AutoForum March / April 2017 by AutoForum

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March / April 2017

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TAXED FUEL FROM 2018? BREAKING BAD AFTERMARKET MYTHS collision repair market trends to 2022

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March / April 2017

CONTENTS

Cover Stories Fuel may be taxed from 2018

Breaking bad aftermarket myths: Reconnecting price to profit to culture

BMW’s latest “Business Athlete” is here. Its very, very good

A look at the collision repair market trends to 2022 Are you ready?

Trade Talk Goodyear is Fortune’s Most Admired Tyremaker Car buying process increasingly online Editorial We are all set to head out to Auto Maintenance and Repair 2017 in Beijing for yet another inspiring look at what the global automotive sector has been up to in terms of innovation and technology. It’s a welcome break after a very busy first quarter and a small reprieve from the seemingly endless bad news South Africans have been hearing recently such as the increasing SANRAL toll fees, business scamming and a potential new fuel tax in the pipeline. There is some really good news too - including the latest World Skills finals held locally which bodes well for the future of the collision repair sector and sheds a positive light on the industry as a whole. Back to packing our bags for AMR - enjoy the read. Clare

EDITOR: CLARE RUTKIEWICZ 6813 Jan/June 2016 CONTRIBUTORS: AUSTRALIAN BODYSHOP NEWS ROBERT KAISER Warwick robinson Roy Cokayne grant west EMAIL: INFO@AUTOFORUM.CO.ZA

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Renault-Nissan alliance in autonomous EV joint venture

Ghosn steps down and Saikawa steps up

Wesbank’s sales predictions from 2017 COTY event

Silver lining on a gloomy GM cloud?

Mahle opens their Johannesburg office

Industry News SANRAL keeps those bitter pills coming – concern for consumers

The scamming scourge: A need to be constantly alert

Ford tests Stratasys 3D printing

Mahle Brand Focus

Fuel may be taxed from 2018

Jeep Renegade – I have faith

Takata fined $1 Billion for defrauding customers

Your business’s reputation – New index finds what drives public perception

Breaking bad aftermarket myths: Reconnecting price to profit to culture

Telematics data used to convict reckless driver in UK court

CUVs help change the focus of the aftermarket sweet spot, Experian says

BMW’s latest “Business Athlete” is here. Its very, very good

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Commercial Vehicles Volvo Trucks SA planning a 5% increase in 2017

Top-mount tech reduces carbon footprint

Renault-Nissan announces new LCV unit

UD Trucks Southern Africa wins international award

Automatic trucks make increasing sense for fleet owners

PAGE 3

AutoForum - March / April 2017

www.AutoForum.co.za

I N F O R M E D

Showtime Autopromotec 2017: Special focus on international participation

Vermont Sales stages their 2017 Open days

Aftermarketplace get\Worth to launch in March

Diagnostic thermal imager

BodyShop News

A N D

I N N O V A T I V E

Advertisers Guide AAAS - Brembo AAAS - Arrow

5 17

AAAS - Pegasus

Aerocure

OBC

Alfa Int AMR AUDI Parts

33 49 22-23

Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

Auto Magneto

Automechanika - JHB

Autopromotec

NACE Automechanika Chicago this July

AkzoNobel rejects second unsolicited proposal from PPG

WorldSkills South Africa 2017

Mandatory grant funding window closes at the end of April

Conti Tech

Changing the industry starts with our own shop practices

Highveld Garage Equipment

MIWA welcomes Competition Commission’s probe into car repair industry

Hurricane

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Robert Bosch - Diagnostics

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Robert Bosch - Parts

Robert Bosch - WSC Robert Bosch Snap-on Equipment Snap-on Equipment VW Parts

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Blending and “up and over”: What’s the truth?

SA car buyers want advanced technology – but are not always willing to pay for it

A look at the collision repair market trends to 2022 - Are you ready?

3M and Festool deliver a surface preparation first - but only in Europe and the U.S.

Don’t Know what this is?

Download a QR code reader for your Smart Phone or Tablet from the Apple or Android app stores, and you can use it to scan this code & go direct to our online edition at www.autoforum.co.za – it is free and updated DAILY! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: AutoForumZA While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given to readers, neither the editor, nor the publishers, can accept any responsibility for any damages, injury or loss which arise there from. The opinions expressed by contributors to this magazine are not necessarily shared by the editor or the publishers.

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Trade Talk

AutoForum AutoForum--March March//April April2017 2017

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Goodyear is Fortune’s Most Admired Tyremaker Goodyear has been named in the Fortune magazine World’s Most Admired Companies’ Motor Vehicle Parts category, for the fifth time. The company was also ranked the No. 1 U.S.-based company and ranked No. 2 overall. In the Motor Vehicle Parts category, Goodyear was ranked No. 2 in six of the nine key attributes measured, and No. 3 in three others. Goodyear finished ahead of its key global tyre competitors in overall score and in seven of the nine categories.

evaluating innovation, people management, use of assets, social responsibility, management quality, financial soundness, long-term investment, product/service quality and global competitiveness. To view the full list, with all categories, and related stories, visit the magazine online at fortune.com/ worlds-most-admired-companies/.

The Fortune Most Admired list is considered “the definitive report card on corporate reputations,” and uses a rigorous assessment by 3,800 executives, board directors and securities analysts to determine a company’s overall reputation by

Car buying process increasingly online A recent survey conducted by eBay, Gumtree South Africa’s holding company, has proven that car buyers use online research more than ever before when researching and purchasing their car. The report showed that 87% of respondents used the internet in some way as part of their car purchasing process and over 60% indicated that they are more likely to purchase a car online.

Osborne believes this should be a wake-up call to those dealers who are not operating on the site; “they are missing out on a vibrant sales space that is only going to get bigger”.

Gumtree SA’s Automotive Head, Jeff Osborne, says that online platforms are increasingly used at every stage of the purchase journey from initial research through the serious consideration phase to final viewing and purchase.

Research shows that male and female buyers are equally likely to use the internet in car purchasing, however there are some interesting gender differences in the key factors in decision making. Osborne reports that “women consider price to be the key consideration in a vehicle purchase, followed by fuel economy and safety, whereas the brand of the car was found to be the most important attribute for men”.

Gumtree alone sees over 200,000 unique browsers visiting the Autos category every month and more than 200,000 Autos ads live at any given time. “It’s a massive marketplace that dealers know they cannot ignore” notes Osborne “demonstrated by the fact that 64% of our listings are now from dealers against a 50/50 split only a short while ago”.

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He describes Gumtree Autos users as “committed browsers who do not often cross into other categories – they are usually only looking to buy or sell a vehicle”.

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Trade Talk

AutoForum - March / AprilAutoForum 2017 - March / April www.AutoForum.co.za 2017

Renault-Nissan alliance in autonomous EV joint venture The Renault-Nissan alliance together with Transdev have agreed to jointly explore development of mobility services with fleets of electric driverless vehicles for public and on-demand transportation. The companies say they will collaborate to develop “a comprehensive, modular transportation system to enable clients to book rides, and mobility operators to monitor and operate self-driving car fleets.” Ogi Redzic, Renault-Nissan Alliance senior vice president of Connected Vehicles and Mobility Services, explains: “As the mobility services landscape keeps evolving, we have a great opportunity to offer innovative, connected mobility solutions for the evolving needs of our customers, fully aligned with our vision of a zero-emission, zero-fatalities society.” The research will initially include field tests in Paris-Saclay with Renault ZOEs, the leading electric vehicle in Europe, and Transdev’s on-demand dispatch, supervision and routing platform.

“The future of mobility will be P.A.C.E. – Personalized, Autonomous, Connected and Electric,” says Yann Leriche, chief performance officer at Transdev. The Renault-Nissan Alliance has been forming partnerships to accelerate the development of advanced connected-car technologies and mobility services. These include a partnership with Microsoft to develop a single global platform that will improve the customer experience by making driving more intuitive, intelligent and fun; and a partnership with Japanese internet company DeNA to begin tests in Japan to develop driverless vehicles for commercial services. Transdev is a pioneer in autonomous vehicle (AV) services. The company is engaged in a series of pilot AV deployments in multiple countries and is currently operating the world’s first commercial driverless service on EDF’s campus in Civaux, France.

Ghosn steps down and Saikawa steps up Chairman of the Board and CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, announced recently that he will be stepping down after a 15 year tenure as the head of the automaker. Ghosn has also, together with the Nissan Board of Directors, decided that as of April 1, 2017, Hiroto Saikawa will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer. Ghosn will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and he will seek a renewal of his mandate at the company’s general shareholders meeting in June 2017.

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As Chairman of all three Alliance companies, and as CEO of the Renault Group, Ghosn has expressed his wish “to focus more of his attention on the expansion and stewardship of the Alliance, as its Chairman and CEO.” Saikawa currently serves as Nissan’s co-CEO and a representative director. Between April 2013 and October 2016, he was Nissan’s Chief Competitive Officer.

Trade Talk

AutoForum AutoForum--March March//April April2017 2017

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Wesbank’s sales predictions from 2017 COTY event Using the South African Car Of The Year Awards as a background, WesBank CEO Chris de Kock forecast that 2017 will see minor growth in the new vehicle sales industry. Speaking at the event, he added that the past three years have seen sales decline, with 2016 sales falling a massive 11.4% – based off WesBank’s prediction that sales would tumble 12%. For 2017 however, the vehicle finance house expects to see overall growth of 1.74%. WesBank’s forecast is based on a holistic view of the new vehicle sales market, which includes economic factors such as the strength of the Rand, interest rate stability and moderate GDP growth as well as inflation falling back within the target zone. de Kock explained that while total industry sales should reach 557 000 units for the year – a 1.74% increase on 2016’s sales and marginal growth off a much lower base – they forecasts that dealer sales will remain suppressed, especially in passenger and commercial vehicle segments.

Dealer sales are expected to end 0.5% weaker year-on-year, with 2% and 4.1% respective declines for passenger and commercial vehicle sales through dealers.“We expect overall sales growth to be driven by government buying, as there are a number of large tenders set to be awarded in the coming months. This will account for 3.29% growth in LCV sales and help limit the sales decline for commercial vehicles. Tourism will drive the sales growth in the rental market, which will ensure 1.3% growth for passenger car sales.” The function took place at the new Kyalami racetrack – the same venue where this year’s Car Of The Year testing was conducted and saw the Opel Astra being crowned the winner. Audi’s A4 and Volkswagen’s Passat were the first and second runners-up, respectively. SA is the 13th country to vote the Astra as car of the year since its latest model launched in 2015. The model was specifically praised for its build quality and dynamic ability – being singled out for road-holding and handling characteristics.

Silver lining on a gloomy GM cloud? Opel’s Astra may have walked away with the COTY win in 13 other countries, but the brand has not had quite such good fortune everywhere. GM recently announced the possible sale of Opel to PSA. General Motors almost sold its moneylosing European division in 2009 before deciding not to do so, hoping its fortunes had reversed. In the seven years since however, the European division has drained an additional $8 billion out of GM’s coffers. After warning recently of more losses in the region in 2017, GM is looking for a way out, confirming talks with PSA Group that it said could lead to a sale of Opel. GM hasn’t turned a profit in Europe since 1999. Executives previously said they hoped to break even in 2016 and that the division was on track to do just that until the UK’s surprising vote to leave the European Union in June.

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GM cut its losses in Europe by two-thirds last year and the car manufacturer is continuing its transformation under CEO Mary Barra into a company dedicated to maximizing profit margins in North America and China. The talks with PSA follow GM’s pull-out from Russia and Australia because it no longer saw those countries producing adequate returns on its investment. Meanwhile, GM earned a record $12 billion profit in North America last year. GM has controlled Opel since 1929, but the unit has struggled to make a profit for years amid increasing competition from the likes of Hyundai Motor and Volkswagen’s Skoda, which both have lower costs than the German-based manufacturer. Lets hope that the Astra’s accolades can lift their fortunes in more markets than just South Africa.

