Motor Trader e-magazine, March 2021

MAR 2021

MOTORING Heaven CARL & GRANT AMOR AND THE GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM

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JAGUAR XJ220 (1992-1994)

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

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

MTA QUEENSLAND hosts quarterly Divisional Committee meetings for:

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

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

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

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

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING DATES

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

JONATHAN NASH

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

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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.

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

For many of us, owning a piece of automotive history in the form of a classic car or motorbike is a dream we hope of fulfilling. Be it a Torana SS A9X, an XY GTHO Phase III Falcon, an early ’80s Suzuki Katana or ’60s Norton - any one of those classic vehicles would look good in the garage, right?

For Carl and Grant Amor, their dream went a step further than that. The brothers - owners of Gold Coast-based lighting manufacturer Aqualuma - are the owners and founders of the recently opened Gold Coast Motor Museum, a place that is home to their quite awesome collection of more than 70 vintage and classic cars (as well as a handful on loan from other enthusiastic classic car owners).

Built up over 20 years, the collection is absolutely stunning, with models dating from the early years of the industry through to the late 1980s, and represents just about every type of car - from the mass-produced practicality of cars like the Morris Minor to

the exotic sportscars of Italy and the chrome-covered behemoths of the US. For anyone with even a slight interest in motoring history, the museum should be at the top of the list of places to visit.

Motor Trader was lucky enough to meet up with Carl and Grant to chat about the museum, the background to its creation, and the story behind their fantastic collection. And you can read all about it from page 22.

Also in this edition, we talk to Andrew Jeffcott of The 86 Shop in Brisbane. Specialising in all things Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ (and Subaru more generally), Andrew has built a successful business through experience, knowledge, and a passion for the cars which includes a heavy and very successful involvement in the racing scene. You can find out more from page 14.

Also this month, in our classic car feature we take a look at the wonderful Jaguar XJ220 supercar from the early 1990s and we have, as always, plenty of automotive industry and innovation news from across the world.

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

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

Contents

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MOTORING HEAVEN: CARL & GRANT AMOR AND THE GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM

04 FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 08 POLICY/VIEWPOINT 14 MTA |Q&A 22 MOTORING HEAVEN: CARL & GRANT AMOR AND THE GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM 34 AN EYE ON INNOVATION 36 AUTO INNOVATION NEWS 52 JAGUAR XJ220 (1992-1994) 58 AUTO NEWS 76 WORKPLACE RELATIONS 79 TRAINING GM'S PERSPECTIVE 83 GET YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERTISE RECOGNISED WITH A TRADE QUALIFICATION 86 MTA QLD VET TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY 87 FROM THE OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING 88 CONCEPT CORNER 92 MARKET WRAP

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AUDI LAUNCHES THE E-TRON GT QUATTRO AND RS E-TRON GT

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Search for MTA Queensland

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JAGUAR XJ220 (1992-1994)

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MTA QLD VET TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY HYUNDAI’S TIGER ULTIMATE MOBILITY CONCEPT

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MTA | Q&A: ANDREW JEFFCOTT | THE 86 SHOP

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March 2021 Motor Trader | 3

From the Desk of the CEO made significant gains during the crisis, reaching an all-time high with Australia recording the largest gain globally (up by 12 points) from among 28 countries.

‘Trust’ is the pivot on which the Professional Circle turns. The Professional Circle is underpinned by the five core pillars on which the organisation operates.

Inside is the circle of trust. We need consumers to have confidence in us that ROD CAMM members are ethical/quality businesses, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND and membership of MTA Queensland is an important demonstration of that commitment.

HE PANDEMIC HAS The ethical compact taught us many that is the essence things, but one of the of the Professional big ones for me is about Circle, indicates to trust. Political leaders stakeholders and across the world who consumers alike that were transparent, ethical integrity is integral to and at the front of the the way the Association crisis earnt our trust – and functions and members others quite simply didn’t. operate in their businesses.

It is helpful if we pause for Members are required to a moment and reflect on our commit to 10 member values industry. Let’s start by having a look at MTA Queensland’s Professional Circle and as part of their membership. These member values are a contemporary the underpinning ethical commitments. expectation of business operators in the The Professional Circle can be a symbol automotive industry. The of ‘trust’, centred on you, CIRCLE OF TRUST member values reflect and intricately intertwined that the business is with your brand, business, HONEST, PROFESSIONAL, and reputation as an ethical TRANSPARENT, employer. I’ve a sound COURTEOUS, basis for saying this – let’s INTEGROUS, CARING, go to the evidence! The INNOVATIVE, PROACTIVE, recently released Edelman ACCOUNTABLE, and Trust Barometer found: COMPLIANT. If we do the ‘Australians turned to their work on member standards employers for guidance, and commit to consumer reassurance and information they can trust’ as the nation protection, the Professional Circle transited the pandemic. The ‘trust’ in could be recognised by customers and major institutions and business also YOU consumers as a symbol of ‘trust’.

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4 | Motor Trader March 2021

IF WE DO THE WORK ON MEMBER STANDARDS AND COMMIT TO CONSUMER PROTECTION, THE PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE COULD BE RECOGNISED BY CUSTOMERS AND CONSUMERS AS A SYMBOL OF ‘TRUST’.

What happens if you choose a business that is not within the circle of trust? This is best described by the Meet the Parents movie: you are either in the circle of trust – or you’re not!

We all must make members the centre of the ‘circle of trust’ on which the Professional Circle revolves – and ensure we protect that integrity.

CONSUMER AND BUSINESS CONFIDENCE I’ve been watching with interest the business and consumer sentiment regarding the economic recovery post COVID-19. Economists point to a growth rate above the average for the Australian economy through 2021. The expectation is for this growth to be led by the consumer with consumer spending making a strong contribution. High confidence amongst consumers is vital for the economy particularly with the phase out of the

JobKeeper program at the end of March.

Naturally we are wary of the strength of the recovery. Harry Truman once asked for a one-armed economist, having tired of economists stating, “On the one hand, this” and “On the other hand, that.”

I’ve been speaking with our industry divisions, and each report a positive business outlook including our new vehicle dealers. Until November 2020, the new vehicle market was stagnant experiencing 31 months of decreasing new motor vehicles sales causing a series of financial and market challenges during that period.

Green shoots appeared in October 2020 and now, with three months of improving new vehicle sales, signs are positive for the remainder of the financial year.

The maintenance and repairs sector has been buoyant, experiencing strong demand for key car products and basic vehicle servicing. It is the used car market where there’s been a mini-boom with prices spiking up to 36 per cent compared with January 2020. There is no expectation for the demand to dissipate due to the lack of supply of new motor vehicles. As our Deputy CEO Kellie Dewar said in last month’s Viewpoint, the shortage of semi-conductor chips from manufacturers is impacting motor vehicle production schedules and causing temporary factory shutdowns.

While, pleasingly, the industry is performing well and, undoubtedly, we all want to be positive, those nagging fears remain on the risks of further shut downs and border closures. Our industry has shown tremendous resilience and it is from that platform we can be confident about our industry’s performance as the vaccine begins to have an impact.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 5

REVIEW Over the past decade or so, we’ve experienced diverse challenges including the global financial crisis; the climatic challenges of drought, fire, floods and cyclones; technological and innovation transformations; regulatory changes; disruption and a pandemic. To each of these we’ve responded to members by maximising our services and information.

This approach must now be the new normal. We cannot rest on our laurels. We must be forever ready to assist members through such experiences that impact their businesses and viability. With that in mind, we at MTA Queensland are looking forward and are reimagining the services we can provide members.

The ‘What We Stand For’ review is well underway. Engagement through divisions has been outstanding and members are having their say on what will make a difference. We’re getting good attendance but would love more, so as to make members and their views even more prominent. We are now advertising the engagement schedule and welcome all comers. In this review process, I’m very conscious ‘one size does not fit all’.

Naturally, member views on value varies depending on the type of their business.

maximise traffic to business.

For members needing more in terms of education and professional development, we intend offering a comprehensive range of short courses to use when it suits your schedule. In addition, we’re exploring partnerships to help improve the industry’s capacity to recruit new employees. These are in the development stage and I’ll have more to say in coming Weekly Industry Bulletins and From the CEO’s Desk.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FRANCHISING CODE The Federal Government’s December 2020 release of the set of principles to guide agreements between car dealers and manufacturers has been a burning issue for our Automotive Dealer membership. Simply, we cannot accept the government’s voluntary code position. It will be ignored by the offshore manufacturers. This can be evidenced by General Motor’s reaction and disregard when asked by the Federal Government to engage in voluntary arbitration on the withdrawal of the Holden brand and operations from Australia.

With the national Automotive Dealers’ Association (AADA), we’ve been meeting with the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Senator Michaela Cash’s office to push the industry position on the critical importance of a mandatory code.

AND THE LAST THING I’m surprised and energised every day

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT with the extent and rate of new technology Education and professional development are important across the sector, particularly now with fast-changing technology and regulatory requirements.

Access to timely, flexible professional development on a comprehensive range of topics is being addressed in a number of ways. We will shortly be scheduling regular (at least monthly) webinars on key topics of interest. These will include everything from workplace relations, workplace health and safety, financial management, pricing and business acumen. The first webinar was on the important topic of using Google Ads to 6 | Motor Trader March 2021

emerging in the auto sector. We do need to stay ahead of this curve, keeping members upto-date and informed of emerging innovations.

There are upcoming opportunities to participate in a number of exciting industry events. The AADA conference with the ‘Future Focused’ theme is being held in Brisbane on 14/15 September and our Caramageddon symposium is scheduled for Thursday 22 July to drive knowledge and confidence in the emerging innovation technologies that are sweeping across the automotive value chain.

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

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Policy/Viewpoint

KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

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N THE TIME I have been working with our industry divisions – going on for some 18 years – there has been consistency in the issues raised: those currently relevant to the sector and the challenges arising from new policies, regulations and technologies on business operations and competitiveness.

Members’ current issues that require advocacy to government agencies for resolution or policy input - or technical, training or industrial relations advices from the Association - have been and are promptly actioned. That is core to my role and responsibilities as the General Manager of Member Services.

To effectively represent the automotive industry’s policy agenda we need direct feedback from our members. Please contact me at any time to contribute to our submissions or reviews.

ADVOCACY Group Chief Executive Officer Rod Camm and I met with Office of Fair Trading personnel for our regular scheduled meeting. Included for discussion was the Australian Government’s Exposure Draft Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2020 8 | Motor Trader March 2021

which proposes automatic mutual recognition of occupations across states and territories. We made a submission, drawing attention to the registered/ licensed requirements for used motor dealers/wreckers to operate in Queensland which did not apply in other jurisdictions. We urged the early sharing of mutual recognition information across jurisdictions to protect consumers from possible unlawful practices by unlicensed operators working in the state’s motor industry. Over the years, much effort has gone into establishing trust in the used car market. I again draw members’ attention to the MTA Queensland webpage Dob in a Backyarder and the opportunity it provides to enter the details of any perceived illegitimate activities. We will forward it to the Office of Fair Trading.

In breaking news, we have achieved two major advocacy outcomes for industry.

MTA Queensland is extremely proud to announce that on the back of extensive lobbying to Government and other key stakeholders, two major changes have been introduced at the State Government level that will provide great benefit to our industry going forward.

The first is the Inquiry on options to improve vehicle standards and safety.

After an extended period of discussion on the issue, a motion was agreed to in Queensland Parliament on 24th February that the Transport & Resources Committee will inquire into, and report within six months, on options to improve vehicle standards and safety in Queensland. This inquiry includes issues of longstanding policy contribution of MTAQ Queensland - notably the options to improve vehicle standards and safety in Queensland, in relation to the: 1. current Australian vehicle design rules;

MTA QUEENSLAND IS EXTREMELY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON THE BACK OF EXTENSIVE LOBBYING TO GOVERNMENT AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, TWO MAJOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT LEVEL THAT WILL PROVIDE GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR INDUSTRY GOING FORWARD. 2. inspection regime for registered vehicles; 3. pre-sale certification scheme, including measures to reduce fraud and improve consumer safety; 4. management of written-off vehicles and ‘re-birthing’; 5. aftermarket vehicle modification framework, including achieving consistency to ensure best alignment with other Australian jurisdictions.

Review of these areas will improve safety for all road users and enhance industry and consumer protection against continued misrepresentation in car sales transactions. Details of the inquiry can be found HERE. We look

forward to discussing our submission detail with members which is due on 15th April 2021.

The second piece of news is the review of automotive recycling activities in relation to their Environmentally Relevant Activity classification. This review and change comes following consultation and numerous meetings between the Department of Environment and Science and our Automotive Parts Recyclers Division (APRD) Committee where our members provided insight into current automotive recycling operations and the industry, and requested review and reconsideration of the classification.

We appreciate the courtesy extended by the Department and for their extensive engagement and consultation on the concerns raised.

What has changed? The department now considers that activities undertaken by automotive wreckers, where waste is non-putrescible waste, can be regulated as ERA 62 1(a): ERA 62 Resource recovery and transfer facility operation - 1(a) operating a facility for receiving and sorting, dismantling, baling or temporarily storing non-putrescible waste.

This means ERA62 1(b), which is currently the activity on an environmental authority, could be amended by agreement to ERA 62 1(a). Where ERA2 1(b) is the only ERA on the environmental authority and it is changed to ERA 62 1(a), this change of classification results in some substantial savings for our members on their annual fees.

