Motor Trader e-magazine, March 2020

MAR

2020

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

JONATHAN NASH EDITOR

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Ted Kowalski Evangeline Kannis

W

HEN I ARRIVED in Australia 20 years ago, Holden was king and the company had a grip on a very juicy slice - nudging toward 25 per cent - of the market.

Back then, as I remember things, it was all about the Commodore. Holden had sold more than 300,000 units of the VT model, launched in 1997, and was about to unleash the updated VX, which would prove to be just as popular during its shorter, two-year model life.

Over the next few years, it seemed clear that Holden was secure in its position as the nation's favourite flavour of vehicle but, incredibly, here we are, coming to terms with the news that the brand is no more.

General Motors, Holden's parent company, announced last month that it is to 'retire' the brand - consigning to history

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 CORPORATE PARTNERS

a name that has been a part of Australia's story since 1856.

The signs of the brand's fall toward this fate have been obvious for a while - at least from the moment in 2013 when it was announced that the company would cease manufacturing in this country.

Sales have been on the slide for a long time and when it was revealed at the end of 2019 that the iconic Commodore would be shelved, even the most optimistic Holden enthusiast must have sensed that the end was nigh.

In this edition of Motor Trader, we look at what has happened with Holden over the past few weeks, consider what may happen now, and look back at the company's long history.

Read more from page 24.

Also inside, we have plenty of auto industry, innovation, and training news, along with our Q&A and Classic Car features.

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

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

MTA QUEENSLAND WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS

20200862

Business Name Bridgestone Select North Rockhampton Genesis Equipment Pty Ltd JAT Mechanical The Service Depot Statewide Auto Group Tyrepower Varsity Lakes

Ultra Tune Currimundi

Principal/s

Address

Email

Division

Karl Rasmussen

6/235-239 Musgrave St, ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4701

admin@bselectnorthrockhampton.com.au

TUDQ

Stephen Clifford Snr Daniel Egstorf Hayden Featherstonhaugh John Daniel Pellow Rodger Lincoln Kreyl

70 Telford St, VIRGINIA QLD 4014 4/17 Tombo St, CAPALABA QLD 4157 15/29 Moreton Bay Road, CAPALABA QLD 4157 22 Tombo St CAPALABA QLD 4157 1/489 Scottsdale Dr, VARSITY LAKES QLD 4227

james.macpherson@cj3capital.com jatmechanical@telstra.com hayden.f@servicedepot.com.au danielle@statewideautogroup.com.au varsitylakes@tyrepower.com.au

AED AED AED ARD TUDQ

Graham Nice

678 Nicklin Way, CURRIMUNDI QLD 4511

currimundi@ultratune.com.au

TUDQ

March 2020 Motor Trader | 1

Contents

24 04 08 12 24 42 44 60 66 76 78

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO POLICY/VIEWPOINT MTA |Q&A END OF AN ERA: GM AXES HOLDEN AN EYE ON INNOVATION AUTO INNOVATION NEWS CARS & COFFEE CLASSIC AUTO NEWS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BUSINESS PROFILES: INTRODUCING OUR MTA QUEENSLAND MEMBERS 87 TRAINING GM'S PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE PERSPECTIVE 89 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH: JANUARY 2020 92 CARS & COFFEE 98 CONCEPT CORNER 102 MARKET WRAP 2 | Motor Trader March 2020

36

Search for MTA Queensland

60

92

12

98 March 2020 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO

BRETT DALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

A

SHOCK TO THE automotive value chain was General Motors’ (GM) decision to retire the Holden brand from the Australian and New Zealand markets with local design and engineering operations to be wound down by 2021.

The company assured customers and current vehicle owners that warranties and service offers made at time of sale would be honoured and that it would provide servicing and spare parts for at least 10 years.

The decision is a major and unexpected blow, impacting dealers, third-party businesses, suppliers, staff and consumers alike. One of the MTA Queensland members recently invested in a new multimillion-dollar Holden fit-out at their dealership which will not realise its original purpose. Whilst compensation between the parent body and dealers/other parties will be confidential, Australian Automotive Dealers Association Queensland (AADA QLD) Chair James Robertson and I will be vigilant, and forthright in our advocacy for exit arrangements to be equitable.

Concerns are already emerging. The AADA (national) representatives and the Holden Council met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Industry Minister 4 | Motor Trader March 2020

Karen Andrews to advise of the ‘grossly inadequate’ compensation packages offered to dealers by GM. The Government has confirmed that a Senate Inquiry will examine the approach by GM to which we will provide a submission and give evidence at a hearing on behalf of our AADA QLD members.

Undoubtedly, we’ve been preoccupied by the effect of drought, fires, storms, floods, the coronavirus, and GM’s announcement on members’ businesses and representing the impacts of these in submissions to government and agencies. We have also been busy taking action on progressing member values of being ‘proactive’ and ‘innovative’ and pursuing the Business Excellence goals stipulated in the 20192021 Strategic Plan.

GREEN DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION An ongoing concern for members has been the actual disposal of end-oflife tyres. This has been the subject of ongoing research and consideration of several technologies. At last, a successful technological solution has emerged. The Association had observed the progress of Green Distillation Technologies Corporation (GDTC) at Warren, New South Wales to effectively and profitably recycle end-of-life car and truck tyres (ELT) into saleable commodities of oil, carbon and steel. Based on initial research, the MTA Queensland board resolved to undertake a three-month period of due diligence, which included a site visit with directors and executives to the Warren plant.

At its 20 February 2020 meeting, the MTA Queensland board considered extensively the opportunity to capitalise in the innovative technology and resolved to invest. In its deliberations, the board

“THE INVESTMENT IN

THE GDTC INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IS A NEW COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND ADDRESSES THE ACUTE AUTOMOTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OF THE DISPOSAL OF END-OF-LIFE TYRES.” noted: the investment satisfied the Association’s diversification strategy; the technological solution to the waste liability of 24 million tyres per year; that tyre technology is one of the stable commodities and waste and recycling must be addressed; the need to take a leadership position on reducing the landfill and export demand; the technology is cutting edge and has zero emissions in the recycling process; and 100 per cent of the tyre is recycled producing three saleable commodities – oil, carbon and steel.

GDTC has a contract in place with an Australian oil refiner to purchase all oil produced by the plants in Australia at an agreed price benchmarked against Independent Commodity Intelligence Services Fuel Oil 3.5 per cent and includes a 3 per cent renewable fuel levy. It also has an offer from a steel manufacturing business for the carbon as a substitute or to blend with other carbon.

The medium-term outlook is for GDTC to have a pipeline of seven plants to operate across Australia, and there are five target locations including at Mackay.

An Environmental Authority Permit and Development Approval has been granted for the construction of GDTC’s

second plant at Toowoomba. Each plant processes approximately four per cent of Australia’s annual waste tyres which allows considerable scope for growth.

The decision by the MTA Queensland board is far-reaching. The investment in the GDTC innovative technology is a new commercial business activity for the Association and addresses the acute automotive environmental problem of the disposal of end-of-life tyres within the new paradigm of the circular economy. This entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and commercialising waste from the system. It is based on three principles of: reduce waste and pollution; keep products and materials in use; and regenerate natural systems.

CARMAGEDDON4 There will be a Carmageddon4 event to build on the series of symposiums commenced in March 2017. Specifically, this is to inform members and stakeholders on current and future technological and mobility transformations that will impact the automotive industry and the economy.

Carmageddon4, to be held on Thursday 23 July commencing at 9am at the Sir Jack Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence (Training Centre) at Eight Mile Plains, will focus on all aspects of innovation linked to the automotive and mobility industries.

The Premier of Queensland, Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk has been invited to open Carmageddon4.

Experts from academia, industry and the professions will deliver keynotes and participate in panels. The schedule will include new technology and its impact on the future of mobility; waste management and recycling innovation and its potential March 2020 Motor Trader | 5

for industry and government; and sustainability and clean energy that will drive the future of mobility. The event will feature an amazing exposition of hydrogen and electric vehicles including the latest from leading manufacturers and last mile mobility solutions.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES I met with Planet Ark Power to explore their environmental energy program for business and possible energy savings.

Of interest was the installation of solar panels on non-residential rooftops that enables businesses to generate clean solar power and implement energy efficiency and storage technologies with minimum financial outlay. Llewellyn Motors, Ipswich, has some 1,232 panels on their roof that supplies half of its energy demand. The initial meeting with Planet Ark Power was promising and the MTA Queensland board has approved investigation into the technology and its benefits to members.

A meeting of interest was the Premier’s Business Series - EV Forum. Chaired by the Minister for Transport Mark Bailey and Director General Neil Scales, they overviewed progress towards the transition of the Queensland fleet to low and zero emission vehicles. A focus was on the identification of trends and opportunities for ongoing strategy development to enhance the uptake of these vehicles in the future. An interesting insight was Yurika’s General Manager, Infrastructure and Utility Services, Peter Schofield references to the Queensland Electric Super Highway (QESH), which is the world’s longest electric vehicle

highway in a single state. Costs for EV motorists utilising the QESH are one of the lowest in the nation. Based on the most recent customer usage data, about 80 per cent of users are expected to pay around $5.00 each time they charge their electric vehicle, with an average cost of $3.00.

At these expected costs, EVs are highly favourable compared to other non-EV transport options.

AND THE LAST THING Some interesting facts from MTA Institute Director Professor Michael Milford, in his role as Deputy Director of Queensland University of Technology’s Centre for Robotics, who led the research team which took an electric car fitted with high-tech sensors on a 1,200km road trip over three months last year. The primary goal of the study was to consider how current advances in robotic vision and machine learning could enable the research car to see and make sense of everyday road signage and markings that humans take for granted. The research findings highlighted the limitations camera-vision systems have in correctly identifying and interpreting signs, traffic lights and lines on the roads. The camera vision systems only detected about 40 per cent of signs such as speed, give way, no right turn, pedestrian crossing and speed hump, with that accuracy rate even lower on rural roads and motorways.

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

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Policy/Viewpoint “A SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

I

N THE MIDST of difficulties from drought, fire, storm, flood, virus and human tragedies, the quarterly meetings of the MTA Queensland divisions have been remarkable for the resilient and positive outlook expressed. Yes, sector and economic concerns and uncertainties featured, but the emphasis was on progress and dealing with the relevant industry matters. I share with members some of the insights from the divisional meetings.

In previous Viewpoints I’ve mentioned the very tough business circumstances experienced by the farm machinery sector.

The newly elected Chair of the Queensland Farm and Industrial Machinery Dealers Division (QFIMDD) Bruce Sommerfeld, pointed to the promise of improved business conditions for members and the sector arising from the prospect of a better season for agriculturalists. Whilst the new tractor market had stalled and enquiries low, causing reductions in staff levels or staff hours, the hay making equipment sales had been strong with the expectation to be so for the near term.

The division discussed measures which would enable businesses to remain resilient through challenging economic

8 | Motor Trader March 2020

PROPOSED BY THE QFIMDD WAS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DEPOSIT SCHEME TO OPERATE ON THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS THE SUCCESSFUL FARM MANAGEMENT DEPOSIT SCHEME.”

conditions such as drought, fire, flood and storm. These included the easing of some taxes and fees such as stamp duties levied on general insurance policies, workers compensation, and motor vehicle insurance policies. Fortuitously, our 2020-2021 State Pre-Budget submission had proposed a moratorium on such compliance costs for business.

A significant initiative proposed by the QFIMDD was for the establishment of a Small Business Management Deposit Scheme to operate on the same principles as the successful Farm Management Deposit Scheme. It would enable eligible small businesses to defer taxation on eligible deposits on undistributed earnings in periods of high income. This would provide reserves to be created to fund cost-effective lower risk proprietors’ equity which could be applied to finance, business growth and expansion; provide for natural disasters and unforeseen events etc. Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Dale and I were of the view this was an initiative worthy of consideration by the Federal Government’s 2020-21 Budget team and submitted the concept as a supplementary submission. For the interest of members that submission is on the website. The

QFIMDD Chair Bruce Sommerfeld has promoted the initiative to the local Federal Members of Parliament.

The Automotive Engineers Division (AED) is grappling with the rapid emergence of new technologies but the Chair of AED, Mark Dodge, insists there are new opportunities to be seized that will ensure the sector’s viability, including the 2mota opportunity for members. The ‘industry is not all doom and gloom’. The integral role of the automotive value chain in the nation’s economy and logistics is not fully recognised which then impacts employment opportunities, the retention of personnel, and skills development to grow the industry. Training, upskilling and industry accreditations are AED priorities.

The Queensland division of the Australian Automotive Division Association (Q AADA) has every reason to be pessimistic. The imposition of reduced credit availability arising from the Banking Royal Commission (BRC) and the contraction, by 13 per cent, of new motor vehicles registered for January 2020 are negatives. In addition, the withdrawal of the United States manufacturer General

“THE AUTOMOTIVE

ENGINEERS DIVISION (AED) IS GRAPPLING WITH THE RAPID EMERGENCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES BUT THE CHAIR OF AED, MARK DODGE, INSISTS THERE ARE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SEIZED THAT WILL ENSURE THE SECTOR’S VIABILITY, INCLUDING THE 2MOTA OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS.”

Motors from Australia and the decision to retire the Holden brand by 2021 has been another blow.

The Chair of Q AADA, James Robertson, in the face of declining new motor vehicle sales and technological disruptions, had an extensive schedule of activity to progress and is pushing ahead on significant issues. These include the lobbying of Federal Members of Parliament on BRC’s recommendation to remove the Point of Sale exemption for in-house motor dealer finance. This has the consequence of imposing additional training requirements to perform the same financial activity.

The pending legislation on the mandatory sharing of Service and Repair Information has unresolved issues that should be remedied including the sharing of information on commercially fair and reasonable terms to ensure independent repairers are subject to the same cost and requirements as dealers.

The Automotive Parts Recyclers’ Division (APRD) has been proactive on the challenging range of issues that confront the sector. A concern for the division was the disposal of oil and tyres arising from the disparities in operators and pricing. Consultations with other divisions regarding oil and tyre disposal requirements is be undertaken.

The Chair of the Automotive Remarketing Division. Peter Dever, advised that the consistent issue facing the used car industry continued to be the Takata airbag recall and the impact it was having on the sector. The continued expansion of the brands and models affected by the recall by the manufacturers has seen most members affected in some way with vehicles in stock requiring air bag replacement prior to resale to the public. The recent March 2020 Motor Trader | 9

Policy/Viewpoint about backyard motor dealers acting as private sellers. The OFT, as a matter of routine, monitors the second-hand motor industry for regulatory compliance. To assist the OFT, members should report the activities of unlicensed backyard dealers, and it can be done anonymously . It’s easy to do, go to the MTA Queensland webpage Dob in a backyarder and enter the details of the perceived illegitimate activities. I assure the OFT will act on the information.

The Takata airbag recall continues to be A busy round of written a major issue for the used car industry advocacy duties is pending. These include to the Motor Accident Insurance Commission on its review of inclusion of vehicles manufactured the limits to apply to compulsory third in the late 90s, previously thought party; the Payment times Reporting Bill; to be unaffected, has seen several Enhancements to unfair Contract Term manufacturers announce buy-back Protections; Industry Codes – Franchising schemes for affected vehicles as a (New Vehicle Dealership); and the Electric preferred solution as parts are no Vehicles in the retail energy market. As is longer available. the standard practice, the relevant division The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been consulted on specific policy embarked on an airbag campaign late in 2019 to ensure the industry was complying issues. If members have an interest in these, or would like to make input, please with the Australian Competition and contact me.

Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) requirements. Most licensed dealers FINALLY operating from retail premises were subject to an audit to ensure recall Through the Member Engagement procedures as stipulated by the ACCC were Strategy, which enables one-on-one being adhered to. This included advising discussions with members, it is very clients appropriately in relation to the sale clear that the industrial relations advice of vehicles subject to a ‘future’ recall. and service provided by our Workplace Relations advisors is a valued component ADVOCACY of membership with the MTA Queensland.

I share with members some insights.

The APRD intimated that the common Overall, for the past year there’s been issue of high concern was the illegitimate almost 2,800 enquiries from members. The (backyarders/fringe dwellers) industry matters covered include unfair dismissals; and the negative impact on the sector. discrimination; wage disputes; general As said in previous Viewpoints, the OFT protections claims; and applications. has been a good friend of the Association which includes acting on information Until April, take care and stay safe.

10 | Motor Trader March 2020

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Jerry Gaggiano with fiancĂŠ Melanie

MTA|Q&A With a quality collection of beautifully restored muscle cars of his own, Jerry Gaggiano knows beautiful cars. It’s no wonder then that his custom paint and panel shop in Ingham, North Queensland is growing each year.

WORDS & PHOTOS: LARA WILDE

What products and services do you offer at Gaggiano Custom Panel and Paint?

JG: Our core business is insurance claims for panel repair and paint work. We also 12 | Motor Trader March 2020

do private panel and paint work ranging from cars, to motorbikes, tractors, boats, race cars, restorations and coffins.

There is a massive focus on 4X4

Gaggiano Custom Panel and Paint

“WE HAVE A REPUTATION

FOR RESTORATIONS AND QUALITY WORKMANSHIP.” gear, from the supply and fitment of accessories and products such as suspension, through to providing rustproofing services.

We work with a lot of people who are serious about off-road and 4X4 and want to maintain and improve their vehicle of choice. We feel the motoring industry has been naturally moving in that direction for a long time and as people get more serious about their off-road rig, we’re there to provide solutions for them.

Whoa . . . you do panel and paint work on coffins?

JG: Yes, we colour customise coffins for the local undertaker. We always say there is no job too big or too small.

Do you do anything else?

JG: We are the RACQ preferred centre for

windscreen replacements for Ingham which gives us credible introductions to a new customer base. Finally, just to keep us busy, we provide a sandblasting service for a wide variety of projects.

In your personal collection you have some beautiful cars. Do you get to work on old-school restorations?

JG: We usually have at least two restorations

booked in at the workshop at any one time.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 13

When did it all start?

JG: In 1994, when I was 16, I started my

apprenticeship as a Spray Painter with Gianotti's Custom Panel & Paint. I went on to purchase the business from Dave Gianotti in 2005 and completed my trade qualification as a Panel Beater in 2013.

Are you still hands on in the business today?

JG: You'll find me in the workshop every

day on the tools and managing workflow. I also prioritise talking with and listening to customers throughout the day.

A typical day at work includes quoting on jobs, spending time talking to and listening to customers, liaising with insurance assessors, spray painting cars, panel beating cars, working with the apprentices to teach and guide them, managing the workflow of the business and then monitoring the logistics and

staying on top of orders for paint and consumables in the workshop.

Who is your current team?

JG: At the moment we have six staff on the

team including myself as a business owner and qualified spray painter and panel beater. My fiancé Melanie runs the office

“WE ARE A WELL-ROUNDED

TEAM AND EVERYONE WORKS WELL TOGETHER. WE HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN IN PLACE, TRAINING APPRENTICES IN OUR BUSINESS TO DELIVER THE QUALITY OF WORK AND LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT OUR CLIENT BASE EXPECTS.”

The Gaggiano Custom Panel and Paint team

for me and makes sure that our customers are well taken care of. I really appreciate having a business where I can go to work with my partner every day.

Karl is our qualified panel beater on staff and Nicholas is our apprentice panel beater. Kevin is our qualified spray painter and at the moment we have Brandon as the spray painter’s labourer but soon he will be signing up to do his apprenticeship. We are a well-rounded team and everyone works well together.

We have a succession plan in place, training apprentices in our business to deliver the quality of work and level of customer service that our client base expects.

What are your plans for the next few years?

JG: To continue to be consistent, reliable and provide quality workmanship.

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

JG: Dear young Jerry, you should have

bought 20 Ford XY GT Phase 3’s (ha ha ha!)

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

JG: We recognise that social media can

be a good marketing tool at times, but we rely on our reputation to speak for itself and aim towards giving customers an experience where they feel they will happily merge into our repeat customer base.

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

JG: It is hard to pinpoint any one thing in particular. The efficiency that goes „

March 2020 Motor Trader | 15

“MTA QUEENSLAND IS A

GREAT RESOURCE-BASE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY THROUGH TO HR MATTERS.” hand in hand with upgrading to any modern form of technology, from the office to the workshop, is always appreciated. The challenge is always being open to change and having the time to integrate the new technology into the day-to-day business.

What cars do you own?

JG: A 1972, two-door Holden HQ Monaro with a 420 cubic-inch small block producing 770 horsepower and a 1968, four-door Chevy Camaro with 468 cubic-inch big block Chev producing 650 horsepower. I have owned many 16 | Motor Trader March 2020

cars including a top performing Holden Statesman drag racing car which still competes locally.

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

JG: I first joined MTA Queensland when

I bought the business in 2005. We really like knowing that we have support in our business when we need it. MTA Queensland is a great resource-base for any questions that we have from the latest advancements in industry technology through to HR matters.

What do you do with your spare time?

JG: Living in Ingham means the fishing is

great and almost every weekend my fiancé Mel and I are somewhere local near or on the water with a line. We also have a CLICK property out of town that requires TO VISIT THE GAGGIANO upkeep and attention. And of CUSTOM PANEL course, I spend time working on AND PAINT WEBSITE my own cars and boats.

MTA QUEENSLAND

2020 EVENTS

Join MTA Queensland for the major automotive events in 2020 CARMAGEDDON Thursday 23 July

MTA Queensland, Eight Mile Plains

MOTOR TRADES GOLF DAY Friday 11 September

Virginia Golf Club, Banyo

INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA Saturday 14 November

Emporium Hotel, South Bank

CARS & COFFEE 23 February | 31 May | 30 August | 29 November MTA Queensland, Eight Mile Plains

Visit https://www.mtaq.com.au/mtaq-events to find out more

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT IS OUR TOP PRIORITY

A

S QUEENSLAND’S PEAK body representing the interests of members in the retail, service and repair sectors of the automotive industry, the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) exists for the benefit of our members.

Following the guiding principle that members and clients are at the core of what we do, MTA Queensland works diligently to listen and respond to members’ concerns while also striving to provide access to a range of benefits in the areas of support, advocacy, training, innovation and services.

This strong focus on member engagement is reflected in key strategy one of the Association’s 2019-21 Strategic Plan – ‘Service Excellence’.

To achieve this key strategy, MTA Queensland will offer member businesses the opportunity to be promoted through the Motor Trader e-magazine from the beginning of 2020.

The offer, free as part of MTA Queensland membership, will entail a business profile feature in Motor Trader.

Over the next few weeks, MTA Queensland staff will be contacting members to discuss this opportunity which will be open to the first 100 members who take up the offer.

Members can participate by filling out a simple online form that will be emailed to them and attaching one or two high quality photos of their business.

The profile will be featured in one of the monthly Motor Trader editions to be published over the course of 2020, with members being advised by email when their profile has been published.

The content of the profile will then be 18 | Motor Trader March 2020

added to the MTA Queensland website and posted to our Facebook page which has over 4,500 followers extending the reach of the business’ promotion.

“MTA QUEENSLAND WILL OFFER MEMBER BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROMOTED THROUGH THE MOTOR TRADER e-MAGAZINE FROM THE BEGINNING OF 2020.”

Motor Trader is a substantial magazine with a reach well beyond its 8,000 subscribers. Now in its 87th year of publication, Motor Trader is one of the longest running trade magazines in the country and a recognised publication in industry circles. The MTA Queensland website also has Over the next few weeks, MTA Queensland staff will be strong traffic with 95,400 users in the contacting members to discuss this opportunity which will 2018/19 financial year. be open to the first 100 members who take up the offer.

“I look forward to members taking up this opportunity as we know business owners are time poor and always looking for business and hopefully lead to more customers. The offer is already gaining ways to expand their profile,” said General strong traction with completed online Manager of Member Services Kellie Dewar. forms rolling in.”

“To be featured in Motor Trader, and on the website and social media is great If you have not yet subscribed to the Motor Trader e-magazine and wish to do so, click here. free publicity, which will promote the

March 2020 Motor Trader | 19

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OPENPAY EMPOWERING AUSSIES WITH A SMARTER WAY TO MANAGE AUTOMOTIVE COSTS

CLICK TO VISIT THE OPENPAY WEBSITE

T

HE MOTOR TRADES Association of Queensland are proud to announce Openpay, a leading buy now, pay later service as a corporate partner.

Customers today are more clued in than ever before – with technology giving them access to copious amounts of information, right at their fingertips. From discovering the latest technology available with the newest vehicle of choice, to a mechanic’s customer reviews, to details on how the product or service impacts the environment, and their wallet – all details are available at the click of a button.

With innovation and digitisation in the financial services and automotive industries evolving at a rapid rate, customers feel more enabled and

“THERE IS SIGNIFICANT

POTENTIAL FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO EMBRACE THE BUY NOW, PAY LATER PAYMENT METHOD PROVIDED BY OPENPAY, AND ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO EXPLORE THE ADDITIONAL BUSINESS SERVICE ON OFFER.” empowered than ever to do their own research to make informed choices.

With this extra knowledge comes confidence, and with confidence comes power. However, from new tyres to adding tinted windows, or undertaking major

service or repairs, customers typically put off their motor vehicle purchases due to associated costs. With the introduction of the increasingly popular buy now, pay later technology solutions, customers are empowered with non-traditional ways to manage their auto-related expenses.

Openpay provides flexible, interestfree payment plans to customers across a wide range of industries and has a specialist automotive arm designed to give customers more time to manage their expenses over a 2 to 12-month period. Not only does Openpay have direct benefits for customers, it will also provide valuable outcomes for our members.

Dealerships and automotive retailers offering Openpay to customers have reportedly seen an almost threefold increase in their average transaction value of a standard service repair order, when Openpay was utilised for the transaction.

“There is significant potential for the automotive industry to embrace the buy now, pay later payment method provided by Openpay, and encourage our members to explore the additional

“AT OPENPAY, WE’RE PROUD

TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH A PRACTICAL WAY TO AFFORD SMALL OR LARGE AUTORELATED EXPENSES, WITHOUT HAVING THE BURDEN OF THE COST GET IN THE WAY.” business service on offer,” said Dr Brett Dale, MTA Group Chief Executive.

“At Openpay, we’re proud to be able to provide our customers with a practical way to afford small or large auto-related expenses, without having the burden of the cost get in the way. This option not only benefits consumers, but also our merchants,” said Michael Eidel, CEO at Openpay.

In the coming weeks, MTA Queensland members will receive more information about the buy now, pay later solution.

With simple on-site sign-ups, the Openpay process is seamless, paperless and stressfree with the business receiving payment on the next business day.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 23

Prime Minister Ben Chifley unveiling the first Australian-made Holden, the 48-215, in 1948

H

OLDEN, THE ICONIC Australian automotive brand that has been a fixture on our roads for more than 70 years, is no more.

With a swing of a giant corporate axe all the way from Detroit, General Motors (GM), Holden’s parent company, announced on Feb 17 that the brand will be ‘retired from sales in Australia and New 24 | Motor Trader March 2020

Zealand and local design and engineering operations will wind down by 2021’.

A stream of company heavyweights made statements outlining GM's reasons behind the decision.

“Through its proud 160-year history, Holden has not only made cars, it has been a powerful driver of the industrialisation and advancement of

Images: GM Media

The last Commodore rolls out of Holden's factory in October 2017

Australia and New Zealand,” said Julian Blissett, GM International Operations Senior Vice President.

“Over recent years, as the industry underwent significant change globally and locally, we implemented a number of alternative strategies to try to sustain and improve the business, together with the local team.

“After comprehensive assessment, we regret that we could not prioritise the investment required for Holden to be successful for the long term in Australia and New Zealand, over all other considerations we have globally.”

GM added that it undertook a detailed analysis of the investment required for Holden to be competitive beyond the March 2020 Motor Trader | 25

The Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria has been Holden's vehicle testing facility for generations

current generation of products and that factors impacting the business case for further investment included the highly fragmented right-hand-drive markets, the economics to support growing the brand, and delivering an appropriate return on investment. The company also stated it intends to focus its growth strategy in Australia and New Zealand on the specialty vehicles business and plans to work on developing these plans.

GM Holden Interim Chairman and Managing Director Kristian Aquilina said it was critical the company worked with all stakeholders to deliver a dignified and respectful wind-down.

“Unfortunately, all the hard work and talent of the Holden family, the support of our parent company GM and the passion of our loyal supporters have not been enough to overcome our challenges," he said.

“We understand the impact of this decision on our people, our customers, our dealers and our partners – and will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver a dignified and respectful transition.”

Heading further up the food chain, the big kahuna at GM, Chairman and CEO 26 | Motor Trader March 2020

Mary Barra, said in a statement that: “I’ve often said that we will do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and this is one of those times. We are restructuring our international operations, focusing on markets where we have the right strategies to drive robust returns, and prioritising global investments that will drive growth in the future of mobility, especially in the areas of EVs and AVs. “While these actions support our global strategy, we understand that they impact people who have contributed so much to our company. We will support our people, our customers and our partners, to ensure an orderly and respectful transition in the VIDEO: FOOTBALL, MEAT PIES, KANGAROOS & HOLDEN CARS!

Images: GM Media

HOLDEN MILESTONES 1856: James Alexander Holden establishes the J.A. Holden saddlery company in Adelaide.

1924: The company becomes the exclusive supplier of General Motors in Australia.

1931: The two companies merge to become General Motors-Holden's Limited (GM-H).

1936: Holden opens a new HQ and assembly plant at Fishermans Bend in Port Melbourne.

impacted markets.”

It interesting to note that just a few weeks after making this statement, Barra was announcing GM's big leap at the EV market, unveiling the company's new modular EV platform and battery system (read more about that on page 44).

Anyway, there we go. Holden, a national icon, with a history that stretches all the way back to 1856 and the establishment of the J.A. Holden & Co saddlery company in Adelaide, is all but gone. An industry in transition, a perilous fall in demand for its products, the need of a parent company to deliver ‘robust returns’ and focus its attention on new technology, and a host of other reasons, means a brand that was once the pride of a nation now has one foot in the grave. A flurry of carefully worded and suitably sombre-sounding statements from senior executives can’t really disguise the cold truth that someone looked at the numbers and saw Holden was a business GM could do without.

Not that Australia is alone in this.

GM has been making restructuring moves globally for some time. For example, in 2017, the company offloaded its

1948: Holden manufactures the first all-Australian car, the Holden 48-215.

Unveiled by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, the 48-215is an immediate success and becomes better known as the FX. The FJ model was introduced in 1953

1953: The FJ model is introduced.

1958: Holden accounts for more than 40 per cent of total car sales.

1962: Holden sells its one millionth car.

1964: Holden employee numbers peak at nearly 24,000.

1968: The Kingswood goes on sale, offering a V8 engine for the first time.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 27

1968: The Monaro, Holden’s most iconic model, goes on sale.