Mahle opens their Johannesburg office Mahle invited a group of key industry members, clients and media to a function at their new offices in Centurion on Tuesday the 14th February. The ceremony was intended to officially open the new offices and warehouse in Gauteng, as a central point of contact for their many locally headquartered clients. “The Port Elizabeth operation still continues to run as per usual ” explained Richard Clarke, head of Mahle Aftermarket subSaharan Africa. “But we needed a presence in Johannesburg, to act as a central point of contact for a number of our customers”. Georges Mourad, Mahle’s head of EMEA, also

used the occasion to thank Chris Stanbridge for his contribution to the brand’s success, and the company’s re-entry into direct distribution in South Africa. Clarke presented him with a specially box-mounted Proteas shirt to commemorate his departure from full time involvement in the company. Mourad and Clarke then cut the ceremonial ribbon and declared the office “open for business”. While Clarke will continue to be based in PE, Henk Pretorius and Muhammed Sayed will run the Gauteng operation.

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News

AutoForum - March / April 2017

SANRAL keeps those bitter pills coming – concern for consumers In early March, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) announced new toll rates. This came on the back of increases to the general fuel levy and Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy due in April. It’s a move the Automobile Association (AA) says is yet another financial blow to South African consumers, and one which will place even more pressure on already cash-strapped motorists, commuters and consumers. Some SANRAL users (not all) received notification of the increases via e-mail on Friday 3 March, the day of the adjustments. Actual increase values were not included in the communication, nor was there any justification of why the increases were being made. The new tariff prices also do not provide any historical data of the prices and their increases over a period of time. SANRAL’s only justification was that the adjustments were published in the Government Gazette on 16 February. “SANRAL has again missed an opportunity to engage meaningfully with the public on this topic. We warned last year that SANRAL must try and win support from the public, but it seems its attitude to motorists remains arrogant and uncaring. We will not be surprised if, given this attitude, and the prevailing economic situation in South Africa, more motorists decide not to pay their tolls. SANRAL would do well to remember it is a service provider to their customers, the motorists of South Africa, and yet its attitude conveys the opposite message,” the AA noted. The published increases cover tolls across South Africa, including the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), where payment rates remain low - to understate the situation.

PAGE 14

“In April the general fuel levy increases by 30 cents, and the RAF levy increases by nine cents. This means that motorists across South Africa will be paying R4.78, or 35%, to taxes for every litre of petrol they put in their vehicles. With these increases to toll rates, motorists are again being squeezed at every opportunity, a situation that simply cannot continue,” the AA said. The Association noted that is has for a long time called for toll fees to be replaced with a ringfenced amount as part of the general fuel levy so that motorists aren’t paying tax twice for the use of public roads. It is making the call again in light of this year’s adjustments to the fuel levy and tolls. As it did last year, the AA is also informing the public of the toll increases as it appears SANRAL has not communicated them to all users. “While these increases seem to be simply business as usual for SANRAL, this is clearly not the case for the beleaguered South African consumer,” the AA concluded. SANRAL later in March issued several press releases stating again that they will prosecute drivers who fail to settle their eToll accounts. This follows a high court judgement, which SANRAL says sets a precedent for evidence of non-payment being used in court against defaulters. Consumer protection group OUTA however, is not gulping it down, and disputes their statement declaring it as “misinformation”, urging any road users to contact them regarding any e-toll related summons.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

The scamming scourge: A need to be constantly alert - Robert Kaiser

In a world of rampant crime, there is no knowing where criminals will strike next. Crime is not always accompanied by violence, but it is a constant factor in our lives that we need to be aware of. Take scamming, for example, a form of fraud that has become so sophisticated that detection of a scam can be very difficult indeed. Businesses are often the target of scam practice and more recently, criminals seem to have been intensifying their efforts to steal from businesses through scams and fraud. A recent example is that of a company supplying technical equipment to the automotive aftermarket, who received an order from an existing client of long standing for the delivery of a range of equipment to business premises in an industrial area. The order appeared to be perfect in all respects and on documentation resembling the client’s stationery and the equipment was duly delivered to the delivery address. When the installation team arrived the next day to install and commission the equipment, it was gone and the premises were found to be completely vacant. And so, R 1, 2 million worth of equipment was lost. The client of course knew nothing about the order that was issued in its name. There are many other examples of business scams. For instance, it has also happened, not once, but many times, that businesses receive notifications from a supplier that its banking details have changed, providing “new” banking details with the request that account payments should henceforth be paid into the new bank account. All conducted very professionally on company stationery. In this manner, account payments are made into a fraudulent account, unbeknown to the supplier and clients.

PAGE 16

The scam is usually detected early in the game, but by the time it is discovered, large amounts may already have been stolen in this manner. Try and follow the money and the trail peters out into nothingness. How do these things happen, you ask: surely the FICA Act prohibits banks from opening fraudulent accounts? Yes, that is true, but banks can be scammed too, with fraudulent details… How do fraudsters get inside information that enables them to pull off a scam? Good question… think about the risk of inside information leaks! Cybercrime is another evil threat to both individuals and businesses: at the Cisco Connect Africa Conference held at Sun City in early March, a senior Cisco engineer estimated that cybercime worldwide, which is on the rise, would cost businesses a staggering US $6 trillion (R78 Trillion) by 2021. This amount is as much as SA’s national budget at current levels for the next 60 years! One could write volumes about scamming practices whereby businesses and individuals are defrauded, suffering huge losses. Suffice to say that it is now more necessary than ever to check and double check business processes and control systems. Trust nothing and don’t become complacent if you think you have foolproof systems in place. There are scammers and fraudsters out there who specialise in conniving new ways to scam businesses and individuals. One cannot afford not to be on constant alert!

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Ford tests Stratasys 3D printing Ford Motor Company has confirmed that it is testing 3D printing of large scale car parts, using the Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer. It is the first automotive company to trial the Stratasys system and says it is currently exploring potential applications for future production vehicles, such as Ford Performance vehicles or for personalised car parts. The automaker is exploring how large one-piece auto parts, like car spoilers, could be printed for prototyping and future production vehicles. Capable of printing car parts of practically any shape or length, the Stratasys Infinite Build system could be a breakthrough for vehicle manufacturing, providing a more efficient and affordable way to produce tooling, prototype parts, or components at low volumes. Ellen Lee, Ford technical leader for additive manufacturing research explains: “With the Infinite Build technology, we are now able to print large tools, fixtures, and components, making us more nimble in design iterations. We are excited to have early access to Stratasys’ new technology in order to help steer the development of large scale printing for automotive applications and requirements.” The new 3D print system is located at Ford’s Research and Innovation Centre in Dearborn, Michigan in the US. As 3D printing becomes increasingly efficient and affordable, companies are employing this emerging technology for manufacturing applications in everything from aerospace, to education and medicine. Wider adoption in 3D printing has been driven by recent technology advances, new areas of application and government support, according to Global Industry Analysts Inc. By 2020, the global market for 3D printing is expected to reach $9.6 billion, the organisation reported.

PAGE 18

In the future, 3D printing could have immense benefits for automotive production, including the ability to produce lighter-weight parts, which may help improve fuel efficiency. A 3D-printed spoiler, for instance, may weigh less than half of its metal-cast equivalent. Specifications for the part are transferred from the computeraided design programme to the printer’s computer, which analyses the design. The device then goes to work, printing one layer of material at a time – in this case, plastic – and then gradually stacking the layers into a finished 3D object. When the system detects that the raw material or supply material canister is empty, a robotic arm automatically replaces it with a full canister. This allows the printer to operate for hours or days while unattended. Though 3D printing isn’t yet fast enough for high-volume production manufacturing, it is a more cost-efficient way to produce parts only needed at low volumes. At the same time, when not limited by the constraints of mass production processes, components can be designed to function more efficiently. Using traditional methods, an engineer would create a computer model of the part and wait for months for prototype tooling to be produced. With 3D printing, Ford can print the same part in days at a significantly reduced cost. For example, a prototype for a new intake manifold could be produced over a couple of days as opposed to several months, at an order of magnitude lower cost.

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Mahle

AutoForum - March / April 2017

From Pistons and Filters to all kinds of future applications Mahle was started by brothers Ernst and Hermann Mahle who, on their safe return from WW1 decided that “there was nothing else to do but to become creative, knuckle down and rebuild.” The brothers initially joined a prototyping company – which at the time had fewer than 10 employees – and which went on to be sold to the powerful I.G. Farben Group in 1926. The brothers had acquired the company by 1932, thanks to the stroke of luck that piston construction and similar commercial activities were not among the core business areas of the chemical and pharmaceutical I.G. Group. The Cannstatt-based company already had 220 employees at the time, and produced about 500,000 pistons per year. With that takeover, the brothers laid the foundation for today’s Mahle Group. Mahle cultivated a culture of innovation early on, countering the 1920’s trend of heavy, gray cast iron pistons by producing innovative light-alloy pistons. Despite this ingenuity, the technology was still finicky and problems frequently arose. But adversity produces opportunity and so they eventually developed theirr own air and oil filters as well, slowly expanding the range that the company is now renowned for. By 1963, the Mahle Group of companies had 5,500 employees and a turnover of 200 million Deutschmarks – a thriving business by any standards. At this stage Mahle implemented an interesting structural approach forming the the MahleBeteiligungs-Gesellschaft (parent company), MABEG GmbH (now a registered association) and the non-profit MahleSTIFTUNG GmbH (Mahle Foundation Ltd). MABEG holds only

PAGE 20

0.1 percent of the shares in the company, but has majority voting rights. The non-profit Mahle Foundation promotes social investment projects in areas such as health, agriculture and education. It reduces the fragmentation of shares, and ensures that companies of the Mahle Group permanently develop and expand from profits generated. The foundation ensures that the jobs within the various Mahle companies are permanently secured and a collegial working atmosphere thrives, while international competitiveness is guaranteed at all times. Simultaneously, MABEG ensures the group’s technologicallydriven companies are not dependant on investors or banks. 97 percent of the consolidated profit for any financial year remains within the Mahle group of companies and is reinvested to allow for continual further technological development. Nowadays, half of all cars produced worldwide contain Mahle components. The company is the 4th largest supplier in the German market and continues to develop competencies and technologies to cater to the future of the automotive market requirements. The reliability and reputation of their current ranges have provided a formula for success and stability for the group. With acquisitions in air conditioning and thermal management, as well as a strategic focus on battery heat exchangers high on their agenda, the Mahle range has become less centred on pistons and looks set to grow their relevance into future technologies.

Going beyond standards—quality made product Mahle understands that quality means failure-free assembly, satisfied end customers, and no product recalls - quality is a significant factor in their global success. For this reason quality management is fully integrated into all business processes: Product development, Production and the Global challenge-solving process. Driving environmentally-friendly mobility The greatest contribution to environmental relief is provided by Mahle’s core products. The innovative technologies, which reduce fuel consumption and emissions, have a permanent positive impact on the environmental balance in millions of vehicles worldwide.

Consolidation for a better delivery of service

Reducing weight and friction in pistons and other engine components represents a significant contribution to improving efficiency and emission control.

As part of the Mahle’s commitment to customers in Africa, the group decided to consolidate operations and move away from an agency distribution model.

