vehicle Association, and amazing displays from QUT including the latest in sensor technology, carbon derived from tyres and an art piece on vehicle recycling.

13:00

KEYNOTE 4 – UNLOCKING CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR TYRES Dr Anna Kaksonen - Group Leader, Industrial Biotechnology, CSIRO

13:30

PANEL 3 – WASTE MANAGEMENT & OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS Facilitator: Dr Andrea Walton, Social Scientist and Research Team Leader, CSIRO • Kylie Hughes, Director Waste Management & Recovery Policy, Office of Resource Recovery, Department of Environment • Trevor Bayley, COO Green Distillation Technologies Corporation • Mark Smith, CEO Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland

14:50

WRAP UP Rod Camm, CEO MTA Queensland

This event is operating in compliance with a COVID Safe Event Checklist.

30 | Motor Trader June 2021

MTA QUEENSLAND

2021 EVENTS CARMAGEDDON Thursday 22 July

MTA Queensland, Eight Mile Plains

MOTOR TRADES GOLF DAY Friday 3 September

Virginia Golf Club, Banyo

INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA Saturday 20 November

Emporium Hotel, South Bank

June 2021 Motor Trader | 31

32 | Motor Trader June 2021

Brisbane Truck Show

MTA QUEENSLAND AT THE BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW

W

ITHOUT TRUCKS, AUSTRALIA Stops – so goes the saying that you’ve probably spotted on more than one truck hauling goods up and down this nation’s highways.

The heavy vehicle industry plays a vital part in Australia’s economy, no doubt, and every couple of years, Brisbane becomes the epicentre of that industry when it hosts the Brisbane Truck Show – part of an umbrella event called Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week which comprises a myriad of other activities including conferences, product launches and parallel shows such as the new Civil Construction Field Days heavy equipment and machinery show.

Organised by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the highlight is the Truck Show, which takes over the cavernous Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for four days during May. If you are

. . . EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, BRISBANE BECOMES THE EPICENTRE OF THE HEAVY VEHICLE INDUSTRY WHEN IT HOSTS THE BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW . . . in the trucking business or just keen to get a close-up look at some of the amazing machines and associated equipment the heavy vehicle industry uses, it is an absolute must-visit event.

This year, as it always does, the Truck Show attracted tens of thousands of visitors, and there were some 300 displays to keep things interesting. Amongst the highlights in the main showroom of the convention centre were trucks from some of the world’s top manufacturers,

June 2021 Motor Trader | 33

Brisbane Truck Show including Daimler, Kenworth, Iveco, Western Star, and DAF. Also present were many component manufacturers including ZF, Meritor, Detroit Diesel, Dana, and Hendrickson, as well as tyremakers such as Goodyear and Bridgestone.

Notable this year was the large display from SEA Electric, the Australian batteryelectric truckmaker which has been much in the news of late with the launch of its SEA 300 and SEA 500 models, powered by its SEA-Drive power system.

On the fringes of the main truck exhibition site was the South Bank Truck festival – which saw the streets around Brisbane’s South Bank cultural and entertainment precinct become the place for the community to connect with the industry and view some incredible trucks.

South Bank was also the location for the Jobs Hub – an area set-up to showcase the diverse and rewarding careers that are

34 | Motor Trader June 2021

possible in the heavy vehicle sector.

This is where the MTA Institute – a regular at the Truck Show – set up shop this time around, and with more than 1000 students from 42 Brisbane schools signedup to attend the Hub it was a busy time for MTA Queensland’s Senior Business Development Manager and his team.

“The Jobs Hub enables students to

NOTABLE THIS YEAR WAS THE LARGE DISPLAY FROM SEA ELECTRIC, THE AUSTRALIAN BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRUCKMAKER . . . WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS SEA 300 AND SEA 500 MODELS, POWERED BY ITS SEADRIVE POWER SYSTEM.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 35

Brisbane Truck Show

36 | Motor Trader June 2021

Anthony Bonaccorso, Senior Business Development Manager, MTA Queensland

come in and get an idea of what’s available for them in this industry and the wider automotive industry,” said Anthony. “The MTA Institute is a registered training organisation, and the Truck Show is a good opportunity for us to showcase what we do. And we are here to support them, share information, and give some awareness where a career in the industry can take them.

“We are proud to be part of the education journey for apprentices of today and future generations of tradespeople and we cater for all automotive trade training

THE MTA INSTITUTE IS A REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATION, AND THE TRUCK SHOW IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE DO. - from light vehicle motor mechanics right through to heavy vehicle, mobile plant and agricultural.

“The Queensland industry thrives on transportation and mobility and we’re very much part of that.”

June 2021 Motor Trader | 37

MTA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES FIRST PREVOCATIONAL COURSE FOR WOMEN AT THE WOMEN ON TOOLS TOOLBOX BREAKFAST

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HE SIR JACK Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence was buzzing with excitement on a chilly Monday morning on the 17th of May as around 100 attendees came together to celebrate the significant contributions of women in automotive, as well as other trades, at the Women on Tools Toolbox Breakfast.

An initiative of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the Women on Tools Toolbox Breakfast is an opportunity for women from across trades to connect, network and support each

38 | Motor Trader June 2021

“JUST IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ALONE, THERE HAS BEEN A 30 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN TAKING UP APPRENTICESHIPS IN CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED TRADES, WHICH IS SIMPLY FANTASTIC NEWS.”

other as they progress in traditionally male-dominated industries.

It is also an opportunity to keep up to date on the latest news and events relating to women in trades, as well as hear from industry leaders and mentors on their experiences as they navigate through the many barriers that still prevent many women from securing a career in the trade.

A jovial supporter of NAWIC and the promotion of career opportunities for women, the Honourable Di Farmer, Minister for Employment and Small

The Honourable Di Farmer, Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development

Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development was on hand to launch the event and delivered a strong message to the female trailblazers in attendance.

“To everyone here this morning, never forget you are important role models. We always say you can’t be what you can’t see and it’s really important that these young girls in the crowd can see someone in front of them who has actually jumped over the hurdles to actually get where they want to be,” said Minister Farmer.

“Just in the last 12 months alone, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of women taking up apprenticeships in construction, engineering and automotive-related trades, which is simply fantastic news.”

The highlight of the breakfast, however, was still to come. In what proved to be a momentous occasion for MTA Queensland and the wider automotive industry, Minister Farmer joined MTA Group CEO Rod Camm to co-announce the launch of the MTA Institute’s first automotive prevocational course for women.

“We truly are committed to ramping up the support for women looking to enter our industry and are very excited to be able to June 2021 Motor Trader | 39

bring this course to industry,” said Mr Camm.

“Through this course, we are able to provide more tailored support, more resources and put better systems in place to allow more women to confidently commence a career in the automotive industry.”

Delivered by a qualified female trainer, the women’s automotive pre-vocational course is a five-week program designed to teach women the skills necessary to go on and gain employment and potentially an apprenticeship in the automotive industry. Students will learn a range of tasks relating to identifying and inspecting mechanical and electrical components and systems of light vehicles while connecting with like-minded women in a supportive environment.

The Women on Tools Breakfast is just one of several initiatives pioneered by NAWIC in their mission to advocate for positive change and develop resources to improve opportunities for women in the trades. Another initiative recently launched is the Male Allies Program, which entails a group of male industry leaders being identified and selected to lead the way in championing for diversity and inclusion in the workplace in their respective industries.

Rod Camm, one of these male allies, recently featured in the NAWIC male allies promotional video series to discuss the important role men play in creating

“THROUGH THIS COURSE, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE TAILORED SUPPORT, MORE RESOURCES AND PUT BETTER SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ALLOW MORE WOMEN TO CONFIDENTLY COMMENCE A CAREER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.” a supportive workplace environment for women looking to enter the industry.

Mr Camm took a moment at the breakfast to announce MTA Queensland’s commitment to the ‘women in automotive’ initiative to improve the gender balance in all areas of the automotive industry.

He also confirmed a commitment to all NAWIC industry roundtables to effect positive change.

“When you look at the data, almost 20 per cent of the automotive workforce is made up of women, which by itself sounds fantastic. However, 92 per cent of these women are employed in administrative and office roles and just 2.4 per cent of our tradespeople are women and this is something we are absolutely committed to fixing,” he explained.

“As we continue to look for improvement in this regard, it is important that we look at the barriers to employment many women still face. But more importantly, to

MTA Group CEO Rod Camm

really improve gender representation, we must start building a solid foundation for supporting entry into the industry.

At MTA Queensland, this is our utmost focus and the reason for the birth of the women-focused course.”

MTA Queensland remains proud of our commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusion throughout the industry.

In 2020, Sue Davis was appointed as the chair of the MTA Institute, while women currently sit on the committee in four of our divisions: • Andrea McCarthy – Chair of the NACA division • Sharine Milne – Vice-chair of the

QMID division • Hatice Hutchinson – Secretary of the ERAQ division • Tracey Randall – Secretary of the APRD division Approximately 50 per cent of the MTA Queensland team are women. However, with our network of trainers being predominantly male, there are areas we can still improve CLICK TO moving forward.

The first women-focused automotive pre-vocational course will take place Monday 26 July, with places already filling up fast.

FIND OUT MORE ON THE PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSE

June 2021 Motor Trader | 41

In the June 2020 edition of Motor Trader, we spoke with the owners of four MTA Queensland member businesses from across the State. Things had been tough for many businesses and industries as the nation began to emerge from severe restrictions of movement on citizens, and though there was optimism, there was also caution and concern about just where things were headed. One year on, we talk to those business owners again to see how they have fared and how they feel about the future today.

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Image: Diego Grandi / Shutterstock.com World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

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ET’S TURN BACK the clock to December 31, 2019.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) picked up reports that health authorities in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province were investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia.

Within a few days the first death had been recorded, as had the first case outside of mainland China, and on January 23, Wuhan – home to 11 million people – was under lockdown in an attempt to halt the spread of the new disease.

On January 30, the WHO reported that there were 7,834 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus, including 7,736 in China, and that 170 people had died. Of the 98 cases discovered outside of China, four had been recorded in Victoria and NSW on January 25.

The WHO also declared the outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC), the organisation’s highest level of alarm.

By the end of February, the Australian Government reported that 25 cases of COVID-19 had been recorded nationally, but no one had died. However, by the end of March, case numbers had risen dramatically to 4,159 with 15 deaths.

This was scary stuff, and both the national and state governments had, by this time, moved to stem the spread of the virus and look to avert what was looming as a

BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED THAT 25 CASES OF COVID-19 HAD BEEN RECORDED NATIONALLY, BUT NO ONE HAD DIED. HOWEVER, BY THE END OF MARCH, CASE NUMBERS HAD RISEN DRAMATICALLY TO 4,159 WITH 15 DEATHS. potential health disaster while, at the same time, try to brace the economy for what was clearly going to be a devastating period.

The two-pronged effort would include increasingly severe travel restrictions, border closures and lockdowns, while the economic support effort would see a raft of stimulus measures introduced that included tax relief packages; loan schemes; support payments (in the form of the JobSeeker and JobKeeper programs); funds to help keep apprentice in their jobs, and a host of other measures.

According to the federal government, its measures would cost a reported $320 billion, or 16.4 per cent of annual GDP. Astonishing.

However, as severe as the measures taken were, these health and economic support measures appeared to work.

On the health front, as of 27 May 2021, June 2021 Motor Trader | 43

Australia had recorded 30,098 cases and 910 deaths due to COVID-19.

While those are horrible numbers, and any loss of life is to be deeply mourned, it can’t be overlooked that the nation has, in comparison to many countries, contained the spread of the virus. For example, as of 31 May, 2021, the UK reported that it had recorded nearly 4.5 million cases and that almost 130,000 deaths were attributable to the disease. In the U.S., the numbers are even more staggering, with the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s (CDC) recording more than 33 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths by May 30.

Collins St in Melbourne, Australia, is quiet and empty during Globally, the WHO reported on 29 May, the Coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdown. that there had been 169,118, 995 cases and 3,519,175 deaths.

Incredible numbers, and while vaccines are now available, COVID-19 remains a massive global problem and, as can be seen from the recent lockdown in Melbourne and the stuttering vaccine rollout here in Australia, vigilance is essential.

As for the economic impact of COVID-19, the same holds true regarding Australia’s solid performance in getting through the crisis. While the lockdown and restrictions of the first half of 2020 were extremely painful – particularly for retail businesses and tourism and the unemployment rate in December hospitality enterprises – what could 2019 was 5.1 per cent, while in May have been a long-term catastrophe has, 2020, following the news that 594,300 it would appear, and even with sporadic Australians had lost their jobs in the outbreaks and lockdowns of the kind we previous month, the unemployment rate are witnessing in Melbourne, been averted. had climbed to 6.2 per cent. There is some On 27 May, the Australian Bureau concern that the end of the JobKeeper of Statistics (ABS) revealed that new program this past March may yet prove to private capital expenditure – that is the be deleterious to employment numbers. investment by businesses in acquiring, Let’s hope that is not the case. upgrading, and maintaining physical While the JobKeeper program may have assets such as property, plants, buildings, ended, there are still measures available technology, or equipment –had risen by to businesses. You can read the MTA 6.3 per cent for the March quarter.

Queensland Federal Budget Brief on page The ABS also revealed that the 12, but items included in it include the unemployment rate was at 5.5 per cent in extension of the JobMaker Plan (which, its most recent report. As a comparison, in part, allows eligible businesses to

. . . WHILE VACCINES ARE NOW AVAILABLE, COVID-19 REMAINS A MASSIVE GLOBAL PROBLEM AND, AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE RECENT LOCKDOWN IN MELBOURNE AND THE STUTTERING VACCINE ROLL-OUT HERE, VIGILANCE IS ESSENTIAL.