VIDEO: HOLDEN HK MONARO ADVERT

1968: An HK Monaro GTS claims the first of Holden’s Bathurst endurance race wins.

1969: Radical two-door Hurricane sports car becomes Holden's first ever concept vehicle.

The VB Commodore, the first to carry the famous name, was launched in 1978

1978: The Commodore is introduced to Holden’s model line-up. It becomes the nation's best-selling car.

1991: Japanese carmaker Toyota beats Holden and Ford to market leadership for the first time in Australia.

2002: Holden's market share peaks reaches 22 per cent.

The VE Commodore was designed and built in Australia

2006: Holden launches its 'billion-dollar baby' - the VE Commodore sedan. Unlike every Commodore before it, the VE is designed and engineered from the ground up in Australia.

28 | Motor Trader March 2020

struggling UK and German brands Vauxhall and Opel to France’s PSA Group (the makers of Peugeot and Citroen).

Vauxhall and Opel can be compared to Holden. Vauxhall’s history reaches back to 1857 and it began making cars in 1903. It was acquired by GM in 1925. Opel can trace its roots to 1862. It began making cars in 1899 and GM bought the business in 1931.

Both companies are seen as foundation players in their respective nations’ automotive history - much like Holden.

However, while Holden is just the latest GM subsidiary to be jettisoned, unlike those European companies it is not being sold and it feels deeply shocking that this famous brand - as much a part of Australian culture as ‘football, meat pies and kangaroos’ as the old advert proclaimed, and that at one time accounted for one in every two cars on the road - should be no more.

THE DOWNWARD SLIDE Perhaps, given what GM has been doing elsewhere and the fact that Holden has been struggling for years, what has happened isn’t wholly surprising. Indeed, following a steady stream of grim news over the years, this result has felt something like a ‘death by a thousand cuts’.

Perhaps the deepest of those cuts came in 2013 when it was announced Holden would end the manufacturing of cars and engines by 2017. When that announcement

The iconic Monaro was introduced in 1968.

An HK Monaro GTS327 gave Holden its first Bathurst victory that year

2011: After 15 years as the top-selling vehicle, the Commodore is outsold by the Mazda3.

2013: The company announces it will cease manufacturing vehicles in Australia.

The VF model Commodore was the last to be built in Australia

2017: Holden closes the doors on its factories and ends the manufacturing of cars. It becomes an importer, selling vehicles sourced from across the General Motors group and rebadging them as Holden models.

2019: The company announces it will retire the iconic Commodore nameplate and focus on selling SUV and LCV vehicles.

2020: General Motors announces it is retiring the Holden brand.

Images: GM Media

was made, Holden had just recorded a loss (unfortunately, something it was doing regularly) of $152.8 million.

The Coalition government of the time, led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, was considering withdrawing at least some of the funding it had been providing to the industry and it was reported that Holden had received something in the region of $2 billion in government assistance over the previous decade or so.

“There is not going to be any extra money over and above the generous support the taxpayers have been giving the motor industry for a long time,” said Mr Abbott just a few days before Holden’s manufacturing announcement.

When the announcement did finally drop, then GM Holden Managing Director Mike Devereux said: “GM remains committed to the automotive industry in Australia and New Zealand . . . GM Holden will remain an integral part of its communities and an important employer both directly and through our dealers.”

Remaining an ‘integral part’ lasted just seven years, and when the end came, it came quickly.

In an Australian new vehicle market that saw consistently falling sales through 2018 and 2019, Holden had a particularly torrid time. Sales in 2019 were down 7.8 per cent

Images: GM Media

Holden has an impressive motor racing pedigree, winning the Bathurst endurance race more than any other manufacturer, inlcuding in 1984 when Peter Brock and Larry Perkins were victorious

across the board on 2018. However, for Holden, the sale of 43,176 units in 2019 marked a 28.9 per cent drop on 2018. The company’s 2018 sales figure of 60,751 vehicles was an eye-watering 32 per cent down on 2017.

The headline amongst these bad numbers was the demise of the once mighty Commodore. Such was the fall in favour of the big sedan that the car that had once been the company's shining star - from 1996 to 2010 it was Australia’s best seller - could muster fewer than 6000 sales in 2019.

VIDEO: HOLDEN COMMODORE HISTORY

30 | Motor Trader March 2020

At the beginning of December last year, Holden’s Chairman, David Buttner - who had been in the job less than two years stepped down and Kristian Aquilina took his place as interim boss. A few days later, the company announced the Commodore news and that it would modify its portfolio to dedicate itself exclusively to SUVs and light commercial vehicles.

The termination of the Commodore must have left even the most optimistic Holden enthusiast with the feeling that the writing was on the wall.

“The decision to retire the Commodore nameplate has not been taken lightly by those who understand and acknowledge its proud heritage,” said Aquilina in a statement. “The large sedan was the cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand roads for decades. But now with more choice than ever before, customers are displaying a strong preference for the high driving position, functionality and versatility of SUVs and Utes.

“The SUV segment is approaching half-amillion units, and LCVs over 200,000 units.

“WE WILL ALSO DO ALL THAT

WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT HOLDEN IS HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PROMISES THAT IT HAS MADE, TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO THE GOVERNMENT, THAT IT WILL SUPPORT WORKERS AND IT WILL SUPPORT THE DEALERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED

BY THIS DECISION.”

HOLDEN CONCEPTS Like other manufacturers, Holden did put together some concept vehicles built to test new technology and designs. Two standouts were the Hurricane from 1969, and the Torana GTR-X from 1970.

That’s where the action is and that’s where we are going to play.”

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM Aquilina's statement from December betrayed no knowledge of the imminent brand termination and GM's Julian Blissett seemed to confirm that the decision was a surprise to Holden when, at a press conference on February 17, he said: “We have just informed our employees and our dealer partners and I can confirm to you that GM has taken the very difficult decision to wind down Holden operations in Australia and NZ by 2021.”

‘Just informed’. The news was, then, a shock not only to the public but to most at Holden, the Holden dealership network and, it seems, even the Australian Government. The Minister for Industry, Karen Andrews, certainly seemed unsettled when fronting the media to field questions on the day of the announcement.

“The Australian government will do all that it can to assist the displaced workers to look at other opportunities," she said.

"We will also do all that we can to make sure that Holden is held to account for the promises that it has made, to me personally and to the government, that it will support workers and it will support the dealers who have been affected by this decision.”

Later, she added: “I don’t think it is

THE HOLDEN HURRICANE, 1969 The Hurricane was a stunning car. Sporty and futuristic, it was powered by a midmounted, 4.2 litre V8 engine and was stacked with tech that was remarkable for the time. There was 'Pathfinder' – a forerunner to GPS which acted on magnetic signals built into the road, and 'Comfortron' – an automatic temperature-controlled A/C system. It had digital instruments, disc brakes, a hydraulically-powered canopy and a rear-view camera! Just brilliant.

THE TORANA GTR-X, 1970 A wedge-shaped, fibreglass-bodied wonder powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder, the GTR-X came agonsingly close to going into production. It looked fantastic, had a stunningly good interior and was good for an 8 second 0-100km/h time and a top speed of a snip over 200km/h. Sadly, the market for the GTR-X was deemed too small and the project ended with just three units built.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 31

acceptable for Holden to have made this decision without any consultation with government and without significant advice of that decision. Now, I understand that they need to communicate and consult with their workers but quite frankly this is an unacceptable process that Holden has undertaken . . .”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison seemed equally incensed: “I'm disappointed, but not surprised, and I am angry like I think many Australians would be," he said at a press conference. "Australian taxpayers put billions into this, into this multinational company, and they let the brand just wither away on their watch.”

MOVING ON Losing an iconic name such as Holden isn't pleasant and certainly there has been some anger from the public. However, in the main, it looks like that anger will be shortlived, there will be a collective shrug of the shoulders and people will move on. To many folks, it seems, Holden wasn’t really Holden anymore. The company had made its name on building cars in Australia for Australian conditions and to many, the brand was all but gone when the company closed its factories in 2017.

“I genuinely think that when manufacturing stopped, it was over,” said Russel Soper, a car enthusiast and owner of a 1972 Holden HQ told Motor Trader.

“I haven’t been a big fan since and didn’t like the ZB Commodore . . . They lost the plot and are paying that price. I think a lot of people feel that way . . . The company didn’t read the market at all and this has been a long time coming.”

32 | Motor Trader March 2020

MORE THAN A JUST A BRAND While Holden as a brand is being ‘retired’, the sales figures, GM’s global moves, a changing industry and a struggling market are only part of the story – the part that explains ‘why’. The unfortunate sting in tales such as these is that employees, direct and indirect, are always cut adrift.

And the number of people affected here is significant - according to its website, Holden has approximately 1000 direct employees staffing not only the national sales business, but a design division, a financial services arm and the

Images: GM Media

The Commodore, launched in 1978, was a spectacular success for Holden. In 1988, the newly established Holden Special Vehicles operation created the radical-looking VL SS Group A SV. Around 750 units were produced, and following the news of the demise of the Holden brand, prices for vehicles such as these will likely skyrocket

“IT IS CRITICAL THAT GM

COMPENSATE ALL HOLDEN DEALERS FAIRLY AND THAT THE PRECEDENT SET IS AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.” Maven car-sharing service. Hundreds will lose their jobs.

Even more significant in terms of employee numbers is the Holden dealership network. There are some 200 Holden dealers across the country (39 in Queensland) with as many as 9000 employees, and what happens to them and their staff is uncertain.

Holden/GM has said that its ‘customers can be assured that the company will honour all warranties and servicing offers made at time of sale' and 'will provide servicing and spare parts for at least 10 years, through national aftersales networks in Australia and New Zealand. As required,

Holden and its aftersales network will also continue to handle any recalls or safetyrelated issues if they arise, working with the appropriate governmental agencies.’

The company added that, ‘Holden will work with its dealer network on appropriate transition arrangements, including offering dealers the opportunity to continue as authorised service outlets to support Holden customers.’

Some dealers then will, presumably, carry on in this support role. However, big decisions and hefty investments were made by those same dealers on the understanding that Holden was staying put, and while the situation (at time of publication) is somewhat sketchy, it is clear that dealers are not at all happy with how things are turning out and reports have indicated that offers of compensation from GM have been met with dismay.

In the last week of February, Holden dealers from across the country met in Canberra and secured a meeting

with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to discuss the matter. On February 27, it was announced there would be a Senate inquiry into GM’s decision to retire the brand and the ramifications of that decision. Whatever conversations are being had between GM and the dealers, they clearly are not wholly amicable.

“As an industry we were shocked

by GM’s decision and the way it was communicated. However, we have been even more shocked by reports from our members on the grossly inadequate compensation on offer,” said James Voortman, CEO of AADA (Australian Automotive Dealer Association).

“The withdrawal of GM from the Australian market leaves around 200 dealerships in the lurch, and up to 9000 workers out of a job.

“Holden Dealers invested significant capital in facilities, stock and equipment.

Many signed up to long-term leases. They employed people in their businesses and took on apprentices. All of these decisions were made in good faith based on commitments from Holden that they were in Australia for the long haul.

“This inquiry is crucial as the way in which Holden is allowed to exit Australia will set the benchmark for other offshore car manufacturers considering an exit from the country, a rationalisation of their network or a change in their distribution model.

“The decision of the Senate to review the impacts of GM’s decision is very welcome, particularly as it will also look at the broader context of the Franchising Code and its role in this mess.”

MTA Queensland Group CEO Dr Brett Dale added his voice to industry concerns: “It is critical that GM compensate all Holden dealers fairly and that the precedent set is an appropriate one for Australia’s future. The Senate Inquiry to review the actions of GM is necessary and we welcome the decision. We will provide 34 | Motor Trader March 2020

a written submission and give evidence at a hearing on behalf of our AADA Queensland members.

“MTA Queensland will be working closely with AADA to ensure we are forthright in our advocacy for exit arrangements to be equitable.”

A SILVER LINING FOR OWNERS? While the outcome for dealers and their businesses is uncertain, for the public and for current Holden owners it is an interesting, and potentially profitable, time.

As dealers look to clear their stock, there are some fantastic deals to be had and some customers have received emails from them indicating discounts as high as $17,000. Very tempting.

For those who already own Australianbuilt Holdens, the future looks mighty promising. According to classic car auction house Lloyds Auctions, there is going to be a big increase in the value of some models, and the day after the initial brand retirement announcement was made, Lloyds said the value of classic

Holdens was projected to have at least doubled.

“We have been flooded with enquiries coming through our Classic Car Division nationwide over the last 24 hours or so with people wanting to buy a Holden, showcasing a surge in demand for the vintage vehicles,” said Brett Mudie, Chief Marketing Officer for Lloyds, in a statement.

“It really shows that the market has responded immediately and is indicating that the market for Holdens will skyrocket as we have seen the interest soar.

“The value of Holden classics has always been strong but the evidence that has come to us in the last day suggests that it is more than likely to create a booming market for them.”

So, if you own a classic Holden, or even one of the last performance VF models, then the dark cloud of Holden’s demise may well have a silver lining.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? Whatever happens in the next few weeks and months, by the end of next year a once

great brand will be all but gone.

The list of reasons are many – a small, hyper-competitive environment in which 67 brands are all gunning for the same pool of potential buyers; a government unwilling to invest more taxpayer money in the industry; the company misreading the market; the changing tastes of the Australian public; the need for GM to consolidate and focus its attention on lefthand drive markets and new technology; lack of investment in new models; the loss of interest in a brand that just wasn’t ‘Australian’ anymore . . . it’s a long list and, perhaps, it was the cumulative effect of all of these reasons and more that are the real cause.

But whatever the reason, where we are now is a miserable state of affairs. It’s tough knowing that people’s jobs are once again being lost and it’s sad to see the venerable old Holden brand - a brand so deeply ingrained in the modern Australian cultural experience - disappear.

‘Football, meat pies, kangaroos and ???’.

Who knows what will step up to take Holden’s place.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 35

Images : GM Media

Holden's factory at Elizabeth in South Australia was opened in 1958 and was the site of the last Holden vehicle to built in Australia in 2017

Harry Proskefalas and Wolfgang Roffmann of e-Motion Concepts with the iTango 36 | Motor Trader March 2020

E-MOTION CONCEPTS DELIVERING ON ELECTRIC MOBILITY SOLUTIONS

I

T IS PROBABLY fairly safe to say that electric vehicles (BEV) will play a major role in Australia’s automotive future.

A vehicle running on battery power is a cleaner, quieter, cheaper to maintain and cheaper to run option than any vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), and while there are hurdles to overcome – range anxiety, price, charging infrastructure, charging speed, and the need for renewable energy options to make BEVs truly environmentally friendly, to name a few – these will surely be cleared in time.

However, there is one other factor that does need to be considered as the shift to electrified transport takes place.

Imagine a scenario in which all the perceived hurdles of electric vehicle ownership are overcome and every vehicle on the road is battery powered. Things would certainly be quieter and cleaner, but rush-hour traffic would still be a nightmare, the battle for parking spaces in the city centre would be just as fierce, sizeable delivery trucks would still be charging around the suburbs dropping off groceries and the latest gizmos ordered off eBay or Amazon, and four-door family sedans would still be occupied by just the driver for most of their time on the road, while for 90 per cent of the day they’d be sitting idle and empty.

This scenario is partly why the term

‘mobility’ is used so much these days. The thinking is no longer a case of ‘remove ICE vehicles from the roads and all will be well’. Rather, it is about how the whole automotive and transport environment can be changed to make our lives cleaner, easier and quicker. Infrastructure, connectivity, electrification, transport integration - all are part of this new thinking and full-size BEVs play just a part in that process.