Mahle in South Africa

This change in strategy is significant for a number of reasons including: • That Mahle gets to focus on its own brand, where agents have various brands to promote • SA customers now have access to technical back up, support and expertise from Mahle Head Office • Customers benefit from a larger product range • Price support - Better pricing by direct trade, cutting out the middle man • Access to Mahle product information through the local SSA office

The Mahle group has enjoyed a presence in Southern Africa for many years and currently operates in multiple locations in South Africa: Johannesburg, Durban; and PE The SA based operations serve countries throughout the southern part of the continent, including Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Fuel may be taxed from 2018

- Roy Cokayne

Future changes to the fuel price are likely, thanks to the government Budget announcement that it proposes to remove the value added tax zero-rating on fuel in 2018/19, in order to expand the VAT base. The Budget review said this change would be subject to consultation leading up to the 2018 Budget and to mitigate the effect on transport costs, government would consider combining this with “either a freeze or a decrease in the fuel levy”. South Africa has three main fuel taxes – the general fuel levy, the customs and excise levy on petrol, diesel and biodiesel, and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy, which fund general government expenditure, support environmental goals and finance the RAF. The review said petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin were zero rated for VAT and the difference to the standard rate was recorded as tax expenditure, when these items were sold to final consumers. “The main assumption used to calculate this item is that 20% of petrol sales and 90% of diesel sales were for business purposes (by VAT vendors) and would have qualified as an input VAT claim.” This year’s Budget proposed an increase of 30c a litre in the general fuel levy and 9c a litre hike in the RAF levy, while it was proposed that the customs and excise levy remain unchanged at 4c a litre. These proposed changes, if approved by Parliament as is likely, will increase the general fuel levy to R3.15 on 93 octane from R2.85 and on diesel to R3.00 a litre from R2.70 from 5 April. The RAF levy will increase to R1.63 a litre from R1.54 on both 93 octane petrol and diesel. It is the second consecutive year that an increase in the fuel levy has been announced in the Budget. Leonard Willemse, the senior tax consultant at Mazars South Africa, said the current zero-rating of fuel supply meant that if petrol was purchased by a consumer at a filling station, VAT was effectively levied on that purchase at 0% instead of 14%. Willemse said that if a motorist filled up their tank in Cape Town, they would pay R13 a litre for 93 unleaded and were VAT to be levied at 14%, this cost would increase to R14.82 a litre.

PAGE 24

This would be assuming that the value on which the VAT was levied was the price a litre inclusive of the general fuel levy as well as the RAF levy. He added that although government had indicated in the 2017 Budget that it would consider freezing or decreasing the fuel levy, it remained to be seen whether this proposal was a viable option for expanding the VAT base. Willemse said the proposal could add fuel to the existing fire for consumers already struggling with high day-to-day living costs. The Automobile Association said the increase in the general fuel and RAF levies, which come into effect from April 1 this year, was of concern. The association said the additional 30 cents a litre towards these levies meant motorists would now be paying R3.15 towards the fuel levy for every litre of fuel they put in their vehicles, and R1.63 a litre for the RAF levy. “Effectively this means that for every litre of petrol, motorists are paying R4.78, or 35%, on indirect taxes. This is a huge amount, and calculated on a 50 litre tank of fuel, amounts to R239. South Africans already buckling because of the weak economy will now have dig even deeper in their pockets. This at a time when many are questioning government spending.” The AA believes the time was right for a review of the fuel and RAF levies.“Motorists remain easy targets for revenue collection although many are suffering as a result of increases to the fuel price. This is particularly prejudicial to motorists especially in the context of a lack of proper, reliable public transport. (Might we add - while the government “loses” R40 Billion a year and spends countless millions fighting themselves in the courts endlessly) “Hundreds of thousands of commuters rely on their vehicles to get to and from work daily. These increases will not only impact on transport costs – including things such as bus and taxi fares – but are also putting inflationary pressure on other commodities that rely on road transport to be delivered across the country.” Roy Cokayne is a senior financial reporter for Business Report

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Jeep Renegade – I have faith

- Warwick Robinson

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles asked us to drive their latest Jeep Renegade around for a few days and give them our impressions Admittedly, I assume like many Jeep fans, I did not relish the thought of driving around in a “baby” Jeep based on the Fiat 500X, but those snobbish airs faded as soon as I climbed into this little gem. I am not a huge fan of the round-light look on any of the Jeeps but the Wrangler, and while I get the legacy concept being brought through the design I think that slicker looking models, such as the recently launched new Compass, might have a wider appeal. That said this is a sporty, tough-looking little all rounder that would offer some actual off-road capability - which does not go for all cars in the segment. I see Renegades regularly on the roads, FCSA states the official sales figures for 2015 and ’16 at 0000 and 0000 respectively, and its worth noting that the model was launched with some fanfare, specifically for its 5-Star NCAP rating. The first impression once you climb into the car is that the designers were mad – the car interior is so “out there” from a design point of view that I think it may be polarizing – you love or hate it. I loved it – the tri-tone brown, cream and orange interior of our test car was so over the top that it just made me smile. Cream seats in an off-roader? A light coloured foot rest? Pah – looks great anyway…

PAGE 26

While the stats might tell another story, the impression of space in this little car also makes it feel larger than much bigger Jeeps I have driven. The dash layout and all the climate controls, AWD mode switches and entertainment system felt very upmarket, and the steering wheel and column controls are really impressive. So far so good, I thought and fired it up. It has a rear view camera which displays on the 6.5” colour screen of the Uconnect system on the Limited model and shifting the automatic 9 speed box into D I was surprised at the low down, crawl-speed pull the little 1.4l engine has, with its 250Nm of torque. Just release the brake and she edges along with no need to accelerate – that seems great for crawling through traffic, but could also present some issues for less aware drivers. The bad news is that on pull off this torque all but vanishes between 1000 and 2000RPM. I really got a few nasty shocks pulling out into the traffic and feeling the oncoming cars bearing down on me while precious nothing was happening under my foot. Perhaps it is the 9-speed gearbox that complicates issues selecting ratios more suited to a second gear pull off, but doing so without consideration for the mass the Renegade has feels like an oversight.

Over the course of the week I definitely became more accustomed to this slow pull off, but I really think it could be better. After surviving the pull-off the revs climbed over 2000 and suddenly the little 4 cylinder felt like a much bigger engine, zipping through the gears, and while it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be winning any drag races, I felt happy in traffic. The model we drove was fitted with the lane departure warning system as well as blindspot assistance when passing a car in a lane next to you. It gives you confidence and feels great on the highway, really holding the tarmac in the wet as I darted across Johannesburg during a heavy downpour (one which saw Linksfield drivers using their snorkels on that particular day).

The Limited spec Renegade appears in showrooms at just over R440 000 which puts it in the upper price range for its segment, but not the most expensive by some margin. The Renegade was launched in 2015 with Jeepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6 year 100 000km maintenance plan. With this I mind, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine too many will be finding their way into the aftermarket quite yet, so it is difficult to establish spares availability at this point. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see if Fiatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Jeep performs better than its older siblings in the later stages of their motor plans - I going to stick my neck out there and have a little faith!

I did not take the Renegade off-roading per se, but did some distance on sand roads to experience the adaptive all-wheel drive system. The 4WD Lock setting left in Auto for the main, I felt very comfortable with the handling and ground clearance over some washed out sand roads. On selecting the Sand setting I was surprised at how much nippier and responsive the car felt on the slippery dust roads and the little engine feels extremely good here. I was a bit surprised by the consumption â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in my week with the Renegade I averaged way over the claimed consumption figures which at 11l/100km is pretty high for a car of this size â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially with a 1.4l engine.

F-2017-04-SOT.FH11 Fri Mar 24 10:00:04 2017

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Takata fined $1 Billion for defrauding customers Takata Corp. has pleaded guilty in the U.S. federal court to one count of wire fraud and has agreed to pay $1 billion in criminal penalties for lying about its ammonium nitrate-based airbag inflators, which are blamed for at least 16 deaths and more than 180 injuries. As part of a plea agreement, Tokyo-based Takata admitted that from 2000 through to 2015, the company “carried out a scheme to defraud its customers and auto manufacturers by providing false and manipulated airbag-inflator test data that made the performance of the company’s airbag inflators appear better than it actually was,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. “Even after the inflators began to experience repeated problems in the field – including ruptures causing injuries and deaths – Takata executives continued to withhold the true and accurate inflator test information and data from their customers,” the Justice Department said.

compensate car manufacturers for the costs of replacing the recalled airbags.In separate legal action, victims and their families have filed dozens of lawsuits against Takata and five of the big car manufacturers – BMW, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Toyota – alleging that the car manufacturers knew Takata’s airbags were dangerous but continued to use them because they were inexpensive, according to a report in the Detroit News. In December 2016, the Justice Department indicted three former Takata executives on wire-fraud charges stemming from the airbag scheme.

Takata’s deadly airbags triggered the largest automotive recall in U.S. history. “For over a decade, Takata lied to its customers about the safety and reliability of its ammonium nitrate-based airbag inflators,” said Acting Assistant Attorney Kenneth General Blanco.

As part of the plea deal, Takata has agreed to appoint an independent monitor to track the company’s “compliance with its legal and ethical obligations” and report to the Justice Department for three years, Takata explained in a statement. The company also said it will implement rigorous qualitycontrol, product-safety and data-security protocols.

“Takata abused the trust of both its customers and the public by allowing airbag inflators to be put in vehicles knowing that the inflators did not meet the required specifications.”

“Takata deeply regrets the circumstances that have led to this situation and remains fully committed to being part of the solution,” said Takata Chairman and CEO Shigehisa Takada.

The $1 billion criminal penalty includes $975 million in restitution and a $25 million fine, along with three years’ probation. The $975 million will be separated into two restitution funds: $125 million for injury victims who haven’t reached a settlement with Takata, and $850 million to

”We have taken aggressive actions to address past reporting lapses and will continue to work closely with regulators and our automotive customers to address the ongoing recalls and implement new technologies that advance vehicle safety, prevent injuries and save lives.”

PAGE 28

Your business’s reputation – New index finds what drives public perception What drives a company’s reputation differs vastly across key industries in South Africa – a fact that emphasises the crucial need for executives to harness effective reputation management strategies to improve their understanding of consumer behaviour and chances of success when a crisis strikes. Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultant’s inaugural Africa Reputation Index (ARI), which was undertaken in collaboration with leading marketing strategy consultancy Yellowwood, enables high-level planning to limit reputational damage and provide companies in Africa with the tools needed to create an effective reputational management strategy that is a vital component of business sustainability. “Detailed sectoral and comparative analysis is needed to enable companies to plan ahead of a crisis to improve outcomes and protect and enhance profits. If the impact of reputation is not well enough understood growth prospects will suffer,” says Katherine du Plessis, data analyst at Magna Carta. The index ranks companies in five separate industries - car manufacturers, food retailers, financial services, public services and telecommunications companies - in terms of their key reputational drivers. Each company received a reputation score out of 100. 1,306 South African consumers were surveyed. The index shows that in the telecommunications and motor vehicle sectors, word of mouth is the most important driver of reputation. “In telecommunications, recommendation is essential because people have such an affinity to their mobile devices; whereas with cars it is because of the pride that flows from choosing and paying for a desired and expensive asset. For both cell phones and cars, people aspire to make a choice that reflects their personal identity,” explains Du Plessis.

The survey finds that with vehicles, quality is the most important reputational attribute followed by customer service. This is because consumers are likely to spend a lot of time selecting the right car to invest in and interaction with salespeople will be minimal and infrequent. “It is unlikely a consumer will select a new car based solely on service, especially when a new, high quality vehicle resonates with his or her personal image or they have spent a lot of time researching the best car they can afford”, says Du Plessis. Another important finding is that corporate social investment (CSI) had the lowest ranking out of the reputational attributes across all industries. This is not to say that CSI is unimportant, but other attributes have more weight with regard to corporate reputation. The bottom line is that reputational risk is on the rise. “It is clear that in the digital age of rapid information flow and consumption, effective crisis management is quickly emerging as a vital component of business sustainability. The best of breed in measurement and analytics is needed to ensure reputation plays an ever increasing role in corporate strategy and ultimately benefits, rather than damages, the bottom line,” says Sechaba Motsieloa, newly appointed CEO of Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants. The company aims to expand the index to other sectors within South Africa and into other African countries.