44 | Motor Trader June 2021

deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets); support for compliance reduction measures; support for businesses to improve digital capabilities; and measures to secure skills and training capability – including extending the JobTrainer Fund and expanding the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy.

The Queensland Government will deliver its budget this month, and it is hoped there will be measures supporting businesses and employees included there too.

So where does the automotive sector stand today?

The industry, locally and internationally, was struck very hard in the early days of the pandemic.

In Australia, the most obvious sign by which we could see the devastating effect on the industry was in new car sales – and that effect was truly astounding. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the VFACTS recording system documented 38,936 sales for April 2020, a gargantuan 48.5 per cent fall against April 2019’s sales number of 75,550.

It was, the FCAI said, the largest single decrease of any month since the VFACTS system began in 1991.

While new car sales may have been the headline, there was almost no sector of the industry that went unaffected.

In May this year, the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) released its Directions in Australia’s Automotive Industry: An Industry Report 2021. A detailed look at where the industry stands and where it is headed today, the report notes in connection with the pandemic that vehicle retailing, body repair, trimming, restoration, and vehicle hire were the most seriously affected automotive sectors during the pandemic, and that 66.2 per cent of automotive businesses utilised the Federal JobKeeper Payment – the second highest uptake in the economy.

It also notes that, ‘The main impacts of COVID-19 on automotive businesses included a reduction in customers, a reduction in business turnover or cashflow of up to 30 per cent, and difficulties in sourcing stock or raw materials.’

Some of those issues remain today.

There is a problem for many in sourcing and importing necessary parts and components; and even though the new car sector is apparently booming (remarkably setting an all-time sales record in April this year), it too has its lingering issues – most notably with the delivery times of new vehicles thanks to a shortage of computer chips.

One thing the MTAA report also mentions is that: ‘Automotive business expectations beyond COVID-19 remain generally optimistic provided the pandemic is brought under control.’

12 months ago, Motor Trader talked to a handful of MTA Queensland members from across the State about their situation just as we were emerging from lockdowns and heavy restrictions of movement, and even then, when things were still grim and the future more uncertain, optimism was a constant in our conversations.

So how are things for this group today?

June 2021 Motor Trader | 45

FIONNA BLACKBURNE SOUTHEAST AUTO MECHANICAL A YEAR AGO, Fionna Blackburne, owner of awardwinning Southeast Auto Mechanical in Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, had been feeling the pressure.

As it was for every other small-business owner, the lockdown and restrictions had severely affected Fionna Blackburne Southeast Auto Mechanical and the concern was real and the situation ‘very scary’.

Things got tough enough that Fionna was forced to dive deep into how her business operated in search of efficiencies and, much to her dismay, to let an employee go.

There were ‘lots of little changes’ that she set in motion – from how often big bins were emptied to the set-up of phone lines, to ensuring a COVID-safe environment for staff and customers – and those seemingly small innovations are here to stay.

“I still have most of the changes I made over 12 months ago in place,” said Fionna. better and in hindsight our government “I think one of the positives to come out probably could have done better with of COVID is that it did make me look at their financial assistance for businesses. every avenue of my business to see if we However, they did what they thought was could do things better and tighten up the best at the time,” she said. purse strings. It made me look at how I do “To the best of my knowledge, the business and how we can change and adapt incentives were JobKeeper, rent relief, low to the circumstances to get the job done.” interest rate loans and cash flow boosts.

While the state and federal governments’ I was not impacted as much as other response – through early pandemic businesses and therefore did not qualify containment and business support for most of the financial relief available,” measures – was welcome, Fionna she added.

CLICK said she was unable to access “At the time, I contacted my TO VISIT THE some of the support that had accountant, Kirsten Fowler of KEF SOUTHEAST AUTO MECHANICAL been made available.

Accounting, and sought advice WEBSITE regarding what relief I could seek “I think we can always do

“. . . ONE OF THE POSITIVES TO COME OUT OF COVID IS THAT IT DID MAKE ME LOOK AT EVERY AVENUE OF MY BUSINESS TO SEE IF WE COULD DO THINGS BETTER. . . IT MADE ME LOOK AT HOW I DO BUSINESS AND HOW WE CAN CHANGE AND ADAPT TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET THE JOB DONE.”

46 | Motor Trader June 2021

and, in the end, I received relief in paying the tax on the wages each quarter.”

One year on, and even with the everpresent threat of a COVID outbreak and potential lockdown (Greater Brisbane was shutdown for a few days at the end of March), things are, Fionna said, looking pretty positive even with the difficulties in sourcing parts and components.

“The business is going well, and things are generally back to normal,” she said.

“I have employed a first-year apprentice and the incentives to hire are a positive.

However, there are still some delays with ordering and receiving parts.

“We need to keep being vigilant with appropriate hygiene in our workplace and society, and get vaccinated as soon as we are able. The shutdowns are rapid and sometimes feel over the top. However, they are done to protect the community, and I personally prefer our government be over cautious and contain an outbreak quickly before it hits the wider community.

“In my opinion, COVID is our new norm, and we just have to get on with it. However, I am optimistic about the future for my business and the motor trade industry given our new norm.”

ANDREA MCCARTHY MCCARTHY PANEL WORKS FOR ANDREA MCCARTHY - who with husband Craig owns McCarthy Panel Works in North Mackay, and is Chair of MTA Queensland’s National Auto Collision Alliance (NACA) – the first few weeks of the Covid pandemic were deeply worrying.

“Those first couple of weeks were tough because we just didn’t know what was going to happen,” Andrea told Motor Trader last year. “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.

“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 . . . ” It is true that most areas of Queensland June 2021 Motor Trader | 47

have been spared any major COVID-related outbreaks and, since those worrying days of March-May of 2020, things have returned to something near normal – a recovery that, Andrea said, may be due to Australians deciding to holiday in north Queensland or catching up with work that needed to be done on their vehicles but had been put off until now.

“I’m not sure there is ever a normal in this industry and, honestly, we are busier than we have ever been,” she said.

Andrea and Craig Mccarthy “There is some chatter that this is because of the reduced claims from last year, although sensors. And, most unexpectedly, we are for us it about more vehicles on the road experiencing a shortage of white paint, - we have had a mix of interstate travelers which seems crazy but the company we preferring to drive.” use manufactures it here in Australia and However, though business is good, they simply cannot get the raw materials work plentiful, and COVID barely to produce it. That is directly linked to registering in the Mackay Regional COVID.” Council area (as of May 25 2021, just 22 This issue is a common one across the Covid cases had been recorded according sector. While members of the NACA have to the Queensland Government), the been affected differently depending on virus has still left its mark on the town their location and the fluctuations in the and on its automotive businesses. numbers of cars on the road, parts delays Most notable is the issue of parts. is a problem reported by all.

12 months ago, Andrea mentioned that And that leads directly to the second sourcing parts was already looming effect of COVID that Andrea has noted as a problem. One year on, the parts – an effect that has been within the community itself. problem is a real complication.

“Apart from the initial shock and the “We are actually in the midst of the tremendous uncertainty at the start, effects of this now, with parts fast it seems most of the local community becoming the biggest concern,” said adapted, made changes and made the Andrea. “In regional areas there is a very most of what they could do,” said Andrea. high percentage of clients that have “However, we have seen a direct shift bullbars and accessories that require in attitude as well. With a lot of the replacement. In most cases, our community not exposed to the suppliers cannot get the products CLICK effects of COVID they are less for 2-3 months.

TO VISIT THE MCCARTHY tolerant of it being the reason “We also have issues with a PANEL WORKS for delays, which is interesting,” lot of electric components like WEBSITE she added. “There seems to be modules, wiring looms, and 48 | Motor Trader June 2021

Like other sectors of the automotive industry, Paint & Panel is having to deal with parts shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic

an attitude of, ‘Well, that was last year’, and that is providing new challenges.

Hostile client behavior seems to be increasing as a result of the unexpected delays, and production schedules are constantly disrupted.

“The reality is we do have to learn to live with it. As a community we need to be more tolerant. If there is one thing I could suggest large organisations or government bodies could do, it would be some kind of education campaign of the effect of production facilities worldwide being closed for so long and the flow-on effect to manufacturing.

“The reality is we have all seen delays in other industries, but I guess the difference between waiting for a couch verses a car repair is the impact is greater and more disruptive. The reasons for the delays are the same, they are just tolerated differently.”

As for the support offered to businesses by governments, Andrea said that while they did not need to access everything that was available, those they did were excellent initiatives. Foremost amongst these is the wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees - through which eligible

employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage.

“We have been fortunate to maintain continued operations the whole time so did not access the JobKeeper funds, but we did receive relief from the PAYG rebate, and the apprentice rebate,” said Andrea.

“I believe the latter was the best initiative the government provided as it allowed for not only existing apprentices but also accommodated for the hire of new apprentices. And there is another benefit - the panel industry is still experiencing a shortage of qualified people, so this incentive aided in retention and an increase of numbers into training.

Throughout the last year we have had four apprentices, one completed and a new one signed up.

“The funding we received was easy to access. The PAYG rebate was handled through our accountant and the apprentice rebate, after the initial set-up, was quite simple. And we have been able to utilise the funding to expand our workshop and capacity and are in the process of introducing new opportunities.

That is exciting.”

June 2021 Motor Trader | 49

ALISON & TERRY DOWLING HERTZ MOUNT ISA

Australians to ‘visit their own backyard’ and be domestic tourists has worked very well. Regional community events held have so far all been very well patronised, and we are especially looking forward to a cracker ‘Isa Rodeo 2021’ in August. Book your tickets online early!”

While things are positive now, back in April/May last year, things were bad enough that the couple had to park-up a whopping 90 per cent of their fleet and consider many ways in which they could shepherd the business through those very difficult first few weeks. They did look to take advantage of the assistance offered by state and federal governments, but their reaction to what was available, and specifically the ease of access to it, is mixed.

“The Australian Government JobKeeper program was a very welcome ‘lifesaver’, along with the business cash boost,” said Alison. “I wish that I could say the same for the Queensland Government. Grants which at first sounded very appealing and easy to access unfortunately appeared to be geared towards businesses which employed in-house accountants and grants writers who could respond within the extremely limited timeframe with a huge and complicated amount of data.

“In my opinion, and with a background in grants writing for the NFP (not-forprofit) sector, the business grants on offer,

FOR ALISON AND Terry Dowling, owners of award-winning Hertz Mount Isa, the early days of the Covid pandemic was particularly difficult. When Motor Trader spoke to the couple for the June 2020 edition, that much was clear.

At the time, the restrictions that had been imposed had seen the number of of flights into Mount Isa fall to just one a week and with that move, one of the main sources of customers for the business was being strangled.

“We were shaping up to what we thought was going to be a bonanza year,” Alison told Motor Trader last year. “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.”

One year on, and the business has not only survived, but is thriving.

“Whilst the end of March to end of June 2020 was disastrous for our business, the relief came once commercial flights commenced more of Terry & Alison Dowling their usual schedules from the Australian east coast in July,” said Alison. “Our customer numbers picked up gradually at first, and then increased to the extent that we are now, thank goodness, not only back to normal but even busier than this time in 2019!

“With international travel not an option for most people, the push for 50 | Motor Trader June 2021

“OUR CUSTOMER NUMBERS PICKED UP GRADUALLY AT FIRST, AND THEN INCREASED TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE NOW, THANK GOODNESS, NOT ONLY BACK TO NORMAL BUT EVEN BUSIER THAN THIS TIME IN 2019!

which could have been so useful with such low interest rates, were not geared towards ‘Mum and Dad’ small business.

I was contacted twice to give feedback to independent consultants as to how we felt about being refused a Queensland government grant, and I’m too polite to give my response here!

“In fact, neither of us has come across anyone who has actually received such a grant.”

With much of their vehicle fleet simply One thing that the past year appears to not being used but still costing money have reinforced in Mount Isa is the strong to maintain and insure, the question of sense of community. While it would be whether to sell some vehicles was a big easy when times are tough to retreat from question for the business and one that was engaging in community projects, Alison seriously considered. and her team have continued to support “We identified and researched the cost/ local services, charities and businesses, sale of vehicles, either online or locally, and have, in return, been supported by the as a business cost saving on insurance, goodwill and generosity of others. vehicle registration and vehicle finance “There is a strong culture of just getting leases,” said Alison. “However, due to our on with things and of looking out for geographic location, population base and others,” said Alison. “A facebook page was those envisaged costs, we decided against set up early on to provide a contact point the online sale of our vehicle assets. for acts of kindness, or for those needing “Also, by flooding the local market we assistance. A local restaurant got onboard risked losing the goodwill and business so people could pay forward meals for reputation for encouraging partnerships emergency services and health workers, and community support which we have and others could deliver the food. Only built up over the past 15 years. So we kind and positive posts were permitted. decided instead to communicate openly in This facebook page is still going, over a negotiating better short-term agreements year later. with our vehicle fleet insurers and vehicle “Over the past difficult year, we have financiers. That decision, paired with both felt supported as individuals as well successful negotiation with our other as in our business. People stopping to major creditors - Hertz Corporate and ask me at the Post Office or supermarket, Queensland Airports - worked well for us.

“How are you doing now? We drove past “Terry and I are very grateful indeed your office the other day and saw the yard for the assistance which our business has was empty – business must be better for received from others over the past year. you now?”. That is nice. There is that sense We would especially like to thank Hertz that we are all in this together so we may Corporate, Queensland Airports Mount as well get on with it.”