And more on the Waste Management subject. Whilst it seems like yesterday, March 2021 Motor Trader | 9

Policy/Viewpoint it is in fact four years since our first Carmageddon symposium. It was established to inform members of emerging technologies including the digital economy to enable business model adaptation; develop and implement strategies; and to innovate and utilise new products to advantage their enterprises. That symposium is as relevant today as it was four years ago. Save the date for Carmageddon 2021 - it will be held on Thursday July 22nd and is the fourth event in MTA Queensland’s series that educate on all aspects of innovation connected to the automotive and mobility industries. A key feature will be Waste Management and recycling innovation and its potential for industry and government. We will be releasing more exciting details on our keynote speakers and panels and more topics over the coming months.

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS AND RECYLERS INDUSTRY DIVISION – WASTE MANAGEMENT

SAVE THE DATE FOR CARMAGEDDON 2021 - IT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY JULY 22ND AND IS THE FOURTH EVENT IN MTA QUEENSLAND’S SERIES THAT EDUCATE ON ALL ASPECTS OF INNOVATION CONNECTED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE AND MOBILITY INDUSTRIES.

Next month’s Viewpoint will include the activities of our Automotive Parts and Recyclers Division that have led them to be recycling innovators and to be participating in leading edge research.

means owners will be unable to legally use their vehicles on public roads and may risk their insurance policies if they do.

TAKATA AIRBAGS

Thank you to all members that have attended our recent Industry Division meetings - in particular to all our regional members participating virtually. Your attendance and participation has given us valuable insight in to our Member Services reform agenda and we look forward to continuing the conversation with you. Don’t forget to share your ideas for webinars, services, courses and guest presenters that would be of interest and benefit to your industry Division. The dates for the meetings are published on the website and we encourage members to attend.

Until next month, take care and stay safe.

It is important for members to note the formal recall of vehicles with defect Takata airbags for replacement expired on 31 December. Whilst manufacturers still have a small number of outstanding vehicles to recertify, the recall has now moved to another level for owners who have not heeded the advices to have defect airbags replaced. State and territory governments are now implementing registration sanctions in cases where vehicle owner have ignored manufacturers recall notifications. This 10 | Motor Trader March 2021

FINALLY

2021 INDUSTRY AWARDS GALA SUPPORTER PACKAGES AWARDS • APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – awarded to an MTA Institute Apprentice who demonstrates a dedication to learning and performs above and beyond expectations • INNOVATION AWARD – awarded to an individual or business that is supporting or implementing innovation in the automotive or mobility industry

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

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

Formal

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

Emporium Hotel Southbank PACKAGES

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

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

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

ENQUIRIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MTA INSTITUTE WELCOMES SUE DAVIS AS NEW CHAIR

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UE DAVIS HAS been appointed the new Chair for the MTA Institute Board.

Sue brings a wealth of experience to the role, particularly in the areas of financial, commercial, and operational management.

She has worked across a broad range of industries Sue Davis including hospitality, property management, airports, leisure, and health, across medium and large-scale private, public and government-owned organisations.

Most recently, Sue has focused her career on the education and training sectors, having worked for Bond University and TAFE Queensland, where she was responsible for the strategic and operational planning of the organisation, in addition to the financial and asset management strategies. She has also provided valuable board contributions for the last seven years to the charity Life Education Queensland.

Sue is a competent and diligent leader with well-developed business skills, commercial acumen, strong work ethic and integrity.

Through these roles she has achieved considerable success and has learned valuable experiences that will no doubt transfer to her new position as Chair of the

MTA Institute.

“I’ve been impressed

by MTA Institute’s reputation as the leading private training provider within the automotive industry and I look forward to working with the Board, executive management and staff to continue and expand on their training outcomes and training services to date,” said Sue. “I’m hoping to be able to value-add in MTA Queensland and MTA Institute’s strategic activities and commercial decisions and investments, that in turn will further support the valuable services MTA Queensland provides to its members and industry.”

Not only is Sue excited by the opportunities for members and industry, but she also looks towards the future, focusing on the sustainable practices of the institute.

“I am really pleased to see how passionate and focussed MTA Queensland and MTA Institute are in their social responsibilities and future sustainability of the automotive industry and I look forward to making contributions in these endeavours where I can.”

MTA Institute is excited to embark on its new journey with Sue Davis as Chair.

“I’M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO VALUE-ADD IN MTA QUEENSLAND AND MTA INSTITUTE’S STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES AND COMMERCIAL DECISIONS AND INVESTMENTS, THAT IN TURN WILL FURTHER SUPPORT THE VALUABLE SERVICES MTA QUEENSLAND PROVIDES TO ITS MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY.”

March 2021 Motor Trader | 13

Andrew Jeffcott

MTA|Q&A Sometimes, a moment comes along in life that will define the direction that life will take. Andrew Jeffcott had just such a moment - the moment he took a newly released Toyota 86 for a drive around the block. To say nothing was the same after that might be a touch melodramatic but the fact is that drive changed his direction in life and career.

Now entering its fourth year of operation, his The 86 Shop in Wacol, Brisbane, proves many things, including his skills as an engineer and driver, that his faith in the Toyota 86/ Subaru BRZ platform was well placed, and that he was far from alone in his enthusiasm for these vehicles.

WORDS AND PICTURES: LINDSAY SAUNDERS 14 | Motor Trader March 2021

The 86 Shop, Wacol

How did The 86 Shop come to be?

AJ: I’ve been into cars all my life and

wanted to be a mechanic but wasn’t allowed by my mum – she had bigger plans. In my 20s, I was still on the family farm in Tumbarumba in rural NSW, but was also still tinkering with cars, including as crew chief for a mate’s speedway team.

We were the most successful team to never win a title – he’d be in the lead regularly, have a brain fade and lose it!

Then I developed serious issues with my back from working on the farm and at age 30 had to have major surgery. I couldn’t work or do anything really for two years and spent six months in bed.

Around then, a friend of a friend let me know about a full-time course at the Albury-Wodonga TAFE called Engineering in Motorsport. I left the farm under a cloud and with the back injury I couldn’t work.

I wasn’t eligible for any assistance, so decided to go do the course.

During that time, I worked, as many of the kids did, with Brad Jones Racing, and

“I KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT OUT OF THE BOX THESE WOULD KICK THE CRAP OUT OF OUR STIs. THEY WERE JUST SO MUCH BETTER. THE HANDLING, THE BALANCE, EVERYTHING. I KNEW THEN THAT THERE WAS MY FUTURE.” through them I got a start with Gibson Motorsport - which was 00 Motorsport at the time. I then went to another team and in about 2005 I came to Queensland to work with WPS Racing.

After two years there I went to John French Motors working on Subarus. About five years later, a good customer – an ambo driver – came to me saying he wanted to do time-attack race events. I’d spent five years learning about Subarus, but before that I knew little about road cars, nothing about Subarus, and never touched a turbo in my life. I wasn’t actually a mechanic in March 2021 Motor Trader | 15

that I didn’t have formal qualifications.

However, we were extremely successful.

We dominated time attack in street allwheel-drive, and there was one year there, I think 2015, when all the top five cars were my cars.

So, aged 42, I did my RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) and passed my whole trade in one day. At that time, we had four pretty good, dedicated, owner-drivers in WRX STIs, had ourselves a little pseudo team, and then the first 86/BRZ rolled in the door.

It was well prepared, and I took it for a drive. When I came back everyone asked, ‘What do you reckon?’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s that. I’m going to have to buy one.

Holy crap are these things good!’. I knew right then that out of the box these would kick the crap out of our STIs. They were just so much better. The handling, the balance, everything. I knew then that there was my future.

At the time, 2012, I was running John French Motors in Woolloongabba for the owner. I told him I’d registered the name The 86 Shop and that I was going to quit,

16 | Motor Trader March 2021

“BECAUSE I’VE DONE SO MUCH OF THIS WORK, WHILE THE BLOKE DOWN THE ROAD IS GOING TO NEED SIX HOURS TO DO THE JOB AND WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THAT, I ONLY NEED ONE HOUR AND THAT’S WHAT I’LL CHARGE YOU FOR. AND I’LL DO IT BETTER.” but I’d stay on, rent a hoist in the corner from him, do the book-ins and stuff like that in the mornings and he could hire someone new and I’d train them. That was in 2016.

We moved out here to the Wacol premises in 2018 and I now have a staff of four, including myself.

What has been the hardest thing about starting the business?

AJ: Staff and lack of capital. Going back a

bit, I moved to Queensland with a suitcase.

With what had happened with the farm,

March 2021 Motor Trader | 17

I basically started again at 32 and I had nothing behind me to start a business.

It has not been easy, but we’re here.

And finding the right people for any team isn’t easy. It’s the same for anyone though -the right people are crucial.

What’s The 86 Shop philosophy?

AJ: To do quality work, be honest

and excel in all areas. We stay focused on our specialty and provide top quality work. Because I’ve done so much of this work, while the bloke down the road is going to need six hours to do the job and will charge you for that, I only need one hour and that’s what I’ll charge you for. And I’ll do it better. We are, as far as I’m aware, the only 86/BRZ specialist in Australia.

And I’ve had cars come into the shop from all over. I had a car from Darwin come in to be supercharged and I have regular customers from, for example, the NSW Mid-North Coast, who come here to have services and other work done.

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Repeat custom is strong for you?

AJ: Yeah. If you’re going to be so specialised, you must. It is niche. We specialise in Subarus, but The BRZ Shop doesn’t have the same ring as The 86 Shop does it!?

I always thought our work was about 30 per cent race preparation and 70 per cent road car work. But when Covid hit, our race work dropped massively as the tracks were all shut and our business was down 51 per cent, and I realised the race work was much bigger to us. A lot of our clients have road-registered cars but they’re not driving them like that. They’re their toys, and they drive them to the track. That is one of the attractions of these cars. But with the tracks closed, they weren’t doing that and weren’t needing work to be done.

How is business now, as the Covid situation has improved?

AJ: We’re about the busiest we’ve ever been.

I think because people have been stuck at home not spending money, they now had the money to do work on their cars. Last

Andrew Jeffcott with Andrew Wilton, who won the 2019 Qld Production Car Championship driving an 86 Shop car

“. . . WE’VE JUST STARTED YEAR FOUR IN BUSINESS, SO PEOPLE ARE GETTING TO KNOW WE’RE HERE. AND WE DO OFFER SERVICES ON ALL MODELS TOO. IF YOU HAVE A 2012 FORESTER, WE’LL SERVICE IT.” November, we did three times our best previous monthly turnover. People came out of winter with a bit of confidence and with money saved. Our work was mainly big-ticket stuff – brakes, exhausts, that kind of thing – not services. Also, we’ve just started year four in business, so people are getting to know we’re here. And we do offer services on all models too. If you have a 2012 Forester, we’ll service it.

You’re also hands on as a driver with a successful record – are you racing at the moment, and is your involvement important to the business?

AJ: The car’s temporarily out of action but

I’ll be back racing soon. And it is incredibly important. It gives credibility to the business.

If you tell someone ‘this’ll work’, they look at what you’ve achieved and think, ‘Yeah, he should know’.

Even if I’m not racing, I go to talk and see how everyone’s doing and I met my head driver, Andrew Wilton, at a track event put on by the Qld 86/BRZ Club.

It’s a strong club and we’d have maybe 36 cars at a meeting, of which about 30 would be my customers. Anyway, we met, and I was watching him and thinking, ‘he can steer’. Then, some long-time customers and friends said they wanted to do the Bathurst six-hour, and we ended up buying an 86 and prepared it for that race.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 19

It was a two-year process to get to the six-hour – we were going to do it 2018 but we just weren’t there yet with the car, the drivers, or the team - and because of the fuel capacity and mandatory stops, we needed three drivers, so we asked Andrew.

We went to the race, completed it, and that cemented our friendship. And we came second in class and 16th out of 45.

I was very happy with that. In 2019, we took out the Queensland Production Car Championship with Andrew at the wheel.

The was a terrific result.

A unique part of your business is the custom work isn’t it?

AJ: Yes, and on the custom side, we make

it. If you can’t buy it, we make it, or we sometimes look at what you can buy and

think, ‘No, don’t like that, we can do that better’, and we do.

I learnt a lot of those skills from the Engineering in Motorsport course but also from way back in my days in speedway.

Crash a speedway car and you just must fix it, however you can. That’s true of motorsport generally.

We don’t build ‘catalogue cars’ – you

“I’D LIKE TO GET MORE INTO PARTS MANUFACTURING, AND I’D LIKE TO PUSH THAT INTO THE US. WHEN WE GO TO THE TRACK HERE, EVERY CAR HAS GOT AT LEAST ONE OF MY PARTS ON IT.”

don’t point at something in a catalogue and say ‘I want that’ with us - we’re creative. We build them. We build cars.

And I just love doing something that ‘can’t be done’ and beating everyone else!

and you buy things to complement that.

These don’t have that. It’s all custom, all fresh. There are no factory components to make these cars forced induction. That’s what I really like about them. You can be creative and show that you’re better at How long have you been an MTA Queensland it than anyone else. And there’s a fresh member and how has that benefited model coming at the end of the year too. your business?