PAGE 29

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Breaking bad aftermarket myths: Reconnecting price to profit to culture

- Alan Segal

Too many companies are shortchanging their profit potential by incorrectly pricing their products and services. Rafi Mohammed, author of The 1% Windfall, proposes an alternative to mark-ups, price matches and margin holds. By setting prices relative to what consumers value, not off cost, companies are better positioned to generate windfall profits for the long run. Mohammed’s value-based price strategy merits exploration. He identifies and dismantles five common myths that managers have perpetuated into a pricing disconnect. In the book, he anticipates that naysayers will challenge that value-pricing does not apply to their company. In fact, however, The 1% Windfall relates to all companies in all industries, and I firmly believe that this certainly includes auto parts stores and manufacturers. Myth #1: Set prices on how much something costs When setting prices, managers should identify with a valueseeking customer rather than enacting a sweeping price change. Mohammed suggests that to capture value, managers should determine how much more a customer is willing to pay for a product or service by comparing one item to a superior alternative by price, quality, or both to satisfy what the perceived value is. For instance, city street vendors hawking umbrellas at the first hint of rain see no profit incentive to sell an umbrella based off unit cost, says Mohammed; otherwise, they’re leaving money on the table. They identify with a consumer’s willingness to pay a wee bit more for the value of rain protection over getting soaked when nothing else is readily accessible. Let’s relate value-pricing to the auto care industry by my own standard as a former buyer. I might target seasonally sensitive products, or pair related add-on sale items like battery protectors with a car battery replacement. Service can be a viable differentiating factor when several competing retailers offer identical products. Compared to product, service is more difficult to quantify and easier to verbalize. Rather than vaguely trumpeting that “we sell auto parts to our customers at an affordable price,” cite concrete differentiating traits, like “all of our ASE trained, solutionminded employees are proud to sell locally-made and factorygrade products.”Both value-based price examples pave the way to breaking myth #2. Myth #2: Expanding market share requires slashing prices To recapture lost market share, conventional wisdom holds that wholesale discounting is the only way to become the industry leader. Mohammed rejects the notion of a one-price-fits-all approach for every customer segment.

PAGE 30

Every customer’s price needs are uniquely different from the next. He notes that many companies have traditionally invested money into product design, marketing and distribution, but stop short on a comprehensive price strategy. Why give the farm away? With value-based pricing planted into fertile ground, Mohammed offers a three-stem blossom strategy where it is possible to serve as many customers as possible at multiple price levels. When executed properly, all three stems deliver a unified outcome: higher profit dollar income and expanded market share. (For clarification, below I use generic examples and common practices that your business may already be using.) • Stem I, which is named pick-a-plan, lowers barriers to purchase. It opens the door to new customers of varied spending budgets, and it widens flexibility for different price plans for those who choose to opt out of an outright buy. Some may elect prepayment, flat rates, payment bonus or financing. This growth strategy provides “a pricing plan that satisfies a key need of an underserved segment,” concludes Mohammed. • Stem II, which is called differential pricing, recognizes that some customers are willing to pay more than others for the same item whereas some may deem it too costly. To unknot

this Catch-22, Mohammed suggests erecting hurdles that price-sensitive customers agree to clear through rebates, coupons, season-end price cuts and product pick-up. Even though hurdles can do only so much to segment the discount-seekers from the full-paying account base, a seasoned salesperson may consider providing the latter additional privileges or rewards to reinforce the value they are getting, like unlimited educational clinics, on-demand customer service or special credit terms. • Stem III bridges the gap between pick-a-plan and differential pricing with versioning. Versioning addresses customers’ unique needs with a stripped-down, premium, and custommade version modeled on the original product. Bundled product, complete assemblies, priority delivery, make-toorder, business consulting and so forth command the highest price for premium or custom-make demands. Conversely, as the adage goes, “you get what you pay for” for customers who pay the bare minimum. They should expect a bare-bones product with no bells and whistles attached. The psychology, of course, is to make it known to the discount seekers what they are missing out on when they forego the premium tier. Myth #3: High-volume customers are always entitled to the lowest prices “Why give away money unless the customer asks?” Mohammed asks. Sometimes salespeople feel guilty for withholding discounts. But they shouldn’t if they can verbalize the company value. Otherwise, doling out repeated discounts and price overrides conditions customers’ expectations that a lower price is always around the corner.

Instead, reward them with events, training clinics, business education and greater access to management. If they push for a price cut, hammer out an incentive of increased unit and dollar purchases in exchange for a price break that is mutually beneficial. Myth #4: Discounts are the gateway to premium product sales Discounts on products as a trial-period inducement are toxic to profits. They set a poor precedent because it is that much more difficult to convince someone to pay the original higher price for future purchases. Consider handing out sample packs, offering coupons, or promising a money-back satisfaction guarantee. These examples demonstrate a win-win to give customers a taste of that product while enhancing the full price value in their mind. Myth #5: Higher operating margins equal pricing superiority Pegging price fluctuations to operating margins convolutes the success of pricing initiatives and misses real profit revenue opportunities. Quite simply, recognize how much profit dollar revenue is being taken to the bank. Final thoughts on company culture Mohammed dedicates the last 85 pages to how to execute a pricing action plan. Senior management (or company ownership) often overlook the importance of creating a culture of profit by getting buy-in and articulating price-value from within the company ranks, but inspiring everyone about how the price strategy ties into the company’s value proposition is Mohammed’s underlying theme. From personal experience, I’ve seen promising strategies fizzle because management excluded the frontline employees from being involved from the outset. Salespeople, counter people, delivery drivers and even receptionists, who have the most customer contact, deserve to know what the pricing strategy consisting of pick-a-plan, versioning and differential pricing means. Employees of all stripes are in the best position to educate customers. Without the confidence and the evidence to talk about why “our company was rated # 1 by the industry trade magazine” or “our company has 98 % product coverage,” the urge to discount, make price overrides or talk someone into product downgrading is too great. For companies seriously considering which pricing strategy to create, The 1% Windfall offers a catalyst for conversation. Ultimately, you will gain many benefits from reading this thoughtful alternative to your company’s current pricing structure.

Alan Segal specialises in project management for suppliers, consultants and retailers. He practiced category management for Sanel Auto Parts Co. and Advance Auto Parts before launching his own firm. He has worked in the auto care industry since 1991.

PAGE 31

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Telematics data used to convict reckless driver in UK court The first case of telematics providing evidence to convict dangerous driving, has just played out in the UK. A speeding driver, Farid Reza, who killed a 21-year-old woman in Kingston, south west London, has been found guilty of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving and Serious Injury at the Old Bailey thanks to telematics data that provided vital evidence in support of the police investigation. Reza, 36, was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison in what the judge described as a mindless act, which resulted in the death of a young student.

The APU expert witness was also able to refute an allegation from Reza that Spicer had collided with his vehicle causing him to lose control.

Reza was also found guilty of causing Serious Injury after 5 children who were travelling in his car were injured.

Judge Richard Leon Marks said: “The evidence provided in the case was essential to assessing the speed of the driver and the speed in which he was travelling – far over the speed limit – when he hit Shamim. The consequences to Shamim’s family are devastating and no sentence I could give would begin to address or consolidate their feelings. I accept that Reza’s remorse is genuine but it was only him responsible for putting his foot down on the accelerator that day.”

Although CCTV evidence seized by Met Police investigators showed Reza was racing his BMW 330d M Sport against an identical model hire car driven by William Spicer aged 28 years, they were unable initially to prove the speed of either vehicle. In what is becoming a common example of how technology and connected cars are changing the way vehicle accidents are investigated, the Metropolitan Police recognised a key piece of supporting evidence was available from the telematics device fitted to Spicer’s BMW 330d M Sport. Motor Insurance and Road Traffic Collision investigators, Asset Protection Unit (APU) Ltd, were asked to analyse the telematics data and provided the Metropolitan Police with a precise timeline of events through vehicle events captured during the incident journey. The CCTV evidence gathered from multiple building locations showed both cars were driving at speed towards the incident area, however they were travelling with a constant distance between them at the incident location which enabled APU’s telematics expert to show Reza’s car must have been driven at least 69 miles per hour, the same speed as Spicer’s, moments before Reza hit pedestrian Hina Shamim.

PAGE 32

APU’s team of telematics and anti-fraud experts is increasingly utilised by police forces and insurance companies across that country to interrogate telematics data and package it into usable evidence in court. Just more reason to ensure that all of your staff are regularly checked and trained on correct driving and the possible consequences of recklessness on the road.

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2016/05/05 8:45 AM

AutoForum - March / April 2017

INDUSTRY NEWS

CUVs help change the focus of the aftermarket sweet spot, Experian says

- Marty Millar

While four-cylinder vehicles have gained popularity in new car sales year after year, it takes time to see trends unfold in the larger population of vehicles in operation (VIO). After all, with 265.3 million light-duty vehicles on the road and approximately 17 million new vehicles sold annually, new models barely make a dent in overall VIO. However, the American day of the four-cylinder engine has finally arrived. An analysis from Experian shows that for the first time ever, four-cylinder engines have overtaken every other cylinder engine type on American roads. Today, 37.6% of all VIO are powered by a four-cylinder engine, as compared to a six- or eight-cylinder engine, which account for 37.5% and 22% of VIO, respectively. Improvements in engine technology and the need for increased fuel economy are driving the trend. Current four-cylinder engines average 188.1 horsepower, making them just as powerful as eight-cylinder engines from 20 years ago, which averaged 188 horsepower. The combined improvements in power and fuel economy have paved the way for significant four-cylinder growth, which will continue to widen their share of VIO for years to come. In 2016, for example, four-cylinder engines accounted for 54.2% of all engines in new vehicles sold. In fact, four-cylinder engines have had more than 50% market share each year since 2012, while the share for six-cylinder engines dropped from 32.5% in 2012 to 29.7% in 2016. During the same period, V8 share dropped from 16.1% to 12.1.% CUVs gaining share quickly in the aftermarket sweet spot The rise in popularity of four-cylinders and crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) is also changing the landscape of the aftermarket sweet spot (vehicles that are between six and 12 years old, have recently come off warranty, and are at a time

PAGE 34

period when more costly repairs are needed). While the majority of vehicles in today’s sweet spot are midrange cars, expect to see a different mixture of vehicle types in the near future as more CUVs enter the sweet spot and make a strong presence in the overall market. CUV share for the current U.S. aftermarket sweet spot is at 16.1%, as compared with midrange cars and pickup trucks, 25.3% and 16.5% respectively. However, pre–sweet spot (vehicles five years old or newer) share for CUVs is 22.8%, as compared with midrange cars and bakkies, 23.4% and 13.5% respectively. Aftermarket sweet spot grows Over the last five years, the total VIO count has steadily increased, but the sweet spot volumes gradually decreased each year. Currently, there are 85.7 million total vehicles in the aftermarket sweet spot, down from a high of 102.3 million in Q3 2012. The aftermarket sweet spot will experience one more year of contraction as the 2012 model year vehicles enter the sweet spot and 2005 model year vehicles drop out. Model year 2013 was the first post-recession year when sales recovered enough for the sweet spot to grow. In 2018, when the 2013 vehicles enter the sweet spot and 2006 model year vehicles drop out, expect to see the sweet spot grow for the first time in five years. Businesses that adapt to the everchanging sweet spot will be in a prime position to enhance revenue opportunities over their competitors.

Reprinted with permission from Aftermarket Business World www.searchautoparts.com As Senior Product Marketing Manager for Experian Automotive, Marty Miller is responsible for the strategy, development and marketing of Experian’s AutoCount Vehicles in OperationSM.

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PAGE 35

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

BMW’s latest “Business Athlete” is here. Its very, very good Launched in 1972, there have been 6 generations of BMW’s 5 Series “business sedan” and a total sales figure of more than 7,9 million worldwide. The 7th generation is finally here in SA, and we were lucky enough to be at the launch in George. Conceptually the range is aimed at a business market, but for those who still want to feel the sportiness and driving pleasure that the models aim to deliver. Working hard towards delivering this promise, engineers focussed on improvements to add to the model’s agility with an all new chassis, making it 130kg leaner. Along with double wishbone front and 5 link rear suspension, the integral active steering adds to the comfort and dynamics in the new models.

could have led to some dire consequences. It did, however, feel very smooth and held the curves with ease even under some tight cornering. When we receive our test car we will definitely try out the system in a more controlled environment, to see what difference it makes in comparison to driving without it.

