BUSY TIMES

The 4WD Industry Council has had a big year

We might only be at the half way mark, but already 2023 has proved exceptionally busy for the 4WD Industry Council (4WD IC). Firstly, there have been a few changes to the committee including the addition of myself, and we also welcomed our new committee members, Clinton Brett (Diesel Help Australia), Chris Ellis (Monroe Australia) and Mike Tomsett (SWD Group).

Back in February, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) and the 4WD IC were proud to announce that the MTA Institute in Queensland will offer the AUR22021 – Certificate II in Automotive Accessory Fitting traineeship.

This is an exciting milestone for the 4WD Industry to provide a qualification that will develop the knowledge and skills of the current and future industry workforce in alignment with industry best practice and relevant state and federal guidelines.

The 4WD IC hope that MTA will be the first of many providers nationwide and we encourage all our members to support the program.

In March the 4WD IC networking breakfast was held at the National 4x4 and Outdoor Show in Brisbane. The event sold out, with representatives from the 4WD industry from across the country gathering to hear the latest industry updates.

The Australian 4WD Industry Council is a non-competitive, specialist council of the AAAA. It has been formed to provide advice, understanding and a strategic approach to market issues from regulators, governments, 4WD enthusiasts and community groups. www.4wdcouncil.com.au

Rather, it is the opening scenes of “Dust Up –Fast Parts 2,” a short film released by 4WD parts company, Terrain Tamer.

Terrain Tamer’s first short film ‘Fast Parts’ was released in 2021, gaining international recognition on social media and becoming one of the company’s most viewed videos of all time – which is no small feat for a brand which has been providing the internet with engaging and informative 4WD video content for well over 10 years.

‘Dust Up’ is the follow up, which sees 4WD mechanic and industry personality Mad Matt battle against the odds of a broken CV Joint to compete for Allan Gray’s fictional trophy, and comes after almost two years of planning, filming, and editing.

Filmed on location at Cherrabah Homestead Resort in Queensland, the film marks the first coming together of the two 4WD mechanics, both of whom work closely with the Terrain Tamer 4WD parts brand, and showcases some of the more extreme terrain that the 5086-acre property has to offer.

‘Dust Up’ is available to view now at www.terraintamer.tv

Attendees heard from special guest MTA Queensland Director of Industry Initiatives, Paul Kulpa, 4WD IC Convenor, Nigel Bishop, and AAAA Director of Government Relations, Lesley Yates. Our next 4WD IC breakfast will be held in Melbourne on Thursday the 18th of August, so make sure you save the date – we look forward to seeing you all there for future updates and to hear from our exciting guest speakers.

The Brisbane 4x4 Show was proof that the industry is booming, seeing 26,000 people through the gate over the three-day event. Although numbers were slightly down on the prior year with the competition of the CMC festival being held over the same weekend, it was still great to see thousands of attendees excited to be part of a growing industry. March was a busy month, with AAAA and the 4WD IC also welcoming the new Gross Combination Mass (GCM) code in Queensland.

The code was released by the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and is a huge win for not only automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers but also Queensland recreational vehicle enthusiasts. The success of the code allows vehicles to be modified in a safe and legal manner to support increased payloads including towing caravans and trailers; and it is a great representation of the strong, positive relationship between the industry and regulators.

Not only was the new GCM code realised, but there was also welcome updates to the High Lift Modification guidelines in Queensland, providing vehicle owners and the Aftermarket industry assurance and clarity that they are keeping themselves and others on our roads safe. Coming up on the 9th of June we will have the inaugural National Light Vehicle Modification Summit. Taking place at Autocare in Brisbane, the Summit is a new initiative to support the future of automotive aftermarket manufacturers. The Summit will be a great opportunity to see market leaders, regulators, product developers, business owners and industry experts all in one place. I believe the Summit is a proactive step for the industry and I look forward to being a part of it and seeing you all there.

2023 is shaping up to be a fantastic year and I am looking forward to what the future holds for the 4WD and Aftermarket industries. I hope to see you at one of our events soon!

To learn more about the 4WD Industry Council, visit www.4wdcouncil.com.au