This idea of ‘mobility’ is why, at the Consumer Electric Show this year, Hyundai and Toyota showcased concepts that were not just about advanced BEVs and autonomous vehicles (although they were a key part of their presentations).

Toyota revealed it is to build an entire city environment to research mobility solutions, while Hyundai unveiled an integrated concept that included transport hubs, autonomous BEVs and even batterypowered flying taxis.

These are big ideas and big thinking, and it’s easy to believe that this sort of work is the domain of the big players.

Well, not really. There are companies out there thinking about mobility and working diligently to provide the solutions, products and strategies to businesses that can see which way the wind is blowing and want to make a leap into that future. e-Motion Concepts (eMC) is one such business. The Brisbane-based company March 2020 Motor Trader | 37

was founded just four years ago by Wolfgang Roffmann who, along with company director Harry Proskefalas, has forged partnerships in Europe and China to bring a range of battery-powered vehicles to Australia, each designed to provide a solution to a range of transport issues in the urban environment. The range covers personal mobility vehicles as well as urban transport vehicles and all are either government-approved for use nationally or are on the cusp of receiving that approval.

They include the CT-KARGO and CTKUBE commercial transport vehicles; the iLark, iTango and iTank three-wheel vehicles and the P1200 and P2000 twowheel scooters for personal transport; and the three-wheel Zbee that can be used for both delivery or urban taxi operations.

Designed and built for the European market where the uptake of full-size BEVs and smaller electric vehicles is well underway, eMC’s fleet can play a big part in the mobility landscape as it develops here in Australia. They are sophisticated, technologically advanced vehicles that are digitally connected, can be monitored via smartphone apps, have decent range, are

easy to charge, safe and simple to drive and, most importantly, fit the bill for just about any envisioned urban application.

THE e-MOTION CONCEPTS CONCEPT While eMC imports these vehicles, and they can be purchased via the company’s retail arm at emos.com.au, the business is as much a provider of urban transport solutions as it is an importer and retailer, and the team are able to consult and offer innovative ideas that employ the proven technology of their vehicle range to tackle mobility headaches that many individuals and businesses face in today’s fast-moving, efficiency-seeking and environmentally conscious landscape. If a business has a transportation need, eMC has the vehicles and the know-how to meet those requirements.

According to Wolfgang, eMC’s vehicles are garnering plenty of interest from businesses large and small.

“We are talking to a lot of people and a good amount of interest is coming from transport companies, from building developers, dealers, and tourism operators,” he said.

The CT-KUBE, shown here with Domino's Pizza branding, is an ideal vehicle for urban delivery solutions 38 | Motor Trader March 2020

“ALL THE NATIONAL COURIERS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE HAVE THE APPROVED SOLUTIONS FOR IT. ONCE THE DEMAND SUPPORTS THAT MODEL HERE, UNITS LIKE THESE WILL BE NEEDED AND THEY ARE READY.”

“Initially, we wanted to focus on the transport and commercial sector such as taxis for short distances and for last and first-mile solutions. But we recognised that the area of local deliveries has changed.

E-commerce now sees items being bought online and delivered straight to the consumer with some businesses now offering one-hour delivery options or even delivery on demand. The whole dynamic of delivery is changing.”

And that is just one area where eMC’s CT-KARGO and CT-KUBE could be game-changers.

COMMERCIAL MOBILITY The CT-KARGO has a cargo capacity of 1400 litres, a load capacity of 180kg, has a range of 110km and clips along at 50km/h. The smaller CT-KUBE comes in with a 500-litre cargo capacity, 50kg load capacity, and the same range and speed as the CT-KARGO. With connection to fleet management platforms that give operators the ability to monitor the vehicles and adopt productive and efficient route plans, extremely swift delivery options for customers become easily achievable.

These types of vehicles are already in use across Europe and with eMC having organised government approval for the vehicles' use in Australia, they are ready to go here and now.

“These vehicles reached the European market predominantly for parcel and postal delivery, and national couriers are now adopting them. Through our talks

with companies here, we are seeing a move towards that European model,” said Harry.

“All the national couriers are talking about it and we have the approved solutions.

Once the demand supports that model here, units like these will be needed and they are ready.”

And it’s not just for package delivery that these vehicles could be used. Available with a refrigerated cargo unit, groceries and the delivery of other perishables is an option too. With supermarkets already essentially micro-distribution centres strategically placed to service a local population, a small fleet of CT-KARGOs could easily deliver orders quickly and ondemand. Extrapolate this idea out to local shopping centres and it’s easy to see how a local business could tap into the online shopping community and take advantage of such a low-cost delivery solution.

PERSONAL MOBILITY Electric scooters and small electric vehicles seem like a no-brainer for nipping around town on short trips, and the influx of stand-up electric scooter options, and businesses such as Lime, does suggest that such options are catching on. eMC offers vehicles in this sector with the iLark, iTank and iTango - a range of three-wheel, sit-down vehicles that deliver decent range and are sturdier, safer, and more powerful options than stand-up e-scooters. And there is growing interest in these vehicles from university campuses, holiday resorts and apartment building developers (places where space is at a premium or the ability to move quickly and safely from one place to another is desirable) that are looking to offer mobility options for students and residents using a return-to-base solution - where a fleet of vehicles are kept at a specific location hub and can be used at any time.

In this scenario, a user could reserve a vehicle via their smartphone and use it for essentially any trip – from picking up March 2020 Motor Trader | 39

The iTango

The iLark

a basket load of groceries, to scooting across campus, or to get from one resort attraction to another.

And there are business opportunities here, said Wolfgang. While the institutions and developers are keen to have mobility options, they are not necessarily in the game of running those options themselves.

“There are real estate developments where the ratio of parking spaces to apartments is just 0.75, and that means some people will miss out on a car park,” said Wolfgang. “Developers are happy to put space aside which can hold perhaps 10-15 of these vehicles – a space that is about the same as two car parking spots but they aren’t very interested in running the service itself and they are looking for an operator to do that.”

BATTERIES AND CHARGING TECH

The iTank

40 | Motor Trader March 2020

While the main thrust of eMC‘s work is to deliver battery-powered vehicles, their solutions move beyond just transportation. Questions often asked about electric vehicles revolve around range and battery charging and, in these areas too, eMC offers clever solutions.

While the company’s vehicles can be charged via a standard 240v power outlet, there are options beyond just plugging them into the wall socket. The vehicles come with easy-to-change battery packs that can be removed and recharged in the home or at the office via a wall socket, and because batteries are pretty hefty, some clever thinking has gone into making such an option possible.

“In our vehicles, the largest size battery is 6kWh with a weight of about 50kg,” said Wolfgang. “However, we can divide them up into three sections, and that is good from an economical point of view. If we look at deliveries, for example, when you drive out for a job you may not deplete the whole battery and really don’t need to change the whole 50kg, just one section. Do that and you can be up and running very quickly.”

The CT-KARGO

The CT-KUBE

Alternatively, fleet operators could use with companies that will result in battery recycling,” said Harry. “Batteries do reach a battery stations – an installation in which point where their performance means they a bank of battery packs can be charged can’t be used in the vehicles. However, they and which allows for vehicle users to swap a depleted battery for a charged one in just are still good enough to provide energy storage for a home. So, we are looking seconds. Solar-powered charging systems to partner with companies around that are in the pipeline too, meaning batteries technology and being able to offer that can be charged, and the vehicles powered, solution too.” for no cost whatsoever.

The ability to swap out batteries THE GOAL or recharge them relatively CLICK TO VISIT For e-Motion Concepts, the quickly from a regular socket THE E-MOTION future of logistics and transport has another benefit beyond CONCEPTS is to deliver on high efficiency keeping a vehicle on the road WEBSITE and clean energy with smart and productive. It also tackles technology. The company provides the problems of range anxiety the vehicles to support that future and charging point infrastructure and is aiming to help others develop oft-expressed concerns regarding businesses around that ideal.

BEVs in general.

“We are a solutions provider, not just a “Downtime and making sure that the vehicle provider, and we are looking at a commercial application of the vehicle supports productivity is high on our radar” mobility system that makes cities more said Harry. “And, realistically, range isn’t an liveable and healthier,” said Wolfgang.

“We’d like people to see these vehicles issue. These vehicles can be charged and recognise the potential they from a standard plug or batteries have and the opportunity we can can be swapped over, so there CLICK TO VISIT provide.” is no actual need for charging THE EMOS infrastructure to run them. And Interested in finding out more about WEBSITE that eliminates any anxiety.”

BEV mobility solutions? Contact the The innovations don’t stop there. team at e-Motion Concepts at “We are looking at partnerships info@e-motionconcepts.com.au March 2020 Motor Trader | 41

An Eye on Innovation

KATHY WINKCUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER GENERAL MANAGER INNOVATION

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HE DEMISE OF Holden is painful.

For many Australians, the brand was an important part of life and many memories - of learning to drive, of buying that first car and then having that first bingle! - are linked to the company.

While the financial reasoning behind General Motors' 'retirement' of Holden is probably fair enough - and it is true that sales had fallen dramatically - to see this once mighty company disappear is remarkable and reminds us once again of the incredible changes and disruption that the automotive industry faces.

Embracing these changes is, I would argue, the way forward. We know that the big global players are marching towards electrification, self-driving vehicles, and are investing in associated technologies VIDEO: GREEN DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

42 | Motor Trader March 2020

such as 3D printing and recycling, and it is great to see Australian businesses, startups and entrepreneurs recognising that they can play a winning role in these areas.

MTAiQ certainly is proud to be involved with businesses such as electric vehicle companies ACE-EV and e-Motion Concepts, as well as tyre recycler Green Distillation Technologies Corporation.

MTAiQ and MTA Queensland have also partnered with the Australian Research Council (ARC) to investigate the benefits of 3D printing for metal-based additive production in Australia through a project called the ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing.

While Australia may be a small market in automotive terms and perhaps easily forgotten by the major global manufacturers who would rather play elsewhere, there is plenty of room here for businesses to innovate, try new things and develop new ideas, and take advantage of the disruption that is making itself felt across the automotive industry.

2MOTA UPDATE Last November saw the launch of 2mota, a unique online booking platform and business marketplace developed in partnership with MTA Queensland and its members.

It is a portal where businesses can engage with consumers looking for service, repair or maintenance work for their vehicles, but also features a businessto-business marketplace that offers the opportunity not only to access a pool of sub-contractors, but also to hire and share tools and other assets, including space, from and with other workshops.

In the four months since its launch, 2mota has achieved considerable

and offers advice on how members and others can embrace the digital space to advance and develop their own small business. You can find out more about that project HERE. MTAiQ's second goal is to assist in developing new automotive-related concepts and business models and help entrepreneurs and start-ups bring those concepts to market. We do this through an extensive network of industry and government contacts while offering support through the concept's development. momentum. Now live in the Sydney area, Recently, we welcomed e-Motion it is close to going live in Queensland Concepts - a Brisbane-based mobility and members of MTA Queensland solutions company - as a client, and we receive a free 12-month subscription work with, or have worked with, several to the platform. For non-members, other innovative businesses and start-ups, a $20 monthly fee offers tremendous including the 2mota online booking and value to become part of a community of business-to-business resource sharing automotive businesses, gain access to a broad range of resources and thousands of platform; the ACE-EV Group which is assembling a range of electric vehicles in potential customers.

Australia; and others that are developing For those who have decided to take advantage of the opportunity 2mota offers, such technologies as wireless in-motion vehicle charging; a smart app designed MTAiQ Community Manager Nathan to streamline job reporting processes Nguyen is on hand to assist with signing in mechanical workshops; and a smart up and getting started. You can email app set to revolutionise car parking for Nathan at nnguyen@mtaq.com.au. consumers and councils. We also work GOT AN IDEA? LET US KNOW! with Refueler - a company that has developed an app connecting consumers MTAiQ's mission has two goals. The and retailers for the sale of petrol. first is to take a close look at developing MTAiQ and MTA Queensland are automotive technologies and deliver enthusiastic and influential partners to programs designed to help MTA those with an idea or product that could Queensland members and automotive businesses to adapt to industry disruption. make a difference to the automotive industry, and we encourage those with an We do this by offering educational idea to get in touch. programs and workshops and by hosting industry events such as the As author JK Rowling wrote: Carmageddon sympsosium, the “Anything is possible if you've got fourth edition of which will be enough nerve.”

CLICK taking place in July.

So, don't hold back. Get in TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEA Also, MTA Queensland, the contact with us and together TO MTAiQ Association of which MTAiQ we'll see just how far you can is part, is a member of the take your idea.

Australian government’s Small We look forward to hearing Business Digital Champions project from you.

VIDEO: WELCOME TO 2MOTA

March 2020 Motor Trader | 43

Auto innovation news

GM REVEALS MORE OF AMBITIOUS EV STRATEGY GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra discussing the company's electric vehicle strategy at the GM EV Day in March

The modular Ultium platform will serve at the heart of GM's future BEV program

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ENERAL MOTORS (GM) has unveiled some of the technology that will be powering its electric vehicle strategy – a strategy that will reportedly see the company spend some $US20 billion ($AU30 billion) over the next five years on its electric and automated vehicle programs.

At the heart of this strategy is a modular propulsion system and a global EV platform powered by what the company is calling its Ultium batteries.

The Ultium batteries and modular system are, GM says, unique in the industry as the the large-format, pouchstyle cells can be stacked vertically or

44 | Motor Trader March 2020

horizontally inside the battery pack, allowing engineers to optimise battery energy storage and layout for each vehicle design. Energy options for the Ultium range from 50 to 200 kWh, which the company says could enable a range of up to 640 kilometres or more on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph (96.5km/h) acceleration as low as three seconds. Motors designed

by GM will support front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and performance all-wheel drive applications.

Ultium-powered BEVs will be designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging. Most will have 400-volt battery packs and up to

200kW fast-charging capability while GM’s truck platform will have 800-volt battery packs and 350 kW fast-charging capability.

The modular propulsion system was designed with an eye on reducing complexity and number of required parts and the company says this flexible, modular approach to electric vehicle development will drive significant economies of scale and create new revenue opportunities, including driving battery cell costs below $100/kWh – an important figure as the cost of electric vehicles continues to be one of the hurdles that hamper their uptake by the public.

GM says it will be launching a range of new electric vehicles starting this year and plans to have 20 new models available by 2023. The new Chevrolet EV will be launched in late 2020 and this will be followed by vehicles from across the company’s brands, including a Cadillac Lyriq luxury SUV and an electric Hummer.

Earlier this year, GM announced a $US2.2 billion ($AU3.3 billion) investment at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. The plant will be GM’s first fully dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant.

“Thousands of GM scientists, engineers and designers are working to execute an historic reinvention of the company,” said Mark Reuss, GM president. “They are on the cusp of delivering a profitable EV business that can satisfy millions of customers.”

VW CROZZ COMPACT SUV TO GO INTO PRODUCTION AS ID.4 VOLKSWAGEN’S ID. CROZZ show car will go into production as the ID.4 and will be launched later this year.

Built upon the company’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB), the ID.4 will be the second vehicle based on the platform (following the ID.3) and will sold, at least initially, in Europe, the U.S. and China.

Depending on the drive package, the ID.4 will come with a range up to 500km and will initially be launched with rear-wheel drive. An electric all-wheel drive version is to be added at a later date.

VW says the ID.4 and ID.3 represent important milestones in the brand’s bid to become entirely carbon-neutral by 2050.