This system works by steering the rear wheels to improve cornering - steering opposite to the front wheels to improve slow speed cornering, and steering parallel to the front wheels at higher speeds.

For the range being launched in SA, the flagship will be the 540i, which BMW says has a 10% increase in power, matched by a claimed 11% decrease in fuel consumption. Next down the line is the 530d, which puts out a modest 5kw more than the existing generation, but the claimed fuel consumption figure is down to a very frugal 4.5l/100km.

According to BMW, there is a neutral zone, around 60-80kmh, around which sensors on the optional function are activated. On our driving test through the hills near George, it was difficult to assess how this effected the feel of the car - as getting it wrong around the curves of Robinson pass outside George

The 530i and 520d round out the initial range going on sale in SA, with possible additions being added as customer demand is assessed.The electric hybrid 530e, hopefully to be in SA by latest 1st quarter of 2018, takes fuel saving to the extreme with a 1.9l /100km consumption figure.

PAGE 36

All models coming to SA are going to be 8 speed autos as, according to Edward Makwena, Marketing Manager for BMW SA, our market demand for manuals is not high enough, but certain markets do have manual models in a number of engine derivatives. In terms of driver comfort, features such as gesture control and heads up display have been added to the available driver assistance systems. A useful upgrade to the connected drive system is that Mobile devices can integrate into the car’s infotainment system now via the mobile app. A good example of this is how navigation and calendars can be utilized to calculate and communicate a departure time for the driver to reach a meeting destination - based on realtime traffic conditions. The personal co-pilot features add lane change warning, lane departure and remote control parking to bring in a number of semi autonomous features. Overall the design is not a huge move from a clearly successful formula, but the car really does have a bit more of a “serious” look and takes a lot of design cues from the latest 7 series. BMW South Africa’s Edward Makwena

In my opinion, along with the trend in most of the big manufacturers, I feel that BMW might not be creating enough distinction between the models. I am certain a business rationale exists for this, as Mercedes and Audi seem to be in a similar strategy, but I personally think a good distinction between the ranges should be clear in the design of each. We will feature another look at this wonderful car when we get our grubby paws on it in months to come – and have our workshop owner cast his beady eyes over it too.

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Volvo Trucks SA planning a 5% increase in 2017

COMMERCIAL

Volvo Trucks invited the media to a presentation in mid February to kick off the 2017 sales year amid much positive sentiment. The South African management team were on hand to discuss various aspects of the truck maker’s plans for the coming year.

PAGE 38

President of Volvo Trucks Southern Africa, Torbjörn Christensson led the presentation, which started with an overview of the group’s performance in 2016. The group recorded a SEK 302 billion (around R445 billion) turnover last year, down 3% on the year prior. Despite this, profitability improved with an adjusted operating margin of 7.0% for the full year. The segment showing the greatest growth overall was service sales, indicating that in general the truck life has extended and servicing has increased, meaning an increase in the aftermarket market share. Following last year’s separation of brands, the group is not planning any more major structural changes. Christensson commented that the group was happy with the synergy created behind the scenes between the brands – such as synchronised administrative functions – which had and would continue to create further efficiencies in the marketplace. The focus for 2017 will largely be on the further movement into Africa. At the same time, South Africa will see a major investment in its factories to allow for locally built trucks to include the safety systems previously only available on European built models. According to Christensson this investment is expected to reach up to R6.5 million in local factories and will allow the inclusion of safety features - such as electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning and emergency braking, lane keeping and lane change support, as well as driver alert support. This is in response to customer demand and in line with the safety focus from Sweden. AutoForum expert fleet writer Dave Scott expressed his hope that this focus on safety would extend beyond the truck tractor and into testing and maintenance of the truck trailers, a safety critical feature that has a massive impact on the safety of SA roads.

This year will also see the launch of new financial solutions and packages for customers – more clarity on this is expected in the second quarter. As highlighted at the event by Scott, this will be a welcome response to Volvo’s competitor’s zero cost of maintenance campaign currently in the market. Volvo Trucks is bullish about its growth in the upcoming months. Christensson points out that the dealer network is consistently growing with 19 dealerships at present. The newly opened Alrode transportation hub will this year see the opening of its additional area, and the facility in Port Elizabeth will see a major investment in its operation. Together with a “partner” it will become a “state-of-the-art” building from March, while the Pinetown hub is touted at receiving the next major investment, which should come into being in 2018. Moving into Africa, Volvo has confirmed that its Angolan operations will benefit from a US$30m boost; Kenya is about to open its operations together with an importer partner and Zambia is to open a completely new facility with an importer first in in Lusaka in April and then expanding into further regions in the country. Volvo Trucks says that it will retain its training initiatives, having spent R25Million on staff training in 2016. “Train them, keep them, develop them” adds the company president, explaining that the company sees its training investment as a strategic response to attaining the best staff over the long term. The company is forecasting an optimistic 5% increase in sales for the year, thanks in large part to the rosy picture painted for the SA agricultural and mining sectors, which drive sales in the heavies market. In terms of the APDP and its impact on the truck market the company is taking a wait and see approach, but believes that should the local content requirements be enforced it will undoubtably see a cost implication for the consumer.

OE PEDIGREE

ACROSS THE BOARD

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Top-mount tech reduces carbon footprint - Dave Scott

When one thinks of using the sun to power truck-mounted hydraulic tail-lifts, the immediate response is ‘why didn’t we think of that?’ But that is exactly what Roberto Soares has challenged and solved at Trailersol. Challenge #1 – ‘Anderson cable’ rules Battery power drives hydraulic tail-lifts and the common practice out there is to use an ‘Anderson cable’, a 35mm2 grey welding cable with two ‘Anderson plugs’ on either end connected to the truck batteries. This could range in length from two to three metres depending on the application. Bearing in mind that it needs a positive and negative supply resulting in four to six metres of 35mm2 grey welding cable. And because of the cable’s copper content, it gets regularly stolen at R1500 a pop. Challenge #2 – connecting directly to truck batteries The Anderson cable generally gets connected directly to a truck’s batteries with an inline fuse or circuit breakers. It should be connected at the specific points that are made a visible by the specific truck manufacturers and varies amongst manufacturers.

The earth should be connected directly to the motor and not through the chassis to eliminate the volt drop and a loss of earth. Truck electronics do not respond well to flash-backs into the system. Challenge #4 – trying to minimise diesel engine idling Keeping truck batteries charged demands excessive engine idling which is not only bad for the engine but costly in terms of fuel consumption. The calculation is simple: • A diesel engine at idle will consume 10% of its displacement (cc capacity) for every hour at 650rpm measured in litres/ hour. • In a physical 13 litre engine test Soares demonstrates that at 650rpm fuel consumption is 1,4 litre/hour rising to 4 litres/ hour at 900rpm • Note that excessive engine idling also shortens engine service intervals and currently in Europe the permissible engine idle standard is only 30 seconds Roof-mounted photovoltaic cells to the rescue!

Challenge #3 – a really good negative earth contact The supply of power in a DC system is vital. A really good negative earth contact is needed to prevent unwanted damage to motors, solenoids and power packs.

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So here is a stand-alone system that does not touch truck electronics. It’s powered by roof-mounted photovoltaic cells that constantly charge the tail-lift battery through an intelligent solar regulator. The systems provide up to 6 Kwh per day.

Pic captions: Roof-mount Photovoltaic cells – The photovoltaic cells are hidden from view and will come in an even lower profile in the future. Opposite : Roberto Soares – Using a 13 litre diesel engine and measuring jar, Roberto Soares easily demonstrates the high cost of idling. Inset: Control unit – the whole system is carefully monitored and controlled

This raises questions: • A truck gets parked over the weekend in the bright sun – the photovoltaic panels still keep charging – where does all that energy go to without over-heating the system? • Answer: The solar regulator is intelligent. It monitors the battery voltage, any loads that are on the system and the panel output. The process is that when the batteries are at the full state (27.3V dc) the regulator will go into a boost mode - providing that the panel voltage exceeds the battery voltage to give the battery the maximum charge for two hours to achieve a battery voltage of 29.3V dc. After the two hours has elapsed the solar regulator will go into a float mode and maintain a battery voltage of 27.3 volts (13.8V dc per battery). • The regulator is a MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking). This means the regulator will look for the maximum power point (every 5 seconds) of the panels to ensure that the system runs and charges at the optimal point continuously and harvests the maximum out of the panels. If it is a 310Wp module you will get the full 310 Watts out of the panel. • Charging the battery while the tail-lift is in use makes sense as the energy generated is being replenished. But if the taillift is idle then you cannot switch off the panels like when the truck engine is switched off

mounted operation before and Trailersol are breaking new ground with this innovative approach. Vehicle height is a concern. Installed units are running 4.28m (Max permissible is 4,3m). A deflector plate in front of the charging panel protects the cell from damage in situations where branches may scrape the cargo body roof.

The Answer: • The solar regulator again monitors battery voltage and determines what is required. The solar regulator will open and close the solar panel circuit to maintain the battery voltage at 27.3 volts (This is assuming that the system is a 24vdc system) So no need for the operator to intervene with the system as it is totally autonomous.

My Conclusion

Trailersol has again set the bar in the 2017 kit with Bluetooth functionality on all the Solar regulators and MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) capability. Trailersol is able to maximize the solar yield and digitally view via a app the live data and historic data on each unit. on either a smart phone or tablet. The new solar modules have never been used on a trailer

An interesting fact – in cooler weather the cells develop more power. 250C is the breakpoint as over 250C the cells lose charging power and under 250C they gain charging voltage. Trailersol have over 400 units operating in the field and offer a 5-year warranty on the cells that can provide a 25-year linear output. Each system is hand built and specific to a customer and tailored to their needs and demands. Trailersol can offer any aftermarket or user specific component that is required The system can range from 100Ah to 400Ah and a host of auxiliary equipment can be added to each kit: • Biometrics • Battery protectors • Mobile CCTV in full HD • Tracking devices

This all makes tech-sense and the payback for investing in the photovoltaic system lies in eliminating excessive engine idling. Soares estimates that the cost of installing a Trailersol unit will be recovered within a year. Coming up towards the end of 2017 is a full Electric refrigeration unit - this will certainly change the transport refrigeration game and get new technology on the roads of South Africa. Roberto Soares is presenting us with local innovation and a reduced carbon footprint. More important, the Trailersol unit is protecting the integrity of truck electronics and increasing vehicle reliability. Now let’s hear from the operators.

Dave Scott is a second generation South African who has had a motor and road transport industry career that covers more than 48 years, starting in 1966 as a trainee truck salesman for Cargo Motors Mercedes-Benz Truck Division, in Johannesburg.

PAGE 41

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Renault-Nissan announces new LCV unit The Renault-Nissan alliance has confirmed it is creating a light commercial vehicle business unit, in order to allow it to expand its global presence in this growing segment. In the spirit of the Alliance, partners will leverage complementary markets and products while maintaining their own brand identity, sales and revenue. “The combination of Renault, Nissan and the early collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors in a single Alliance LCV Business Unit will boost sales and deliver greater synergies,” said Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn. (Ghosn has announced he is stepping down as CEO of Nissan - see page 10). “With this move, we plan to expand our market leadership by accelerating our performance in current and new, highgrowth markets, based on each company’s core products

and market knowledge, and driven by customer needs.” He continues that the Renault-Nissan LCV Business Unit will be led by Ashwani Gupta, as Alliance senior vice president, who will report to the new CEO Hiroto Saikawa. Renault and Nissan have established cross-production of vans and trucks over the last several years. The Nissan NV300 van is built on the Renault Trafic platform; the Nissan NV400 van is built on the Renault Master platform; and the Renault Alaskan pickup is built on the Nissan Navara platform. Gupta is pictured above at the Renault Alaskan reveal in Colombia last year. The new Renault-Nissan LCV Business Unit will also handle Nissan’s body-on-frame SUVs, including the Nissan Armada and Nissan Patrol.