I’d like to get more into parts manufacturing, and I’d like to push that AJ: Well, The 86 Shop has been since into the US. When we go to the track here, we began. I did my RPL through MTA every car has got at least one of my parts Queensland because I wanted the most on it. If I can get into the US, that’ll be credible and respected qualification huge. That’s the 18-month plan. Until now, process. It was the most stringent way I’ve just been busy making this a success. to do it. It is also good to have MTA I’d also like to win the six-hour in our Queensland on your side for advice class in one of these cars. We want to and advocacy. I haven’t had to use that pull the pants down of the Australian service yet, but it’s good to know that’s motorsport community by suddenly there if I need it. putting one of these cars at the front of What does the future hold for you and some of the big fields here! That’s this The 86 Shop? year’s motorsport plan, to get my CLICK car as quick as a Super 2/ AJ: I’m always thinking of things TO VISIT Super 3 car - Porsche Carrera I want to do. It’s another reason THE 86 SHOP WEBSITE territory. I really think we can I like these cars. They’re a blank get there. canvas. A WRX is a factory turbo Andrew and the team at The 86 Shop prepared this Toyota 86 GTS and won the Queensland Production Car Championship in 2019 with Andrew Wilton at the wheel

CARL & GRANT AMOR AND THE

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GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM

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Grant and Carl Amor

Over the past 20 years, brothers Carl and Grant Amor have amassed a quite incredible collection of classic vehicles.

From sports cars to limousines and everything in between, the collection of 70+ cars is astounding. In 2020, the brothers opened the Gold Coast Motor Museum, a brandnew complex to house and display their collection, and it is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in motoring and the wonderful machines that are part of automotive history.

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ESTLED IN THE pleasant green landscape of the Gold Coast hinterland, just 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Surfers Paradise and less than an hour from the Brisbane CBD, lies an absolute treat of a location for anybody with an interest in cars.

It is here that you’ll find the Gold Coast Motor Museum and a quite wonderful collection of cars – a mix of the vintage and classic – the ages of which span from the early days of motoring up to 1988.

From a beautifully restored 1911 Ford Model T Fire Chief ’s truck to the flamboyance of a 1958 Buick Limited Convertible; from the brushed-steel glory of a 1981 DeLorean and buffed-up muscle 24 | Motor Trader March 2021

of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to the elegant luxury of a 1935 Packard Super 8 Coupe that was once owned by famed U.S. aviator Amelia Earhart (yes, that Amelia Earhart!)

- everywhere you turn, there’s something special at which to look.

It’s all here, from the very rare and exotic to the once common cars that will tickle the childhood memories of many who stroll by.

There is even a 1924 Stanley Steamer on display, although that steam-powered marvel is not in the museum itself but is rather the centrepiece of Stanley’s Barn, the restaurant and bar located right next door on the museum’s grounds.

Opened in October 2020, the Gold

1970 Aston Martin DBS V8

. . . THE GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM IS AN AUTOMOTIVE TREASURE TROVE, A SALUTE TO THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE, AND A TESTAMENT TO THE PASSION FOR CARS OF TWO BROTHERS WHO SPENT YEARS BUILDING UP THEIR COLLECTION OF DOZENS OF FINE VEHICLES . . .

Coast Motor Museum is an automotive treasure trove, a salute to the art of the automobile, and a testament to the passion for cars of two brothers who spent years building up their collection of dozens of fine vehicles before deciding to build a suitably striking location where they could share it with the public.

The brothers are Carl and Grant Amor.

They are the brains and driving force behind the museum, owners of the vast majority of cars found within its walls, and are the founders of Aqualuma the Gold Coast-based designer and manufacturer of underwater, commercial,

and industrial LED lighting systems whose products are sold around the world.

It is the success of Aqualuma that has enabled them to pursue their passion for cars – a passion they have had since childhood and which they shared with their father Denis, an avid collector himself.

“We were born into this,” says Grant.

“Dad and mum liked cars and when we March 2021 Motor Trader | 25

were kids, we would help dad tinker around with the ones he collected.”

“And the idea for the museum has always been with us because dad had wanted to do it,” adds Carl. “However, for many years it was way at the back of our minds and way down on the list of possibilities.”

Their father sadly died when the brothers were just teenagers, and the car collection he had assembled would be sold so that, as Grant says, “Mum could survive and drag us up.”

The museum dream stuck with the boys through the decades, however, and fast forward 40-something years to 2017, and the long-cherished concept had become a realistic proposition.

By this point, Carl and Grant were wellestablished figures in the Queensland and Australian business community, having built successful businesses in the automotive, marine and, of course, lighting industries.

In the mid-1980s, Carl – an auto trimmer by trade - had established a paint, panel, car trimming and restoration business which Grant would join him in running. Within a few years they would find themselves deeply involved 1952 Buick Estate Wagon - the ‘Woodie’

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RIGHT: This 1958 Buick Limited Coupe was found by Carl and Grant in a paddock in Kansas in the U.S., and was the first car they purchased to collect. Just over 1000 of these Buicks were built and it is thought only 200 survive.

BELOW CENTRE: The 1935 Packard Super 8 Coupe once belonged to U.S. aviator Amelia Earhart.

The Packard is not part of the Amor brothers’ collection but is on loan to the museum.

1977 Pontiac Firebird

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in the motorsport scene through an operational role with the Australian Touring Car Championship, repairing race cars for V8 Supercars championship teams, and even prepping the pace cars for the Gold Coast Indy racing festival.

A few year later, after purchasing a 53-foot motor yacht to restore, they had established a marine trimming business and had developed an interest in underwater lighting for boats. They would go on to sell the automotive workshop and focus on developing that marine business, with Grant’s design for a strong and The 1988 Heron MJ 1 is particularly special to efficient LED underwater hull light Carl who, as a young auto trimmer, worked on the becoming the foundation upon which interior of the first 17 units that were produced.

Aqualuma would be built.

It was during this busy businessbuilding period that the cornerstone of what would become their vast collection of cars was bought. It was a rare car, an unusual find, and one that would test their restoration skills.

“It was in 2000 when we found the first car that we bought to collect,” says Grant.

“It was a 1958 Buick Limited Coupe that we discovered in a paddock in Kansas in the U.S. It had been sitting there for 16 years and it was, as you might imagine, a comes to their taste in car collecting – long restoration job. It was a big, tricky car something offbeat and unusual, and one to do, but worth it.” that needs work to be brought back to its That particular Buick is a good example original condition. of the brothers’ preference when it

“THE HERON HAS SOME HISTORY WITH ME AS I DID THE UPHOLSTERY ON THE FIRST 17 CARS . . . I BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF THEM IN THE COUNTRY NOW, AND LESS THAN 15 LEFT ANYWHERE. SO, IT IS SPECIAL AND RARE.”

Gold Coast Motor Museum

VIDEO: GOLD COAST MOTOR MUSEUM

“We do like cars that are a little unusual,” says Carl. “It’s not so much about rarity, but rather about the things you don’t see every day.”

Stanley’s Barn bar and restaurant is right next to the main museum building

From that first purchase things began to pick up speed and by 2017, the brothers had amassed a collection of more than 70 cars, many of which can be included under that ‘unusual’ banner.

Take the sleek, wedgeshaped, 1988 Heron MJ 1 – a name that, perhaps, is familiar only to the most committed enthusiast.

Heron, a New Zealand company, built just 25 of the two-seater, mid-engined cars in the mid to late-’80s.

Coming from New Zealand, and in such small numbers, makes the MJ 1 unusual enough to tick all the boxes for inclusion in Carl and Grant’s collection.

However, for Carl, the Heron is even more significant.

“The Heron has some history with me as I did the upholstery on the first 17 cars,” he says. “The one we have is number 23, so unfortunately that is not one I worked on back then, but I believe there are only two of them in the country now, and less than 15 left anywhere. So it is special and rare.”

The Heron is the youngest of the cars in the collection, and while it will likely remain so, the brothers are open to acquiring more recent models, should they fit the criteria of being ‘unusual’.

The 1924 Stanley Steamer takes pride of place inside Stanley’s Barn

“Pre-1988 is our preference,” says Carl.

“We were going to have the cut-off at 198081 but then the Heron came along, so if there is something really exceptional from the ’90s, we would certainly look at it.”

BUILDING THE MUSEUM

By 2017 Carl and Grant knew the long-held dream of a museum was something they might be able to achieve. Actually, it was, by then, something they needed to pursue with a pinch of urgency - their collection had grown big enough that they were using the Aqualuma premises as storage and had even called on friends (with suitably large sheds, of course) to house a few of their cars.

“It got to the point where we thought the timing is right. The business is going well, and if we are ever going to do it, now is the time,” says Grant.

And so the search was on for a suitable location.

“We needed to find a property that was large enough, that could never flood, and we also wanted room for a restaurant,” says Grant. “And the restaurant had to have a view so that if you were having a meal or a drink, you would feel like you were in the country. We wanted people to be able to get out of the city and come and enjoy the hinterland and the natural beauty.

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“WE HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING IN OUR LIVES WITH THE THOUGHT OF MAKING MONEY. EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVER DONE IS BECAUSE WE WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, WE WANTED TO DO IT, AND WE WANTED TO DO IT WELL.” “It took us quite some time to find the block of land that we were happy with.”

The 12-acre property they found was perfect and a repurposed structure was shipped in and redesigned to become the very modern, main museum building. At the same time, the restaurant and bar – aka Stanley’s Barn - was designed and built to simulate a vintage, country-style venue.

The brothers went to the extreme to pull off that build, with Grant travelling nearly 2500km around Queensland’s west buying old hay barns and cowsheds to get his hands on the rusted tin roofs to use for the inner ceiling, while 105-year-old trusses were brought in from Sydney, and 90-year-old wall linings from Brisbane.

With the walls lined with photos of the brothers’ great grandparents, grandparents, mother and father, and the Stanley Steamer taking pride of place

The restaurant was built with a vintage tin ceiling, 105-year-old trusses and 90-year-old wall linings

Ford Cortina Lotus

inside, the effect is complete and charming.

The draw of the Gold Coast Motor Museum is, of course, the cars, and the eclectic collection is shown off at its very best in a cavernous museum space that is lit so every car is given a chance to shine.

The Studebaker Avanti Supercharged Coupe looks fantastic. So too does the little Isetta microcar and old Morris Minor sat nearby. The Goggomobil Dart, the Ford Escort RS2000, the Ferrari Mondial Coupe, the Ford Cortina Lotus and Reliant Scimitar probably never looked better.

Particularly spectacular, for this writer at least, is the truly glorious 1970 Aston Martin DBS V8 – surely a favourite of the brothers too?

“I got asked about our favourite car in a radio interview once,” says Carl. “The girl on the radio said, ‘I guess it’s like children, you can’t pick one’, and that’s right - they are like our kids, and they are all cool for different reasons.”

“The way I try to describe the cars in the museum is that everything in there has a soul,” adds Grant. “Every car in there March 2021 Motor Trader | 31

was built by somebody with a passion for automobiles. Today, it feels like the motor industry is run by accountants and that no car out there has that special something, that ‘soul’. They all drive the same, feel the same and do the same thing. These cars are different. They were designed and built by people with a passion for what they were doing. That’s the difference.”

The question then becomes is there anything missing from the collection?

Is there a special car out there - perhaps more than one - that the brothers would like to get their hands on?

“There’s probably about 400,” says Carl with a chuckle. “But we won’t name them because someone will ring us, say they have one, and then we’ll have to buy it!”

A SUCCESS STORY

In the age of Covid, opening any new business is something of a risk. Opening

“THE WAY I TRY TO DESCRIBE THE CARS IN THE MUSEUM IS THAT EVERYTHING IN THERE HAS A SOUL . . . EVERY CAR IN THERE WAS BUILT BY SOMEBODY WITH A PASSION FOR AUTOMOBILES.” one that relies on the ability of people to get out and congregate in one place is especially prone to the unpredictability of the coronavirus era.

For Carl and Grant, 2020 and the buildup to the museum’s opening did lead to some moments of doubt that, for a while at least, forced them to pause and take stock. Fortunately, Australia was spared the worst of the pandemic and, restrictions or not, the appetite of people to get out, have a good time and look at some cars, was incredibly hearty.

Isetta microcar

Reliant Scimitar

“We did pull the pin for about 5 or 6 weeks,” 1985 Ferrari Mondial Coupe says Carl. “We had some builders helping us, but we couldn’t keep throwing money at it not performing strongly since. knowing how the Covid thing was going to Those numbers are, of course, a work out. But then we realised that we were testament to Australians’ love of cars but so far in that we should just get it done. If also point to the fact that Carl and Grant we couldn’t open on the day it was finished, have poured everything into making a visit at least it would be ready when we could. to the musuem a special experience.

“So we powered through and by the “We have never done anything in our time it was finished, the rules were that lives with the thought of making money. we could open to up to 55 people in the Everything we have ever done is because we restaurant. We thought if we could do that were passionate about it, we wanted to do and get 50-100 people a day through the it, and we wanted to do it well,” says Carl. museum, we would be ticking over. As it “And I think people can feel the passion we turned out, on that first weekend we had put in and have for the place.

2700 visitors!”

“And these cars put smiles on people’s faces. They walk in and see And things have continued in CLICK TO VISIT THE something special or something that vein, with people coming GOLD COAST that jogs their memory. It’s about in droves and the museum MOTOR MUSEUM the experience. And if that is our notching its 10,000th visitor WEBSITE legacy, that would be great.” by the beginning of 2021 and

An Eye on Innovation . . . DESPITE THE STILL RELATIVELY SMALL GLOBAL SALES NUMBERS FOR PURE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE FUTURE WILL INDEED BE ONE IN WHICH THEY WILL DOMINATE. PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER TRAINING & INNOVATION

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HE ELECTRIC VEHICLE revolution is charging along, and the current is getting ever stronger as a whole battery of companies amp up their commitment to the electrification of their model range or look to embrace the technology completely.

OK, cringeworthy puns aside, the news from the past few weeks has once again strengthened the sense that, despite the still relatively small global sales numbers for pure electric vehicles, the future will indeed be one in which they will dominate.