Isa, Airside Logistics, Pickerings Mount Alison and Terry and the Hertz Mount Isa, NAB, BoQ, our accountants Isa team are looking forward with a CLICK Trekk Advisory, BJS Insurance positive attitude, and a long-held TO VISIT Brokers, McKinlay Shire, MTA plan to potentially expand to THE HERTZ Queensland, and finance brokers other locations has not been MOUNT ISA WEBSITE Esdale Sinclair.” written off.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 51

“The covid era has definitely changed the way we look at how business is done, in that we are now much more aware of how quickly business boom can become bust due to our geographic location and reliance on east coast passenger planes for our customer base,” said Alison.

“Nothing is ever a certainty in life, and certainly not in business, but we remain optimistic of a brighter future, within the limitations of further covid-19 virus pandemic outbreaks.

“Times are currently good for us as a Hertz Franchise, especially with Australians travelling to explore the Outback as domestic tourists. We like to think of north, west and central Queensland as the ‘real’ Australia, and we would be very proud to expand our business to such iconic and unique communities as Cloncurry and Longreach.”

James Robertson

However, the difference between then and now for James’ own business and the wider new car sector could not be more stark.

“Business is great,” he said. “2021 yearto-date new vehicle sales in Australia are up 30.7 per cent on 2020, and April 2021 sales were up 137 per cent on April 2020.

I haven’t spoken to a dealer that hasn’t enjoyed increased sales and I don’t think THINK BACK TO this time last year, and anyone could have imagined we would things could hardly have been worse for have been this busy during a pandemic. the new car sector.

“There was a great fear our dealerships The biggest fall in sales had just been would become ghost towns, but I think recorded – April 2020 figures were a Government stimulus has worked, and massive 48.5 per cent down from the dealers are grateful. Our workshops have previous year – and May’s numbers were been busy too and that’s great because almost as bad (down 35.3 per cent). workshops employ a lot of people.”

According to the Federal Chamber of While there is talk about how COVID has Automotive Industries (FCAI), May 2020 changed how people work ( from home) was the 26th month in a row of and how they shop (online), the COVID ‘negative growth’. exposure for regional Queensland, where When Motor Trader talked last year cases have been few, has been different with James Robertson, Dealer Principal to that of the larger towns and cities. And of Bill Robertson Toyota in Gladstone while measures taken to ensure staff and and chairman of MTA Queensland’s customer safety were put in place at AADA committee, the Gladstone Bill Robertson Toyota and other CLICK TO market was down 40 per cent dealerships, the COVID era will VISIT THE BILL and ‘workshop demand was probably not, said James, change ROBERTSON down a similar amount’. the nature of the dealership TOYOTA WEBSITE experience.

Things were rough.

JAMES ROBERTSON BILL ROBERTSON TOYOTA

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“I’m a regional dealer so we have been spared a lot of lockdown disruption. We still have sanitising and social distancing, and I think that will remain for some time.

And I think we’ll see more use of zoom meetings and some working from home,” he said. “However, consumers aren’t ready to buy a car online. The transaction is too complicated - there are trade-ins to negotiate, finance applications, accessories, and vehicle features need to be explained. Dealers are great at doing this locally, face to face and in a timely manner. I don’t think COVID will significantly change how dealers operate.”

While regional Queensland may have been less affected by Covid outbreaks, early restrictions did have an impact and the governments’ support for businesses had been welcome.

“We are very fortunate to live in a country that has governments that were able to respond as they did,” said James.

“The simplicity with which stimulus was delivered through existing systems such as the Australian Taxation Office was world class.”

Though the turnaround in the fortunes of the new car sector have been spectacular, there are still challenges to tackle. COVID is a global problem, and carmakers work on a global scale. As

such, problems overseas impact everyone.

The unique challenge for new car dealers is the delays in delivery of vehicles to customers - a problem due in large part to the computer chip shortage that is stinging vehicle manufacturers across the world.

“Many dealers are having to take orders with long delivery time frames,” said James.

“We are working to ensure consumers are given realistic time frames of when their orders can be delivered and, fortunately, dealers are getting enough stock each month to keep them going.

“We need to reassure consumers that the best way to get a new vehicle is to place an order. There just isn’t enough stock available at the moment for dealers to have a variety of options.”

However, even given that potentially long-running issue - and the long-term technological evolution of the industry James is upbeat about the future for the new car sector.

“We will continue to work through what vehicle electrification and technology advancements mean for us, and we will continue to remind government that the dealership model provides consumers with a level or service you just don’t see in other industries,” he said. “We’ve emerged stronger from COVID. The future is positive for AADA (QLD) members.”

June 2021 Motor Trader | 53

An Eye on Innovation SO THERE IS A RACE GOING ON, AND IT MAY SEE EVS BECOME A DOMINANT MOBILITY OPTION EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.

PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER MTA INSTITUTE

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AST MONTH, THE Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) published its Directions in Australia’s Automotive Industry: An Industry Report 2021. The report aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the state of the nation’s automotive industry, including ‘key trends and their likely impacts on the industry over the next few years.’ It is an interesting read, and well worth a look (you can find it on the MTAA’s website HERE).

Amongst the many areas highlighted in the report – which includes sections on business expectations, skill shortages and demands, and industry challenges, amongst many others – is technology trends, and it mentions that automakers have invested heavily in new technologies around five ‘key pillars’ - electric mobility, hydrogen technology, connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and shared mobility.

Electric vehicles (EVs) often seem to dominate mobility technology news, but that is hardly surprising given many governments are making demands for more environmentally friendly transport options, and automakers are racing to meet those demands and stake a claim to a juicy slice of what is going to be a massive market.

So there is a race going on, and it may see EVs become a dominant mobility option earlier than expected.

54 | Motor Trader June 2021

Justin Rowlatt, Chief environment correspondent for the BBC, makes that argument in a recent article entitled Why electric car will take over sooner than you think. It makes for interesting reading, and in part of it he talks about the technology S-curve – the theory that technological advances start off slow, then go through rapid growth before levelling out as it matures and becomes the norm.

Rowlatt says that EVs might be at the start of that rapid growth curve and notes the development of EV batteries – a very expensive component – is now nearing the $100 per kilowatt hour mark, the price point at which, most would argue, it needs to be for EVs to be competitive with petrolpowered vehicles.

Of course, it’s not just the batteries that matter, although anything that brings down the price of EVs is a plus. What also must be considered for EVs to follow that S-curve is charging infrastructure, charging speed and range.

But those are coming into view too.

Solid-state batteries - which offer higher energy density, offer longer range and charge more quickly than currently popular lithium-ion batteries - are on there way with companies such US-based Quantumscape (which is backed by Volkswagen) claiming a breakthrough in their development of the technology.

And just a couple of weeks ago, Tritium, the Brisbane-based developer and manufacturer of direct current fast chargers for EVs, announced an agreement with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition

Corporation II - a special purpose acquisition company in the US - that will see it become a publicly listed company valued at somewhere around $AU1.8 billion. These types of deals surely don’t get made unless the technology not only works brilliantly but can be developed further and is going to be much in demand.

The development of autonomous vehicle technology - another ‘pillar’ mentioned in the MTAA report, is not, it seems, as far along as that of EVs. The prized Level 5 of autonomy – in which no human interaction is required - is still, one would think, some way off. A car with no person in control but still able to be truly safe while navigating the chaotic environment of a city centre would indeed be a wondrous achievement.

There is plenty of testing and trialling of self-driving technology going on, but it seems unlikely that true driverless cars (we’ll discount robotaxis and shuttles that work designated routes) will be available soon. What is more likely is that a lower level of autonomous capability will become the norm, and vehicles that can, without input from a driver, safely navigate wellmarked, relatively orderly environments such as highways are already available.

Having said that, who knows what breakthrough is around the corner. A

decade ago, who would have imagined the automotive industry talking seriously about the prospect of selfdriving cars at all? That was just the stuff of sciencefiction movies and comic books. And yet here we are.

The truth is that technology development moves quickly when the pieces fall into place. For example, the pieces of the EV puzzle (including renewable energy and battery/EV recycling) are coming together nicely, and with the combined weight of manufacturers determined to build them, governments demanding them, and consumers wanting to give them a go, that S-curve of growth should soon become obvious.

For those of you with some knowledge of computers, this reminds me of Moore’s Law – the observation that posits that the number of transistors on a microchip (or, put more simply, a computers ‘power’) doubles every two years. Gordon Moore, the person behind this observation, made it in 1965. He’s a smart chap and went on to establish Intel, one of the world’s largest computer chipmakers.

To put Moore’s Law into perspective, it has been noted that the computing power of an iPhone is about 100,000 times greater than that of the computer on board the Apollo 11 spacecraft - a computer that landed two men safely on the moon and brought them home again.

50 years between that and an iPhone with 100,000 times more grunt. That’s how quickly things move once things get going.

You get the point. Technology ideas become concepts, become prototypes, become products and, once they catch fire, improve exponentially. It has happened throughout history– indeed with the very idea of a motorised vehicle itself - and it will this time too.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 55

Auto innovation news

THE EMIRA TO BE THE LAST PETROL-POWERED LOTUS SPORTS CAR AS COMPANY GOES ELECTRIC Lotus Emira

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OTUS HAS CONFIRMED the name of its all-new sports car – which to this point has been codenamed Type 131 - will be Emira.

The company also confirmed that the Emira will not be a hybrid but will be powered by a choice of internal combustion engines (ICE). While the new powertrain will be cutting edge, it will also be the last one that Lotus develops with the Emira being the final ICE-powered car the company builds as its shifts completely to an electrified future.

56 | Motor Trader June 2021

”It’s the most accomplished Lotus for generations – the perfectly packaged, powered and formed sports car,” said Lotus Managing Director Matt Windle.

“Beautifully proportioned, shrinkwrapped, but with comfort, technology and ergonomics built in. With a design inspired by the Evija all-electric hypercar, it’s a game-changing Lotus sports car.”

More details on the Lotus Emira will follow on July 6 when the car is revealed.

As well as confirming the name of its

last ICE-powered sports car, Lotus has also revealed plenty of details of its future strategy – most notably the architectures upon which future Lotus models will be built.

Working with colleagues in Europe and China, Lotus says its engineers have developed this dedicated family of four structural platforms for the brand.

Exclusive to Lotus within the Geely group (which is the majority shareholder in Lotus), they will be available to other OEMs through the Lotus Engineering consultancy. They are: • Sports car architecture: The platform on which the Lotus Emira will be built.

Flexible, lightweight and featuring the signature Lotus extruded aluminium technology.

• Hypercar architecture: The Lotus Evija EV hypercar is the first vehicle to be built on this platform and goes into production later this year.

• Premium architecture: This platform will be the basis for an all-new range of lifestyle vehicles from the company.

• Electric sports car architecture: In January this year Lotus and Group Renault’s Alpine brand announced a new partnership. The Lotus Engineering consultancy is leading development work on a new vehicle platform – known internally as E-Sports – and from that will come new products for Lotus and Alpine.

Lotus Evija

UK FIRMS PARTNER ON COLLISION REPAIR GREEN PARTS SYSTEM INTERESTING NEWS OUT of the UK as salvage and vehicle recycling company SYNETIQ and insurance provider Allianz have launched a digital platform designed to boost vehicle repairers’ ability to source more environmentally friendly components and promote sustainable repairs.

Allowing repairers to use their existing software system to generate an estimate for a vehicle repair, mygreenparts automatically notifies SYNETIQ’s stock control system of the parts required – within the guidelines agreed with Allianz – and enables SYNETIQ to offer all matching items from its inventory. SYNETIQ says it only supplies non-safety critical green parts to be fitted, such as doors, body panels and headlamps, and parts have been graded, cleaned, safety checked and come with a declaration certificate of parts conformity.

The companies says that green parts are more environmentally friendly and cost up to 75 per cent less than their newly manufactured equivalent.

Mygreenparts will also enable repairers, insurers, and fleets to measure and report the emissions and carbon savings they achieve. Captured data can be used to identify trends and enhance fulfilment rates.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 57

Auto innovation news

CUPRA PARTNER WITH SEAQUAL TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE SEATS

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UPRA, THE SPANISH performance brand off-shoot of SEAT and part of the VW Group, has worked with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE to manufacture the bucket seats for the Cupra Born battery-electric ‘hot hatch’.

The SEAQUAL INITIATIVE works with NGOs, fishermen, authorities and local communities to help clean up the seas and oceans and the seats will be Cupra Born created from a recycled polymer fibre fabric, called Seaqual Yarn, that is manufactured from upcycled materials found in the Mediterranean Sea. The marine litter, once collected, is sorted into different material types and the plastic is cleaned, treated and recycled into the yarn that, Cupra says, has almost identical physical properties to virgin polyester.

The Cupra Born, the brand’s first allelectric car, will also be the company’s first vehicle to be produced net CO2-neutral.

The new vehicle, based on Volkswagen’s modular electric platform (MEB), will to create the seats for this new model be manufactured in Zwickau, Germany, demonstrates that sustainability, where energy from renewable sources is innovation and contemporary design are used in the supply chain. The remaining a perfect combination. Cupra is a brand emissions are offset by environmental and that inspires the world from project investments.

Barcelona, which is why we CLICK TO “With the Cupra Born, our first 100 are committed to circularFIND OUT per cent electric vehicle, we’re entering economy projects and MORE ABOUT a new electric era,” said CUPRA Director THE CUPRA helping preserve a BORN EV of Strategy, Business Development natural resource which and Operations Antonino Labate. “The is very close to us, the partnership with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE Mediterranean.”