UD Trucks Southern Africa wins international award UD Trucks Southern Africa has been awarded the International Sales Award as the brand’s largest overseas market in 2016.

honoured to receive this award on behalf of all our staff and dealers.”

“This award is a true testament to the calibre of staff and dealers we have in the region, and it will certainly drive us to perform even better this year,” said Gert Swanepoel, managing director of UD Trucks Southern Africa.

“We have great expectations for the future of the brand within the region and are confident that we will continue to be successful as we have been over the last five decades,” said Swanepoel. “Through continuous training, skills development and the implementation of world-class quality standards, we are able to provide customers with a dependable service wherever they operate their fleets within the region.”

“Our dealers are true ambassadors of the brand and are on the forefront of our interactions with our customers. We are very

PAGE 42

Automatic trucks make increasing sense for fleet owners - Morné Stoltz

In South Africa, two-pedal trucks accounted for approximately half of all truck sales nationally, according to figures from Lightstone, a marketing intelligence company. In other markets, such as Australia, sales of automatic trucks are also close to those of manual transmissions. The trend mirrors what is happening in multiple industries: the use of smarter technologies to reduce costs and drive business efficiency. The move to some form of automatic transmission for trucks is also in line with the trend towards more automatic cars. A primary cause of this shift is the growing sophistication of automatic and automated manual transmissions. Such technologies now offer a closer approximation of a skilled driver. It is claimed that by reducing the momentum lost when changing a large truck’s gears, anything from four to seven seconds may be gained for every 400 metres travelled – a saving of time and fuel that can add up over long journeys. Automatic transmissions are only the start. For example, technological advances such as Idle, Stop, Start, which are just beginning to make the transition from cars to trucks, can also reduce fuel and engine wear and tear. For fleet owners, the arguments for automatic trucks are making more and more sense. For one thing, automatic transmission reduces the impact of an unskilled driver on fuel efficiency, as well as wear and tear on the vehicle. With both fuel and parts increasingly pricey, this is a real incentive for fleet owners.

More comfortable driving conditions are likely to mean that drivers are more inclined to pay attention to their driving, with possible safety benefits – and thus, potentially, fewer insurance claims. Automatic trucks would also be a reason for a particular fleet owner to become an employer of choice for the best drivers. In general, SA insurer MiWay believes that it makes sense for fleet owners to keep up with the technology curve to improve fuel efficiency, reduce wear and tear, and better the working conditions of their drivers. In the long run, these improvements are likely to have a positive impact on their bottom lines — and could even translate into a more cost-effective insurance profile as technology improves human performance on the road.

Another consideration is that clutches wear out the more they are used. Time spent in the repair bay is dead time for fleet-owners – an important consideration in South Africa where road transport is by far the most important part of the logistics mix. Removing the clutch also means that driving becomes a less-skilled operation. At a practical level, fleet owners can draw on a wider pool of drivers. There are benefits, too, for drivers. Operating the clutch over long periods of time notably increases the physical strain of driving, particularly in heavy traffic.

Morné Stoltz is the Head of Business Insurance at MiWay. Pictured above is Volvo’s i-Shift Gearbox

PAGE 43

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Showtime Autopromotec 2017: Special focus on international participation According to the organisers of Autopromotec 2017, this year’s event will focus heavily on international promotion. Autopromotec, the specialised international exhibition of automotive and aftermarket equipment will be held in Bologna, Italy from 24 - 28 May, 2017. Internationalisation has always been at the heart of Autopromotec and the organisers have been hard at work to promote the 2017 edition in target countries.

Showtime

Emanuele Vicentini, Brand Manager of Autopromotec, explains the reasoning behind this strategy: “In this particular economic situation, Autopromotec has outlined a path of international promotion that includes the involvement of manufacturing and purchasing countries. For the upcoming edition, the plan aims to increase the presence of new manufacturers and to ensure the participation of buyers from new markets.”

PAGE 44

“The goal is to increase the commercial opportunities of the exhibiting companies, while expanding the international character of the event. In this regard, a further boost to making the 2017 edition even more global will be guaranteed by the agreement signed by Autopromotec with Emirates, the national airline of the Arab Emirate of Dubai. Emirates will be the “official carrier” of the exhibition, enhancing the presence of buyers from high-potential markets traveling to Bologna.” International delegations from more than 30 countries have already confirmed their presence at the show and organisers have confirmed that they will provide exhibitors with the B2Match platform, which enables participants to schedule B2B meetings during the trade show, boosting networking between companies and international buyers at the fair.

At roughly six months from the opening, exhibition space for most product sectors had already sold out, and and the number of exhibitors is up 19% from the same period in 2014. All product sectors involved - from tools and equipment to spare parts and components, diagnosis and car service – have heated up significantly with nearly all halls of the Bologna Exhibition Centre booked solid. The most dramatic increase has been seen in the tyres sector, so much so that space devoted to showcasing products has actually been doubled. This event will also see all major global brands in the sector exhibiting for the first time. To enable its expansion, several other halls have been set aside for the leading players of this important sector, including producers and dealers of tyres and rims, vehicle servicing equipment retreaded tyres and their related accessories and services. The 2017 staging has expanded in general requiring a reorganisation in the layout of the event. The floor plan for Autopromotec 2017 reflects an expansion that further strengthens the “show-within-a-show” aspect, a feature that has always characterised the exhibition and that allows visitors to plan their visits according to their professional interests and in order to maximize their time. Autopromotec 2017 promises to be a one-stop shop for gaining information so that players can stay ahead of the trends in repair and servicing. To keep up to date on all the features of Autopromotec 2017, please visit www.autopromotec.com or follow the show preparation on Facebook www.facebook.com/ Autopromotec

Vermont Sales stages their 2017 Open days The popular Open Days annual 2 day show opened its doors at the Vermont Sales corporate park south premises in Midrand in late March. Customers and clients used the opportunity to take advantage of some excellent offers on display in a number of well laid out display areas. (So much so that it even saw Autoforum staff exceeding our planned budgets - and having to make some tough decisions about what is really necessary in our workshops and what is just great to have.)

Vermont Sales account holders could then also enhance the experience with bookings for the free training. These training sessions are offered on any number of dates and at a list of venues, which can be viewed on Vermont Saleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website: www.vsevents.co.za. These Open Day deals and show days are an annual event so be sure to diarise them for next year.

With suppliers of the available brands, as well as staff from Vermont, on hand and offering expert advice and demonstrations, visitors were able to investigate which items interested them, ask questions and make informed choices.

PAGE 45

Aftermarketplace

AutoForum - March /AutoForum April 2017 - March / April 2017

get\Worth to launch in March A new entrant is expected to launch into the motor sales sector in March that aims to give car buyers peace of mind and sellers the benefits of a private sale without the hassle. For car buyers, it offers a seven-day or 700km money-back guarantee on qualifying vehicles, with no questions asked. Co-founder of the business, Jamie Surkont says he realised that the car selling industry is facing huge changes. This as many motorists now choose to buy or sell online rather than through a traditional dealership, but that this in itself was presenting several challenges to consumers. After chatting with former colleagues, Mark Ridgway and Colin Morgan, the three realised that the problems in the industry required a very different approach. Deciding against buying a traditional dealership, they began developing something new to offer all the services that a traditional dealership would offer, and more. “We want to be transparent about the car and we don’t want to push our customers into a purchase they will regret a day later. So we essentially give them a seven day test drive. It’s much better than the traditional 15 minutes down the road and back, and makes a huge difference for any buyer, but particularly those who want to buy online,” explains Surkont.

Aligned to get\Worth, the product for sellers, called get\More, means that the company will pay the seller a cash amount upfront and take ownership of the car and market it for sale. However, the seller sets the selling price of the car and, when it sells, receives the balance of the selling price less the fees that the company charges. “The get\More product is a global first. There’s some clever stuff under the hood, which we’ve patented,” explains Morgan. “We’ve developed proprietary machine learning models and hooked them up to a portfolio management and pricing system to manage the risks. There will be tools for our customers to interact with us online and get information on the market and their open deals.” While it’s still early days for the business, the three partners have ambitious expansion plans. “We have a really exciting innovative line of new products and we aim to expand to additional asset classes,” Surkont concludes.

Diagnostic thermal imager Snap-on has released a new diagnostic thermal imager that uses infrared imaging technology to reveal heat from friction, electrical resistance, pressure changes and more. The unit allows the users to see precise detail with complete thermal images made up of 4,800 temperature zones and indicates extreme temperatures from -20–450 °C. This means the technician can detect problems all around the vehicle, including the brakes, heated seats, misfires, HVAC, worn bearings, belts, emission controls, and many more.

PAGE 46

The system includes an exclusive database of guided tests that show dozens of valuable automotive applications, as well as reference images showing normal components and failed components, meaning the user knows exactly what to look for. Other highlights include a large 320 x 240 resolution colour screen; a colour reference scale that automatically calibrates, so you know the temperature of everything in the image; pistol-grip ergonomics for comfort and convenient access to tight locations; and a rechargeable highpower Lithium-ion battery with 4 hour charge life and convenient battery level indicator. For more information or to order yours, visit www. snapon.co.za

Body repair insight in association with BodyShop News International March / April 2017

Competition Commission OPENS THEIR PROBE INTO The AFTERMARKET

Change starts with new ideas

Contents WORLDSKILLS 3M & Festoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SURFACE PREP system CAR BUYERS & TECHNOLOGY

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

NACE Automechanika Chicago this July From painting to welding, estimating to shop management, vehicle scanning and more, collision repair professionals are promised they will find the courses designed just for them at NACE Automechanika Chicago. The courses run from 26 – 28 July and registration is now

• Improve profits using sensible goals” led by John

open and just to make sure you really get the most out

Shoemaker

of your trip, additional mechanical courses are available

• This course walks attendees through goal setting

at no cost thanks to the event sponsor ACDelco, if you register with code ADCO2017.

process using the value one. The presentation: • Works to move you away from hard set goal improvement and shows you how to set sensible

Highlights include : • “How to market to, sell and service today’s connected consumer” led by Mike Anderson • Generation “C” is not a demographic. It’s everyone. Your existing and potential customers are all connected,

goals using select KPIs. • Illustrates that profit improvement doesn’t have to come from one area but can be achieved sensibly raising many areas a little. • “Guarding your online reputation and boosting your

and in control. Today’s connected consumers require

search ranking potential” led by Mark Claypool

businesses to connect, communicate, market to, sell

• By now you’ve probably been exposed enough

and service them in the same ways they connect and

times to the importance of paying attention to your

communicate!

business’ online reviews. The importance of managing your online reputation cannot be overstated, you just need to know how to do it properly, and that is what this workshop will address.

Learn more about these and additional classes offered as well as about other show floor features, co-located events and more. Visit the website www.NACEautomechanika.com.

AkzoNobel rejects second unsolicited proposal from PPG AkzoNobel media relations released its statement to the

The revised proposal represents a value of €88.72

press in late March announcing that it had rejected a

(adjusted for final dividend) consisting of €56.22 (adjusted

second unsolicited, non-binding and conditional proposal

for final dividend) in cash and 0.331 PPG shares, as at 20

of 20 March from PPG Industries Inc. for all of the

March 2017, per AkzoNobel share.

issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of AkzoNobel.

Ton Büchner, CEO of AkzoNobel, commented: “This proposal significantly fails to recognize the value of

“The proposal not only fails to reflect the current and

AkzoNobel. Our Boards do not believe it is in the best

future value of AkzoNobel, it also neglects to address the

interest of AkzoNobel’s stakeholders, including our

significant uncertainties and risks for shareholders and

shareholders, customers and employees. That is why we

other stakeholders.

have rejected it unanimously’.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of

He continued “We are convinced that AkzoNobel is best

AkzoNobel, together with their financial and legal

placed to unlock the value within our company ourselves.

advisors, have thoroughly reviewed the second proposal

We are executing our plan, including the creation of two

taking into consideration the interests of AkzoNobel’s

focused businesses and new cost structure, and believe

shareholders, customers, employees and other

this gives us a strong platform for continued profitability

stakeholders.”

and long term value creation for all our stakeholders with substantially less execution risks.”