Precisely what the specs and performance of the ID.4 aren’t yet available but the Crozz concept on which it is based had an 83kWh battery and two electric motors driving their respective axles and developing 225kW. The Crozz was touted as having a top speed of 180km/h and a battery that could be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minuted using a fastcharging, 150Kw DC power system.

VW says the ID.4 will be the world’s first ‘climate-neutral compact SUV’ and will be built at the company Zwickau plant in Germany.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 45

Auto innovation news

JAGUAR LAND ROVER UNVEILS ITS VISION FOR URBAN MOBILITY

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AGUAR LAND ROVER has unveiled Project Vector, a new concept vehicle aimed to showcase the company’s vision of an autonomous, electric, connected future for urban mobility.

The compact vehicle concept measures just four metres in length and packs all its

Jaguar Land Rover Project Vector

46 | Motor Trader March 2020

battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor allowing for a variety of uses.

The interior cabin space allows seating configurations for private or shared use and the opportunity for commercial applications, such as last-mile deliveries. “The megatrends of urbanisation

and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable,” said Dr Tim Leverton, Project Director. “Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with and be connected to public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously.

That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure and the digital world.

“With the technology and engineering power of Jaguar Land Rover, we can provide a unique opportunity for innovators to develop highly functional urban mobility services, seamlessly integrated into everyday life.

“Future urban travel will be a composite

of owned and shared vehicles, access to ride hailing and on-demand services as well as public transport. Our vision shows the vehicle as a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes.”

The intention, said Jaguar, is to collaborate with Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority in the UK to plan a mobility service from late 2021 as a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry. The project offers a unique opportunity, Jaguar said, as it is a concept platform designed and engineered as a blank canvas, for developing tailored services and apps in a smart city ecosystem.

BMW UNVEILS NEW AERODYNAMIC WHEELS FOR EVS BMW HAS UNVEILED its new Aerodynamic Wheel that will make its debut on the upcoming BMW iX3 electric crossover vehicle.

A combination of aluminium base wheel and individually designed inserts give the wheel its performance with drag reduced by about 5 per cent compared to those on a conventionally powered BMW X3. The new Aerodynamic Wheels come in 15 per cent lighter than previous versions.

The inserts are precision-moulded and integrated into the outside of the wheel between the spokes. BMW says they are highly effective in reducing wheel-arch air turbulence, and therefore drag.

The company adds that the benefits of the new wheel in terms of aerodynamics and weight have the overall effect of lowering power consumption for the BMW iX3 by another two per cent in the European WLTP test cycle - equating

to 0.4 kWh/100 km extending the vehicle range by 10 kilometres.

The wheels’ appearance can be varied in different ways, enabling a variety of possibilities for the design of wheels on future models. They can be painted in different colours while the customer can also choose between matt or polished finish.

All versions of the base wheel can be fitted with inserts whose appearance can vary according to the sheen, polish and pattern specified. Colour accents from the body design can be incorporated into the inserts’ styling and they can also be combined with different surface designs within a single wheel. The result is a design that matches the vehicle’s character, the equipment line selected and the customer’s individual preferences.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 47

Auto innovation news

WILLIAMS ADVANCED ENGINEERING TO DEVELOP WORLD’S LARGEST HYDROGEN-POWERED MINE TRUCK

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LOBAL MINING COMPANY Anglo American has engaged Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) to develop its new Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): an ultra-class electrically powered mining haul truck.

Anglo American has committed to reducing its global greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and says putting electrified vehicles into mines – from large haul trucks to passenger vehicles and employee buses – will help it reach its targets.

The FCEV haul truck will be powered by a hydrogen Fuel Cell Module paired with a WAE scalable high-power modular lithiumion battery system. This arrangement, which replaces the existing vehicle’s diesel engine, is controlled by a high voltage power distribution unit delivering in excess of 1,000 kWh of energy storage.

The power units are to be designed and built at WAE in the UK and integrated into an existing mining haul truck, with testing taking place later this year in South Africa. The companies say that studies will take place after the initial trials to understand how these power units can be used to provide energy storage in second life applications.

“We have a longstanding commitment as a leader in responsible mining, with

48 | Motor Trader March 2020

numerous examples of our progressive business decisions across many decades and we look forward to working with Williams Advanced Engineering to deliver this important step-change technology, a true world first for a vehicle of this size and load capacity,” said Julian Soles, Head of Technology Development for Anglo American.

“With their extensive industry experience, we believe Williams can help us to deliver this ground-breaking project, which is part of our plan to create a smart energy mix that moves us closer towards our carbon and energy targets for 2030 and, ultimately, our vision of operating a carbon-neutral mine.”

HYUNDAI AND KIA DEVELOP ICT CONNECTED SHIFT SYSTEM

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YUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY and Kia Motors Corporation have that they have developed the world’s first predictive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Connected Shift System, enabling a vehicle to automatically shift to the optimal gear after identifying the road and traffic conditions ahead.

ICT Connected Shift System uses intelligent software in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) that collects and interprets real-time input from underlying technologies, including 3D navigation equipped with a precise map of the road as well as cameras and radar for smart cruise control.

The 3D navigation input includes elevation, gradient, curvature and a variety of road events as well as current traffic conditions. Radar detects the speed and distance between the vehicle and others, and a forward-looking camera provides lane information.

Using these inputs, the TCU predicts the optimal shift scenario for real-time driving situations through an artificial intelligence algorithm and shifts the gears accordingly. For example, when a relatively long slowdown is expected and radar detects no speed irregularities with the car ahead, the transmission

clutch temporarily switches to neutral mode to improve fuel efficiency.

Hyundai and Kia said that when they tested a vehicle with an ICT Connected Shift System on a heavily curved road, the frequency of shifts in cornering was reduced by approximately 43 per cent compared to vehicles without the system.

Accordingly, the system also reduced the frequency of brake operation by approximately 11 per cent.

The companies are planning to further develop the system so that itan communicate with traffic signals based on LTE or 5G communication and plan to apply the technology on future vehicles.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 49

Auto innovation news

GORDON MURRAY DESIGN LEADS UK CONSORTIUM TO LAUNCH AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY VEHICLE

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HIS IS THE MOTIV, an autonomous vehicle platform developed by the famed Gordon Murray Design outfit; electrification, hybridisation, and vehicle dynamics specialist Delta Motorsport; and advanced mobility and innovation specialist, itMoves.

The new platform is an ultra-lightweight quadricycle vehicle platform designed to meet full passenger-car crash safety requirements and the fully electric unit is targeted to offer significant cost savings and improved refinement while delivering the range capabilities, platform flexibility and plug-and-play versatility required by autonomous customers with personal mobility or commercial delivery requirements.

Designed with autonomy in mind,

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“WITH MOTIV WE HAVE

USED OUR ISTREAM TECHNOLOGIES TO CREATE AN ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT BODY STRUCTURE THAT DELIVERS A VEHICLE THAT IS COMPACT, REFINED, SAFE AND VERSATILE, WHILE REMAINING CAPABLE OF SIGNIFICANT RANGE.” MOTIV is a single-seater ‘pod’, providing either personal transportation or last-mile deliveries. MOTIV can, the companies say, be adapted in the future to seat multiple occupants, for wheelchair use, or for commercial deliveries. In its goods transportation form, the platform can be

altered to enable maximum load capacity, creating a volume of more than 1,100 litres.

MOTIV provides the opportunity for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) providers to use a product that is ready for immediate adaptation to driverless use with any form of autonomous technology and, the companies say, it is the first of its kind to offer this degree of integration simplicity.

To support its transition to autonomous road use, the consortium aims to partner with autonomous technology providers for multiple pilot studies.

MOTIV is powered by a 20kW electric motor and will be equipped with a 17.3kWh liquid-cooled battery pack providing a potential range of up to 100km.

It will operate at speeds of up to 65Km/h.

It is equipped with CCS charging capability and can recharge from 20 per cent to 80 per cent battery in 40 minutes.

Built using Gordon Murray Design’s iStream Superlight technology, the MOTIV is constructed with ultra-lightweight high strength extruded aluminium in the chassis (iFrame), composite panels and door (iPanel), plus aluminium suspension (iLink) to ensure weight is kept to a minimum. That weight is kept below 450kg (excluding batteries), which reduces the amount of raw materials used in the manufacture of the platform and also means it reduces the size of battery required without impacting vehicle range.

“MOTIV has the potential to transform future mobility,” said Professor Gordon Murray, Chairman of Gordon Murray Group. “The best way to make any vehicle commercially viable and cost-effective, while delivering first-class efficiency, is to make it as light as it can be while retaining the highest levels of safety. With MOTIV we have used our iStream technologies to create an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range.”

Mark W. Menezes, Under Secretary of Energy with Euisun Chung, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group

HYUNDAI EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. GOVT TO RESEARCH HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TECH HYUNDAI IS EXPANDING its partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its support of the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. The company says it aims to ‘increase technical collaboration to better understand challenges and to collect and publish independently validated data from demonstrating fuel cell technologies and hydrogen infrastructure under real world operating conditions’.

As part of the partnership, Hyundai will provide the DOE with five NEXO fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) to help advance research and development of the technology. Data from the vehicles and infrastructure will be collected, analysed and published to identify additional research needs in areas such as durability, performance and reliability. Activities will also help support training and workforce development programs.

Hyundai will also contribute funding to install a small-scale hydrogen fueling station in the Washington, D.C. area.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 51

Auto innovation news

HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, CANOO TO CO-DEVELOP ALL-ELECTRIC PLATFORM FOR FUTURE ELECTRIC VEHICLES

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YUNDAI MOTOR GROUP and Canoo - a Los Angeles based electric vehicle developer – have announced that they are to jointly create an EV platform based on Canoo’s proprietary skateboard design for upcoming Hyundai and Kia models.

Canoo will provide engineering services to help develop a fully scalable, all-electric platform to meet Hyundai and Kia specifications. Hyundai Motor Group expects the platform to help it deliver costcompetitive electrified vehicles — ranging from small-sized BEVs to Purpose Built Vehicles (PBV).

Canoo’s skateboard platform houses the critical components of the vehicle with emphasis on functional integration, meaning all components fulfill as many functions as possible. This focus reduces the skateboard size, weight and total number of parts which, Hyundai says, leads to more interior cabin space and a more cost-effective EV offering.

The Canoo is a selfcontained unit

that can be paired with any cabin design.

Hyundai Motor Group expects an adaptable all-electric platform using Canoo’s skateboard architecture to allow for a simplified and standardised development process for Hyundai and Kia electrified vehicles, which is expected to help reduce costs that can be passed along to consumers. Hyundai Motor Group said it expects to reduce complexity of its BEV assembly line, allowing for rapid response to changing market demands and customer preferences.

“We were highly impressed by the speed and efficiency in which Canoo developed their innovative EV architecture, making them the perfect engineering partner for us as we transition to become a frontrunner in the future mobility industry,” said Albert Biermann, Head of R&D at Hyundai Motor Group.

“We will collaborate with Canoo engineers to develop a cost-effective Hyundai platform concept that is autonomous ready and suitable for mass adoption.”

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

53 | Motor Trader March 2020

Auto innovation news

NIKOLA UNVEILS THE BADGER PICK-UP

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HINGS ARE GETTING interesting in the electric pick-up truck sector.

There’s the Bollinger B2, the Rivian R1T, Ford is building an electric version of its monster-selling F150 and, of course, Tesla caused a lot of jaws to drop when it unveiled its Cybertruck a few weeks back.

Nikola Badger Now here’s another to enter the fray – the Nikola Badger. And the Badger has, if the specs are to be believed, got a serious shot of causing serious grief for all the other members of the EV truck club.

Nikola, the developer of hydrogenelectric semi-trucks, has turned its eye and its FCEV (Fuel-Cell Electric) and BEV (Battery-Electric) technological know-how to the smaller truck game and the Badger is designed to target and exceed every electric or petrol pick-up in its class.

Power comes from a blend of 160kWh lithium-ion battery and a 120kW fuel cell, and it is engineered to deliver 980 ft. lbs. of torque (1300Nm), 906 peak HP (675kW) and 455 continuous HP (340kW).

0-100 km/h comes in about three seconds, but speed isn’t really the point here it seems – it’s all about the power and practicality. And the Badger will be outfitted with a 15-kilowatt power outlet for tools, lights and compressors.

Nikola says the Badger was designed to handle 0-100 mph (160km/h) launches with minimal loss of performance and 54 | Motor Trader March 2020

other specs include a 600-mile (965km) range on the blended FCEV / BEV set up, and 480km on BEV alone. It will be able to operate on blended FCEV / BEV or BEV only by the touch of a button.

MTAiQ: THE INNOVATION HUB FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Do you have an idea, a concept or an innovation that could make a difference in the automotive world? Do you need assistance in taking that idea to the next step in its development and to the wider world?

The auto industry is evolving quickly – technology is pushing the industry forward in directions we could scarcely imagine a decade ago and in another 10 years the vehicles that will be cruising our highways and byways (and maybe skyways!) will be vastly different to what we see today.

New ideas and new thinking are the fuel of this evolution and MTAiQ has a mission to not only help nurture new concepts, but to educate and assist the industry to adjust to, and embrace, this evolution.

At MTAiQ, we know there are creative and innovative thinkers and doers in the automotive sector who are constantly working on new ways to advance their business and their industry – and we are here to help.

With a purpose-built workshop, hot-desk working area with high-speed internet, an environment humming with start-up creativity, the backing of an association with more than 80 years working for the automotive industry, and a dedicated team with links and contacts across the worlds of investment, research and government, MTAiQ can help give your idea the development and backing it needs to shift into top gear.

Click here and submit your ideas, or problems that need solving, to MTAiQ for consideration. Come on . . . Let’s get started!

www.mtaiq.com.au/submit-idea

CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES Chris Elliott

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OR NEARLY 20 years, Chris Elliott has been running a business importing vehicles from Japan.

It started as something of a hobby for Chris, a side business following his departure from the enormously successful Sandgate Road Wholesale Cars he co-founded in 1983 (and through which he sold an astonishing 28,000 cars). Over the past two decades, however, that hobby has grown to be a substantial concern and now incorporates three businesses related to the importation of vehicles sourced in Japan.

There’s Wheelchair Vehicle Sales, which imports wheelchair accessible vans; there’s Japan Imports, which offers compliance servicing for imported vehicles; and then there’s Just Buses & 56 | Motor Trader March 2020

EVs, from which the public can purchase people movers and battery electric (BEV) and hybrid electric (HEV) vehicles.

The electric vehicle business is, not surprisingly, the newest, and representative of the direction of the

the opportunity BEVs might offer. And that one job would lead him to become a fully fledged EV convert.

“About five years ago, a fellow approached me about importing a Mitsubishi MIEV van,” said Chris. “I actually told him I wasn’t interested but he pleaded with me to do it and said not to worry about the cost. So, I brought it in, got it complied, and once I had the compliance plates for that model, I thought I had better buy a few to see how “THE BEV AND HYBRID they go here. They were slow to take off – SIDE OF THE BUSINESS IS the whole industry has been very slow to GROWING SLOWLY . . . take off – but the market is there.”