When, exactly, that time will come is still uncertain, although the increasingly tight deadlines being promoted by governments, especially in Europe, for the end of fossil fuel-powered vehicle sales can give us a guide. However, after the news from General Motors that it will be carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and that, to achieve that, it will ‘eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035’, a host of other big-name manufacturers revealed similar ambitions.

Jaguar Land Rover announced in February that it is heading down the fully electric path, and that all its models are to be available in pure electric form by the end of the decade.

34 | Motor Trader March 2021

While the company said that Land Rover will, in the next five years, have six all-electric variants in its portfolio, Jaguar will be transformed into a pure-electric luxury brand.

Ford also joined in the fun. While the Blue Oval has already moved strategically towards electrification and invested much to be amongst the movers and shakers in the industry’s technological revolution, it announced that by mid-2026, it will have 100 per cent of its passenger vehicle range be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid in Europe, and that its available range on the continent will be completely all-electric by 2030.

Similarly, the company said its entire commercial vehicle range will be zeroemissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, by 2024.

The electrifying news does not stop there.

Also last month, EV company Fisker – which has a couple of pure electric models in development – revealed it had come to an agreement with electronics manufacturer Foxconn to develop and manufacture another new all-electric model.

That might not sound like big news in and of itself – there is, after all, a constant stream of announcements regarding new or proposed electric vehicle models – but the difference here is the involvement of Foxconn.

Also known as the Hon Hai Technology Group, Foxconn is a true manufacturing

start production in just two years.

The point here is that Foxconn is a behemoth of a technology company with real EV ambitions.

It does not, it appears, wish to become a manufacturer under its own name, but rather deliver the foundation upon which EVs can be built and, as in the Fisker deal, build the cars for customers.

Chevrolet Bolt EV - manufactured by General Motors Perhaps most interestingly – and in line with the idea and technology powerhouse, and of being a behind-the-scenes player as the world’s largest provider of Foxconn also has developed the MIH electronics manufacturing services it platform, an open EV platform available builds everything from smartphones to partners and third-party developers to to video game consoles, circuit boards build upon. In relation to this MIH open and semiconductors, televisions, and a platform, the company said in a statement multitude of other high-tech electronic that it aimed to position it as the ‘android products. Subsidiaries include well-known system of the EV industry’. brands such as Sharp and Belkin and the With such a heavyweight tech firm company has factories across the world - rather than a traditional automaker and employs something approaching one setting its sights upon the EV sector, things million people. definitely get interesting.

Foxconn has also already taken its first A final word on the EV revolution would steps into the world of electric vehicles, be to note the deal between the United announcing in 2020 that it was talking States Postal Service (USPS) and U.S. with both Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now manufacturer Oshkosh. You can read more Stellantis) as well as Taiwan’s Yulon Group about the deal on Page 48, but Oshkosh on joint ventures. And in January this year, is to build and deliver up to 165,000 zero the company revealed it had signed an emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) agreement with Zhejiang Geely Holding and fuel-efficient low-emission internal Group (whose subsidiaries include Volvo, combustion engine vehicles to replace the Polestar, and Lotus) to establish a joint USPS’ ageing delivery van fleet. venture to provide services relating to It is an enormous deal, and while it was whole vehicles, parts, intelligent drive in the works before U.S. President Biden’s systems, and platforms, to the global announcement earlier this year about automotive industry. the replacement of the U.S. government’s The deal with Fisker – in which the entire fleet of vehicles (some 650,000 units) companies will jointly develop and sell a with electrified vehicles, it is surely the sign new EV under the Fisker brand – aims to deliver more than 250,000 units annually and of things to come.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 35

Auto innovation news

AUDI LAUNCHES THE E-TRON GT QUATTRO AND RS E-TRON GT

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UDI HAS REVEALED the e-tron GT models that it will be launching this year and, it has to be said, they look fantastic.

The all-electric, four-door is to be available in two variants - the GT Quattro and RS models – but both are sure to be exhilarating machines.

Both the ‘entry-level’ GT variant and the RS get permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) on front and rear axles with the GT motors’ net combined output set at 350kW - or up to 390Kw with overboost - and 630Nm of torque (640Nm with overboost). Audi says this will give the GT performance numbers of 0-100km/h in around 4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 245km/h.

The RS gets a beefier rear motor that produces 336kW.

VIDEO: AUDI RS E-TRON GT: IDEAS START THE FUTURE

Together, the front and rear motors in the RS produce 440kW and up to 475kW with overboost. Total system torque is 830Nm. Audi claims this gives the RS monster performance figures of 0-100km/h in a touch over 3 seconds and a 250km/h top speed.

The e-tron models get a two-speed transmission – the first designed Audi e-tron GT Quattro

36 | Motor Trader March 2021

to provide rapid acceleration when needed and a taller second gear for sustained highway stretches.

All Audi e-tron GT models in the U.S. will benefit from a 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is housed within an aluminium frame Audi RS e-tron GT designed for structural rigidity and to protect occupants.

An 800-volt electrical architecture allows for charging at 270kW using DC fast-chargers. Audi says this will allow the car to replenish its battery from 5-80 per cent in 22.5 minutes and claims a range of up to 487km.

A portfolio of alloy wheels will be available from 19 to 21 inches and steel disk brakes are standard on the GT, while the RS gets fitted with cast iron disks with a tungsten carbide coating. Adaptive suspension is is optional in the GT quattro while it is standard in the RS. Technology stuff aside, the e-tron GT looks the business. Low and wide, with a drag coefficient of just 0.24, it looks as quick as the numbers Audi claims.

On the inside, there is plenty going on.

There are two two large displays. The driver operates the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus display via the multifunction steering wheel and controls the 10.1-inch central MMI touch display via touch. There is an optional head-up display.

Interior trim is leather-free as standard with the upholstery made with a high percentage of recycled material. A Nappa leather option is available. The color palette comprises nine colors, including a new colour called Tactical Green. Audi says it can provide two variants of the black styling package upon request.

Presales of the e-tron GT models started in Europe in February. The GT quattro has a base price of €99,800 ($AU156,485) and the RS model comes in at €138,200 ($AU216,694).

March 2021 Motor Trader | 37

Credit: NeydtStock / Shutterstock.com

Auto news

JAGUAR LAND ROVER AIMS AT FULLY ELECTRIC FUTURE

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AGUAR AND LAND Rover (JLR) are to go fully electric with all Jaguar and Land Rover nameplates to be available in pure electric form by the end of the decade. So proclaimed the company with a media announcement in mid-February at which it revealed its ‘Reimagine’ global strategy.

The company said that, in the next five years, Land Rover – which produces Range Rover, Discovery and Defender will welcome six pure electric variants, with first arriving in 2024. Over the same period, Jaguar will be transformed into a pure electric luxury brand.

The company said that by 2030, in addition to 100 per cent of Jaguar sales, it anticipated that around 60 per cent of Land Rovers sold will be electric.

Land Rover will use the upcoming flex Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA). It will deliver electrified internal combustion engines (ICE) and full electric variants as the company evolves its product line-up. In addition, Land Rover will also use the Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) which will also support advanced electrified ICE. Future Jaguar models will be built exclusively on a pure electric architecture.

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VIDEO: REIMAGINE JAGUAR | AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THIERRY BOLLORÉ, JLR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Furthermore, Jaguar Land Rover aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. As part of this goal, the company said it preparing for the expected adoption of clean fuel-cell power in line with a maturing of the hydrogen economy.

Development is already underway, it said, with prototypes arriving on UK roads within the next 12 months as part of a long-term investment program.

In order to realise this goal, JLR says it will work closely with parent the Tata Group on knowledge-sharing, best practice in next-generation technology, data and software development leadership. Jaguar Land Rover has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors since 2008.

VIVA ENERGY & HYZON MOTORS PARTNER ON HYDROGEN PROJECT

Thierry Bolloré, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover

“Jaguar Land Rover is unique in the global automotive industry. Designers of peerless models, an unrivalled understanding of the future luxury needs of its customers, emotionally rich brand equity, a spirit of Britishness and unrivalled access to leading global players in technology and sustainability within the wider Tata Group,” said Chief Executive Officer, Thierry Bolloré.

“We are harnessing those ingredients today to reimagine the business, the two brands and the customer experience of tomorrow. The Reimagine strategy allows us to enhance and celebrate that uniqueness like never before. Together, we can design an even more sustainable and positive impact on the world around us.”

VIVA ENERGY, ONE of Australia’s leading energy companies, has entered into a strategic alliance with HYZON Motors, a US-based supplier of hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles.

HYZON and Viva Energy intend to work to provide ‘zero-emission vehicles coupled with hydrogen refuelling solutions to customers, delivering a complete turn-key hydrogen transport solution’.

Viva Energy runs the Geelong refinery in Victoria and has previously announced plans to transform the site into an ‘Energy Hub’, saying on its website that, ‘A number of future projects are being assessed which could see the company taking a leading role in supplying liquid fuels and gas as well as supporting the development of other alternative energy solutions’.

“By working closely with HYZON, which is experienced at developing vehicles for markets worldwide, we can develop an entire hydrogen transport solution – which can move us past the traditional roadblocks to establishing a hydrogen refuelling network, by getting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road to provide the demand,” said Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt.

“In addition to our Gas Terminal project, this alliance helps us accelerate our Geelong Energy Hub vision through the development of hydrogen for transport and working with our existing partners and customers in providing this solution.”

Auto innovation news

NEW LIFE FOR EV BATTERIES AS AUSTRALIAN COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW ENERGY STORAGE UNIT

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USTRALIAN COMPANY RELECTRIFY is launching a 36 kW / 120 kWh commercial scale modular battery product that uses secondlife electric vehicle battery packs.

EV batteries are often considered to have reached end-of-life when their batteries have degraded to 80 per cent of their initial capacity. While EV drivers may seek a new battery to improve driving range, the secondlife battery remains a valuable and useful asset in stationary storage applications.

Backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) - established by the Australian Government in 2012 to improve the competitiveness of renewable energy tech – Relectrify is to roll out 20 battery units across commercial and industrial customer applications throughout Australia.

The company’s BMS (Battery Management System) + Inverter battery control technology can boost lifetime and performance of batteries, while reducing battery system costs. The technology, which was developed with support from ARENA in 2018, combines both hardware and software.

Relectrify’s project will showcase the capability of its technology to extend the lifetime of batteries while also highlighting the opportunity to reduce battery cost further using second-life batteries.

Relectrify will offer the batteries to selected Australian customers and electricity network businesses. Prospective customers 40 | Motor Trader March 2021

include utilities, industry and communities, both grid-connected and off-grid.

“Battery storage is already playing a crucial role in supporting the transition to renewable energy within industry, however, we need to do more to make it commercially viable,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller.

“Second-life batteries have significant potential to drive down costs, and Relectrify’s battery management and inverter technology can provide what is needed to transform them into valuable assets for businesses looking to make the switch.

“This new commercial-scale battery - roughly 10 times the size of a Tesla Powerwall 2 - will provide a cost-effective form of battery storage for use in commercial and industrial settings.”

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Awareness Course Overview The ADAS Awareness course is aimed at individuals currently working in the automotive industry, who have a workplace requirement to identify and understand ADAS components and the operational characteristics of the various Systems commonly featured in today’s modern light vehicles.

Estimators, Assessors, Service Advisors and Parts Advisers, etc, will gain an awareness and understanding of the fundamentals and features of ADAS, the code of practice, interdependencies of ADAS with other safety related systems… and much more.

Information Time:

8:30am to 4:00pm | 1 day duration (morning tea provided, kitchen and café facilities available)

Dates:

23 March | 6 April (class size 6-12)

Location: MTA Queensland, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld Cost: MTAQ Member: $400 (inc. GST) | Non-Member: $600 (Inc. GST)

Prerequisites • Prospective learners should be working in the automotive industry and have a basic understanding of vehicle technology.

COURSE INFORMATION » Description » Venue » Length of course » Training delivery » Services » Fee information » Consumer rights » How to enrol

• Standard workshop attire is required, ie. enclosed shoes, jeans/trousers, work shirt. (Other personal protective equipment will be supplied.)

Enrol Should you wish to enrol, or require further information, please go to www.mtaq.com.au or contact one of our friendly staff on (07) 3722 3000.

www.mtaq.com.au

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

20160431

MTA Queensland

Auto innovation news

FISKER AND FOXCONN SET TO COLLABORATE ON GLOBAL EV PROJECT

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ISKER, THE CALIFORNIA-BASED designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions, has entered into a MOU with Hon Hai Technology Group to develop an electric vehicle.

The Hon Hai Technology Group is better known as Foxconn, and the Taiwan-based company is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, as well as a leading technological solution provider.

The collaborative project is codenamed ‘Project PEAR’ (Personal Electric Automotive Revolution) and it certainly is ambitious in its scope. In a press release, Fisker said that Foxconn would look to manufacture the proposed vehicle at ‘projected annual volumes of more than 250,000’, and that start of production would be in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Fisker itself is already on the way to manufacturing its first EV – the Ocean SUV. Its launch is expected in 2022 and the company says it already has more than 12,000 global paid reservations.

THE COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IS CODENAMED ‘PROJECT PEAR’ (PERSONAL ELECTRIC AUTOMOTIVE REVOLUTION) AND IT CERTAINLY IS AMBITIOUS IN ITS SCOPE. “We created our company to disrupt every convention in the auto industry,” said Fisker Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Henrik Fisker. “The creation of Project PEAR with Foxconn brings together two likeminded and complementary companies, each focused on creating new value in a traditional industry. We will create a vehicle that crosses social borders, while offering a combination of advanced technology, desirable design, innovation and value for money, whilst delivering on our commitment to create the world’s most sustainable vehicles.”