PAGE 48

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

WorldSkills South Africa 2017 It has been a hive of activity in the local car painting competition over the last 6 months. Competitors have been required to show their knowledge and skills as they vie for the privilege to represent South Africa in the Abu Dhabi WorldSkills competition. The first round held recently was a general knowledge test, which covered safety, colour matching, and paint rectification methods in the painting process. The first practical competition was hosted in by Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) in Rosslyn, Pretoria. Held over a four day period, the tasks required the competitors to demonstrate their skills on using different application methods on a standard door, and intricate masking in reproducing a given design. Under the watchful eye of Wayne Brandon (BASF) and Christopher Lewis (SAA) and myself, the competitors

Training for the top three competitors will continue in

worked on their projects.

preparation for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi. In addition to skills already acquired, colour matching and repairs to

Marks were awarded for finish, accuracy of masking,

plastic parts will be included. The final selection for the

dimensions of the design and compliance to safety

competitor to represent South Africa at Abu Dhabi will be

standards. Based on their scores, the top four

made at the next competition. (At this stage there is no

competitors moved through to the next round.

date confirmed.)

BASF kindly offered to host the second round of the competition in their state of the art Refinish Competency

WorldSkills International provides a unique means of

Centre in Gauteng. The four competitors were joined by

exchange and comparison of world-class competency

a fifth competitor from the Western Cape, and the battle

standards in the industrial trades and service sectors

for the three top positions commenced. In addition to the

of the global economy. The continued growth of

masking and design aspects, the competitors were also

WorldSkillsInternational attests to the fact that traditional

tested on their ability to execute a spot repair within a

trade and craft skills along with the newer technology

defined area.

multi-skilled vocations make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of peoples

The top three competitors were awarded medals at

everywhere.

glittering ceremony presided over by the Honourable Deputy Minister of the Department Education and

As a free standing non-political organisation, WorldSkills

Training, Mr M Manana, MP and Deputy Director-General:

International provides a cost effective means for

Skills Development Mr Z Mvalo held at the International

international government and industry cooperation in

Convention Centre Durban. The theme for the evening

achieving higher standards and status for vocational

was; “It’s Cool to be a 21st Century Artisan”

education and training on a worldwide basis.

Mandatory grant funding window closes at the end of April If you are ready to submit your WSP (Workplace Skills

representatives to register on the MERSETA SMS

Plan), ATR (Annual Training Report) & Pivotal Plan and

system in order to complete the WSP/ATR submissions.

Report, your time has arrived.

Applications close 30 April 2017 and no extensions will be

The MerSETA SDF Registration Manual assists Skills

granted.

Development Facilitators (SDFs), Secondary Skills

Download the document and complete submissions as

Development Facilitators, labour and employee

instructed from the Sambra website.

PAGE 50

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

Changing the industry starts with our own ideas and shop practices - Chris Frederick

You might not have had the pleasure of trying to hire a millennial technician, but someday you are going to have to. As the proud grandfather of 16 grandkids, I have had the privilege of watching firsthand as a few of them thinking about careers. I am reminded of a song by 10 Years After. The chorus

Everyone had a dad, an uncle, a big brother or someone

goes like this:

who was hunched over a car in their backyard during every

I’d love to change the world

family picnic and barbeque.

But I don’t know what to do So I’ll leave it up to you

If you wanted to speak with that person, you approached them knowing you would be handing them tools and would

Can’t find technicians?

also be getting a lesson on what each tool did, and how to set timing, and what the points and plugs did and getting

I often hear shop owners tell me they can’t find good

grease on both you and your hamburger bun.

techs. That the number of available good techs is

We have known a shortage was coming for years. We have

dwindling. I hear all sorts of reasons this is occurring,

known it is getter harder and harder for years. We have

and I agree with almost all of the ones I have heard.

had discussions about the cost of tech school, the cost of

One popular school of thought is the money involved in

tools they must buy, the stigma that techs are still “grease

learning to be a tech scares potential techs away.

monkeys,” and so on.

And just where can kids go to get the automotive bug

But guess what, no one that I know of (with the exception

these days? I don’t know about you, but where and when

of a very limited few) is doing anything about it. Everyone

I grew up, somebody was always working on or “souping

talks about the problem, but few are willing to put in the

up” a car.

work to create a solution.

PAGE 52

Many want to change their pay plans so they can offer a

How many are planting the seed for being a tech to

tech – that they say they can’t find anyway – more money

kids at an early age?

than they can afford. What about contacting local preschools, grade schools, If we want to change the world, the technician shortage, or

and middle schools to come in and speak with the

the perception of the automotive industry, we can’t leave it

students about a career in the automotive industry?

up to everyone else. Guess what, everyone else is leaving

What about going to the schools on a high school level for

it up to us.

career days and setting up a booth to let students know just how much money techs can make today and how

The tech shortage situation is not going to change until we

much computers are involved?

do. I want to leave you with a few questions to think about

How about taking the time to visit the local educators nearby and finding out just how affordable it is for

Have you tried all these ideas?

technician training? What about contacting the schools nearby and offering to help pay for school for students that

How many shop owners – who are desperate to find a

show mechanical aptitude?

good tech – go by dealerships and other shops that are open in the evenings and weekends and give out their cards? How many park outside the better shops and dealerships right before lunch hour and see where the techs head to for lunch and give out their cards? How many have contacted their local community colleges and inquired about their automotive programme and then: • Volunteered to teach? • Volunteered to be on the board? • Asked if they could come in and talk to the class? • Asked if they could offer a mentoring program where students can come to their shop X number of times and

What about having an apprentice or mentor programme for someone wanting to be a tech?

see what a real shop is really like? • Asked to speak to the students directly to find out what are they looking for in an employer when they graduate? • Offered themselves and their shop for mock interviews for the students?

How about contacting guidance counselors at the high schools and technikons and asking for any stats or demographic information on the kids that are considering becoming a tech so you know where to market to? What can you do to change your ads and hiring approach to grab the attention of millennials? Do you have an amazing shop with innovative systems and processes, benefits, the latest equipment and tools, great online reviews, and strong leadership that will attract the best technicians? There are many more questions I have, but I think that makes the point. People want the world to change, but they want someone else to do it. I have one client right now that is not waiting for someone else to do it. He is having air-conditioning installed in his shop for the techs. Do you think that might increase productivity during the summer and also attract technicians?

This article was written with the help of former shop owner and now ATI coach Kim Hickey and is reprinted with permission by ABRN news - See more at: http://www.searchautoparts.com/

PAGE 53

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

MIWA welcomes Competition Commission’s probe into car repair industry The Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA) welcomes the Competition Commission’s probe into, amongst others, exclusionary conduct in the car repair industry. “Consumers have been facing tough economic times

enables freedom of choice for consumers and which gives

for a considerable period now so we welcome the

aftermarket Small Medium Enterprises a chance to stay

Commission’s efforts to investigate finding a workable

in business. “We are looking at the sustainability of two

solution for the greater motor industry that will not only

sectors – consumers who need to be able to afford the

relieve the burden of consumers but will also facilitate

servicing of their vehicles and the aftermarket workshop

discussion between industry stakeholders,” says Vishal

sector made up of 8 000 entrepreneurs wanting to make a

Premlall, Director of MIWA.

living. Only strong, entrepreneurial competition will result in advantageous pricing for consumers and ensure that

For several years through its Right to Repair Campaign,

local businesses can continue to provide quality service in

MIWA has been campaigning to allow consumers the right

the neighbourhoods they serve and support,” he explains.

to select where their vehicles are serviced, maintained and repaired, at competitive prices and in the workshops

While 70% of vehicles in South Africa are out of warranty

of their choice. MIWA has regularly attempted, without

and the consumer can choose aftermarket workshops,

success, to engage industry stakeholders to assist it in

30% of the market remains locked due to restrictive

realising this shift in what it views as prejudicial market

warranty provisions. “This is a lucrative part of the

behaviour.

market that could aid in the growth and expansion of the independent workshop sector if it was granted access.”

“Currently consumers are locked into restrictive warranties that are of long duration and they cannot

At the end of 2016 MIWA formed an external, non-profit

choose where they service their vehicles during this time,”

company, Right to Repair South Africa, tasked with taking

says Premlall. “Consumers are similarly compelled to pay

the Right to Repair Campaign to fruition.

a much higher rate for repairs and parts for their vehicles under warranty when compared to the rates charged by

The company’s steering committee includes key industry

independent workshops.”

role players including aftermarket parts suppliers, workshops and associations as well as consumer rights

The parts price issue has already received wide and

organisations.

concerted international coverage through various territories’ Competition Commissions, the most recent

Right to Repair South Africa added its voice to other

being in India where the Competition Commission ruled

industry players wanting to see change at the workshop

against 14 car companies engaging in price manipulation.

hosted by the Competition Commission in March. The Right to Repair initiative has come to the fore in many

Premlall believes that there has been a longstanding need

countries over the past 15 years and the time is right for

for a fair and competitive regulatory environment that

change in South Africa.

PAGE 54

Blending and “up and over”: What’s the truth? - Larry Montanez and Jeff Lange

Blending, burning in or melting clear coats are some of the terms used in the collision repair industry to describe what can be classified as an unacceptable or improper procedure, although leaving an open blend on a panel is a common practice. Let us explain. An excellent example of this statement would be the process and applications of automotive clear coat refinishing. The five major automotive paint manufactures (Akzo Nobel, BASF, Axalta, PPG and Sherwin-Williams) have lifetime refinish warranties on their clear coats. All five manufactures state the same basic requirement for

Well, let us give you an example of what would be

the warranty to be valid: “The application of clear must

required to refinish a 2013 Dodge Challenger with only a

extend to the nearest panel edge or breakpoint to qualify

one inch scratch to the left rear quarter panel.

for the lifetime warranty.” Considering our example is a continuous/uni-side panel With that stated, one must understand that to be eligible

vehicle, performing the refinish repair properly and to

for the lifetime warranty for defects the repair facility

keep the paint manufactures warranty, the repair facility

cannot leave an open blend on a panel.

would need to remove both front door assemblies, windshield, backlite, both quarter panel glasses, deck lid

Thus it is important to understand not only what is

and adjacent trim components.

considered the proper way to do something but, who considers it proper and what the consequences of not

Surprisingly, the damage report was over 90 lines of

doing it properly.

procedures with approximately 40 hours of labour and 19 hours of refinishing. Pretty surprising the amount of

Over the past few years we have noticed some

procedures that are required for a one hour scratch to the

manufactures are connecting the left and right uni-side

left rear quarter panel!

panels to the roof panel as one continuous unit. The Volkswagen Auto Group (VWAG), that includes VW, Audi,

Now some repair facilities and even paint technicians

Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ducati and

may disagree about the removal of the doors, glass and

Suzuki, is one manufacturer’s that uses this construction

deck lid as they may say there is foam tape available that

process especially with their VW, Audi and Bentley

can be used in the jamb areas. We contacted the five

models. But surprisingly, the Dodge Challenger is also a

major paint manufactures and referenced their refinishing

vehicle that is constructed this way.

manual and warranty agreement.

This construction design has been an area of discussion

The general response was consistent with the warranty

and in many cases disagreement between collision repair

statement; if clear coat is not applied to the a panels

professionals and insurance adjusters over how to refinish

edge and the application of foam tape and/or masking

these vehicles when they have sustained damage to

tape was applied to jambs and the clear coat delaminates

the rear and one or more of the quarter panels require

or otherwise fails, the paint manufacturer may not cover

refinishing.

the failure under warranty.

So, considering the warranty statements, what is the

As always, check with you paint manufacturer if you are

proper repair procedure for such panels?

unsure of your suppliers warranty guidelines.

Reprinted with permission from CollisionHub.com Larry Montanez, CDA is Co-Owner of P&L Consultants with Peter Pratti Jr. P&L Consultants work with collision repair shops on estimating, production, and proper repair procedures. Jeff Lange, PE, is president of Lange Technical Services, Ltd. of Deer Park, New York. Jeff is a Licensed New York State Professional Engineer who specializes in investigating vehicle and component failures.