IT IS STILL IN THE EARLY That market will grow, that is all DAYS, BUT IT WILL GROW.” but certain, and in recent months the government has adjusted the Specialist cars play a major role in the automotive and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEV) rules as industry and while the public are yet to the transition to the new Road Vehicle fully embrace BEVs and Australia is lagging Standards Act continues. That adjustment behind much of the developed world in has opened things up for importers. the electric vehicle uptake stakes, “The old rules meant that CLICK TO that surely won’t last for long. if manufacturers brought a FIND OUT For Chris, the spark that particular model to Australia, MORE ABOUT THE SEV INTERIM convinced him to start importing we weren’t allowed to import GUIDANCE BEVs did not come about by any variant of it at all,” said design. Rather, a request from a Chris. “However, that has been changed, and variants that are customer got him thinking about automotive industry, especially overseas, and spreading his business’s wings to include electric vehicles makes Chris something of a pioneer. The BEV new car market is barely getting started here in Australia, so to take the leap into importing and offering used BEVs and HEVS for sale is both pretty brave and, one suspects, pretty shrewd. Why? Dealers who offer good quality, well-priced used

March 2020 Motor Trader | 57

significantly different to models sold here are now allowed. That means we can bring in electric, hybrid, or high-performance variants of a model, assuming it isn’t already sold in Australia.

“There is a hybrid version of virtually everything in Japan and a quite a few BEV versions too, and the manufacturers just won’t bring everything they have into Australia. They’ll bring in some of the more popular models, but they’ll leave a lot of others. That does leave us quite a few options.

“And I think this is the government telling the new car industry that they want more hybrid and electric vehicles to come here. They are saying, in effect, that if they don’t bring them in then they’ll let us, the importers, bring them in. It really feels like the government is trying to help, and it is very encouraging.”

Importing his stock from Japan means Chris is bringing in some high-quality stuff.

A quick tour of the BEVs and HEVs in stock reveal quality Nissan Leafs and vans at very appealing prices and tucked in amongst them a very nice 2014 Merc S400 hybrid and an equally nice 2013 Nissan Fuga (better known here as the Infinity Q70) hybrid.

“THERE IS A HYBRID VERSION

OF VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN JAPAN AND QUITE A FEW EV VERSIONS TOO . . . ”

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These too, look to be priced at a tasty level.

And the price is important. BEV and HEV buyers are, said Chris, very costconscious. The sticker price, running costs, maintenance costs, the price of battery replacement – these, along with the range of a BEV, are the most common questions asked by potential buyers.

“They ask about service costs but, of course, there really isn’t that much to service in an EV,” said Chris. “There’s no oil, no engine, no transmission stuff you see in a regular car. And you barely use up a set of brake pads because every time you touch the brake pedal then there’s the regenerative braking. So, all there is to think about are tyres, shock absorbers, the steering, maybe the air conditioning – there just aren’t the thousands of moving parts you see in a regular vehicle.

“Most people come in and talk about an electric vehicle being their ‘second car’, the ‘buzz-around-the-city’ car. That’s because of the perceived problem with range. But most people overestimate the amount of range they use or need and, really, very few people do more than 40 or 50km in a day. And that is why these cars, in the end, always become their ‘first car’, because they quickly discover that, for most of the time, electric vehicles have plenty of range for what they require and it’s the car they use all the time unless they have to do a drive of some real distance.”

The battery replacement question is an important one though. It would be painful indeed for a buyer to discover their recently purchased BEV has a battery that was down on performance and needed an expensive replacement.

“I believe a completely new battery for a Leaf is about $8000, but there are some developments here,” said Chris. “When a battery starts to fail, it is usually because one, two or three cells within it

have deteriorated. In New Zealand, which has really embraced electric vehicles, they are beginning to work on being able to replace just those two or three cells with cells from a donor battery. Doing it that rehabilitates the battery at a cost that is just a fraction of a complete replacement. Once we get a few more cars and a supply of batteries, there are some very clever people that will do that here.

“However, for the vehicles we sell, customers can take out aftermarket warrant of up to five years, and that will pay out up to $5000 towards the cost of a new battery “THEY ASK ABOUT SERVICE should that be required.

COSTS BUT, OF COURSE, “It should be noted too that when the THERE REALLY ISN’T THAT battery has degenerated to the point that MUCH TO SERVICE IN AN EV . . . it can no longer be used to power the car, THERE’S NO OIL, NO ENGINE, it still has probably 13-14kWh capacity.

That’s similar to batteries that are being NO TRANSMISSION STUFF used to power homes. So, that vehicle YOU SEE IN A REGULAR CAR.” battery could be pulled from the car and used as a home supply. I can’t think of a That future certainly will incorporate a better way to recycle a battery actually.” great many electrified vehicles, and though While the BEV market is slowly picking Australia may take its time in getting up with the public, Chris can point to there, Chris has positioned his business to some interesting customers that prove be able to take advantage of the public’s businesses are seeing the value in using conversion to and acceptance of the electric vehicles. technology.

“We sold three MIEVs to an eco-resort “The BEV and hybrid side of the business in Tasmania that has grid power to is growing slowly,” he said. “It is still in the their main administrative centre and early days, but it will grow. Australians do 30 cabins dotted around that are all on still have this idea that they must have a battery power. They wanted to see if it was car with a range of 500km and more, but possible to recharge the MIEV and then they really don’t, and that attitude will use it to recharge the cabin batteries. change once they get in them and start "They did develop that, and those cabins trying them out. When we consider the can be topped up straight from the changing rules regarding importing, vehicle. We’ve also supplied vehicles I do believe the government is CLICK TO to Lord Howe Island too which VISIT JUST doing its bit and now it is up to is looking to get its power from BUSES & EVS the public to drive demand. The renewable energy sources and is WEBSITE choice is there now. They just considering whether only electric need to let us know what they vehicles should be used on the island. It is the future.” want, and we’ll bring them in.”

March 2020 Motor Trader | 59

C

S&COFFEE R A

September 60 | Motor Trader March 20202019

MAKE: ROVER MODEL: P6 3500 YEAR: 1968 ENGINE: 3500CC(NOW 4.2-LITRE) V8 OWNER: WILL MOSES

September 2019 Motor Trader | 61 March 2020

XXXX.

WORDS & PHOTOS: LINDSAY SAUNDERS

A

S A BRITISH car fan all his life, it could be argued that Will Moses’ passion was leading to this car, his recently acquired 1968 Rover P6 3500.

Originally from New Zealand, Will, now retired, was a welder and fitter and turner, doing his apprenticeship at the Dunedin council bus depot. As British marques were particularly prevalent in the country ack then, he owned and worked on many different models.

“I’ve just always loved British cars,” said Will. “I’ve had a few over the years, including Austins – I’m the vice president of the Austin Club – and have had a Mini and most recently an 1981 Ford Cortina among others.”

In fact, it was the Cortina that we at 62 | Motor Trader March 2020

Motor Trader were originally going to talk about with Will, but he had moved it on days after buying the Rover.

It really only takes a moment to appreciate why Will wanted this P6. To describe its condition as immaculate is no cliché and the car is testament to its previous owner’s skills, standards and drive for perfection.

“I bought the car from the widow of Ian Coupland, who bought the car in October 2003,” Will explained. “Ian undertook a bare metal, nuts and bolts restoration that spanned about seven years. He had been a Rover mechanic at the Sydney motor dealers Grenville, which was the city’s Rover dealer and it seems certain this car was the first P6 sold in Australia. Ian was widely acknowledged as the Rover expert in Sydney.

“The P6 was a car ahead of its time and I feel this is probably the finest example

in Australia.”

The P6 3500 came into being in April 1968 when Rover fitted their recently reengineered 3.5-litre, all-aluminium V8 to the P6 2000 body shell. Leyland (which owned Rover) had bought the alloy V8 idea from Buick, who had given up on the idea. The Brits persisted, overcame issues and created a V8 that weighs the same as the steel fourcylinder engines of the time.

“Its power-to-weight ratio is brilliant,” said Will. “In fact, its 0-60 mph time of 9.5 seconds was just two seconds off that year’s Ford Mustang. Not bad for a four-door sedan.

“It’s no wonder the British police were using them too.”

Also not bad are the many features of this car - features that would not become common in other marques for years to come – such as all-wheel disc brakes, self-cancelling indicators, child safety door locks, soft-finish

interior trim designed to crush on impact, hazard warning light, engineered crumple zones, a self-filling reserve fuel tank and warning lights for brake pad and fluid levels.

All on a car that’s now over 50 years old.

“It’s been described as the poor man’s Rolls Royce and I think that’s apt,” said Will.

“There were also more accessories available for the car at the time from Rover than most any other marque – this one also has air conditioning and power steering added, which again is pretty unusual for a car of its vintage.

“It has so many lovely features, such as the ability to attach the spare wheel to the boot lid to increase the luggage capacity of the boot – the emblem on the boot lid screws off and the spare screws in.

“There’s also little ‘spurs’ on the top of the headlights – when the lights are turned on, they illuminate and are visible to March 2020 Motor Trader | 63

the driver so you can see where the corners of the car are in the dark.

“Aside from all the features, this is an incredibly good handling car.

The ride is smooth and stable, and it oozes luxury, but in a smaller, more affordable package than, say, a Mercedes of the period.”

With its original red leather and burled walnut interior, Will’s P6 is indeed a car of refinement. On a short drive Will graciously afforded this writer, the car’s good manners were apparent, but there’s also enough beast below the bonnet to make things interesting. Smooth acceleration can easily become G-force-inducing with a firmer right foot.

That’s due in some part to this P6’s secret. There isn’t just a 3500cc V8 in this P6.

“This car has had a stroker kit through it pistons, crankshaft and rods - so it’s 4.2 litres,” explained Will.

“There’s also a torque convertor been added to the three-speed auto gearbox to handle that power better.

“The car was rebuilt completely

by Ian including 64 | Motor Trader March 2020

a bare metal paint respray in its original colour, burnt grey. However, all of the interior is original.

“He also upgraded the front chassis so the whole front end is a lot stronger and he added the mini-lite mag wheels and new rubber.

“It still has the original logbooks which point to its 41,000 miles being genuine.”

While Will has had a number of cars over the years, this Rover won’t be going anywhere.

“What would I replace it with? I’ll never find a better car,” he said. “The Rover is a luxury car and you can really feel it. Even just the way the doors close so solidly, that the window trim is stainless steel all the way around – it’s just a class act.

“When it was released it was considered by many to be best car ever produced in Britain. And this one is unique – for its condition and for its features. Plus it’s just a beautiful car.”

But he won’t be keeping the P6 in cotton wool.

“It’s on full rego and it’s a car to drive,” said Will. “I want to just be able to jump in it and drive it.

“I’m in the Bayside Vehicle Restorers Club and we do quite a lot of car runs and it’s a lot of fun to take part in the runs and events.

“It’s not a show car that will be left sitting in the garage. It’ll be out and about participating in many car club events. I’ll be driving it. This car won’t be left in the garage.”

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

!

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

March 2020 Motor Trader | 65

Auto news

TOYOTA LAUNCHES SPECIAL EDITION LANDCRUISER HORIZON

T

OYOTA HAS LAUNCHED the limited edition LandCruiser 200 Sahara Horizon.

It features bespoke styling treatments including a unique grille with a dark finish, black headlight and smoked chrome front foglight surrounds, semianiline leather-accented seats and a black leather-accented heated steering wheel. Just 400 units of the Sahara Horizon model are to be made available.

Based on the top-of-the-range LC200 Sahara, the new Horizon variant also features unique door trim stitching, black interior and headliner with chrome accents, Horizon badging and the LandCruiser logo displayed in the front and rear puddle lamps.

Under the bonnet is a 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel that drives all four wheels - complete with Toyota LandCruiser 200 Sahara Horizon a full set of low range ratios through a six-speed automatic A comprehensive suite of Toyota Safety transmission.

Sense features includes pre-collision safety In addition to the styling, the LC200 Sahara Horizon comes equipped with LED system with pedestrian detection, active cruise control, and automatic high beam, lights, side steps, 18-inch alloy wheels, together with reversing camera, front and moonroof, power-adjustable heated and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitor ventilated front seats, 4-zone climate and rear cross traffic alert. control, multi-terrain monitor, premium The Toyota LandCruiser Sahara Horizon audio system and rear seat DVD player, limited edition is priced from $129,090. and satellite navigation.

66 | Motor Trader March 2020

AUTO CAMP During this 3-day course, designed for male and female high school students (14-17yrs), you will get hands-on experience in a range of skills connected to the automotive industry.

This is a great experience if you are interested in electronics, engineering, design or manufacturing.

COURSE CONTENT  AUTOMOTIVE PRINCIPLES AND MAINTENANCE  ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC FUNDAMENTALS  HYBRID BATTERY ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY  DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING  COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY Venue: MTA Institute, Building 8, 2728 Logan Rd Eight Mile Plains Dates: 6 - 8 April 2020

30 June – 2 July 2020 Times: 9am - 3pm daily (lunch and morning tea provided) Cost: $275 per person (inc GST) Required: Enclosed foot wear / work boots and work trousers / jeans

ENROLMENT & ENQUIRIES courses@mtai.edu.au or 3722 3002 • Class size limited to 20 students • Includes lunch and morning tea • All safety equipment eg: glasses, face shields, gloves will be provided • Certificate of Completion for students

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

RTO No. 31529

20180664

The benchmark training standards.

This Advancing Apprentices Fund initiative is proudly of funded by the Queensland Government.

Auto news

Ford GT

FORD GT SUPERCAR UPGRADED FOR 2020

F

ORD PERFORMANCE IS upgrading the Ford GT supercar for 2020, including increasing the power of the 3.5-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 to 660hp.

The engine now features a broader torque band and revised engine calibration plus mechanical upgrades that include gallery-cooled pistons and higher-energy ignition coils.

Additional engine cooling and airflow updates includes new buttress air ducts designed to increase airflow by 50 per cent while larger intercoolers keep charge air

68 | Motor Trader March 2020

temperatures cooler, preserving peak power for the most strenuous sessions at the track. Suspension damping is increased in track mode to enhance handling and body control.

Ford Performance is also introducing the premium Akrapovic titanium exhaust as standard equipment for GT. The exhaust provides a 4kg weight saving over the previous system.

A special edition of the GT, called Liquid Carbon, gets some extra treatment with emphasis on GT’s lightweight

MITSUBISHI REVEALS TWO NEW VARIANTS FOR TRITON RANGE

sculpted carbon fibre body which is completely free of paint but has a special clearcoat that highlights the GT’s carbon fibre weave.

The Ford GT Liquid Carbon also features carbon fibre wheels as standard equipment. Owners can choose titanium lug nuts, six-point racing harness anchors, five interior options and five caliper colours. Further personalisation is available through two over-the-top stripe options – the dual centre stripes offered on the standard Ford GT or the single stripe found on the Carbon Series as well as optional painted mirror caps.

“Ford GT continues to be the pinnacle of Ford performance,” said Ed Krenz, Ford Performance chief program engineer. “GT is always the ultimate expression of Ford racing innovation, and as we know from the 1966 Le Mans through today, that means constantly raising our game for our customers as well as earning the checkered flag.”

MITSUBISHI MOTORS IS soon to release two new Triton variants - the GLX-R and GSR models.

The company says the GSR includes a number of trend-driven features including 18-inch black alloy wheels, black dynamic shield design, grille, headlamp garnish, skid plate, door mirrors, door handles and sidesteps.

Also included is the Multi Around Monitor system with steering wheel camera switch, leather trimmed seats, steering wheel and park brake level/shift knob, power driver seat adjustment and heated front seats.

The GSR will be released with three accessories packs that include three different tonneau covers (rolltop, hard and soft) and features such as a black sports bar and under rail tub liners.

The GLX-R is to have18-inch alloy wheels and large fog lamps, chrome door mirrors, front bumper garnish, door handles and a silver front grille.

The vehicle sits between the GLX+ and the GLS variants in the range.

Triton GLX-R

Triton GSR

Auto news

FORD PUMA TO JOIN FORD AUSTRALIA’S 2020 LINE-UP

T

HE ALL-NEW FORD Puma will be on sale in Australia in the second half of 2020.