58 | Motor Trader June 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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Auto innovation news

AUSTRALIAN HYUNDAI NEXO BREAKS WORLD DISTANCE RECORD

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ANGE ANXIETY IS often mentioned as one reason that Australians, for the moment at least, steer clear of electric vehicles (EVs).

That may be true, but the evidence continues to mount that the technology powering EVs - be it plug-in battery or fuel cell technology – is more than up to the task of meeting almost all of an Australian’s day-to-day traveling requirements.

And last month that was hammered home by a team that drove a Hyundai NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to a distance world record for a hydrogenpowered vehicle on a single tank.

The production-spec NEXO was piloted by driver Brendan Reeves for 887.5km

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THE DISTANCE MEASURED BY AN ISOLATED GPS UNIT ON BOARD THE NEXO REGISTERED 903.4KM, WHILE THE GOOGLE MAPS DISTANCE SHOWED 905KM TRAVELLED. from Essendon Fields in Melbourne to a spot on the Wilangee road beyond Eldee Station in outback NSW. The 887.5km was a whopping 109.5km farther than the previous record set by an FCEV. That distance of 778km was also set by a NEXO.

MERCEDES INVESTS IN ‘GREEN STEEL’ START-UP COMPANY

VIDEO: HYUNDAI NEXO | DISTANCE WORLD RECORD 2021

The distance measured by an isolated GPS unit on board the NEXO registered 903.4km, while the Google Maps distance showed 905km travelled. However, for the purposes of the test, the NEXO’s own trip computer was used as the official Hyundai NEXO distance recorder.

The NEXO was driven conservatively to get the most from the car, and the trip took 13 hours and six minutes at an average speed of 66.9km/h.

During the trip, Hyundai says the NEXO consumed a total of 6.27kg of hydrogen, at a rate of 0.706kg/100km; emitted zero CO2 on journey which would have seen a standard Internal Combustion Engine vehicle pump out 126kg of CO2; and, via its advanced air purification system, purified 449,100 litres of air - enough for 33 adults to breathe in a day.

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS taken an equity stake in Swedish start-up H2 Green Steel (H2GS).

H2GS, founded in 2020, is aiming to build a large-scale, fossil-free steel production facility in northern Sweden and produce 5 million tons of steel by 2030.

In the steel production process, hydrogen and electricity created from 100 per cent renewable energy sources is used. The hydrogen serves as a reduction gas, which releases and binds the oxygen from the iron ore. Unlike the use of coking coal in a traditional blast furnace, this does not produce CO2, but water.

Mercedes-Benz says it is retooling its supply chain to focus on the prevention and reduction of CO2 emissions rather than compensation and that the partnership with HSGS is another step towards CO2 neutrality.

The company says one of its sedans is made from about 50 per cent steel, which accounts for about 30 per cent of CO2 emissions in production.

“With an equity stake in H2 Green Steel, Mercedes-Benz is sending an important signal to accelerate change in the steel industry and increase the availability of carbon-free steel. As a first step, we are investing a single-digit million amount. As a preferred partner of the start-up, we will be launching green steel in various vehicle models as early as 2025,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 61

Auto innovation news

LAMBORGHINI ANNOUNCES PLANS TO GO ELECTRIC

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UPERCAR MAKER LAMBORGHINI has revealed plans to launch a full-electric car in the second half of this decade. The Italian company, which is owned by Volkswagen, announced the car as it unveiled a roadmap to ‘decarbonization of future Lamborghini models and of the Sant’Agata Bolognese site’ - its Italian HQ where it manufacturers its cars.

The roadmap plan will, the company said in a statement, see Lamborghini invest more than €1.5 billion ($AU2.35 billion) into a transition that will include the launch its first hybrid series production car in 2023 and, by the end of 2024, the entire range - Huracan, Urus, and Aventador - will be electrified.

The three-phase plan will start with a short-term focus on its current tech with two new cars in the V12 model line-up to be announced this year. That will be followed with the move to hybrid and then to all the all-electric fourth production model by the end of the decade.

“Lamborghini’s electrification plan is

THE THREE-PHASE PLAN WILL START WITH A SHORT-TERM FOCUS ON ITS CURRENT TECH WITH TWO NEW CARS IN THE V12 MODEL LINE-UP TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR. a newly plotted course, necessary in the context of a radically changing world, where we want to make our contribution by continuing to reduce environmental impact through concrete projects,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “Out response is a plan with a 360-degree approach, encompassing our products and our Sant’Agata Bolognese location, taking us towards a more sustainable future while always remaining faithful to our DNA. “Lamborghini has always been synonymous with preeminent technological expertise in building engines boasting extraordinary performance: this commitment will continue as an absolute priority of our innovsation trajectory.”

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini

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STELLANTIS & FOXCONN TO DEVELOP VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES THROUGH JOINT VENTURE

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TELLANTIS THE carmaker recently formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group – and Taiwan-based technology company Foxconn are planning to create a joint venture to develop innovative in-vehicle technology and connected services.

The companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form Mobile Drive, which they say will combine Stellantis’ global vehicle design and engineering expertise with Foxconn’s global development in software and hardware realms of smartphones and consumer electronics.

Mobile Drive will focus on infotainment, telematics and cloud service platform development with software innovations expected to include artificial intelligencebased applications, 5G communication, upgraded over-the-air services, e-commerce opportunities and smart cockpit integrations.

“Today, there’s something that matters just as much as beautiful design or innovative technology, it’s how the features inside our vehicles improve the lives of our customers,” said Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive Officer at Stellantis. “Software is a strategic move for our industry and Stellantis intends to

“TODAY, THERE’S SOMETHING THAT MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS BEAUTIFUL DESIGN OR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, IT’S HOW THE FEATURES INSIDE OUR VEHICLES IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CUSTOMERS.” lead with Mobile Drive, a company that will enable the swift development of connectivity features and services that mark the next great evolution of our industry, just as electrification technology has.”

All development by Mobile Drive will be co-owned by Stellantis and Foxconn, and the Netherlands-based joint venture will operate as an automotive supplier, bidding to supply software solutions and related hardware for Stellantis and other interested automakers.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 63

Auto innovation news

HYUNDAI XCIENT HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TRUCK UPGRADED AS COMPANY EYES EXPANSION

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YUNDAI HAS GIVEN its XCIENT Fuel Cell truck - the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen – an upgrade.

While the design has been tweaked, the 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell is now available in a 6x2 rigid body configuration as well as the 4x2 option introduced in the previous model and the underlying tech has been given a boost.

The 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell is equipped with a 180kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 90kW fuel cell stacks, newly modified for the heavy-duty truck. Power comes from a 350kW e-motor with maximum torque of 2,237Nm. Hyundai says the fuel cell system’s Hyundai XCIENT

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VIDEO: HYUNDAI | XCIENT FUEL CELL EUROPE

durability as well as the vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency has been improved to better stay in tune with the demands of commercial fleet customers.

Seven large hydrogen tanks offer a combined storage capacity of around 31kg of fuel, while three 72kWh high voltage

BMW & PIRELLI INTRODUCE SUSTAINABLE TYRES ON X5 PLUG-IN HYBRID

batteries provide an additional source of power. The maximum driving range of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell is set to be around 400 km. Refueling a full tank of hydrogen takes about 8 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.

With the launch of the enhanced model, Hyundai says it plans to accelerate the global push of its heavy-duty fuel cell truck.

The company shipped a total of 46 units to Switzerland last year and, as of May 2021, the cumulative driving range of those trucks in operation reached over 750,000km. Hyundai will ship another 140 units to Switzerland by the end of this year as part of its plan to roll out 1,600 of the trucks in Europe by 2025.

“The customers are very pleased with the quality and driving comfort of the truck. There is a lot of interest for the truck outside Switzerland as well. We are very confident that we will see XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks on the road in other European countries next year,” says Mark Freymueller, CEO of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility.

Hyundai also plans to introduce the XCIENT Fuel Cell truck to the North American market this year and is looking at China and the potential to introduce the truck to corporate and government customers there.

BMW GROUP IS to equip its cars with tyres using certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon - a woodbased material used to strengthen tyres. The company will source 22-inch tyres in the first instance exclusively from Pirelli and, from August of this year, will use them in the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid.

The company says that certification of the rubber plantations and the supply chain for natural rubber and rayon takes place in accordance with the standards of the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the new 22-inch Pirelli P ZERO tyre is the first to receive the FSC label.

“Before even reaching the road, sustainable mobility begins with raw materials,” said Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Future Mobility.

“We continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses.”

June 2021 Motor Trader | 65

Auto innovation news

ULTIUM CELLS LLC AND LI-CYCLE COLLABORATE ON BATTERY RECYCLING IN U.S. HUMMER EV Battery

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LTIUM CELLS LLC, the joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that produces the Ultium battery cells for GM’s electric vehicles, will work with lithiumion battery recycler Li-Cycle to recycle up to 100 per cent of the material scrap from battery cell manufacturing.

Ultium Cells says the recycling process will allow it to recycle battery materials including cobalt, nickel, lithium, graphite, copper, manganese and aluminum. 95 per cent of these materials can be used in the production of new batteries or for adjacent industries.

The company also claims that the hydrometallurgical process through which these battery materials will be recycled emits 30 per cent less greenhouse gas than traditional processes.

“Our combined efforts with Ultium Cells will be instrumental in redirecting battery manufacturing scrap from landfills and returning a substantial amount of valuable battery-grade materials back into the battery supply chain,” said Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle’s president and CEO and cofounder. “This partnership is a critical step

66 | Motor Trader June 2021

forward in advancing our proven lithiumion resource recovery technology as a more sustainable alternative to mining.”

“GM’s zero-waste initiative aims to divert more than 90 percent of its manufacturing waste from landfills and incineration globally by 2025,” added Ken Morris, GM vice president of Electric and Autonomous Vehicles. “Now, we’re going to work closely with Ultium Cells and LiCycle to help the industry get even better use out of the materials.”

Ultium Cells LLC and Li-Cycle say they will begin the new scrap recycling process later this year.

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Classic supercar

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R T / 10 C ON C E P T

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N 1989, DODGE, the venerable automotive brand that has been a division of Chrysler (now Stellantis) for nearly 100 years, revealed the concept model of what would become its halo supercar/muscle car - the Viper.

The car’s first appearance was at the 1989 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and Dodge’s goal was to see what the public would make of a concept that, in its early form, had a 5.9-litre V8 under the bonnet, and which,

70 | Motor Trader June 2021

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE TWO-SEATER, REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE VIPER, BUILT ON A TUBULAR FRAME WITH A FIBREGLASS PANEL BODY, WAS MET WITH PLENTY OF ENTHUSIASM . . . with its aggressive appearance, was clearly designed to be a brutally powerful and quick sports car.

Not surprisingly, the two-seater, rearwheel-drive Viper, built on a tubular frame with a fibreglass-panel body, was met with plenty of enthusiasm and the decision was swiftly made by the carmaker’s head honchos to see if the crowd-pleasing show car could be put into limited production in as short a time as possible.

A team was assembled, known as Team Viper, and some performance benchmarks were struck – most notable being the car be capable of 0-100-0mph (0-161-0km/h) in less than 15 seconds.

It took a little while for the Viper to appear in its production guise, but after testing more prototypes, a pre-production Viper RT/10 made its debut as the pace car at the 1991 Indianapolis 500 race.

By this time, the V8 had been replaced by a monster 8-litre V10 that had been developed with input from Lamborghini - a subsidiary of Chrysler at the time.

Power came in at 300kW and 630Nm. Top speed was over 250km/h and 0-100km/h was reached in around 4.3 seconds.

It was quick.

While the Italian supercar maestros may have had some input into the engine, there was no denying the all-American

aura of the Viper. It looked low, wide, and mean; had huge tyres and wheels; and the massive engine up front meant a massively long bonnet. Like its rival of the period, the Chevy Corvette, it had the feel of a supercar/muscle car hybrid.

The first Viper RT/10 production cars rolled off the assembly line in December of 1991 and the Viper design team’s desire for a car that was just about speed and power was obvious.

Inspiration had come from the Shelby Cobra cars of the 1960s, and the comparisons went beyond just the serpent-like names. They were light, powerful and the point was about delivering an adrenaline-fuelled driving experience – to go fast and not have anything get between the driver and their complete engagement with the car.

And so the first-generation Viper came June 2021 Motor Trader | 71

without stability control, traction control, or ABS. There were no airbags, no side windows (though some fairly rugged vinyl ones could be stuck into slots into the door frame if required), no air-conditioning or exterior door handles or roof (a canvas one could be fitted), and entertainment came courtesy of a basic Chrysler generic radio – no upmarket entertainment system here.

The Viper was well received, and nearly 7000 were built across the first generation’s production life of 1992-1996.

However, 1996 saw the Viper get some upgrades, and saw the release of the GTS model. This car was an attempt by Dodge to create a car in ‘the mold of the world’s premier Grand Touring cars.’

While the GTS and the RT/10 look similar, more than 90 per cent of the Coupe was new and built with an eye on saving weight, and even with creature comforts The first Viper RT/10 production cars rolled off the assembly line in December of 1991

72 | Motor Trader June 2021

such as air-conditioning, exterior door handles, power glass side windows, and a roof (which was an odd double-bubble shape to allow drivers wearing racing helmets to fit snuggly inside) added so as to appeal to its new target market, the GTS weighed in at 45kg less than the earlier model.