The Fisker Ocean SUV

42 | Motor Trader March 2021

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Vehicle Glass Course Overview The ADAS Vehicle Glass course is aimed at individuals currently working in the automotive glazing industry, who have a workplace requirement to understand, diagnose and successfully calibrate the ADAS front camera, commonly featured in today’s modern light vehicles.

Auto Glazing and Windscreen Technicians will learn about ADAS components and operational characteristics, as well as gain an understanding of the calibration requirements and processes; dynamic and static calibration of front camera (windscreen); completing and storing documentation relating to ADAS calibration... and much more.

Information Time:

8:30am to 4:00pm | 1 day duration (morning tea provided, kitchen and café facilities available)

Dates:

24 March | 7 April (class size 4-8)

Location: MTA Queensland, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld Cost: MTAQ Member: $600 (inc. GST) | Non-Member: $850 (Inc. GST)

Prerequisites COURSE INFORMATION » Description » Venue » Length of course » Training delivery » Services » Fee information » Consumer rights » How to enrol

• Prospective learners should be working in the automotive industry and have a basic understanding of vehicle technology.

• Standard workshop attire is required, ie. enclosed shoes, jeans/trousers, work shirt. (Other personal protective equipment will be supplied.)

Enrol Should you wish to enrol, or require further information, please go to www.mtaq.com.au or contact one of our friendly staff on (07) 3722 3000.

www.mtaq.com.au

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

20160431

MTA Queensland

Auto innovation news

FORTESCUE DEPLOYS AUTONOMOUS LIGHT VEHICLES AT WA MINE SITE

Fortescue Metals Group autonomous light vehicle

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HILE THE SIGHT of autonomous passenger vehicles zipping around our roads and through our cities is probably quite a few years off, the technology is far enough along in development for it to be tested and used in environments that are not as tricky as crowded urban centres.

The mining industry has, in fact, been examining and trialling autonomous technology for some time – and that makes sense since few people are likely to get in the way of trucks and other machines involved on these large, remote sites.

In February, Fortescue Metals Group revealed the successful operational deployment of autonomous light vehicles (ALVs) at the company’s mining operations at the Chichester Hub in Western Australia.

Developed by the company’s Technology and Autonomy team, the ALVs are aimed at improving the efficiency of the Christmas Creek mine mobile maintenance team

44 | Motor Trader March 2021

and remove the need for fitters to make around 12,000 28km round trips annually to collect equipment and parts.

With the assistance of Ford Australia, four Ford Rangers have been retrofitted with an on-board vehicle automation system to support the driverless equipment transfer service, enabling team members to spend more time on maintaining mine assets.

The system features an integrated Lidar/Radar perception system for obstacle detection and avoidance, a comprehensive independent safety management and fail-safe braking system and built-in system monitoring and fault response capability.

“Since the outset, Fortescue has been at the forefront of innovation in the mining industry, underpinned by our value of generating ideas. It is this focus on technology and innovation that has driven our industry leading operational performance and cost position,” said Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines.

“The autonomous light vehicle project is a significant advancement of our inhouse automation capability, building on our leading autonomous haulage system program which has already delivered significant productivity and efficiency improvements for the business.

“With the flexibility to introduce similar systems into other mobile assets, this project is fundamental to our future mobile equipment automation projects.”

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Technician Course Overview The ADAS Technician course is aimed at individuals currently working in the automotive industry, who have a workplace requirement to not only understand ADAS components and operational characteristics, but diagnose and successfully calibrate the various Systems commonly featured in today’s modern light vehicles.

Technicians and Auto Electricians, etc, who have a good level of ADAS diagnostic skills and experience, will learn about ADAS components and operational characteristics, as well as gain an understanding of the types of ADAS repair and calibration equipment; ADAS diagnosis, live data, measurement, fault finding techniques; the risks associated with incorrect repair methods… and much more.

Information Time:

8:30am to 4:00pm | 2 day duration (morning tea provided, kitchen and café facilities available)

Dates:

25-26 March | 8-9 April (class size 4-8)

Location: MTA Queensland, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld Cost: MTAQ Member: $1,200 (inc. GST) | Non-Member: $1,600 (Inc. GST)

» Description » Venue » Length of course » Training delivery » Services » Fee information » Consumer rights » How to enrol www.mtaq.com.au

Prerequisites • Prospective learners should be working in the automotive industry and have a good understanding of ADAS diagnostics and vehicle technology.

• Standard workshop attire is required, ie. enclosed shoes, jeans/trousers, work shirt. (Other personal protective equipment will be supplied.)

Enrol Should you wish to enrol, or require further information, please go to www.mtaq.com.au or contact one of our friendly staff on (07) 3722 3000.

MTA Queensland

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

20160431

COURSE INFORMATION

Auto innovation news

TOYOTA AIMS FOR AUTONOMOUS EV MOBILITY SERVICES

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OYOTA HAS OUTLINED plans for its e-Palette autonomous EVs. The autonomous vehicles will be deployed at Toyota’s Woven City - a fully connected prototype ‘city of tomorrow’ being built in the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan.

The company says that this real-world testing will pave the way for commercial operation in the next few years with automated e-Palette vehicles delivering goods, services and mobility services.

Toyota says its development of the e-Palette recognises that COVID-19 has changed the way people lead their lives, creating more diverse mobility requirements. These include physical distancing between passengers and greater demand for goods and services to be brought to people, rather than people travelling to receive them. An ageing society will generate further mobility issues and increase demand for new services that the e-Palette can help address.

To meet these types of demands, Toyota says it has developed an advanced operations management system designed to reduce customer waiting times, ensure safety and alleviate congestion.

It has applied the ‘just-in-time’ principle central to Toyota’s vehicle manufacturing processes, enabling e-Palette vehicles to ‘go where they are needed, when needed and on time’.

An Autonomous Mobility Management System (AMMS) dispatches vehicles when 46 | Motor Trader March 2021

and where they are needed while a Task Assignment Platform provides a visual computer interface that enables monitoring of vehicles by workers at a control centre.

Schedules can be changed as necessary, with vehicles dispatched and returned automatically based on real-time mobility needs. When extra vehicles are required, operating intervals can be adjusted to ensure even spacing of services.

Any vehicle problems are automatically detected with the affected vehicle returned to the depot and a replacement dispatched immediately to maintain service.

Toyota also announced in February that it had begun work on Woven City – the prototype ‘city of the future’ and a ‘living laboratory’ the plans for which the company initially unveiled at the CES Show in 2020.

The company said that in its shift from an automobile manufacturer to a mobility company, the Woven City project will bring new technology to life in a real-world environment across a wide range of areas, such as automated driving, personal mobility, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). It is expected to provide a number of opportunities for businesses and researchers around the world.

Woven City will have three types of streets - one dedicated to automated driving, one to pedestrians, and one

GOVT LAUNCHES FUTURE FUELS FUND

Toyota says its development of the e-Palette recognises that COVID -19 has changed the way people lead their lives, creating more diverse mobility requirements

IT HAS APPLIED THE J‘ UST-IN-TIME’ PRINCIPLE CENTRAL TO TOYOTA’S VEHICLE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, ENABLING E-PALETTE VEHICLES TO ‘GO WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED, WHEN NEEDED AND ON TIME’. to pedestrians with personal mobility vehicles. Residences will be equipped with the latest in human support technologies, such as in-home robotics. The homes will use sensor-based AI, creating an opportunity to deploy connected technology.

To move residents through the city, only fully autonomous, zero-emission vehicles will be allowed on the main thoroughfares - the e-Palettes will be used for transportation and deliveries as well as for changeable mobile retail.

The community will start with around 360 residents, mainly senior citizens, families with young children, and inventors and will the aim is that it will eventually have a population of more than 2,000 including Toyota employees.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT has launched the $71.9 million Future Fuels Fund, announced as part of the 20/21 Federal Budget, that is aimed at addressing barriers to the roll out of new vehicle technologies.

The first round of the Fund will see $16.5 million of grant funding made available to fund battery electric vehicle (BEV) public fast charging infrastructure to expand the network and reduce blackspots.

The funding will be available to support the roll out of networks of fast charging stations (50kW and above) across eight geographic areas including each Australian capital city, alongside large regional centres including Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Geelong, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Each regional location is expected to receive at least four fast charging stations.

The initial funding round is focused on BEV fast charging stations to increase consumer choice, after industry consultation identified that a lack of public fast charging in major population centres is a key barrier to uptake of BEVs for both the public and fleets.

Subsequent funding rounds, kicking off later this year, will focus on supporting business fleets to transition to BEVs, as well as explore opportunities with hydrogen and biofuels.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 47

Auto innovation news

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE PLACES MASSIVE ORDER FOR CLEANER NEXT-GEN DELIVERY VEHICLES

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N FEBRUARY, THE U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that it had awarded U.S. company Oshkosh Defense an ‘indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity’ (IDIQ) contract to produce the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV).

This is the USPS’s first large-scale fleet procurement in three decades and allows for the delivery of between 50,000 and 165,000 vehicles over a period of 10 years.

Oshkosh will manufacture both zero emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-efficient low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) and will be able to be retrofitted to keep pace with advances in electric vehicle technologies.

The design of the new NGDV is certainly unusual. It’s not exactly pretty, but clearly aimed at being spot-on for the job for which it will be built. It will include air conditioning (something that, reportedly, the vehicles it will replace do not), air bags, improved ergonomics, plus 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, a front-and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warnings, and automatic braking. The vehicles will also have increased cargo capacity to better accommodate higher package volumes stemming from the growth of eCommerce.

The purpose-built NGDV will also be righthand-drive, making it easier for drivers to drop off packages.

48 | Motor Trader March 2021

OSHKOSH WILL MANUFACTURE BOTH ZERO EMISSION BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEV) AND FUELEFFICIENT LOW-EMISSION INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLES (ICE) AND WILL BE ABLE TO BE RETROFITTED TO KEEP PACE WITH ADVANCES IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES. While the replacement of the USPS fleet has been in discussion for some time, the Oshkosh deal comes on the heels of the announcement in January that the U.S. Government would look to replace its entire fleet of vehicles with clean energy alternatives.

While announcing his ‘Buy American’ executive order (aimed at tightening government requirements around buying U.S.-made products), President Joe Biden said, “The federal government . . . owns an enormous fleet of vehicles, which we are going to replace with clean electric vehicles made right here in America by American workers creating a million autoworker jobs in clean energy and vehicles that are net zero emission.

This will be the largest mobilisation of public investment in procurement,

Oshkosh will manufacture both zero emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-efficient low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE)

infrastructure and R&D since WWII.” This is a very big deal. The U.S. Government fleet numbers nearly 650,000 vehicles that cover billions of kilometres each year and consume hundreds of millions of litres of fuel.

The investment might by huge, but the environmental/clean air/fuel efficiency savings would be eually massive and the stimulus that such a gigantic commitment will make to the EV/hybrid/fuel cell

sectors will surely be massive too.

“Our fleet modernisation also reflects the Postal Service’s commitment to a more environmentally sustainable mix of vehicles,” said Postmaster General and USPS Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy. “Because we operate one of the largest civilian government fleets in the world, we are committed to pursuing near-term and long-term opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment.”

March 2021 Motor Trader | 49

Auto innovation news

FORD EUROPE GOES ALLIN ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES

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ORD IS GAMBLING on electric vehicle (EV) uptake in Europe being inevitable and has announced its commitment to put all its marble in the electrified basket on the continent.

By mid-2026, the company has said, 100 per cent of Ford’s passenger vehicle range in Europe will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, and will be completely all-electric by 2030. Similarly, Ford’s entire commercial vehicle range will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, by 2024, with two-thirds of Ford’s commercial vehicle sales expected to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.

The news comes after Ford reported a return to profit in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2020, and announced it was investing at least $22 billion ($AU28.3 billion) globally in electrification through 2025.

50 | Motor Trader March 2021

SPEARHEADING FORD’S EUROPEAN ELECTRIC STRATEGY IS A NEW $1 BILLION ($AU1.3 BILLION) INVESTMENT TO MODERNISE ITS VEHICLE ASSEMBLY FACILITY IN COLOGNE, GERMANY . . .

Spearheading Ford’s European electric strategy is a new $1 billion ($AU1.3 billion) investment to modernise its vehicle assembly facility in Cologne, Germany, one of its largest manufacturing centres in Europe and the home of Ford of Europe.

The investment will transform the existing vehicle assembly operations into the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre for the manufacture of electric vehicles, Ford’s first such facility in Europe.

The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford also confirmed that its first European-built, volume all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers will be produced at the facility from 2023, with the potential for a second all-electric vehicle built there under consideration.

“We successfully restructured Ford of Europe and returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2020. Now we are charging into an all-electric future in Europe with expressive new vehicles and a world-class connected customer experience,” said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe. “We expect to continue our strong momentum this year in Europe

and remain on track to deliver our goal of a six percent EBIT margin as part of Ford’s plan to turnaround our global automotive operations.

“We will offer an exceptional range of electrified vehicles, supported by customer-centric digital services and experiences, allowing our customers to come with us on the journey to a fully electric future, starting right now with the launch of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. In combination with our leading commercial vehicle business, this will form the basis of a sustainably profitable Ford business in Europe.”

Ford’s vehicle assembly facility in Cologne, Germany

JAGUAR 52 | Motor Trader March 2021

( 1 992 -1 994)

R XJ220 March 2021 Motor Trader | 53

( 1 9 9 2 - 1 9 9 4)

JAGUAR XJ220

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HEN IT WAS launched in 1992, the Jaguar XJ220 was the fastest production car in the world, capable of reaching a whopping 349km/h (217mph) and sprinting to 100km/h in under four seconds.