The compact SUV, sourced from Europe, is a pretty cool-looking vehicle and will be offered, Ford says, ‘in varying price points, reflecting the diversity and lifestyles unique to local tastes and demands.’

What exactly the specifications and pricing will be when the Puma reaches

Australian shores is still to be determined, but in the UK where the Puma is now available, it comes in a variety of trim and option models - the Titanium, the ST-Line and ST-Line X. All are mild hybrid vehicles and come powered by 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid engines delivering either 123hp or 153hp and a very respectable fuel economy of 5.5 - 5.8 litres per 100km.

The Puma received a 5-star safety rating Ford Puma

in Euro-NCAP testing and tech available in these versions of the Puma include Electronic Automatic Temperature Control, Pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking, Lumbar massage seats for driver and passenger, Wireless charging, lane-keeping system and lane departure warning, with a few specialist features in the higher spec STLine and ST-Line X models.

“Puma will appeal to customers looking for a fun-to-drive, stylish SUV that’s loaded with smart tech,” said Kay Hart, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.

“The Puma is a great opportunity for us to connect with Australian customers in a new way, and we’re excited that it will arrive alongside the new-generation Escape in Australian showrooms in 2020.”

A TOUGH MARKET FOR NEW CAR SALES IN FEBRUARY NEW VEHICLE SALES figures for February, released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), showed a total of 79,940 new vehicles were sold.

Of the recorded sales, 39,304 were SUVs which accounted for 49.2 per cent of the market, 15,523 were Light Commercial Vehicles (19.4 per cent of the market) and 22,648 were Passenger Vehicles (28.3 per cent of the market).

“The Australian new vehicle market has now seen a downturn each month for the past 23 months," said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI. "In economic terms, a recession is declared after two quarters of negative growth – and this industry has now seen seven consecutive quarters of negative growth.

“There is no doubt that this is an extraordinarily difficult time for the automotive industry – a situation sadly underlined by the recent announcement of Holden’s withdrawal from the Australian market.”

The Toyota Hilux, with 3,421 sales, again claimed the title of Australia’s best-selling vehicle, closely followed by the Toyota RAV4 with 3,375 sales. The Ford Ranger, with 3,202 sales, claimed third spot followed by the Toyota Corolla with 2,520 sales. In fifth place was the Hyundai i30 with 2,152 sales.

Toyota claimed the status of market leader, with 17,679 vehicles sales for the month and 22.1 per cent market share.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 71

Auto news

HONDA UNVEILS THE ULTIMATE CIVIC TYPE R

H

ONDA HAS REVEALED details about the Civic Type R Limited Edition, the most extreme version of the high-performance car.

Honda says the Type R Limited Edition has been designed and engineered with new lightweight components and with track performance as its focus.

The Limited Edition model retains the Type R’s 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine with 228 kW peak power output at 6500 rpm and peak torque of 400 Nm from 2500-4500 rpm. The model features lightweight 20inch forged BBS alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, modified dampers and recalibrated steering.

Civic Type R Limited Edition

72 | Motor Trader March 2020

The interior of the Limited Edition reflects the sport focus of the model.

There are red bucket seats and a new red-accented Alcantara steering wheel, along with a new teardrop style gear knob and sound-deadening materials in the roof, rear hatch panel, front bumper and dashboard have been omitted to save weight.

Like the standard Type R, the Limited Edition receives the Honda SENSING suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning,

Lane Keep Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control.

New tech on the Limited Edition is the LogR – a new system that combines the onboard computer and sensors with a smartphone app to help drivers monitor and record their driving. It can, the company says, help improve driving skills both on and off the track through the use of a driving-smoothness algorithm.

Honda LogR features three main functions: a Performance Monitor, a

Log Mode and an Auto Score Mode. The Performance Monitor provides vehicle information to the driver on the Display Audio screen. Log Mode records lap times on the track. The Auto Score function encourages smooth day-to-day driving by monitoring braking, acceleration, steering and straight line driving, and generating a score based on the smoothness algorithm.

Only a very small number of the exclusive model will be built for Australia with that number yet to be confirmed.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 73

Auto news

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA OBTAINS EXTRA SUPPLY OF THE GR SUPRA

T

OYOTA AUSTRALIA HAS secured additional GR Supra stock with a limited number of cars available now directly from dealerships.

This follows a successful series of online reservations that was designed to ensure a fair allocation of restricted initial stock, with total sales reaching 345 cars to the end of January.

Toyota has also announced Supra will receive a power upgrade with suspension changes, towards the end of 2020.

The GR Supra will gain 35kW, lifting maximum power output by 14 per cent to 285kW from the 3.0-litre inline sixcylinder turbo engine.

The updated Supra will also gain refinements to handling that includes new under-bonnet chassis braces that deliver even greater rigidity.

Currently, the Supra offers 250kW/500Nm in two grades, priced from $84,900 for the Supra GT, with the top-ofthe-range GTS variant starting at $94,900.

It has standard active limited slip differential and adaptive suspension, 74 | Motor Trader March 2020

18-inch (GT) or 19-inch (GTS) wheels with Michelin rubber, and driver assistance features include active cruise control, pre-collision warning with autonomous braking and daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert, speed limit info and active speed limiter.

Additional safety features include seven airbags, blind-spot monitor, rear crosstraffic alert, reversing camera, parking sensors, rear-end collision warning and tyre pressure monitor.

Inside, the GR Supra features dualzone climate-control air-conditioning, keyless smart entry and start, leatheraccented sports seats with eight-way electric adjustment and lumbar support, a 10-speaker multimedia system with Bluetooth connectivity, AM/FM/DAB+ radio, satellite navigation and voice recognition, and a wireless phone charger.

Pricing has not been announced for the updated GR Supra, but there will likely be an increase linked to the updates.

Availability is expected to be more limited than for the current car.

Industrial relations

EVANGELINE KANNIS SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

and requested a definitive answer in two days. However, the employee claimed her redundancy was a "ruse", because a colleague who was offered extra responsibilities had effectively been given her role. But there was no evidence to support this.

AS BUSINESSES MAKE decisions to The employer maintained the restructure and employee roles change redundancy was genuine; the employee's to accommodate new technologies and responsibilities had been dispersed among shifting customer trends, individual its employees. The redeployment offer employees may find their job is no involved lower pay and less responsibility, longer required and so the job becomes but was reasonable and obligations to redundant. Some employers may offer consult were met. reasonable alternative employment even While the redeployment opportunity if it is at a lesser rate of pay. involved less pay, it was found to be The Fair Work Commission was asked to a "suitable" alternative position and consider a former employee’s alleged unfair reasonable offer. Further, even though dismissal claim*, and concluded that the the employer could have accepted the employee's redundancy was a valid response employee's resignation it had declined, to the employer’s serious financial strife. even though it was in significant debt.

In August 2019, the employee was told "It appears [the employer] was the business was losing about $15k a month wanting to retain its staff rather than and needed to increase its income stream. effect redundancies," said the FWC in She resigned a few weeks later, citing dismissing the claim. "differences of opinions regarding processes, Always ensure you are aware of your work assignments and goals", but when the rights and obligations when considering employer asked her to stay she agreed. changes in the workplace. The MTAQ Two months later the CFO announced Senior Workplace Relations Advisors are the organisation was in "serious financial available to help member employers distress" and then told the employee with all aspects of employment her position was being made matters.

CLICK TO VISIT THE MTAQ redundant, and offered her a lesser * Francombe v M.Clinicia [2020] FWC 666 KNOWLEDGE BASE (21 February 2020) professional role at a lower wage,

WHEN REDEPLOYMENT IS VALID

76 | Motor Trader March 2020

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

March 2020 Motor Trader | 77 CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PAST ISSUES OF MOTOR TRADER

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

LY O N S M E C H A N I C A L

BUSINESS ADDRESS Unit 4, 18 Devlan Street, Mansfield.

SERVICES PROVIDED Logbook services; general services; vehicle inspections; preventative maintenance; engine rebuilds & head gaskets; engine diagnostics/ repairs; tyre maintenance & repairs; brake, clutch & suspension repairs; specialising in 4x4. We provide a loan car, drop off and pick up service.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? 21 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We are a family-owned business that has been operating for 21 years under the same ownership and have customers who have

been coming to us for so long CLICK that their children are now TO VISIT coming to us. We offer THE LYONS old-fashioned, friendly, MECHANICAL personal customer WEBSITE service and quality workmanship at affordable prices. Our technicians are long term with our company which means our customers have continuity of relationship for themselves and working knowledge of their vehicles. Between us, we have nearly 100 years of mechanical experience. That means we have the ability to diagnose even the trickiest of performance or mechanical issues.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? Yes. We are constantly updating our skills through info nights and trade nights, and our scan tools have up-to-date software and data.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY? We have extended our workshop to include all tyre fitter capabilities and more hoists so we can service more cars. We also provide work experience to schools to support the industry.

OTHER INFO? We are an RACQ approved repairer.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 79

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

J & D Q UA L I T Y S M A S H R E PA I R S well looked after and benefit from our working experience.

BUSINESS ADDRESS Shed 5, 167 Murarrie Road East, Murrarie, Brisbane.

SERVICES PROVIDED Smash repair services including spray painting, panel beating, plastic welding, paintless dent removal, windscreen replacement, chassis straightening and detailing.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? 24 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We are a family business with the only mission to give the best service and quality repairs to our clients. We take pride in providing quality workmanship and outstanding personalised customer service with excellent communication to all our clients, ensuring that our customers are

80 | Motor Trader March 2020

CLICK TO VISIT THE J & D QUALITY SMASH REPAIRS WEBSITE

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? We provide state-of-the-art spray painting services, with our modern workshop spray booths capable of fast turn-around times. We invest in training staff in all sectors of vehicle repairs from paintless dent removal, glass cutting to vehicle diagnostic scanning.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY? We are a small business that provides job opportunities, especially for young enthusiastic kids and qualified older staff with plenty of experience.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? We feel very proud of having a great reputation that works well with a great working environment for the staff.

OTHER INFO?

We will continue offering high standard of repairs, delivering that with the enthusiastic work ethic that everyone here can be proud of and upon which the business was founded.

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

C A R M E N D S M A S H R E PA I R S our staff and house current industry standard equipment.

CLICK For example, we have worked TO VISIT on a number of electric THE CARMEND SMASH REPAIRS vehicles recently which WEBSITE require different repair methods. It is advantageous that our staff are kept up to date with quality training and have access to the right equipment in order to perform such duties.

BUSINESS ADDRESS 2/25 Unwin Street, Moorooka.

SERVICES PROVIDED Smash repairs, spray painting, vehicle restoration, paintless dent repair.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? Seven years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We pride ourselves on personalised service and work with our customers as best we can to suit their needs and price range.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? We ensure we are always up to date and on the forefront of technology trends which affect our business. It is our priority to continually upskill

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY? We are sponsors of the Yeronga South Brisbane Football Club (YSBFC) 'The Devils', and have a particular interest in supporting the women's league.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? Our achievement is building this business ourselves from scratch. We are very proud of creating and growing a successful, professional business organically, and all without being an insurance preferred repairer. Our clients return to us because they are satisfied with the customer service experience and quality of work received.

OTHER INFO? Carmend Smash Repairs is a family owned and operated, independent repairer driven by quality and great service. We will continue to offer such service during this ever-changing climate.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 81

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

CB AUTOMOTIVE DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? We are a very old-fashioned workshop but do use up-todate diagnostic equipment.

CLICK TO VISIT THE CB AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITE

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY?

BUSINESS ADDRESS 13 Old Pacific Highway, Yatala.

SERVICES PROVIDED General and logbook servicing. Servicing of cars, trucks and 4WDs along with buses. Provide an extensive range of repairs to all vehicles.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? We have been operating in Yatala since 1979.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? As one of the oldest mechanical workshops in the area, we have a wide range of knowledge and skill sets to carry out all servicing and repair work. Our workshop area is large with four standard hoists, one truck hoist and a set of mobile hoists.

82 | Motor Trader March 2020

We have supported local athletes in achieving their dreams - one in their dream of playing basketball in the USA, and one in their dream to play baseball for Australia. We support the local disability Ten Pin Bowling Club and also support Team Jenny on their journey to find a cure for MS. We also support a number of disadvantaged children to attend the Lions Parties every year and provide trophies for the Harrigan's Rod and Custom Show.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? Everyone here at CB auto has something different to bring to the team, and that helps us to achieve what we do here at CB second-generation mechanical business.

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

MRPS AUTOMOTIVE work and really try and do everything we can for our customers.

BUSINESS ADDRESS 2/34 Neumann Road, Capalaba.

SERVICES PROVIDED New car servicing, custom fabrication, dyno tuning, mechanical repairs, performance upgrades etc.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? Two and a half years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We pride ourselves on the customer service we deliver. We take care and pride in our

CLICK TO VISIT THE MRPS AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITE

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? We run the latest and most upto-date scan tools and technology software and we recently fitted a dyno to add to our diagnostic capabilities.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? Shane is a former MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year award winner and did complete some work experience with Triple Eight Race Engineering.

We have recently put on a first-year light vehicle apprentice and we are extremely happy with our new and upgraded facility and the opportunities that will come with it.

OTHER INFO? Our next focus is on upgrading our workshop fabrication equipment and building our customer database.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 83

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

ONE TEN MOTORCYCLES a motorcycle that other motorcycle shops have refused to look at. We CLICK go out of our way to satisfy all TO VISIT THE ONE TEN our customers whether it be MOTORCYCLES advice, sales or service.

WEBSITE

BUSINESS ADDRESS Unit 2/29 Cessna Drive, Caboolture.

SERVICES PROVIDED Sales and service on all Honda CT110 bikes (Postie Bike), Ural service agent, sales of classic bikes, sales of new and used sidecars, and fitting of sidecars.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? 14 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We have mainly specialised in all aspects of the Honda CT110. We are serious in what we do.

It's not a job, it's a lifestyle with commitment and passion, and we get a lot of satisfaction in helping our customers. Although we are only a small business, we have over 120 years experience between us with various types of motorcycles and motorcycling. It's not unusual for us to work on

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? While we are old-school tech with CT110s and classic bikes, we use up-to-date computer equipment for fuel-injected Urals.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY? For many years we have supported many fundraisers/charity events - the latest being giving away motorcycle tyres if people make a $28.00, $50.00 or $100.00 donation to any a Fire and Rescue Service or to Animal Aid. We have also participated in work experience programs for students, DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? One Ten has a new (our own) sidecar under development.

We have had several successes with our Postie Bikes. We assisted a rider (Nathan Millward) who bought a Postie Bike from us and rode back to the UK on his own and made it, and many of our Postie Bikes have travelled overseas and throughout and around Australia. Our latest achievement saw a local grandfather, Bob Dibble, buy one of our Postie Bikes, have a sidecar fitted, and then travel for18 months around the world and make it with no major breakdowns. The bike is now here at our shop on display.

OTHER INFO? One Ten Motorcycles started in 2006. At that time we specialised only in the Honda CT110, which was specially made for Australia Post, but we have since diversified into sidecars, Urals and classic bikes.

84 | Motor Trader March 2020

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

THE SERVICE DEPOT

BUSINESS ADDRESS Unit 15, 29 Moreton Bay Road, Capalaba.

SERVICES PROVIDED Service and repair of all makes and models of passenger vehicles including full logbook servicing, brake and clutch repairs and steering and suspension servicing. Also offer prepurchase inspections and more. The aim is to provide a one-stop shop servicing facility.

The Service Depot is aligned with industry specialists in auto electrical, air conditioning and transmission servicing and repairs.