Other changes included an allaluminium suspension system and re-engineered frame, while 36kg were removed from the cooling system and engine. That engine had a bump in power and now pumped out 336kW and 664Nm. That power continued to be routed through a six-speed manual transmission.

It was the GTS model that Chrysler/ Dodge took and, with French motorsport team Oreca and UK racing car manufacturer Reynard, modified into the Viper GTS-R. It was a phenomenally

successful car, winning championships across Europe, and scoring class wins at Le Mans in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

In 2003, a third-generation Viper appeared with new body styling and boasting an upgraded 8.3-litre engine punching out 373kW. 0-100km/h was now reached in under four seconds and top speed was 305km/h.

A fourth generation arrived in 2008 with more styling tweaks and a beefed up 8.4-litre engine. With 447kWkW now available, top speed was up to 325km/h and the 0-100km/h sprint was achievable in 3.5 seconds.

This fourth generation lasted only for a couple of years when, in 2010, production came to a halt and the Viper was put on hold and did not appear again until 2013.

This fifth-generation model came with even more power and a bunch of improved

comfort features including a top-notch sound system, touch-screen interaction and many of the features associated with a luxury performance car. By 2017, the Viper has an all-aluminium 8.4-litre V-10 engine that delivered 481kW and 813Nm. Standard safety features include electronic multi-stage stability control, traction control and a new anti-lock brake system.

While the Viper was undoubtedly a cracking piece of work and a solid number of about 31,000 (including many specialedition variants) were sold over its 25-year production lifetime, Dodge/Chrysler (or FCA as it was from 2014), decided to halt building them in 2017, and one has to wonder if such a car - that would now come under the Stellantis company umbrella and have to be approved for production in an environment focused on electrification - may ever make a comeback. It would be nice to think it could.

R AR E V IP E R D E PAR T S AU 1996 Dodge Viper GTS

MAKE: DODGE MODEL: VIPER GTS YEAR: 1996 ENGINE: 8-LITRE V10 TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED MANUAL PERFORMANCE: 0-100KM/H IN 4 SECONDS TOP SPEED: 300KM/H 74 | Motor Trader June 2021

S T R AL I A F OR HONG KON G T

HIS MAGNIFICENT-LOOKING BLUE and white Viper is a 1996 GTS model – generally considered by enthusiasts as the best of the Viper’s many variations.

For years, thsi Viper called Brisbane home, but it recently made the trip to Hong Kong and into the hands of a new owner, stopping briefly at the Supamerc dealership owned by Peter Dever.

THIS MAGNIFICENT-LOOKING BLUE AND WHITE VIPER IS A 1996 GTS MODEL – GENERALLY CONSIDERED BY ENTHUSIASTS AS THE BEST OF THE VIPER’S MANY VARIATIONS. Peter, who is also Chairman of MTA Queensland’s Automotive Remarketing Division, has a long history of doing business in Hong Kong, and it was a client there who got him involved in the export process for this car.

“He asked me to investigate the vehicle after he became aware it had come up for sale,” said Peter. “So, I went and had a look at it, reported back to him on its pedigree, and then negotiated what I believed was a fair price.”

The pedigree of this particular car is actually pretty outstanding. There are only a handful of Vipers in Australia, and this stands out even amongst that small group.

The reason for that, said Peter, is that when it was imported, it was the first Viper to go through the wringer of regulations and modifications required by the Australian Government for an imported car to be converted to right-hand drive and meet national safety standards.

As the first to go through that process, the GTS was the benchmark vehicle for that procedure. And the upshot of being first, is that maximum effort and focus was put in to make sure the modifications were 76 | Motor Trader June 2021

THE PEDIGREE OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS ACTUALLY PRETTY OUTSTANDING. THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF VIPERS IN AUSTRALIA, AND THIS STANDS OUT EVEN AMONGST THAT SMALL GROUP. top-notch quality – a fact not lost on Peter or his Hong Kong-based client.

“Because it was the test and evaluation vehicle, we knew that the conversion workmanship was perfect,” said Peter.

“Evaluation vehicles are subject to immense

78 | Motor Trader June 2021

scrutiny to get approval. Engineers have to sign off on it, it has to do emissions testing and all sorts of other scenarios before that approval is given.

“On top of that, this car has very low mileage. The guy who originally commissioned it was quite a tall gentleman and he struggled to fit into it properly, so he only kept it for a short time before selling it to a dealer here in Brisbane. That dealer subsequently sold it on to the last owner who kept it for 14

“RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS SHOWING ABOUT 11,000KM, WHICH IS THE TOTAL IT HAS DONE SINCE IT WAS CONVERTED. IT IS VERY SPECIAL.” years and clocked only 2000km. Right now, the car is showing about 11,000km, which is the total it has done since it was converted. It is very special.”

June 2021 Motor Trader | 79

Auto news

NEW VEHICLE SALES SET HISTORIC RECORD FOR APRIL PLUS BUMPER FIGURES FOR MAY

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EW-CAR SALES FIGURES have been strong through the first few months of the year, and April and May have been absolute crackers.

According to official VFACTS figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), April was the highest-selling April on record.

New vehicle sales were 92,347 in April 2021 compared with just 38,926 in the corresponding month in the COVIDaffected 2020. However, while the massive jump from last year is a reflection of the recovery from the COVID jitters, the 2021 result is also a 22 per cent increase on the April 2019 result of 75,550. That is impressive.

“WHILE WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN ABOUT THE FUTURE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 SITUATION, BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDS ARE SHOWING THEIR CONFIDENCE BY PURCHASING NEW VEHICLES.” May numbers were also stupendous.

While not record-breaking, the 100,809 vehicles sold did represent the second-best May sales figures on record (May 2017 sales totalled 102,901) and a 68.3 per cent increase on the corresponding month last year. Notably, this May’s numbers were also up on May 2019, when 92,561 vehicles were sold.

Year-to-date sales have reached 456,804, and the industry looks to be on course to hit more than one million new vehicle sales this year. In 2020, a total of 916,968 new vehicles were sold.

In May, reflecting on the April figures,

Image: Karolis Kavolelis / Shutterstock.com

Toyota Hi-Lux

Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said that confidence in the new vehicle market was high and could be expected to continue to grow through the remainder of the year.

“New vehicles sales are a direct reflection of the performance of the broader economy in terms of consumer and business confidence,” said Mr Weber. “This time last year we were seeing significant impacts from COVID-19 with less customer activity and inquiries to dealerships.”

However, while the recovery and record numbers is pleasing, there are challenges ahead, not least being the long wait consumers may have in the delivery of new vehicles.

Mr Weber said that supply chain constraints such as a shortage of semiconductors were impacting the delivery of new vehicles to Australian customers.

“Every vehicle company is focused on solving the issues caused by these impacts and they are working with customers to keep them fully informed regarding supply issues and delivery dates. It is possible

there is pent up market demand which may be reflected in sales figures in the second half of 2021 as solutions are found to these issues,” said Mr Weber.

In response to the May results, he said that uncertainty was still an issue but that there was much clearly plenty of positive feeling about the sector.

“While we cannot be certain about the future economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation, businesses and households are showing their confidence by purchasing new vehicles.

“I expect this situation will continue to improve in the second half of this calendar year as confidence continues to grow, coupled with incentives such as the extension of the depreciation allowance for business which was announced in the Federal Budget during the month.”

In both April and May, Toyota was the market leader with 20,208 sales in April and 21,156 in May. The top-selling vehicle in April was the Ford Ranger, scoring 5,021 sales, while in May the top-selling vehicle was the Toyota Hi-Lux with 4,402 sales.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 81

Auto news

INEOS GRENADIER PASSES MOUNTAIN TEST AND ON COURSE FOR PRODUCTION

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NEOS AUTOMOTIVE, THE vehicle manufacturer founded in 2017 by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has completed the latest phase of dynamic testing for the Grenadier, its upcoming 4×4 vehicle.

The testing, done by Ineos Automotive’s engineering partner Magna Steyr on the trails of the Schöckl mountain near its headquarters in Austria, was designed to examine the Grenadier’s off-road capabilities.

Ineos Grenadier

VIDEO: TESTING THE INEOS GRENADIER

“We’ve made great strides since the very early versions of the Grenadier I drove a year ago,” said Ratcliffe. “The Schöckl is a proper challenge for any 4X4. Today was a real test for our prototypes, and they came through very well. There is still work to do, but I am confident that the Grenadier will do the job we have developed it for.”

The Grenadier is being built on an all-new platform, will have a box-section ladder frame; live axles; multi-link suspension with separate coils and dampers; diff lockers front, rear and centre; and will be powered by a choice of BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol or diesel engines.

The testing program, which the company says will see more than 130 second-phase prototypes accumulate 1.8 million kilometres in extreme environments around the world, was unavoidably delayed through 2020, and the original 2021 launch date for the rugged off-roader has been pushed back to 2022.

Earlier this year, engineers successfully completed extensive cold weather engine calibration with Grenadier prototypes in northern Sweden.

The next phase of the development and validation process will subject the Grenadier to intense hot weather testing in harsh environments, including Death Valley in the USA and the deserts of the Middle East.

“Reaching this important development milestone is a great step forward for the project,” said Dirk Heilmann, CEO of INEOS Automotive. “We only have one opportunity to get this right and our quality and performance targets for the Grenadier remain paramount. We won’t cut corners.

After today’s very positive results we are on track to reach our targets and to allow the start of production in July next year at the latest.”

SUBARU’S ALL-ELECTRIC SUV TO BE CALLED SOLTERRA SUBARU HAS ANNOUNCED that it will name its new all-electric SUV Solterra. Designed as a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota – which revealed its version with the BZ4X all-electric SUV project - the Solterra features a new, dedicated all-electric platform named the e-SUBARU Global Platform. The joint venture combines Subaru’s expertise in all-wheel drive technology with Toyota’s vehicle electrification technology.

Subaru says that to create the e-SUBARU Global Platform, its engineers worked to bring together the brand’s all-wheel drive capability, driving dynamics and world leading passive safety in a versatile, dedicated EV platform. The result will be a ‘technologically advanced full-electric SUV that is also a truly capable and durable Subaru SUV’. The Solterra joins Subaru’s line-up of SUVs, including the Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek (known as the XV in Australia).

The Solterra will go on sale in 2022 although there are no plans yet to being it to Australia. Its name, Subaru says, was created using the Latin words for “Sun” and “Earth” to represent the company’s ‘commitment to deliver traditional SUV capabilities in an environmentally responsible package’.

Subaru Solterra

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Auto news

Kia Niro Electric

KIA AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES ELECTRIFIED NIRO RANGE

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IA AUSTRALIA HAS launched its electric future with three electrified powertrains - Hybrid (HEV), Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) and full-electric (EV) – versions of the Niro crossover.

Each of the three powertrains will be available in two trims - S and Sport, with pricing for the Hybrid starting at $39,990 for the S with Sport at $43,890. The PHEV is priced from $46,590 for the S and $50,490 for Sport, while the range-topping EV model starts at $62,590 for the S and $65,990 for Sport.

The Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models both feature a 1.6-litre GDI engine (77.2kW and 147Nm) coupled to a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor.

Combined system output for both Hybrid and PHEV is 104kW and 265Nm. The Hybrid model has a 6.5Ah and 1.56kWh battery, while the Plug-In Hybrid has a pair of Lithium-Ion polymer batteries

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- one under the rear seat and an additional battery under the boot panel. They have a combined capacity of 24.7Ah and 8.9kWh. Both models drive the front wheels through a 6-speed DCT gearbox. Kia says the HEV will return fuel efficiency of 3.8L/100km in normal operations while the PHEV returns a combined efficiency of 1.3L/100km. The PHEV has a pure electric range of 58kms (NEDC).

The fully electric Niro runs a 150kW / 395Nm electric motor. Power comes via a 180Ah and 64kWh battery. Kia claims a range of 455km for the EV Niro model.

Kia says the PHEV‘s charge time from empty to 100 per cent on a 3.3kW AC charger is approximately two hours and 15 minutes. For the EV, an ICCB Trickle Charger will take 29 hours to fully charge the battery from empty, while using a 7.2kW AC charger will do the job in nine hours and 35 minutes.

DC Fast charging (0-80 per cent) will take

one hour and 15 minutes using a 50kW unit and 54 minutes with a 100kW unit.

Regenerative braking is used by all models.

On the inside, the Niro has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, Bluetooth multi-connection functionality, AM/FM tuner with Digital radio and sixspeaker sound system, and 4.2-inch driver’s instrument cluster. A Hybrid System Gauge indicates Charge, Eco or Power reflecting the current driving conditions.

The Niro EV features a 7-inch TFT LCD which features the Power/Charge gauge, speedometer, warning and indicator lights, battery State-of-Charge gauge and distance-to-empty and Charge Cable Connection Indicator.

The entry level S models will feature an 8-inch audio-visual unit with touch screen, multi-Bluetooth connection, wireless and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, USB connectivity with MP3 playback and the range of Eco Drive displays.

For the Sport models, there is a 10.25-inch touch screen with split screen function. The navigation unit will display charging station locations and information (PHEV & EV) and features multi-Bluetooth connection, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Specific to the EV S model are 17-inch alloy wheels, a dial type shifter, 7-inch supervision driver’s instrument cluster, expanded drive mode select with Eco/

Eco+/Normal/Sport, steering wheel paddle shifters, electrochromatic rear-view mirror and single zone air conditioning.

Across the range there are seven airbags, including driver’s knee bag and safety features include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Follow Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Alert on Sport variants, while Parking Distance Warning Reverse, Rear View Camera, Smart Cruise Control, Driver Attention Alert and Emergency Stop Signal.