Perhaps just as important as those performance numbers was the fact the XJ220 looked every inch like it would deliver on those figures. Long, wide, low, smooth and sleek, the XJ220 was a knockout design – wonderful enough, one could argue, that if it were unveiled today, it would still cause plenty of jaws to drop.

A two-door, two-seater, rear-wheel-drive speedster, the production XJ220 was powered by a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 that was located behind the cabin.

That engine – a heavily reworked version of the Austin-Rover V64V found in the MG Metro 6R4 rally car of the late-

54 | Motor Trader March 2021

1980s – produced a very juicy 405kW and 644Nm, and power was delivered to the road through a five-speed manual gearbox and 18-inch Speedline rear wheels fitted with 345/35 Bridgestone Expedia tyres.

The XJ220 featured a bonded honeycomb aluminium chassis and aluminium bodywork and it was amongst the first supercars to feature an underbody designed to take advantage of the ‘venturi effect’, whereby air speed is influenced in such a way as to cause substantial increase in downforce.

On the inside, the big Jag was not some hollowed-out road-going race car.

There were creature comforts to be had in the nicely designed cabin, including plenty of leather and padding, electric windows, Alpine stereo, power mirrors, and air conditioning. Most notably, while there was a familiar gauge cluster on the dash in front of the diver, additional gauges – the clock, battery voltage, turbo boost, and transmission temperature were clustered together on the driver’s door giving the cabin a cockpit-type feel.

A TWO-DOOR, TWO-SEATER, REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE SPEEDSTER, THE PRODUCTION XJ220 WAS POWERED BY A 3.5-LITRE, TWINTURBO V6 THAT WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE CABIN. Unusual but very cool.

All-in-all then, the XJ220 was a great piece of kit. However, just 275 of them were built, production ceased in 1994, and while it was the fastest production car in the world when it first appeared, it was soon pitched from that lofty perch by the arrival of the mindboggling quick McLaren F1.

And in the years that followed, the XJ220 was ignored by collectors and seemed to drift off into relative supercar obscurity. The reason for this is not totally clear given what a fantastic car it is, but probably March 2021 Motor Trader | 55

lies in the controversy around its creation.

That story starts well enough.

Back in the late 1980s, Jaguar was on a motorsport high, with its potent XJR racing cars winning plenty of races and championships, including Le Mans in 1988 with the XJR-9.

The XJR series of race cars were fantastic track-only racers, but the idea blossomed within Jaguar about a return to the heady days of the company’s C-Type and D-Type Le Mans-winning cars - roadgoing sportscars that could also be a monster on the track.

A dozen Jag employees, known as the Saturday Club, volunteered their time to work on this new concept project, and what they came up with was the XJ220 Concept (220 being a reference to its proposed top speed of 220mph).

This huge car was designed to be powered by a 6.2-litre, quad cam, 48-valve V12, was to have adjustable race suspension and sport all-wheel-drive and scissor doors.

Unveiled at the 1988 British International Auto Show, the concept was a thunderous success, reportedly completely overshadowing Ferrari’s display

56 | Motor Trader March 2021

of its new supercar, the F40.

The positive reaction led to customer interest reaching epic levels and Jaguar approved the car for production. Some 1400 deep-pocketed enthusiasts parted with £50,000 as a deposit on a car Jaguar said would be built beginning in 1992. Full price was marked at £290,000 initially.

So far, so good but, unfortunately, things would soon start to wobble.

The concept was huge and heavier than its rivals - the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959.

Those cars also used smaller, turbocharged engines (the F40 ran a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8, while the 959 ran a 2.8-litre twinturbo flat six), and still posted excellent performance marks.

With that in mind, and the fact the emissions and weight were negative factors for the V12, the decision was made to drop the big brute of an engine in favour of the twin-turbo V6 for the production model.

The all-wheel-drive was also dropped in favour of rear-wheel-drive and the wheelbase and length of the car was shrunk slightly too. The scissor doors disappeared as well.

While the production version still looked much the same as the concept, these quite radical changes to the car, along with an early ’90s economic recession, saw some customers try to withdraw from completing their purchase and, in the end, Jaguar muddled through to complete just 275 units.

And from there, interest in the XJ220 fell slowly away. Until today. Over the past few years, the XJ220 has, rightly,

regained favour amongst enthusiasts and collectors, and while you can still pick one up relatively cheaply – one was listed for sale in the UK at the beginning of 2021 for £425,000 ($AU760,000) – they probably won’t stay that low for long. After all, V12 or not, scissor doors or not, all-wheel-drive or not, the XJ220 is still a beautiful, rare, exceedingly fast supercar.

Really, what’s not to like?

March 2021 Motor Trader | 57

Auto news

HYUNDAI DEBUTS THE IONIQ 5 ALL-ELECTRIC SUV

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YUNDAI HAS TAKEN the wraps off the IONIQ 5 midsize SUV - the first model in the company’s IONIQ battery electric vehicle (BEV) brand and the first built upon Hyundai’s dedicated BEV architecture called Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

The IONIQ 5 will be available in Australia in late 2021 and will come with a range of power electric (PE) configurations.

Customers can select from either a 58kWh or 72.6kWh battery pack, and two electric motor layouts - rear motor only or with both front and rear motors.

At the top of the line-up is an all-wheeldrive (AWD) Long Range option with the 72.6kWh battery. Combined power output here is 225kW and 605Nm and this configuration delivers 0-100 km/h in a nippy 5.2 seconds. The two-wheel drive version of the Long Range offers 160kW and 350Nm and will deliver around 480km

58 | Motor Trader March 2021

on a single charge and a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds. Range for all other models is to be confirmed.

The Standard Range model with the 58kWh battery pack has 173kW and 605Nm in all-wheel-drive set-up, delivering 0-100km.h in 6.1 seconds. The two-wheeldrive version has 125kW and 350Nm, and 100km/h is reached in 8.5 seconds.

All variations of the IONIQ 5 have a top speed of 185km/h.

The E-GMP platform can support both 400V and 800V charging infrastructures and with a 350kW charger, IONIQ 5 can

THE IONIQ 5 WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA IN LATE 2021 AND WILL COME WITH A RANGE OF POWER ELECTRIC (PE) CONFIGURATIONS.

charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. Five minutes of charging will get you 100km of range.

IONIQ 5 also provides a V2L function - which allows customers to use or charge any electric devices, such as electric bicycles, scooters or camping equipment - serving as a charger on wheels.

The V2L function can supply up to 3.6kW of power with one port located under the second-row seats and another at the charging port on the vehicle exterior.

Using a converter, customers can charge high-power electric equipment.

A suite of digital tech is available for driver and passengers. There’s a 12-inch, full-touch infotainment screen and a hoodless 12-inch digital gauge cluster; an Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR HUD); and the Hyundai SmartSense, advanced driver assistance system offering such features as Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), BlindSpot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and High Beam Assist (HBA).

A ‘Living Space’ theme runs throughout the interior and includes the Universal Island - a moveable centre console that can slide back as much as 140mm.

There are electronically adjustable front seats with reduced thickness to provide more space for those seated in the second row.

Much of the interior - seats, headliner, door trim, floor and armrest - uses ecofriendly, sustainably sourced materials, such as recycled PET bottles, plantbased yarns and natural wool yarns, eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts, and bio paint with plant extracts.

Customers can choose from nine exterior colours, including five natureinspired hues exclusive to IONIQ 5. The interior has three colour options.

Local pricing and specs for the IONIQ 5 will be revealed closer to its third-quarter launch.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 59

Auto news

GOODYEAR TO ACQUIRE COOPER TIRE & RUBBER

B

IG NEWS IN the tyre sector as it was announced in February that the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company had agreed to acquire theCooper Tire & Rubber Company for around $US2.5 billion ($AU3.25 billion).

Goodyear says that the transaction will ‘create a stronger U.S.-based manufacturer with increased presence in distribution and retail channels while combining both companies’ strengths in the highly profitable light truck and SUV product segments’.

Founded in 1914, Cooper is the 5th-largest tyre manufacturer in North America by revenue with approximately 10,000 employees working in 15 countries worldwide. Goodyear is the largest U.S. tyre manufacturer and the third largest worldwide (behind Bridgestone and Michelin). Cooper products are manufactured in 10 facilities around the globe, including wholly owned and joint venture plants. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Cooper, Mastercraft, Roadmaster and Mickey Thompson.

For Goodyear, the transaction strengthens its position in the U.S., while growing its position in other North American markets and, significantly, in China, where the combination nearly doubles Goodyear’s presence and increases the number of relationships with local automakers.

Goodyear expects to achieve approximately $US165 million ($AU214 million) in synergies within two years

60 | Motor Trader March 2021

following the close of the transaction.

The majority of those synergies, the company said, will be related to overlapping corporate functions and realising operating efficiencies.

“This is an exciting and transformational day for our companies,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The addition of Cooper’s complementary tyre product portfolio and highly capable manufacturing assets, coupled with Goodyear’s technology and industry leading distribution, provides the combined company with opportunities for improved cost efficiency and a broader offering for both companies’ retailer networks. We are confident this combination will enable us to provide enhanced service for our customers and consumers while delivering value for shareholders.”

MTA Q U E EN S L A N D I S AN I N DU S T RY SKI L L S ADV I S O R TO TH E Q L D G OV T. M AKE YO U R VOIC E H EA R D. CLICK HERE

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Auto news

NEW CARS SALES SHOW GROWTH BUT EVS STRUGGLE TO GAIN MOMENTUM

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ALES OF NEW cars were encouraging in February. A total of 83,977 vehicles were sold in in the month, up 5.1 per cent on February 2020 sales according to figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) at the beginning of March.

Year to date sales of 163,643 vehicles showed a 7.9 per cent on the same period in 2020.

However, the results for February were not positive across all states and territories, with Victoria down 8.7 per cent, Tasmania down 3.9 per cent and the ACT down 38.3 per cent compared to February 2020.

SUVs continued to dominate the market with sales of 42,651 vehicles, representing 50.8 per cent of the total market for February 2021. Light commercial vehicle sales represented 23 per cent (19,326) and passenger vehicles 22.9 per cent (19,194).

Sales of SUVs were up 8.6 per cent and sales of light commercials were up 24.3 per cent. The sale of passenger vehicles continued to fall with the numbers down 15.3 per cent in February 2021 compared to sales in February 2020.

The growth in the market in February was driven by purchasers classified as private buyers within the FCAI VFACTS system. Sales in February to private buyers were up 15.8 per cent over February 2020.

Business purchasers were down 4 per cent and government down 13.8 per cent.

62 | Motor Trader March 2021

. . . IN 2020, THERE WERE 6,900 ELECTRIC CARS SOLD IN AUSTRALIA, A 2.7 PER CENT INCREASE FROM THE 6,718 SOLD IN 2019.

THE 2020 FIGURES SHOW ELECTRIC CARS ACCOUNTING FOR JUST 0.7 PER CENT OF TOTAL AUSTRALIAN CAR SALES. Toyota led the market for the month with sales of 18,375 vehicles (21.9 per cent of the market), followed by Mazda with 8,322 (9.9 per cent), Hyundai with 6,252 (7.4 per cent), Mitsubishi with 6,202 (7.4 per cent) and Kia with 5,871 (7 per cent). The Toyota Hilux was the best-selling vehicle in February 2021 with sales of 4,808 vehicles.

In related news, the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) released figures for electric car sales for 2020, and Australia’s uptake of EVs remains low.

According to the EVC, in 2020, there were 6,900 electric cars sold in Australia, a 2.7 per cent increase from the 6,718 sold in 2019. The 2020 figures show electric cars accounting for just 0.7 per cent of total Australian car sales.

In its press release, the EVC provided EV sales numbers for the European Union, and the comparison is stark - EVs in the EU increased their market share from 3.8 per cent in 2019 to 10.2 per cent in 2020.

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

63 | Motor Trader September 2020

March 2021 Motor Trader | 63

Auto news

Jeep Gladiator Sport S

GLADIATOR SPORT S SPEC JOINS JEEP LINE-UP

J

EEP AUSTRALIA HAS added to the Jeep Gladiator range, introducing the Sport S variant to the line-up.

Powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, the Gladiator S features Selec-Trac Active On-Demand 4x4 system, is fitted with heavy-duty Dana front and rear axles, underbody skid plates, selectable tyre fill alert and a wash-out interior.

Standard active safety equipment includes Forward Collision Warning Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Path Detection. Other features include LED exterior lighting, remote proximity keyless entry, a fourth-generation UConnect 7-inch Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic headlamps, push-button start, 7-inch Driver Information Display Cluster and dual-zone climate control.

An optional Lifestyle and Adventure package adds a Roll-up Tonneau Cover, 64 | Motor Trader March 2021

STANDARD ACTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INCLUDES FORWARD COLLISION WARNING PLUS, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH STOP, BLIND SPOT MONITOR AND REAR CROSS PATH DETECTION.

Cargo Management Group with Trail Rail System, Lockable Rear Underseat Storage Bin, Spray-In Bedliner, Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Auxiliary Switch Bank (4 Programmable Switches), 240-Amp Alternator and a 700-Amp Maintenance Free Battery.

The Comfort and Technology Group package can also be added to the Gladiator Sport S specification, delivering appointments such as Uconnect 8.4inch Touchscreen, Deep Tint Sunscreen Windows, Hard Top Headliner, Security Alarm and Remote Start System.

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Auto news

KIA BRINGS STONIC COMPACT SUV TO AUSTRALIA

K

IA MOTORS AUSTRALIA has added the Stonic to its range of SUV vehicles available in Australia.