HOW LONG HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? Two and a half years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We offer good, friendly, honest customer service tailored to the individual needs of the customer

and the car. We have a modern, clean, well-equipped workshop CLICK and we use Penrite for all of TO VISIT THE our lubricants and fluids.

SERVICE DEPOT We use a mix of Ryco, WEBSITE Bendix and genuine parts as well as quality aftermarket brands where needed, and aim to provide a high-quality, easy experience for all our customers.

With the attitude 'Fix it right the first time', we are giving back to our community in ways that make a difference through our Community Service program which raises funds for organisations that help and support children in our city.

DO YOU UTILISE INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR WORKPLACE? Yes we are mostly paper free and aim to bring new technologies and practises into our business to continually improve our service.

DO YOU HAVE WAYS OF SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY? The Service Depot would like to help raise money for local clubs, school P&C, P&F or organisations that are supporting children. As a local family and a small business, we're looking for ways to give something back to the fantastic organisations in our community that support children like ours.

So, we started a fundraising program called TSD Community Service. Every time a family from a local club, P&C, P&F or organisation supporting children have their car worked on with us, we'll donate $5 to the group.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS (OR PEOPLE) YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF AND WHY? We have only been open for two and a half years and we have grown from a one-person business that didn't have a full day's work, to now having two full-time staff members. We have many great customers promoting our business to their friends and family due to our high level of customer service.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 85

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

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

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

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

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

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

20170597

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

E S S E N T I A L S

PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER MTA INSTITUTE

W

MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS Contents 89 Apprentice of the Month: January 2020 91 MTA Institute celebrates with newest group of graduates 92 MTAQ Cars & Coffee 98 Concept Corner

March 2020 Motor Trader | 87

E S S E N T I A L S

parts interpreters and collision repair and refinishing technicians.

For our graduates, they wouldn’t have made it without our trainers and I would personally like to thank the trainers and the amazing staff at the MTA Institute who supported the apprentices to finish.

To continue to celebrate apprentices, the Queensland Training Awards is now open for nominations until the end of March.

The most prestigious and longest-running training sector awards program in the state, the Queensland Training Awards provides individuals and organisations with a unique opportunity to showcase their achievements, best practice and innovation in training. To enter, please go to the Queensland Training Awards.

M E M B E R S

E JUST HAD our fifth apprentice graduation ceremony and it was pleasing to see so many people were there for the evening! It was a special event for graduates and their families, and we were are glad to share it with them.

It can take up to four years to complete an apprenticeship, maybe a little shorter and maybe a little longer depending on various factors. Four years is a significant amount of time and, when reflecting on how our industry has changed it is an exciting industry and certainly will provide plenty of opportunities over the coming years.

The automotive industry is an industry of innovation and evolution and to try and keep up, you just must keep learning and keep having a thirst to be educated!

We’ve seen that Holden will be ‘retiring’ from the Australian landscape, but there will still be the need for technicians to service these vehicles for another 10 years. Wherever there is mobility there will be a need for light and heavy vehicle mechanical technicians, auto electricians,

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES

RTO No: 31529

AIR CONDITIONING COURSE

BATTERY ELECTRIC AND HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES COURSE

20 - 22 April 2020 19 - 21 August 2020 Click for more information.

5 - 8 May 2020 1 - 4 September 2020 Click for more information.

SKILL SET GAP TRAINING (3 DAY)

SALES/DEALER/WRECKERS LICENCING COURSE

SKILL SET TRAINING (4 DAY)

PRE-VOCATIONAL PREPARATION COURSE 27 April - 29 May 2020 24 July - 28 August 2020 Click for more information.

AVAILABLE ONLINE - ENROL NOW Click for more information.

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

MTA QUEENSLAND COURSES

12 May 2020, 8:30am - 12:30pm 11 August 2020, 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE 12 May 2020 11 August 2020 Click for more information.

AUTO CAMP

6 - 8 April 2020 30 June - 2 July 2020 22 - 24 September 2020 Click for more information.

CERT IV AND DIPLOMA OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Click for more information.

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

20170566

MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE

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 March 2020 Motor Trader | 89

E S S E N T I A L S

"I have always been interested in cars," he said.

"My stepdad owned this business when it was called Carpenter Ford and working in automotive was 100 per cent where I wanted to go.

"I started here when I was in year 10 and did two days a week through years 10, 11 and 12 before coming on full time when school finished."

There's plenty of work to be done at the Ford and Mistubishi dealership and Anthony likes to get stuck in to whatever comes through the doors.

"I work on anything from servicing to replacement ANTHONY CROUCH IS the Apprentice of the Month engines . . . a bit of everything. And I really enjoy it, for January 2020. it is awesome. Whatever is happening and needs The 17-year-old light vehicle apprentice at doing is fine with me - it's all about learning."

Lockyer Valley Ford and Mitsubishi in Gatton is This passion for working on cars doesn't stop just about to start his third year of training and the at the dealership shop doors. Waiting at home teenager's passion for cars has, his trainer Colin there is more 'work' to de done on a tidy collection Crawford said, made him an excellent apprentice. of Fords.

"Anthony is an outstanding student both "I have an XR6 ute and a 2010 FG, but I am academically and technically. Out of all of my students, he would be the most passionate about his working on restoring a 1961 Falcon. Every day when I get home I start working on that!" trade," said Colin. "Even his spare time is consumed Anthony said that the MTA Institute delivery of with working on cars and equipment. He epitomises on-site training worked really well for him but when what a tradesman should be." he does finish his apprenticeship, the training won't Starting a school-based apprenticeship in Year stop. As with all major manufacturers, Ford 10 means Anthony is cracking along and CLICK TO offers the chance for its technicians to get will likely be a tradesman by the age of VISIT THE advanced training on its products.

LOCKYER 19. While many young people in Year 10 VALLEY FORD & "Training and learning is important and are wondering what they want to do with MITSUBISHI WEBSITE I'll look to work towards becoming a Ford their lives, for Anthony there was never a Master Technician," said Anthony. "I'm a question that a career in automotive was where he was headed.

Ford boy at heart."

APPRENTICE: ANTHONY CROUCH WORKPLACE: LOCKYER VALLEY FORD & MITSUBISHI APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE

M E M B E R S

Apprentice of the Month: January 2020

CARS &

C O F F E E

23 FEB | 31 MAY 30 AUG | 29 NOV YOUNGCARE BBQ FAMILY FRIENDLY PET FRIENDLY ALL CARS WELCOME

90 | Motor Trader March 2020

20190849

Freeway Office Park, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains

“I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS TIME AND SEE THAT THE MTA INSTITUTE PROVIDED A GREAT PLATFORM FOR YOU AS YOU START YOUR CAREER. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE PLAYED OUR PART. CONGRATULATIONS.” lows of the apprenticeship stating that an apprenticeship is a group effort.

In addition to celebrating the graduates, Paul also gave thanks to the trainers; who along with supporting and training their apprentice for up to four years, often act as a mentor, guide and friend.

MTA Institute congratulates all apprentices who became qualified between 1 July to 31 December 2019. Graduation ceremonies are held twice each year in February and August.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 91

E S S E N T I A L S

O

N FRIDAY THE 21st of February, the MTA Institute celebrated the graduation of students who completed their trade qualification between 1 July to 31 December 2019.

Held at the MTAiQ Innovation Hub at MTA Queensland’s head office in Brisbane, some 50 guests, including apprentices, family members and friends, attended the event and received their graduation certificates from their trainers and Paul Kulpa, General Manager of MTA Institute.

Paul, who addressed the graduates, spoke about the immense achievement of the students in attendance and highlighted how the industry experiences a dropout rate of approximately 75 per cent in the first two years of an apprenticeship, making the completion of those in attendance all the more special.

“You have grown considerably since you began your training and the decision you made to start your apprenticeship is a life-changing one. I hope you will look back on this time and see that the MTA Institute provided a great platform for you as you start your career. We are proud to have played our part. Congratulations,” said Paul.

Paul also thanked family and friends in attendance and acknowledged them for being there throughout the highs and

M E M B E R S

MTA INSTITUTE CELEBRATES WITH NEWEST GROUP OF GRADUATES

CARS &

C O F F E E

1967 MG

Pic: Brandon Temple

MTAQ CARS & COFFEE

T

HE FIRST CARS & Coffee gathering of 2020 attracted a tidy collection of classic and exotic visitors to the MTA Queensland head office in February.

But while petrol power was the main feast, the team from eMotion-Concepts were also on hand to demonstrate their fleet of electric vehicles. Designed for the urban environment, the range included vehicles for personal mobility as well as commercial use and sparked plenty of interest from even the most die-hard classic car enthusiasts.

You can find out more about the eMotion-Concepts range on page 36.

For the petrolheads amongst the crowd, however, a great range of cars made the trip on what was a bit of damp and drizzly

92 | Motor Trader March 2020

“ . . . WHILE PETROL POWER

WAS THE MAIN FEAST, THE TEAM FROM EMOTIONCONCEPTS WERE ALSO ON HAND TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR FLEET OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.” Sunday morning. Amongst the classics on show was a terrific 1969 Pontiac Firebird Coupe, a 1967 MG Sedan, a 1967 MercedesBenz 200 sedan, a 1972 Holden HQ, a very nice 1976 Datsun 260Z coupe and a 1978 BMW 635CSI Coupe.

Amongst the more modern ‘classic’ was a rare 2018 Alpine A110 Coupe and a 2006 TVR T350C Roadster – a wonderful

1972 Ford Escort Coupe Pic: Brandon Temple

1969 Pontiac Firebird Coupe

The range of electric vehicle from eMotion-Concepts

March 2020 Motor Trader | 93

CARS &

C O F F E E

1972 Holden HQ 1961 Pontiac sedan

2018 Alpine A110 coupe

2006 TVR T350C Roadster Pic: Brandon Temple 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200 sedan Pic: Brandon Temple

BRANDON TEMPLE PHOTOGRAPHER

example of a sports car from the British manufacturer. Powered by the TVR Speed Six 3.6-litre engine that is good for 350hp, the Roadster pushes to a top speed of 310km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds. Nice.

Once again on hand to cover the Cars & Coffee gathering were the team from YouTube channel Overtaking Lane, who did some filming and interviewed some

THE MAJORITY of images on these pages were taken by Brandon Temple, a member of the CarStyle Crew but also an MTA Institute Brandon Temple paint and panel apprentice. You’ll spot Brandon at many a car gathering across southeast Queensland, taking snaps for his Facebook page @nonaspirated and Instagram site @non_aspirated. It’s well worth checking out his work.

March 2020 Motor Trader | 95

1976 Datsun 260Z Coupe Pic: Brandon Temple 1988 Lotus Esprit Coupe Pic: Brandon Temple

1975 Porsche 911 Coupe Pic: Brandon Temple

2013 Nissan GT-R Coupe Pic: Brandon Temple

VIDEO: MTAQ CARS & COFFEE WITH OVERTAKING LANE

of the vehicle owners. You can check out their video and the Overtaking Lane channel at www.youtube.com/overtakinglane.

As always, those who came along were able to enjoy some terrific cars, some delicious coffee and food from Zali’s Café, and raise some money for the Youngcare charity.

MTA Queensland’s Cars & Coffee will return in May. See you then!

96 | Motor Trader March 2020

Can you afford not to be in the circle?

r t n e

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

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

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

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

e

Innovation

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

t

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

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

a

Support

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

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

o

Training

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

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

MTAA Superannuation is the industry’s superfund. Our superannuation partner has over 200,000 members who enjoy excellent service and returns.

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Services

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

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

SAVE WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

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Advocacy

MTA Queensland | Sir Jack Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence

Search for MTA Queensland

March 2020 Motor Trader | 97

20150315

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

Concept corner

TOYOTA LQ 98 | Motor Trader March 2020

Q CONCEPT March 2020 Motor Trader | 99

Concept corner

T OYO TA LQ C O NC EP T

T

HIS IS THE Toyota LQ, a concept car that was revealed late in 2019 and made an appearance at the CES show in January.

Equipped with automated driving capabilities, the fully electric LQ has, Toyota says, a range of 300km and comes equipped with Yui, an artificial intelligence-powered interactive agent designed to learn from the driver and deliver a personalised mobility experience.

To ensure safety and comfort, Toyota says the AI can engage with the driver

100 | Motor Trader March 2020

using interactive voice communications, in-seat functions designed to increase alertness or reduce stress, in-vehicle illumination, air-conditioning, fragrances and other human-machine interactions (HMI). Yui can select and play music based on the driving environment and provide real-time information on topics that interest the driver.

The LQ is equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving function and has an automated valet parking system that eliminates the need to search for parking spaces by automatically driving between a drop-off spot and an assigned parking space in a nearby car park. This

system identifies the current position of the vehicle using multiple cameras, sonar and radar, 2D road mapping, cameras installed in the parking lot and a control centre. Vehicle sensors and parking-lot cameras also monitor for other vehicles and pedestrians, automatically stopping the vehicle when another vehicle or a pedestrian is detected.

The augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) shows driving information such as lane warnings and road signs.

Route guidance can be displayed in a three-dimensional manner over the scenery seen through the windscreen.

The system is designed to help keep the

driver's eyes on the road thanks to a large screen display (equivalent to 230 inches) that has a depth of 7-41 metres ahead of the vehicle.

The LQ's seating system consists of multiple inflatable air bladders embedded in the seat and uses an in-seat airconditioning system to help keep the driver awake or relaxed depending on the driving situation.

When the system recognises that the driver is tired, it inflates the air bladder in the seat back to support an upright sitting posture and directs cool air from the ventilation system located in the seat.

Clever stuff !

March 2020 Motor Trader | 101

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

G

LOBAL MARKETS SEVERELY underperformed domestic equities in January. The US was steady as the tech-heavy NASDAQ (+2.0%) outperformed the S&P 500 (-0.2%), in a month where President Trump’s impeachment trial began and the 2020 presidential election campaigns got underway. Europe was down as the UK finally exited the European Union after nearly four years (MSCI Europe ex-UK -1.1%, UK FTSE 100 -3.4%). Asia was the worst performer as Coronavirus fears spread across the continent. This was felt most in Hong Kong where the Hang Seng was down 6.7% (Nikkei 225 -1.9%, KOSPI -3.1%). Emerging markets (MSCI EM -3.3%) followed the rest of the world lower, though the largest constituent, China (CSI 300 -2.3%), was spared most of the Coronavirus impact by the Chinese New Year holidays, which saw suspended trading.

Domestically, the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation was up 4.98% during the period. Health Care (+12.0%) was the dominant sector as a plethora of names were up double digits, including large caps CSL (CSL +13.2%) and ResMed (RMD +14.4%). Information Technology (+11.1%) was also very strong as Afterpay (APT +31.7%) went on a run and Link Administration Holdings (LNK +18.1%) made an accretive acquisition.

102 | Motor Trader March 2020

The outsized moves have largely been attributed to the continuation of the trend that we saw for the majority of last year; companies that exhibit defensive earnings or high growth outperforming against value and cyclicals. The trade somewhat reversed in the latter stages of 2019 as bond yields ticked up, but Coronavirus fears and average economic data has pushed yields back down as we enter 2020.

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.

MTAQ are a Charity Partner of Youngcare and our staff show support by wearing casual clothes on Friday and donating gold coins.

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

Change lanes to MTAA Super Get retirement ready with a strategy tailored to you.

You’ve worked hard to get to where you are. And just like your career, it’s going to take planning to make the most of your retirement.

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Change lanes and explore our low-fee retirement options today.

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