The Hybrid model will be available in eight colours _ Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Runway Red, Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver, Sunset Orange, Platinum Graphite and Deep Cerulean Blue with the latter three being exclusive to HEV and PHEV variants. EV owners can choose an exclusive Yacht Blue colour.

The Niro wears Michelin tyres: Michelin Energy Saver + for Hybrid S and all PHEV variants, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 for Hybrid Sport models, and Michelin Primacy 3 for the Niro EV. Kia’s 7-Year unlimited kilometre warranty, 7-Year capped price servicing and 7-Year roadside assist will apply across the Niro range. The high voltage battery and electric motor are covered by a 7-Year 150,000km warranty.

Prices range from $39,990 for the Hybrid S model to $65,990 for the REV Sport.

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Cupra

Auto news

CUPRA UNVEILS THE BORN EV

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UPRA, THE SPANISH performance brand that is part of the Volkswagen Group and that recently announced that it will launch a presence into Australia, has unveiled its first allelectric vehicle (EV) – a battery-powered hatchback called the Born.

Based on VW’s MEB modular electric vehicle platform – that is also used as the foundation for VW Group vehicles including the VW ID.3 – the Born is to be in four variants.

The entry-level model delivers 110kW and 310Nm, with energy coming from 45kWh battery. Range (WLTP) is 340km and 100km/h is reached in 8.9 seconds. Two mid-range models share a 58kWh battery set-up, with one delivering 150kW and 310Nm, a range of 420km and a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds, while the other gets an e-Boost system that ups the power to 170kW

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VIDEO: CUPRA BORN WORLD PREMIERE

and delivers a 6.6 seconds 0-100km/h sprint.

The top model receives a 77kWh battery delivering 540km of range, offers 170kW with e-Boost, has 310Nm of torque and reaches 100km/h in seven seconds.

The powertrain uses a 16,000rpm permanent magnet synchronous motor, integrated above the rear axle. Torque is transferred across the rear axle using a single-speed transmission with differential.

Fast recharging (125kW) is possible, with 100km of range delivered in as little as seven minutes in the 77kWh model.

The battery can be recharged from 5 per cent to 80 per cent in 35 minutes. The Born is compatible with both AC and DC charging networks, and customers can have a Cupra-branded wallbox installed

a Born EV

at home, controlled via the ‘Cupra Easy Charging’ smartphone application.

The underpinnings include a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear design, and ride comfort and handling is enhanced with optional Dynamic Chassis Control – enabling the driver to tune the damper and shock absorber settings across four modes Range, Comfort, Individual or CUPRA. In addition to 215mm-wide tyres available - on a range of alloy wheels between 18 and 20-inch - the Born will also be available with a 235mm-wide tyre.

In line with its CO2-neutral and ecofriendly mantra, Cupra has upholstered the interior with a range of materials, including an upcycled marine plastic yarn called SEAQUAL (read more about that on page 58).

Up front is a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that is standard on all models, and the layout includes a high centre console which combines connectivity points with a large storage capacity. The touchscreen display is the point at which the driver can access online services, downloadable apps, and safety and service features.

The infotainment system can display a range of data and information including 3D navigation, music, contacts, vehicle settings and driving data, as well as a host of additional functions.

The Wireless Full Link system means the infotainment system can be connected to

both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A new ‘Cupra Connect smartphone app is also available. Through the app, online services are available and remote access is provided to the car. Customers can view battery status, schedule and manage charging from the app.

The Qi standard protocol inductive charging for mobile devices is available.

The Born’s augmented reality head-up display projects driving information onto the windscreen, and appears layered over the real world. Displayed data includes driver assistance indicators, vehicle speed and navigation commands.

Safety and convenience systems abound in the Born.

These include Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Travel Assist, Side and Exit Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Emergency Assist and Pre-Crash Assist. Visual warnings are displayed in the driver’s line of sight via the augmented reality head-up display system.

Additional systems include; High Beam Assist, a Top View Camera which gives a 360-degree view of the vehicle, and Intelligent Park Assist, which will automatically park the vehicle.

While the Cupra brand is set to launch in Australia in 2022, there is no word yet as to whether the Born will make its way here.

One hopes that as Australia catches up with Europe in the EV uptake game, that will happen.

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Auto news

HYUNDAI’S NEW TUCSON GOES ON SALE

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HE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI Tucson has arrived in Australia, available in three variants with three engine options and delivering a host of new styling, technology, and safety features. It will also be available with the optional N Line pack across the range.

Variants are the entry-level Tucson, the mid-specification Elite, and the top-ofthe-range Highlander, and engine options are a Smartstream 2-litre petrol, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2-litre turbo-diesel powertrains, paired with FWD and AWD. The Tucson variant gets the 2-litre petrol with six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. That set-up is available in all variants and delivers 115kW and 192Nm. Elite and Highlander add a choice of a 1.6-litre turbo with seven-speed DCT (132kW/265Nm) and all-wheel drive, or the 2-litre turbo diesel with eight-speed automatic (137kW/416Nm) and AWD, both with shift-by-wire pushbutton gear selection and shift paddles.

Available drive modes are Normal, Eco,

Sport and Smart which set specific HTRAC all-wheel-drive torque distribution settings.

Hyundai says that Tucson entry-level model is available immediately, with the 1.6-litre turbo available in the second quarter of the year, and the 2-litre turbo diesel and N-Line Option Pack, available in the third quarter.

The N Line pack will offer some performance/luxury-like features, including sports-inspired styling, 19-inch alloy wheels, and LED front and rear lighting, as well as the 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster display and leather and suede upholstery.

Safety technology is a must in new vehicles these days, and the Tucson comes with a comprehensive list of advanced driver assistance features via Hyundai’s SmartSense suite, including Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Rear Parking Distance Warning, Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Rear CrossTraffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Hyundai Tucson

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Occupant Alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and Rear-View Monitor.

Also standard in every new Tucson is a seven-airbag system that includes a front centre side airbag.

The range-opening Tucson features an 8-inch multimedia unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4.2-inch supervision cluster, power folding automatic side mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, dusksensing headlights and LED DRLs. The Elite adds a 10.25-inch navigation multimedia unit, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a powered adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone air-conditioning, Smart Key with pushbutton start, rainsensing wipers and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Highlander features a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster display, a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.

There is also a memory driver’s seat, an eight-way powered passenger seat, BOSE Premium Audio, LED cabin lights and ambient mood lighting, and smart power tailgate. Additional SmartSense features in the Highlander include Parking CollisionAvoidance Assist, 360-degree Surround View Monitor, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor.

Standard in every Tucson is a wireless charging pad for compatible Qi-standard devices.

The Tucson is offered in a choice of eight mica and metallic exterior colours including Crimson Red and Deep Sea Blue teamed, dependent on the variant, with cloth upholstery in grey/black, leather in black, brown or light grey, or N Line leather and suede in black.

Prices start from $34,500 (before on road costs) for the entry level Tucson, rising to $53,000 for the 2-litre turbo diesel AWD with N Line option.

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Auto news

Nissan LEAF e+

NISSAN LEAF e+ FLAGSHIP ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA

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HE NEW NISSAN LEAF e+, the flagship model in the LEAF electric vehicle, is now available in Australia, offering significant increases in range and power over the standard LEAF model thanks to the increased energy density of its battery pack the higher output of its powertrain.

The new LEAF e+ gets a 62kWh battery (up from the 40kWh) and 160kW/340Nm of power (up from 110kW/320Nm), with driving range claimed to be a respectable 385km (up from 270km).

Performance is better too, of course.

100km/h is reached in 6.9 seconds and top speed is 158km/h.

Nissan says that a new 100kW peak Quick Charging system enables the LEAF e+ to be charged from 20 per cent to 80 per

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NISSAN SAYS THAT A NEW 100KW PEAK QUICK CHARGING SYSTEM ENABLES THE LEAF E+ TO BE CHARGED FROM 20 PER CENT TO 80 PER CENT IN 45 MINUTES. cent in 45 minutes.

Both the Nissan LEAF and LEAF e+ are capable of bi-directional charging, meaning that energy can not only flow from charger to vehicle, but can also be returned back to a home, or other premises, as and when required.

The LEAF range comes standard with the NissanConnect infotainment system, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto.

Also standard e-Pedal, which allows the driver to start, accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal.

“With more power, more range, and more performance, as well as full bidirectional charging capability, the e+ is simply more LEAF, and helps ensure there really is an EV to suit every need

in Australia,” said Nissan Australia Managing Director, Stephen Lester.

“From zero-emissions commuting in the city to weekends away and everything in-between, the Nissan LEAF and LEAF e+ have you covered”.

The Nissan LEAF is priced from $49,990 (MSRP).

The LEAF e+ is priced from $60,490 (MSRP).

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Auto news

RAM TRUCKS AUSTRALIA ROLLS OUT NEW 1500 TRUCK

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AM TRUCKS AUSTRALIA’S allnew RAM 1500 has arrived, with the first ‘DT’ models coming off the production line at the Melbourne Manufacturing Facility.

All RAM Trucks Australia vehicles are international-spec vehicles, ‘uniquely coded’ for the Australian market and the local build process, with over 400 locally sourced new parts involved in its conversions from left to right-hand drive.

The RAM 1500 features exclusive active aerodynamics including active grille shutters and active air dams, next generation Active-Level Four Corner air suspension, and powered/retractable sidesteps (optional on Laramie editions) to help deliver top-level ride, handling, offroad capability, load-levelling and entry/ exit convenience.

Every petrol 1500 features the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine with fuel-saver technology featuring the Multi-Displacement System, also known as cylinder deactivation.

In addition, the 1500 DT Laramie and Limited models come with the new eTorque mild hybrid system. This system combines a belt-drive motor generator unit with a 48-volt battery pack to enable start/ stop function, short-term torque assist, and brake energy regeneration. Power and torque outputs are 291kW at 5600rpm and 556Nm at 3,950rpm respectively.

More than 90 safety and security features are available, including (on Limited versions) Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Pedestrian

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RAM 1500

VIDEO: RAM 1500 LIMITED AUSTRALIA

Detection, Ready Alert Braking and Trailer-sway Damping control, Lane Departure Warning, ParkSense Parallel/ Perpendicular Park, Hill-start Assist and LED SmartBeam Intelligent Headlamps.

Inside, there’s a full-length dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated leather seats, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system, 900-watt surround sound amplifier, 10-inch subwoofer and active noise cancellation.

There’s a fourth generation Uconnect 4 system and 12-inch fully configurable touchscreen with split-screen display functionality; 360-degree Surround View Camera with bird’s-eye perspective of vehicle; Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality; voice-controlled satellite navigation; multifunction USB ports and an integrated wireless charging pad.

The crew cab has been redesigned, offering class-leading cabin space and legroom. Overall cab length has increased by 8cm and the cabin has over 150 litres of internal storage capacity.

The second row includes 60/40 stadium-

VAUXHALL & OPEL REVEAL VIVARO-E HYDROGEN HYDROGEN FUEL CELL vehicles (FCEV) are often touted as a real alternative for electrified, zeroemission mobility but, for now at least, the market is extremely small, with the infrastructure required to refuel such vehicles limited to just a handful of locations.

There are some FCEVs available – most notably the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo – but most carmakers seem to be focusing on the potential of pure plug-in battery technology.

However, there are other carmakers putting in the R&D and developing more models, and Vauxhall in the UK – now part of the Stellantis group – has revealed this, the Vivaro-e Hydrogen light commercial vehicle.

It has a 45kW fuel cell, uses a 100kW electric motor, offers up to 400km of range, and has a 10.5kW battery for additional power and which can be used for up to 50km of pure battery driving .

Vauxhall’s sister brand, Opel, will be manufacturing the van in Germany for the UK’s right-hand drive market as well as the European market. The first vehicles are expected to be available in left-hand drive markets by the end of this year with the UK receiving its right-hand drive models in 2023. folding and reclining seats and a true flat-load floor with integrated RamBins, tie-down rings and expandable under seat storage. At the back, there’s a powered tailgate, and a 1.5 cubic metre tray that can be specified with the RamBox Cargo Management System.

The new RAM 1500 will start at $114,950 plus on road costs for the Laramie model, while the 1500 Limited and Limited Launch Edition are priced at $139,950 plus on road costs.

Vivaro-e Hyrdrogen

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Auto news

FORD AND ARB COLLABORATE TO SUPPLY OFF-ROAD ACCESSORIES FOR RANGER AND EVEREST

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ORD AND ARB – Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories – are to sell selected off-road accessories as Ford Licensed Accessories through participating Ford dealers in Australia from the second half of 2021.

Ford Ranger and Everest customers will be able to fit-out their vehicles with a range of ARB 4x4 Accessories that will be fully backed by Ford Australia’s New Vehicle Warranty of up to five years / unlimited kilometres.

The ARB 4x4 Accessories and Ford collaboration will initially be rolled out in Australia, with other selected Ford markets to follow.

“WE ARE VERY PROUD TO WELCOME ARB ON-BOARD AS THEY ARE KNOWN GLOBALLY AND RESPECTED IN THE OFFROAD COMMUNITY FOR THEIR STATE-OFTHE-ART MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROLS,” The full range of accessories to be made available will be outlined closer to launch, but among them will be core offroad products such as winch compatible bull-bars, electric winches and driving Ford Ranger

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lights, as well as other accessories like storage drawer systems.