The Stonic will be available in the Australian market in three models – the S, Sport, and GT-Line. Two engine options are available - the Kappa 1.4-litre MPI with 74kW and 133Nm and the 1.0-litre turbo GDI with 74kW and 172Nm - that drive the front wheels through a choice of 6-speed manual or automatic for the 1.4 and a 7-speed DCT for the turbo GT-Line.

All three models come with an an extensive list of standard equipment across the three-model range and the Stonic has gone through, Kia says, an extensive localised ride and handling tuning program.

The S manual Stonic comes standard with six airbags, car/pedestrian/cyclist

66 | Motor Trader March 2021

detection AEB, lane following assist, reversing camera with dynamic parking Kia Stonic Compact Suv guidelines, rear parking sensors, driver attention alert, cruise control, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto (S trim only), multi-connection Bluetooth, 8-inch multimedia touchscreen, 6-speaker sound system, 4.2-inch TFT LCD driver’s cluster, 15-inch steel wheels and auto headlights.

The S model starts at $22,990 drive away ($1000 extra for 6-speed automatic).

The Sport model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, smart key with push button start, 8-inch multimedia touchscreen with navigation, 10-year Mapcare updates with SUNA Traffic, electric folding mirrors and premium steering wheel and shifter.

THE TOP OF THE RANGE GT-LINE GETS THE 1.0-LITRE TURBO GDI ENGINE, 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION AND A SPORTIER SUSPENSION TUNE. The Sport starts at $24,990 drive away for the manual ($1000 extra for automatic).

The top of the range GT-Line gets the 1.0-litre turbo GDI engine, 7-speed dual clutch transmission and a sportier suspension tune. It also gains a set of

bespoke 17-inch alloys, idle-stop-andgo (also on manual S and Sport), an identifying body package, MFR LED headlights, two-tone colour or sunroof, cloth and artificial leather seats, climate control air conditioning, privacy glass and electrochromic mirror. The GT-Line is available for $29,990.

Stonic is available in seven colours for the 1.4-litre car - Clear White, Silky Silver, Perennial Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Signal Red, Mighty Yellow and Sport Blue - while the GT-Line has the option of four exclusive two-tone treatments - Clear white with Aurora Black Pearl roof, Mighty Yellow and Aurora Black Pearl roof, Sporty Blue with Aura Black Pearl Roof and Signal Red with Aurora Black Pearl Roof. Silky Silver is not available on GT-Line.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 67

Auto news

FORD LAUNCHES RANGER TRADIE SPECIAL EDITION

F

ORD AUSTRALIA IS introducing a limited-run special-edition ‘workready’ Ranger called the Tradie.

Based on the Ranger XL 4x4 Double Cab Pick-Up, the Ranger Tradie is powered by a 3.2-litre, five-cylinder turbo diesel with sixspeed automatic transmission as standard.

The 4x4 system features both high- and low-range 4x4 with locking rear differential as well as 800mm water-wading ability.

Its factory-fitted features include a protective bedliner, towbar, a 20.5-inch LED light bar, and a host of standard tech features, including SYNC 3 with 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. Available connected services via the FordPass App include remote locking/unlocking, remote vehicle start and vehicle status updates.

The Ford Ranger Tradie is available in Arctic White, True Red, or prestige paints

THE 4X4 SYSTEM FEATURES BOTH HIGHAND LOW-RANGE 4X4 WITH LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL AS WELL AS 800MM WATER-WADING ABILITY. Meteor Grey, Aluminium Silver, Blue Lightning or Shadow Black.

In addition to a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, there are 15,000km/12month service intervals, and A and B log-book services for the first four years/60,000km are set at a maximum of $299 per service.

Ford Service Benefits also bring owners a Service Loan Car, Auto Club Membership including Roadside Assistance.

The Ranger XL Tradie special edition is available for a limited time at $47,990 driveaway while stocks last.

Ford Ranger Tradie

68 | Motor Trader March 2021

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Auto news

NISSAN UNVEILS NEW PATHFINDER IN THE US

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ISSAN HAS UNVEILED the 2022 Pathfinder in the U.S. As well as a beefy new look on the outside, under the skin the new Pathfinder features some new tech.

In the U.S. at least, the Pathfinder is offered in 2WD and 4WD and in four trim levels – S, SV, SL and Platinum. Two packages – SV Premium and SL Premium – are available. The Pathfinder features a 3.5-liter Direct Injection V6 delivering 212kW and 351Nm of torque. The engine is matched with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Pathfinder 4WD drive models feature Nissan’s Intelligent 4WD with 7-position Drive and Terrain Mode Selector. Mode selection – Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow – is displayed as a pop-up notification on the meter cluster.

A dual-pinion electric power steering system is combined with wide, 255-mm tyres. There’s a front strut and rear independent multi-link suspension design with front and rear stabiliser bars and 4-wheel disc brake system. Maximum towing capacity is 2700kg. Trailer Sway Control is standard.

The interior of the Pathfinder features a new, available 12.3-inch digital dashboard.

Complementing that is an available 70 | Motor Trader March 2021

VIDEO: 2022 NISSAN PATHFINDER

10.8-inch Head-up Display. Also available is a 9.0-inch color touchscreen centre display placed high on the new simplified, instrument panel.

Woven cloth, leather, or premium quilted semi-aniline leather-appointed seats are offered in a range of new colours and materials. Brushed bronze metallic accents are among the seven available interior ‘environments’, and there’s also new ambient interior lighting.

The Pathfinder has a standard 8-passenger capacity or, a second-row captain’s chairs with a removable center console.

Available interior features include a 10-way power driver’s seat, climate controlled front seats, Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control with second-row climate control, and heated rear seats.

Tech and safety features include

2022 Nissan Pathfinder

NissanConnect featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that is standard on all grade levels. Also available is NissanConnect with WiFi Hot Spot, a wireless smartphone charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bose Premium Audio with 13 speakers, and Intelligent Around View Monitor.

The SV and SL grades offer Nissan’s

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP AUSTRALIA AND AUDI AUSTRALIA TO MERGE OPERATIONS AUDI AUSTRALIA HAS announced that it will join the national sales company (NSC) Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) – a move that unites Volkswagen, Audi, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and the VW-owned brand SKODA in a single Australian entity.

Audi, Volkswagen and SKODA dealer networks will operate as per existing agreements with the brands.

Audi Australia and VGA have, to this point, traded as separate NSCs. The companies, which shared functions such as IT and procurement, said they had examined other areas for combining recourses for some time, culminating in the decision to merge as is the practice in most markets where multiple Group brands are sold.

“Unification fortifies the position of these Group brands,” said VGA

ProPILOT Assist - a hands-on, driver-assist technology that combines steering assist and Intelligent Cruise Control to help control acceleration, braking and steering in both heavy traffic and on the open highway.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist and Rear Automatic Braking.

Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness and Rear Door Alert7 are also standard, while Blind Spot Intervention, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Traffic Sign Recognition are available.

Ten airbags are standard.

The new Pathfinder goes on sale midyear in the US. Managing Director Michael Bartsch.

“In a market where all auto brands are importers, no national sales company will have the breadth of offering nor the sheer product strength of VGA. “From a SKODA Fabia city car all the way to Audi’s R8 supercar with every passenger car and SUV segment between and a dominant light commercial vehicle arm besides, Volkswagen Group Australia will be class-leading in all aspects of the automotive market in which it competes.”

Mr Bartch confirmed that Audi would lead VGA’s push into electric vehicles.

“As such, VGA will be positioned most advantageously to dominate what will in time become a common form of personal mobility,” he said.

“Eventually each Group brand will have separate EV ranges that reflect the diversity and price positioning of their conventional showrooms. Yet, crucially, the brands retain their entirely distinct identities and customer sets.”

March 2021 Motor Trader | 71

Auto news

MITSUBISHI UNVEILS NEW OUTLANDER

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ITSUBISHI HAS TAKEN the wraps off its all-new Outlander SUV – the fourth generation of the series.

Expected in Australia later this year, the seven-seater Outlander has undergone a significant overhaul with new styling, an upgraded interior, new functions and features, has a newly developed platform and 2.5-litre engine, updated electronically controlled 4WD and S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system, and a new drive mode selector.

The company says the new platform greatly improves collision safety performance and achieves a high level of steering stability and Mitsubishi has used an ultra-high tensile strength steel sheet with hot stamping around the cabin to create a high-strength cabin structure.

Multi-link suspension and dual pinion

electric power steering is designed to achieve high-quality ride comfort and improved feel for the driver.

The company says the newly developed 2.5-litre engine improves maximum output by a claimed 8.9 per cent and fuel efficiency by 2.6 percent over the previous model. An 8-speed sport mode CVT is used for the transmission.

For the 4WD model, electronically controlled 4WD incorporating a hydraulic clutch driven by an electric motor is used in the center-coupling device that conducts front and rear torque distribution.

There are six drive modes for 4WD models and five modes for 2WD models. Modes are: Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, with the 4WD getting the extra Mud mode.

On the inside, colour variations for the

Premium-level vehicle feature genuine leather seats of light gray and black. The instrument panel and door trim are the same colour, and aluminium is used in the shift panel. Saddle tan accent colour and semi-aniline leather seats are also available as an option for the Premium-Line. The Mid-range vehicle features black suede combination seats and piano black interior material, while the Standard vehicle offers light gray or black fabric material seats and piano black interior material.

Features include seat heaters, 3-zone automatic climate control, and rear door sunshades are available depending on the trim level.

Display screens and gauge cluster options depend on trim level choice and include a 12.3-inch instrument display, a

9-inch screen used for the centre display, a 7-inch multi-information display, and a 10.8-inch Head-Up Display (HUD).

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available, and a BOSE premium sound system is too. The centre console tray has a wireless phone charging function, and USB charging ports Types C and A are provided, respectively, on the front and back of the centre console.

Advanced driver-assistance system and safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA), speed sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, hill descent control and driver attention alert. A front centre airbag for the driver’s seat and side airbags for the second-row seats are standard, and a total of 11 airbags are installed.

Mitsubishi Outlander SUV

March 2021 Motor Trader | 73

Auto news

RUSTY ‘BARNFIND’ PORSCHE SELLS FOR $230,000

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COMPLETE, AUSTRALIANDELIVERED, BUT badly neglected 1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet that spent its last 25 years rusting beneath a Newmarket, Brisbane church has sold for $230,000 at Shannons Summer Timed Auction.

The Melbournedelivered Porsche had 1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet a comprehensive list of factory options including a rare Karmann hardtop and even-rarer 15in x 4in Rudge knock-off wheels.

The now Sydney-based ‘barnfind’ Porsche, which was delivered with some rare factory options, attracted 61 bids and almost doubled its pre-auction high estimate after an online duel between two determined bidders that drove its price up $75,000 in the auction’s final hour.

Shannons says that experts have estimated that to restore the elderly Porsche professionally to its original glory could take a further $150,00$200,000, but some have suggested refurbishing it mechanically and preserving its rusty patina with clear-coat, might be a ‘cool’ and cheaper alternative.

74 | Motor Trader March 2021

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March 2021 Motor Trader | 75 CLICK HERE FOR MEDIA GUIDE AND COSTS

Workplace relations AT LEAST 2 IN 3 AUSTRALIANS WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH SKIN CANCER BEFORE THE AGE OF 70. THE RISK IS HIGHER IN MEN (2 IN 3) THAN IN WOMEN (3 IN 5).

WORKING IN HEAT, EVEN IN THE SHADE EVANGELINE KANNIS SENIOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR

COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT THE ROLLOUT of the COVID-19 vaccine commenced in Australia on 22 February 2021. There are currently no laws or public health orders in Australia that specifically enable employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. While many people are keen to get this vaccine, some are not, and there will also be a few people who cannot have the vaccine for medical reasons.

Employers, managers and human resources specialists are considering how they will handle balancing the rights and wishes of their employees with ensuring a safe workplace for all employees.

Safe Work Australia has updated their guidance on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in workplaces. It is unlikely in the majority of circumstances that an employee could refuse to come to work because, for instance, a colleague had not been vaccinated. CLICK HERE for more information.

Employers are advised to be aware of any public health orders that may have been issued by relevant state health agencies that could require certain workers to be vaccinated in some high-risk industries.

76 | Motor Trader March 2021

Working in heat is more than just uncomfortable, it may become risky to your health. It is important to remain hydrated as part of managing the risks of working in heat.

Dark or reduced urine output can indicate dehydration. Other symptoms may include dizziness, sweating, visual disturbances, fainting, nausea, and muscle cramps. Heat-related illness occurs when your body is no longer able to maintain a healthy body temperature.

It can progress and become lifethreatening if left untreated.

This problem can also happen indoors where high air temperatures and humidity can contribute to fatigue and heat-related illnesses.

Manage the risk of dehydration by drinking cool water and encouraging your work mates to stay hydrated. Water is the best way to keep hydrated, and remember that thirst is satisfied before fluid loss is replaced according to the Australian Standards, so give your body time to cool down and absorb the water.

For practical advice and information CLICK HERE for Safe Work Australia Guidance Material.

BE SUNSMART At least 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70.

Source: www.cancer.org.au - Cancer Council

The risk is higher in men (2 in 3) than in women (3 in 5). These higher rates of melanoma deaths among men are most likely due to late detection and poorer outcomes from more advanced disease.

Our eyes are vulnerable to damage from UV radiation so wear a hat and sunglasses and avoid excessive exposure.

Often, we go outside not intending to stay out, but our skin and our eyes are damaged each time we go out when they are not protected.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN For best protection, the Cancer Council recommends a combination of sun protection measures: 1. Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.

2. Slop on broad spectrum, water-resistant SPF30 (or higher) sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.

3. Slap on a hat – broad brim or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears.

4. Seek shade.

5. Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards.

CHECK YOUR SKIN Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate between fair and dark-skinned people.

The evidence proves exposure to UVR

damages our skin and causes skin cancer. While skin cancer is less common for people with darker skin, it often gets found at a later, more advanced stage.

If skin cancer is found early, it can often be successfully treated. It is important to get to know your own skin and check it regularly. Remember to check your whole body.

Changes to look for: • new moles or moles that increase in size • changes in the outline of a mole • a mole that becomes rough, scaly or ulcerated • moles that itch, tingle, bleed or weep • a spot or freckle that becomes raised or develops a lump within it • a spot or freckle that changes colour or is varied in colour • or spots or freckles that look different from others on your skin.

If you have any concerns about or notice changes on your skin, it is important to have them checked by a doctor.

Tattooed skin is still exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). So if you have a tattoo, check the skin under and around the tattoo carefully.

The colour pigments used in CLICK TO VISIT THE the tattooing process can MTAQ MEMBER PORTAL make it harder to detect skin damage and skin cancer.

CLICK HERE for more about checking your skin.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 77

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 TRAINING & INNOVATION

W

businesses out there willing to given one of these learners a go, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The MTA Institute is always committed to making sure we maintain our high level of client service and training excellence. It is something we keep saying, and can back this up by

MEMBERS' ESSENTIALS Contents 83 Get your skills and expertise recognised with a trade qualification 84 MTAQ Welcomes New Members 86 MTA Qld VET Trainer Scholarship Opportunity 87 From the Office of Fair Trading

March 2021 Motor Trader | 79

E S S E N T I A L S

. . . THE MTA INSTITUTE’S AUTOMOTIVE PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM HAS WOUND UP AND WE NOW HAVE 17 PARTICIPANTS LOOKING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP INTO THE WORKFORCE.

M E M B E R S

ELL, WE ARE certainly seeing the benefits of the Federal Government’s financial support with regards to Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements - the subsidy paying 50 per cent of wages to an apprentice between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter.

It has certainly helped businesses and we’ve seen an increase in commencements since the start of the year.

We know the industry does not have enough skilled workers, and with limited international travel in the foreseeable future bringing in workers, it is now the time to ‘grow our own’ and support the workforce through this time and into the future.

With that in mind, the MTA Institute’s automotive prevocational training program has wound up and we now have 17 participants looking to take the next step into the workforce. The group completed their AUR20716 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation and now have the basic skills for a start in the automotive industry. So, any

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

M E M B E R S

E S S E N T I A L S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective the recent release of the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) data. As the largest private Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for automotive apprenticeships and training in Queensland, the MTA Institute prides itself on student satisfaction and are proud of the outstanding results achieved in the report. A quick summary includes: • 91.8 per cent of our ‘completers’ were satisfied with the overall quality of their training – this compares to 87.4 per cent for private providers and 89.5 per cent for TAFE. • 91 per cent would recommend the MTA Institute – compared to 82.9 per cent for private providers and 86.6 per cent for TAFE. • 91.1 per cent were satisfied with learning resources – compared to 83.9 per cent for private providers and 86.6 per cent for TAFE. At all times, the MTA Institute strives to provide the highest level of training quality while ensuring our training delivery is relevant to the real world and directly connects students’ ability and the employers’ wants. To record such positive results is evidence we are achieving these goals and preparing the next generation

. . . MTA INSTITUTE STRIVES TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING QUALITY WHILE ENSURING OUR TRAINING DELIVERY IS RELEVANT TO THE REAL WORLD AND DIRECTLY CONNECTS STUDENTS’ ABILITY AND THE EMPLOYERS’ WANTS. of automotive professionals for the evolving industry. This result comes from the efforts of all trainers and staff in continually raising the bar and improving expectations, and the results of their efforts speak for themselves.

Just keeping an eye on down the track, all our students will need to be enrolled in the updated AUR Training Package by the 13th November 2021. This is a significant project that requires reviewing all training resources and updating existing training material. We will be sending details soon communicating to all students and employers the need to transition to the new Package. We are planning to begin the transition by the middle of the year – keep watching this space.

Until next time, all the best.

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 80 | Motor Trader March 2021

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

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

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

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

E S S E N T I A L S

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RTO No: 31529

M E M B E R S

MTA INSTITUTE COURSES

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

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

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

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS COURSES AWARENESS COURSE 23 March | 6 April

VEHICLE GLASS COURSE 24 March | 7 April

TECHNICIAN COURSE 25-26 March | 8-9 April Click for more information.

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

AUTO CAMP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MTA Institute

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

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F YOU HAVE trade expertise and experience but no formal qualification, then you can get your trade skills recognised with the MTA Institute.

The MTA Institute can assist you in achieving a trade qualification by formally assessing your skills and work experience against industry and educational requirements through either a Government-subsidised program or, if you are ineligible for that particular route, our fee-for-service (non-subsidised) program.

Did you know that a trade certification is essential to: • Employ an apprentice and apply for federally based incentives • Have an international employee recognised with an Australian qualification • Instill consumer trust in your business • Apply to become an approved inspection station examiner • Apply for a job where a formal qualification is a pre-requisite • Help with staff upskilling (essential for job satisfaction and retention) • Apply for a job where you want to be a preferred candidate.

Your experience working in the industry is valued.

“This has always been an important program to support the automotive industry to have skilled people recognised with national qualifications,” said Paul Kulpa, MTA Institute General Manager

“THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO HAVE SKILLED PEOPLE RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.” of Training. “The trust this also gives consumers knowing people have these qualifications only helps to increase the confidence that industry has the right people with the rights skills to complete the work on their vehicles.”

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If you, or your employees, have many years of experience but no formal qualifications, the MTA Institute may be able to assist you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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GET YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERTISE RECOGNISED WITH A TRADE QUALIFICATION

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I-CAR Graduates

ACKNOWLEDGING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES IN QUEENSLAND I-CAR AUSTRALIA - the organisation that delivers information, training and education to the collision repair industry - is acknowledging the achievements of industry employees from across the country who have achieved I-CAR Platinum Individual accreditation and I-CAR Welding Certification.

The following is a list of Queenslandbased collision repair industry employees who received I-CAR Platinum Individual Accreditation in January 2021: • Glen Costello Domroy’s Prestige • Stuart Bingham Suncorp

• Matthew Trapani • Petrus Nortje • Marc Young • Jess Bulders • Matthew McKinnon • James Daly • Codie Carpenter

Suncorp H Harvey Prestige Bissell’s Paint & Panel Sommerville Smash Repairs Suncorp Gold Coast Collision Centre Mangano Body Repairs

New I-Car Welding Certifications in January 2021: • Brandon Temple Domroy’s Prestige • Malik Ritchie Daffey RPM Tingalpa • Matthew Johnson Gemini Pinkenba

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members BUSINESS NAME

ADDRESS

EMAIL

DIVISION

ADAS Solutions All4 Autocare Auto Mechanical Clinical Diversion Garage Hervey Bay Quality Cars PDR Australia

Unit 5 259 Cullen Avenue East, Eagle Farm QLD 4009 19 Ribblesdale Court, Joyner QLD 4500 Unit 4-75 Islander Road, Pialba QLD 4655 1/5-7 Steel Street, Capalaba, QLD 4157 65 Boat Harbour Drive Pialba QLD 4655 PO Box 1140, Narellan, NSW 2567

service@adassolutions.com.au jeremy@all4autocare.com.au automechanicalclinic@gmail.com engines@diversiongarage.com.au sales@hbqualitycars.com.au greg@smartrepair.com.au

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Can you afford not to be in the circle?

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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INNOVATION

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

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

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SUPPORT

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

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TRAINING

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.

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

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MTA QLD VET TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

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HE FIRST ROUND of MTA Queensland’s inaugural VET Trainer Scholarship has concluded, with an overwhelming response from over 30 applicants.

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

Through the course, participants will learn skills in designing, conducting, and assessing training for the vocational sector, while also receiving knowledge in how to facilitate learning in various conditions and evaluate the impacts of various learning programs.

The course is open to individuals across Queensland, and MTA Queensland will provide the recipient with up to $2,500 towards the course, paid to the individual’s chosen Registered Training Organisation.

The recipient is selected off a range of

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THE TRAINER SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS BY UNDERTAKING THE TAE40116-CERTIFICATE IV IN TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT COURSE . . . criteria including automotive experience, communication skills and passion for training.

A short list of potential candidates will receive a phone interview, with the recipient for round one being announced on 1 April 2021.

MTA Queensland is very proud to be creating opportunities for those in the industry to move into the training sector and educate the automotive professionals of the future.

Nominations for the next scholarship round will open on 1 August 2021.

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HE QUEENSLAND OFFICE of Fair Trading (OFT) is warning that it is stepping up its operations against illegal selling practices and is clamping down on backyard operators.

The warning comes after 62 warning letters and 23 fines were issued in the past seven months to operators in the motor industry, including 16 warnings and four fines related to unlicensed dealing.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the OFT was monitoring the activities of both licensed and unlicensed motor vehicle sellers operating in Queensland.

“A number of digital and online platforms are being monitored for unlicensed dealers as well as licensed dealers selling privately in an attempt to avoid their obligations,” said Ms Fentiman.

“If you are buying and selling vehicles, other than for your personal use, you must hold a motor dealer’s licence.

“If you are a motor dealer you must disclose to a potential buyer or seller of a vehicle that you are a licensed motor dealer or registered salesperson, even if you are buying or selling privately.”

A motor dealer was taken to court in January by the OFT for selling a vehicle privately, despite being licensed. The Calamvale man had also wound the odometer back substantially.

“IF YOU ARE BUYING AND SELLING VEHICLES, OTHER THAN FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE, YOU MUST HOLD A MOTOR DEALER’S LICENCE.” “The dealer is no longer licensed and I’m confident the OFT will thoroughly scrutinise any future licensing applications from this person,” said Ms Fentiman.

“We encourage genuine dealers to report dodgy operators through the Motor Trades Association of Queensland’s dob in a backyarder online form or by lodging a complaint with OFT. “Consumers who want to lodge a complaint about a motor dealer can do so via the OFT website or by calling 13QGOV (13 74 68).”

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DON’T BE TEMPTED TO BE A BACKYARDER

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From the Office of Fair Trading

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HYUNDAI’S TIGER ULTIM

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MATE MOBILITY CONCEPT

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HYUNDAI’S TIGER ULTIMATE MOBILITY CONCEPT “XXXX”

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AST MONTH, Motor Trader reported on Hyundai’s acquisition of Boston Dynamics, the U.S. company responsible for some truly remarkable robots with fluid, human-like movement.

While Hyundai will, no doubt, lean on Boston Dynamics’ expertise on robotdevices in future product development, the company has been researching this area itself for some time. You may remember that at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2019, Hyundai revealed the ‘Elevate’ Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) concept, a vehicle that combined EV technology and robotics and that was designed to be able to move cargo, including passengers, through all manner of tricky and otherwise inaccessible terrain.

Last month, Hyundai revealed this, the TIGER (Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot), its second UMV and the first designed to be able to perform without passengers or crew.

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Like the Elevate, the TIGER’s design is aimed at it being able to carry various types of payload while traveling over challenging terrain and for it to function as a ‘mobile scientific exploration platform in extreme, remote locations’.

Its features include a sophisticated leg and wheel locomotion system, 360-degree directional control, and a range of sensors for remote observation. It is also intended to connect to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which can fully charge and deliver TIGER to distant, inaccessible locations.

Hyundai TIGER (Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot)

VIDEO: BREAKDOWN OF THE TIGER UMV CONCEPT

A load bay housed within its body means TIGER can carry goods for delivery or be deployed to deliver aid packages in emergency situations. Leg-wheel articulation enables it to tackle a range of extreme situations while keeping payloads more level than a typical ground vehicle.

With its legs retracted, TIGER drives like an all-wheel drive vehicle. If it should get blocked by an otherwise impassable obstacle, it uses its walking ability to get unstuck or more easily travel over that terrain.

March 2021 Motor Trader | 91

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

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OMESTICALLY, THE S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index was up 1.45% during the period. Materials (+7.2%) was the best performing sector. The economic recovery, supported by large fiscal and monetary stimulus has led to a much stronger outlook for inflation and bond yields, which is historically beneficial to the sector. Financials (+4.5%) similarly outperformed, as the rising yields gave further life to the value rotation that started last year.

Information Technology (9.1%) was the worst performer, as growth stocks were heavily impacted by a steepening in the yield curve. Utilities (8.8%) also underperformed as the assets with fixed interest-like qualities followed bonds lower.

International equities finished the month higher in all but one of the major markets. The Japanese Nikkei 225 (+4.7%) led international markets as a spike in global bond yields and fears of inflation forced a strong value rotation.

Highlighting this shift, the S&P 500 (+2.6%) outperformed its more growth-focussed peer the NASDAQ (+0.9%) and the highflying Chinese CSI 300 (-0.3%). European markets also performed well (MSCI Europe ex-UK +2.5%), followed by the East 92 | Motor Trader March 2021

Asian bourses (Hang Seng +2.5%, KOSPI +1.3%). The UK (FTSE 100 +1.2%) lagged, despite its valuation support as markets remain cautious on the vaccine rollout and Brexit implications.

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

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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.

MTAA Super offers low-fee retirement options that can help you ease into retirement or say goodbye to work for good. Speak to us about a personalised retirement strategy.

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

1300 362 415 mtaasuper.com.au/retirement-ready

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