The companies says that ARB 4x4 Accessories for Ranger and Everest that will be made available through Ford dealerships have been validated by Ford Australia engineers, with testing conducted at a number of locations including the Ford Australia Proving Ground in Victoria.

“We are very proud to welcome ARB on-board as they are known globally and respected in the off-road community for their state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and stringent quality controls,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand in a statement. “A lot of our customers have told us they’d love to be able to access a wider range of quality off-road accessories through our Ford dealership network, and this collaboration will mean they can head off-road safely with access to a range of ARB accessories.”

“ARB is truly honoured to be working with Ford at a global level,” added Andrew Brown, Managing Director of ARB 4x4 Accessories. “This collaboration is a great testament to the progressive vision of Ford and ARB to deliver to customers highly capable off-road vehicles with a broad range of best-inclass accessories.”

Ford Everest

VIDEO: NISSAN ARIYA IN MONACO

NISSAN’S ALL-ELECTRIC ARIYA MAKES ITS DEBUT THE ARIYA EV – Nissan’s all-electric crossover SUV - has made its first public appearance, debuting on the streets of Monaco in the south of France.

Built on an all-new EV platform, the twin electric motor, all-wheel-drive Ariya models will feature Nissan’s e-4orce all-wheel control technology and will be available in a range of models with either a 63kWh or 87kWh battery providing the energy. Range, depending on battery choice and other specs is expected to reach 500+km for certain spec models, and performance for the proposed top-of-the-range Ariya e-4orce 87Kwh Performance, which has 290kW and 600Nm on tap, is excellent, with 100km/h reached in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h.

The Ariya features advanced connectivity and technology features.

This includes Nissan ProPILOT with Navi-link – a hands-on assistance system that helps drivers stay centred in their lane, navigate stop-and-go highway traffic, and maintain a set vehicle speed and distance to the vehicle aheadThere’s also 360-degree safety features such as the Nissan Safety Shield, which includes Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning; Intelligent Emergency Braking, and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking Technology.

The Nissan Ariya is reportedly to be available in Australia, though it is likely to come here some time after being launched in more EV-friendly locations.

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Workplace relations WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE KEPT AND MADE IN EMPLOYEE RECORDS?

IAN NAYLOR SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

RECORD KEEPING AND PAY SLIPS OVERVIEW

Employers who engage employees under relevant Commonwealth workplace laws are required to: • Make and keep accurate and complete records for all their employees (e.g., time worked, and wages paid) • Issue pay slips to each employee.

These record-keeping sand pay slip obligations are designed to ensure that employees receive their correct wages and entitlements.

WHAT ARE THE RECORDKEEPING OBLIGATIONS?

Employee records must: • Be in a from that is readily accessible to a Fair Work Inspector; • Be in a legible form and in English ( preferably in plain, simple English); • Be kept for seven (7) years; • Not be altered unless for the purpose of correcting an error; and • Not to be false or misleading to the employer’s knowledge.

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General records General employment records must include all of the following: • The employer’s name; • The employer’s Australian Business Number; • The employee’s name; • The employee’s commencement date; • The basis of employee’s employment.

Specific records • Pay details • Hours of work • Leave • Superannuation contributions • Individual Flexibility • Arrangements • Annualised wage arrangements • Guarantee of annual earnings • Termination • Transfer of business

PAY SLIPS Play slips must be issued to each employee: • Within one (1) working day of pay day, even if the employee is on leave; and • Electronic form or hard copy.

The pay slip must contain: • Employer’s name • Employer’s ABN • Employee’s name • Date of payment • Pay period • Gross and net amount paid • Any loadings and allowances • Any bonuses • Any penalty rates

• Ordinary Hourly rate • Number of hours worked • Amount paid at the rate • Any deductions tax (including the name) • Superannuation contributions and the name • Any deductions authorised by the employee Best practice guidelines for issuing electronic pay slips Electronic pay slips must be provided to an employee (unless issues a hard copy) and include the same information as hard copy pay slips.

Employers should: • Give electronic pay slips to each worker, such as via email or into an electronic personal account; and • Issue electronic pay slips in an easily printable format.

By way if best practice, employer should: • Issue electronic pay slips to employees securely and confidentially; and • Ensure that employees can access and print their electronic pay slips in private.

CONTRAVENTION OF RECORD-KEEPING AND PAY SLIP OBLIGATIONS. The Fair Work Ombudsman may pursue a number of enforcement CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE actions in relation ABOUT RECORD KEEPING to contraventions AND PAY SLIPS of record-keeping and pay slips.

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

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

WARNING

RIGHT TO RETAIN

QUALIFIED/TRAINED TECHNICIAN

No admittance into the workshop – Staff Only.

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

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

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

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

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

R E PA I R N OT I C E

R E PA I R N OT I C E

CUSTOMERS RIGHT TO CHOOSE A REPAIRER

CUSTOMER SUPPLIED PARTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 2021 Motor Trader | 97

20210946

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

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 makes representations to state and federal governments on the BIG issues affecting your business and industry.

Services Our members can utilise free Workplace Relations advice and Consumer Complaint support; access a cost-effective website building service and, through our self-service Member Portal, access information regarding wages & awards, health & safety, public holidays and more. There also is a FREE-to-use online Jobs Board platform to advertise open positions, plus discounted signage & stationery products are available through the online MTA Queensland shop.

Training The MTA Institute (RTO 31529) is the awardwinning, leading provider of automotive training and apprenticeships in Queensland. Course & training options include: • Apprenticeships • Traineeships • Skills Recognition • Automotive Licensing • Short Automotive Courses (including some

which attract a 20% discount for members) • Pre-apprenticehips

Support Members can take advantage of a wide range of services & benefits, including: •B anking, insurance, payment options, legal advice and workplace health & safety compliance advice, offered by our Corporate Partners.

• A library of small business resources.

• A Weekly Industry Bulletin containing updates on industry news and events, workplace relations, divisional updates and training courses.

•C omprehensive webinar and micro-credential program (coming soon).

•M onthly subscription to the Motor Trader e-magazine and free business profiling.

•S avings and discounts from a range of industry stakeholders.

• I nvitations to industry signature events Industry Awards Gala, Golf Day, and Carmageddon.

Innovation Stay at the front of cutting-edge information and business solutions connected to the automotive digital revolution with access to events and MTAiQ – Australia’s first automotive innovation hub which is a facility offering an eco-system that supports innovation in the motor trades.

20190801

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

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MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS

Contents 102 MTA Institute Sparks Industry with Battery/Hybrid Electric Course 106 Auto Camp Driving Interest in the Auto Industry 110 Apprentice of the Month: April 2021 112 Apprentice of the Month: May 2021

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E S S E N T I A L S

AS I’VE ALWAYS SAID, OPPORTUNITY IS AHEAD, AND IF WE LOOK AT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, GRADUATES ARE ALREADY OUT IN FRONT.

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HERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING happening at the MTA Institute, and we have just held our graduation Congratulations to the MTA Institute’s latest graduates for students who recently completed their automotive trade qualification and pre-vocational course with us. Whilst the numbers were small, the significance of the night is enormous! It can take up to four years to complete an apprenticeship, maybe a little shorter or maybe a little longer depending on various factors. But four years is a significant amount of time and reflecting The automotive industry is an industry on how our industry and community has of innovation and change, and to try and changed, it is exciting to see our graduates keep up, you just have to keep learning and finish. Having a trade certainly provides keep having a thirst to be educated! plenty of opportunities over the coming As I’ve always said, opportunity is years. This year alone, we’ve heard from so ahead, and if we look at the automotive many employers asking “Do you know of any industry, graduates are already out in tradespeople that are looking for work?”. front. We’ve seen the like of Holden ‘retire’ There’s always work - I’ve never met an from the Australian landscape, but still unemployed good mechanic. need technicians to service these vehicle

E S S E N T I A L S

PAUL KULPA

M E M B E R S

MTA Institute News

M E M B E R S

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MTA Institute News for another 10 years. Wherever there is mobility, there will be a need for light and heavy vehicle mechanical technicians, auto electricians, parts interpreters and collision repair and refinishing technicians.

But we also can’t underestimate the transition to electric vehicles. This change is coming and it’s an exciting time for industry and its workforce.

We’ve currently got over 6,000 automotive apprentices in Queensland across light vehicle, heavy vehicle, auto electrical, underbody, paint and panel, OPE, motorbike, mobile plant, agricultural and parts interpreting. You lose about three-quarters of the cohort through cancellations and various other reasons each year and, basically, 1-in-4 finish their apprenticeship. Take this stat and you realise that the people that finish their trade have already made it against the odds.

What’s harder is to try and get more females into the trade and to finish. We are getting closer to our first womenfocused, automotive prevocational course. This unique opportunity, in a supportive environment, has been specifically created for women to explore

an entry-level pathway towards one of many automotive apprenticeships. This program starts on Monday, 26th July and goes to Friday, 27th August 2021 (5 weeks).

We look forward to seeing participants succeed through this program.

Finally, the MTA Institute (RTO no.

31529) will be transitioning to the updated Automotive Retail, Service and Repair Training Package, otherwise known as the AUR Training Package, over the next few months. This transition is compulsory for all Registered Training Organisations delivering the AUR Training Package across Australia. All current apprentices and trainees will have to transition over to the updated Package and our trainers will be making the necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth transition occurs. Whilst there is no action required from either employers or students at this stage, our trainers will commence the process by discussing an updated training plan soon.

As with all training matters, if you would like to discuss anything further, please do not hesitate to contact our office on telephone (07) 3722 3000 or by emailing training@mtai.edu.au

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 100 | Motor Trader June 2021

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES AIR CONDITIONING COURSE

SKILL SET GAP TRAINING (3 DAY) 18 - 20 August 2021 6 - 8 October 2021 Click for more information.

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

RTO No: 31529

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

31 August - 3 September 2021 26 - 29 October 2021 Click for more information.

VOCATIONAL PREPARATION COURSE 26 July - 27 August 2021 (FOR WOMEN) 27 September - 29 October 2021 Click for more information.

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

MTA QUEENSLAND COURSES MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE 10 August 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm 23 November 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS COURSES AWARENESS COURSE 27 July

VEHICLE GLASS COURSE 28 July

TECHNICIAN COURSE 29-30 July Click for more information.

10 August 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm 23 November 2021, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

AUTO CAMP

29 June - 1 July 2021 21 - 23 September 2021 Click for more information.

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

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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE

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MTA INSTITUTE SPARKS INDUSTRY WITH BATTERY/HYBRID ELECTRIC COURSE

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ITH NEWS OUT of the U.S. that Ford will launch an electrified version of one of America’s all-time favourite vehicles, the F-150, it is safe to say the dawn of a new age of automotive is upon us. As countries across the globe begin to impose deadlines for the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and manufacturers including General Motors, Volvo, Jaguar, and Bentley announcing their commitments to phasing out ICE vehicles over the coming decades, it is undeniable that the automotive industry is on the fast-track to an electrified future.

As more electric vehicle (EV) models become available and hit Australian roads, it has become apparent that a new skill set has emerged that mechanical repairers simply must now possess to be capable of servicing and performing repairs on these vehicles.

“WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ACCREDITED HEV TRAINING TO AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESSES PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE AND LOOKING TO ADAPT TO NEW MARKET TRENDS.” Understanding the growing demand for the skill set for the emerging technology, the MTA Institute (RT0 31529) launched the AURSS00035 – Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set & AURSS00037 – Hybrid Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set course in 2018, becoming one of the first training

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

providers in Australia to offer accredited training for hybrid and electric vehicle technology.

This four-day, intensive course has proven extremely popular, selling out each of the last four editions and attracting participants from all corners of Australia as well as overseas.

“We understand the importance of providing accredited HEV training to automotive professionals and businesses preparing for the future and looking to adapt to new market trends.” said

Paul Kulpa, the MTA Institute’s General Manager for Training.

“Mastering the latest technology is complicated and dangerous, it’s not something you can learn on the job, so it’s crucial for automotive professionals to complete the accredited course and gain the necessary skills before attempting to inspect or service a hybrid or electric vehicle.”

As well as workshop owners, technicians, and auto-electricians, the BEV/HEV course has begun to attract trainers and assessors sent from Registered Training

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Professional Circle training

Organisations to gain an understanding of the technology and accreditation so they can deliver their own similar training to students around Australia.

The most recent edition of the course, held in May, saw trainers and assessors from organisations including Central Queensland University, TAFE Gold Coast and MTA NSW converge on Eight Mile Plains to gain accreditation.

“We are seeing that the demand for this skill set has grown significantly in the last 24 months and as a result, more training organisations are contacting us looking to get their trainers accredited so they can take that knowledge and deliver it themselves,”

“THE MTA INSTITUTE PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING AT THE FOREFRONT WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING SKILL SETS AND MICROCREDENTIALS . . . AND WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY BY ENSURING HIGH QUALITY, ACCREDITED BEV/HEV TRAINING IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTRALIA.”

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

said Mr Kulpa.

“The MTA Institute prides itself on being at the forefront when it comes to delivering skill sets and microcredentials relating to the future of the automotive industry, and we are now in a position to support the industry by ensuring high quality, accredited BEV/HEV training is accessible to all automotive professionals in Australia.”

Over the four-day duration, participants of the course receive a hands-on education on how to de-power, reinitialise and maintain battery electric vehicles, a new and unique skill for most.

Participants also learn about the inner workings of hybrid and electric vehicle systems and components, as well as how to diagnose and repair high voltage rechargeable energy storage systems, instrumentation, and safety interlocks in electric and hybrid vehicles.

Among those in attendance at the May course were two MTA Institute trainers, Andrew Bellars and Dennis Shaw, who were taking part the course as a

professional development opportunity.

“With Dennis situated in Mackay and Andrew in Brisbane, we identified an opportunity to expand the areas in which we can deliver the specific units covered in the BEV/HEV course and both showed great enthusiasm in participating,” said Mr Kulpa.

“We are always looking to support the continued professional development for all of our trainers and the BEV/HEV course provides a fantastic opportunity to do so while ensuring they are equipped with the appropriate skills to educate students into the future.”

The Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set & Hybrid Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set is held regularly throughout the year, with the next course scheduled for August.

For more information on the AURSS00035 – Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set & AURSS00037 – Hybrid Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set course, CLICK HERE. June 2021 Motor Trader | 105

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Professional Circle training

AUTO CAMP DRIVING INTEREST IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY

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N APRIL, MTA Queensland held its first Auto Camp for the 2021 calendar year, once again hosting a collection of bright, young students with a passion for the automotive industry.

For three days, the students were given the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a range of different skills and gain an insight into the automotive industry.

The course covered a variety of introductory level topics including automotive principles and maintenance, hybrid battery technology, design and manufacturing, and collision repair technology.

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VIDEO: AUTO CAMP APRIL 2021

This Auto Camp was particularly special, as the students were joined for a short visit by the Honourable Di Farmer MP, the Queensland Government’s Minister

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

Auto Camp was visited by the Honourable Di Farmer MP

THIS AUTO CAMP WAS PARTICULARLY SPECIAL, AS THE STUDENTS WERE JOINED FOR A SHORT VISIT BY THE HONOURABLE DI FARMER MP, THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS AND MINISTER FOR TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. . .

for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, who watched on with interest as the students learnt how to assemble and operate battery testing equipment.

Nadia Ali, aged 16, attended the Auto Camp program after it was suggested by her schoolteacher.

“I think it has been a really rewarding experience. For someone like me,” she said.

“I didn’t really know too much about cars coming into it. I wanted to learn more, and I feel like it really helped.”

Jaxon Morgan, aged 15, enjoyed the June 2021 Motor Trader | 107

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Professional Circle training

THE AUTO CAMP PROGRAM IS A FANTASTIC CHANCE TO GIVE YOUNG ADULTS A TASTE OF WORKING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR, AND ALL THE EXCITING AND INTERESTING CHALLENGES IT BRINGS. electrical aspect that the Auto Camp program offered.

“I liked the electrical part. It was a lot of hands-on work and I enjoyed it,” he said.

“We made a battery tester and soldered all the pieces together and got it all working.

“I’ve always been interested in this sort of stuff and it was good experience to see how it would be working in this industry.”

Pedro Pilger, also aged 15, signed up for the course to gain a better understanding of the industry as a potential career pathway as an automotive engineer.

“The trainers were great,” he said. “They taught everything very well. They described 108 | Motor Trader June 2021

things very well and showed us everything.

“I think an automotive engineer would be the path I would go down.”

The Auto Camp program is a fantastic chance to give young adults a taste of working in the automotive sector, and all the exciting and interesting challenges it brings.

For students looking to plan their future, the automotive industry is a fast-paced and CLICK FOR MORE stimulating career choice.

The next Auto Camp course will be held on 29 June to 1 July 2021. Places are limited so book in soon!

INFO ABOUT AUTO CAMP

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

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Apprentice of the Month: April 2021 APPRENTICE: KLARAH CASSAR-TAN WORKPLACE: MERCEDES-BENZ SUNCHINE COAST APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

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Klarah Cassar-Tan with Dean Jenkins and Adam Beilken from Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast

LARAH CASSAR-TAN is the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month for April 2021.

The 18-year-old light vehicle apprentice has just started her third year of training and has been working for As a third-year apprentice, Klarah gets to Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast since August 2018. work on a wide variety of jobs, and being this is And she has made quite an impression, both as an Mercedes-Benz, those jobs mean working on some employee and as a student, with both her bosses at high-end, technically advanced vehicles. And with Mercedes-Benz and her MTA Institute trainer Kevin the company having recently revealed the first of Ryan commenting on her dedication, enthusiasm, its EQ range of electric vehicles, that technology is and work ethic. something Klarah is aware is on its way and one that “Klarah has a terrific attitude, completes her work she is keen to work with when the opportunity arises. to a high level, and is setting a high standard for her “I am working on a bit of everything at the fellow apprentices,” said Kevin. moment, and I do get the odd big job and do some Having always been fascinated by cars – she work on my own which is really interesting and a was, she said, an avid matchbox model car collector little nerve-wracking at the same time. Mercedes as a kid - Klarah got the opportunity to work with cars are very complex with lots of technology and Mercedes while she was still at school. It was, she there’s always something new to learn. It keeps me said, a chance she leapt at. busy, and I love it,” she said. “We do have electric “My school was organising work experience vehicles coming out now too, and though I personally opportunities, and when we were asked what we haven’t worked on one yet, I would love to get into would like to do, I instantly said motor mechanics. that as well. That’s where things are headed.”

It has always interested me, and I really wanted Klarah still has a couple more years of to have a go with Mercedes-Benz so I put in an apprenticeship training to go before she qualifies, application,” she said. “I went to do a week of work and while her passion for cars and the work will experience, and was then offered a school-based ensure a long and rewarding career in the industry, apprenticeship. It was all very exciting. there are a couple of ambitious pathways that she “I have been here since August 2018, when I has looked at pursuing. was doing one day a week as part of that school“I would love to open and run my own workshop based apprenticeship, and started here full time one day. That would be great.” she said. “Or in July 2019. And I have no regrets. I’m very perhaps go to Germany to work and build CLICK TO VISIT THE lucky to be working for Mercedes-Benz. cars. That would be awesome as well.

MERCEDES-BENZ I love it so much.”

“I like to aim high.”

SUNCHINE COAST WEBSITE

110 | Motor Trader June 2021

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

Visit www.mtaq.com.au today

111 | Motor Trader September 2020

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Apprentice of the Month: May 2021 straight away,” he said.

Jake has always had a ‘fascination with anything that has an engine and wheels’ – an interest that likely finds its origin in the work of his father who was an interstate truck driver and who Jake would accompany on some of those long trips.

“Every school holiday, I would pack my bag, Dad would come and get me, and we’d be gone,” he said. “That was a whole lot of my childhood and I’ve seen pretty much every corner of the country.”

However, while the heavy commercial side of AKE CHITHAM is the MTA Institute the industry did interest Jake, it was really cars that Apprentice of the Month for May 2021. gripped his imagination and he has spent much The 25-year-old, who works for Jax spare time over the years working on his own cars.

Tyres Toowoomba, recently completed his light All that tinkering, and the few years in the vehicle apprenticeship and as well as proving to workshop before starting his training was great be an outstanding student, he is, according to his preparation for the apprenticeship and, according to employer, an equally outstanding employee who Jake’s MTA Institute trainer David Twidale, he really ‘loves his job, is 100 per cent involved, is great with shone as a student. customers and goes beyond his normal job role’.

“Jake over-achieved through the term of his Jake knows well the operation of the Jax shop – apprenticeship,” said David. “He has showed which offers the full range of mechanical services commitment, and the quality of his work was high to customers – having worked at the Toowoomba and very consistent.” location for more than nine years, starting there as The one-on-one training method that the MTA a junior tyre fitter when he was 16. He had actually Institute delivers – with the trainer working with the started his journey in the automotive industry even students at their workplace – was, said Jake, the earlier than that, having left school to take a job as a perfect way for him to complete his apprenticeship. trade assistant at a Yamaha dealership.

“I never really did too well at school, and really “Things were a bit quiet there and I was put off,” couldn’t stand to sit in a classroom with other he said. “But then, one day, as I was on my way to people,” he said. “So, the fact that the Institute, and go dirt bike riding, I saw a sign outside of the Jax Dave in particular, comes here is great. workshop that read, ‘Junior Tyre Fitter Wanted’.

“If I had any questions during one of the modules “I had my bike riding outfit on and had grease or the training sessions, we could go out to a car everywhere because I had been working on the bike, here in the shop and work at it. It works really well.” but I came in, talked to the owners, and they told me Although he is now qualified, Jake said that he to come in the next Monday. That’s what I did, and may well do more training. Like many young people I’ve been here ever since.” he recognises the value in learning other areas of During first those few years, Jake was able to the industry and is aware of the importance electric get involved in just about every aspect of the Jax vehicles will play in the industry’s future. business. He started out tyre fitting, moved into “I may look at doing a motorcycle mechanic wheel aligning and then into sales, before moving apprenticeship, but we do have to think about EVs,” back into the workshop. he said. “We already have customers with EVs “I basically did a bit of everything, and who come to us for tyres, and I have talked to CLICK TO VISIT THE JAX then the opportunity came around for David about them. It’s important to consider TYRES & AUTO TOOWOOMBA what options there are for training.” the apprenticeship and I jumped on that APPRENTICE: JAKE CHITHAM WORKPLACE: JAX TYRES & AUTO TOOWOOMBA APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

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WEBSITE

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M E M B E R S

MTA Institute Graduates

THE MTA INSTITUTE is the largest independent provider of automotive apprenticeships and training in Queensland and it is always a proud moment when its APPRENTICE Jamie Connett Christopher Jones Ashley Jones Aaron Brenson Luke Rickuss Josiah Ballin Deaune Goliath Ismail Irice Callan Meuleman Dylan Mudge Leigh Horsley David Fullagar Bodie Sampson Jared Laing Mark Bowen Riley Romer Luke Cooper Matthew Blanchfield Samuel Hennings Peter Sailangsee Kalob Farrugia Aubrey Hawthorne Ryan Corcoran Trent Burton Jake Chitham Zackery Wilson Liam Pike Richard Thorne

students complete their trade qualification. Congratulations to everyone who was issued a qualification in May 2021 - it is a fantastic achievement!

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

TRAINER Alfio Rotolone Luke Cooper Roger West Jeff Mann Zak Zuiderduin Gavin Jacobs Dennis Shaw Luke Cooper Alfio Rotolone Luke Cooper Neil Bovey Scott Buckley Ross Wilson Ross Wilson Andrew Bellars Derrick Pratt Jeff Mann Steven Hudspith Roger West Derrick Pratt Kevin Ryan Keith Minchin David Twidale Terry Palfrey David Twidale Scott Buckley Dennis Shaw David Twidale

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MTA INSTITUTE’S LATEST GRADUATES

Concept corner

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NZ CONCEPT EQT June 2021 Motor Trader | 115

Concept corner

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HIS IS THE EQT – Mercedes-Benz’ effort at an all-electric premium vehicle in the small van segment and an electric version of the company’s new near-series-production T-Class peoplemover. The T-Class models will be available with internal combustion engines.

“We are expanding our portfolio in the small van segment with the forthcoming T-Class,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “It will appeal to families and all those private customers, whatever their age, who enjoy leisure activities and need a lot of space and maximum variability without forgoing comfort and style. The T-Class provides them with an attractive introduction into the world of Mercedes-Benz. And as the Concept EQT shows: We are consistently implementing our claim to leadership in electromobility and will also be offering a fully electric model in this segment in the

116 | Motor Trader June 2021

future.”

The Concept EQT has recognisable features that are becoming the design cues for the Mercedes EQ electric range, including the black panel front with LED headlights, and a a light strip which connects the LED rear lamps.

The EQT is 4945mm long, 1863mm wide, and 1826mm high, and features sliding doors on both sides. Three child seats can be fitted next to each other in the second

row of seats. If more space is required, the third-row seats can be folded or removed completely. The seats are upholstered in white nappa leather.

Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system will be installed, and can be operated using the free-standing central display with touch function, the touch control buttons on the steering wheel and, optionally, the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant.

Data available via the high-resolution

media display will include the charging current, departure time, energy flow and consumption histogram. The media display can also be used to operate the navigation as well as the driving modes.

No word as yet on battery, range and so on, but the model series was developed in collaboration with Renault, and its Kangoo E-Tech van is equipped with a 44kWh battery offering 265km of range and a 75kW/245Nm electric motor.

June 2021 Motor Trader | 117

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

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OMESTICALLY, THE S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index was up 2.34% during the period. Financials (+4.4%) were the best performing sector.

An increase in inflation expectations in the market saw pro-cyclical sectors outperform, with financials positively geared to a rising interest rate environment. Despite this, Healthcare (+3.5%) also outperformed, with sector heavyweight CSL (CSL +7.0%) recovering from post-COVID-19 lows.

Information Technology (-9.9%) was the worst performing sector, with longerduration stocks expected to suffer in a higher interest rate environment. Utilities (-7.0%) are also exposed to higher rates through their non-cyclical earnings profile, resulting in underperformance during the period.

International markets finished predominantly higher during the month.

The Chinese market (CSI 300 +4.1%) was the standout performer, despite concerns about increased credit restrictions and its potential impact on economic growth.

The other Asian markets also finished the period higher, with Korea (KOSPI +1.8%), Hong Kong (Hang Seng +1.5%) and Japan (Nikkei 225 +0.2%) all gaining. European markets (MSCI Europe ex UK +2.2%) had a strong month, with COVID-19 restrictions easing across the bloc, while the UK (FTSE 100 +0.8%) continued its vaccination rollout. US markets were the laggards in May as technology companies weighed on the major indices; the S&P 500 (+0.6%) outperformed the Nasdaq (-1.5%).

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THE CHINESE MARKET (CSI 300 +4.1%) WAS THE STANDOUT PERFORMER, DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASED CREDIT RESTRICTIONS AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH. 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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