PAGE 55

AutoForum - March / April 2017

BODYSHOP NEWS

SA car buyers want advanced technology – but are not always willing to pay for it Deloitte’s has released its latest Global Automotive Consumer Study, which finds that South African consumers are more likely to desire advanced automation technology when choosing cars compared to consumers in the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Mexico, and South Korea. Despite this desire however, willingness to pay has

Ride-sharing does not yet threaten South Africa’s culture

decreased over the past two years – depending on the

of car ownership, with only 21% of consumers using ride-

generation that is being asked. Younger South Africans

sharing services at least once a week, and 42% saying

are more willing to pay than their older compatriots. Karthi

they never use such services. In this study, ride-sharing

Pillay, Africa Automotive Leader at Deloitte explains:

was defined as a car sharing service where consumers

“When we look at the future of mobility, the younger

hire a car or driver over the phone or using an app.

generation is much more likely to show an interest in fully

Interestingly, more than a third of the younger consumers

self-driving vehicles, and they are also more willing to

who use ride-sharing services question their need to own

pay for in-vehicle technologies when compared to older

a vehicle in the future.

generations. When compared to the UK and Germany, we’re also seeing a higher proportion of consumers

The results also show that 73% and 74% of South

in South Africa who are willing to pay for advanced

African consumers want basic and advanced automation

vehicle technologies, with safety remaining their biggest

technology, respectively, compared to other markets.

concern.”

Only 47% of South African consumers want limited selfdriving technology, and just 39% are interested in full

Basic automation allows the driver to be in complete

self-driving. Over the past two years, the desirability of

control with the vehicle performing specific automated

advanced automation has increased from 67% to 74%,

tasks, while advanced automation combines at least

while desirability of other automation levels has remained

two functions such as adaptive cruise control and lane

stagnant.

centering technology. Although the desire for advanced vehicle technologies Limited self-driving allows the vehicle to take over all

has increased, fewer people are willing to pay, compared

driving functions under certain traffic and environmental

to 2014 levels. In 2014, local consumers were willing to

conditions, compared to full self-driving where the vehicle

pay an additional R19 149 for these features on average,

takes over all driving functions for an entire trip.

but in 2016, they would pay only R18 370. “Just as in developed economies, South Africans are starting to

The study found that 7 in 10 consumers consider

expect some of these features to come as standard when

travelling in self-driving cars to be a positive experience

purchasing a vehicle,” said Ori. “Only when they derive

and are willing to try them, if they show an established

significant additional benefit are they prepared to pay

safety record. When asked about connected cars, 83% of

extra.”

consumers fear data hacking, which could compromise their personal safety, but 79% would share personal

South African consumers are most interested in safety

information with car makers in return for significant

and cyber security features, while convenience and

benefits.

service enabling technologies resonated the least with consumers.

“However, South Africans are divided on who they trust the most to bring self-driving technology to market, with

“The automotive industry is experiencing a period of

half of consumers preferring tech companies and the

intense disruption, and consumers are starting to make

other half choosing traditional car manufacturers.

their voices heard as to which innovations they value

This is an interesting finding as a new ecosystem takes

most. It will be interesting to see how the industry

shape” said Adheesh Ori, Chief of Staff for Deloitte Africa

develops as advanced technology becomes more

Automotive.

widespread,” said Pillay.

PAGE 56

How do South African consumers feel about the latest in-vehicle technologies? Deloitte’s Global Automotive practice has been exploring consumers’ evolving automotive and mobility preferences since 2009. Our sixth Global Automotive Consumer study which surveyed a sample size of 1250 respondents, reveals interesting insights into how consumers in the South African market feel about rapidly evolving in-vehicle technologies when compared to other countries around the globe. For more information about our automotive reports please visit: www.deloitte.com/za

80%

2016

20%

All generations

2014

60% 40%

…but, Gen Y/Z consumers in South Africa are the most receptive to assisted driving features

How do South African consumers feel about in-vehicle technologies?

Receptivity to vehicle automation in general has increased since 2014.

Basic Automation

Full Self-driving

Most South African consumers are unwilling to pay extra for in-vehicle technologies… 43%

22%

Basic Automation

Saftey

Gen X

Full Self-driving

Cockpit Full/partial self-drive Connected

R13 395 R8 336 R5 122

R25 741 R16 768 R9 962 R19 459 R10 973 R7 094 R29 302 R16 376 Gen Y/Z R13 331 R22 278 Gen X R12 820 Pre-boomers R11 522

Features deemed most useful by South African consumers...

49%

…but, TRUST needs to be earned

51%

How much more, on average, South African Gen Y/Z generations consumers are willing to pay more on average vs Pre-boomers

South African consumers who would most trust non-traditional players to bring self-driving technology to market …27% of Gen Y/Z consumers regularly use ride-sharing services

21%

27%

34%

42% Overall Market Never

37%

of South African consumers who use ride-sharing services do so for personal trips

Year of birth for various Generations - Pre/boomers: Before 1964; Gen X:1965-1976; Gen Y/Z:1977 and later

Generation Y/Z

Ride-sharing not yet a risk to traditional ownership models.

At least once a week

60%

Receptivity to vehicle automation in general has increased since 2014.

Safety

South African consumers who trust traditional manufacturers to bring self-driving technology to market

Rarely

Pre/boomers

40% 20%

Gen Y/Z

2016

60%

Alternative engine

16%

Percent of South African consumers unwilling to pay more for various technologies

Although most consumers in South Africa never or rarely use ride-sharing services…

80%

…but South Africa’s Gen Y/Z consumers say they will pay more than other generations How much are South African consumers willing to pay for these technologies?

Alternative engine

Connected

25%

Full/Partial Self-driving

Cockpit

29%

Percentage of consumers

South African consumers are showing resistance to assisted driving features…

Never

39%

42%

Rarely At least once a week

of young South African consumers who regularly use ride-sharing also question their need to own a vehicle in future

PAGE 57

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - March / April 2017

A look at the collision repair market trends to 2022 - Are you ready? A new report, entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Automotive Collision Repair

Across the globe in developed markets - especially in

Marketâ&#x20AC;? looks at the global sector size by vehicle type,

Europe, Australasia and the U.S. - customers prefer using

by product (both consumables and paints and coatings),

authorised channels over other alternatives, due to low

applications and potential and by competitive market

rate of depreciation and insurance prerequisites. This

share as well as a forecast to 2022.

leaves vehicles older than a range of 4 to 8 years which are however, usually garaged at independent channels

The report, released by Global Market Insights, Inc. says

or small workshops owing to lower cost advantage and

the industry will cross US $200 billion by 2022, thanks

parts availability.

to growing demand for improved repair quality in large and medium workshops, combined with the increasing

Other key findings include that paints and coatings

consumer preference towards buying advanced and

accounted for 20% of the automotive collision repair

technologically equipped vehicles.

market share in 2014. This is expected to grow significantly to 2022, in part thanks to rising demand

But in order to get there, the collision repair industry will

for quality and competitive paint jobs. Although bigger

have to face some hurdles. The advent of new safety

crashes are expected to reduce in frequency and severity,

technologies which includes Lane Departure Warning

increasing traffic in urban areas presents a high risk

System (LDWS), automatic high-beam control, night

of small crashes and minor dents, which will require

vision and pedestrian control, forward collision repair,

touchups and smaller repairs.

and autonomous emergency braking, amongst other are expected to reduce collisions as well as severity of the

In addition, the researchers see the industry as a

accidents that do occur.

highly fragmented one, due to the presence of several authorised, independent, and medium and small

Incorporation of these reliable technologies in vehicles is

workshops, which provide low cost damage restructuring

expected to restrain the industry repairs and this as well

services.

as improving highways and roadways infrastructure will lower the crash rate over time - which is not good news

But what does this mean for your repair business?

for bodyshop owners. Planning ahead is key - while the global trends often At the same time, repairing vehicle structures that are

take a few years to filter down to SA, knowing what

equipped with new sensors and technologies requires

is expected to happen and planning for that reality

more expertise and investments to handle replacements,

is the only way to survive. This is especially true

which can hinder the growth potential of smaller and

for independents and smaller workshops. Take the

independent workshops. Growing adoption of shared

opportunity to keep your staff training up to date and

mobility will also pose a threat.

budget for the continued training to keep yourself afloat for the big changes ahead.

PAGE 60

3M and Festool deliver a surface preparation first - but only in Europe and the U.S. Last year, 3M in the U.S. announce that it had partnered

efficiency and profitability of automotive body repair

with Festool to deliver a new system for collision repair

shops, so watch this space.”

workshops in that country that promised to be the “most comprehensive of its kind available from a single supplier,

The system has now launched in Europe and is expected

covering every area of the body shop floor, from body

to expand into a range of products for automotive repairs

repair to paint preparation and finishing”.

professionals, covering everything from abrasives and sanding tools to paintwork and finishing solutions, as well

The fully customisable system is compact, mobile and

as on on-site training and workplace health and safety.

intuitive - which its creators explain means less time spent searching for tools, as well as reduced cycle

No word yet if it will be on our shores anytime soon.

and clean-up time, streamlining the entire process and increasing user profits. The system uses 3M’s longer-lasting, faster-cutting and more reliable abrasives, including Cubitron™ II, Trizact™ and the Perfect-it™ Paint Finishing System, together with Festool’s integrated dust-extraction system into an effective, ergonomic, non-slip tool design. Werner Kaelin, 3M Europe business development manager, said: “By having teamed up with Festool, we at 3M are confident we are launching the most comprehensive surface preparation and finishing system available for automotive body and paint professionals who need to deliver high-quality and profitable repairs every time. “The Total Automotive Sanding System is just the beginning. 3M’s collaboration with Festool will enable us to produce plenty more products to help improve the

PAGE 61

DIRECTORY LISTING

AutoForum - March / April 2017 Aftermarketplace Directory

To advertise your listing in AutoForum Aftermarketplace Directory contact us on 0861 222 878 or email: info@AutoForum.co.za

AUTO ELECTRICAL Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

Electronic Parts (Electrical) Catalogue

012 327 6210

Bosch

Parts, Accessories & Batteries

011 651 9600

AAAS - Parts Incorporated Africa

Automotive Components & Accessories

011 879 6000

Highveld Garage Equipment

Air Conditioning Specialists

012 330 0540

Snap-on Equipment

Diagnostics Equipment

0861 762 766

Aer-O-Cure

Spray Booths,Chassis Aligners, Compressors & Welding Equipment

011 444 6454

Allied Paint Solutions - Sikkens

Automotive Paints

012 940 0381

BASF - Glasurit

Automotive Paints

012 681 9200

Hurricane

Chassis Aligners, Compressors & Spray Booths

083 628 2288

Aer-O-Cure

Pressure Washers & Vacuum Cleaners

011 444 6454

Highveld Garage Equipment

Pressure Washers & Vacuum Cleaners

012 330 0540

AAAS - NAPA

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

Aer-O-Cure

Electronic Chassis Straighteners

011 444 6454

Beissbarth

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 651 9600

Bosch

Diagnostic Equipment

011 651 9600

Garage Trade Supplies

Wheel Service Equipment and Diagnostics

011 908 5199

Highveld Garage Equipment

Engine Analyser & Diagnostic Scanners

012 330 0540

Leaderquip

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 334 1680

AAAS - Midas

Diagnostic Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

Snap-on Diagnostics

Diagnostics Equipment

086 176 2766

Tenneco - Monroe

Shock Absorber testers

011 574 5602

Aer-O-Cure

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 444 6454

Beissbarth

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 651 9600

Bosch

Diagnostic Equipment

011 651 9600

Garage Trade Supplies

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

011 908 5199

Highveld Garage Equipment

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

012 330 0540

Hurricane

Tools & Garage Equipment

083 628 2288

Ital Machinery

Brake & Clutch Machinery

011 483 3737

John Bean - Snap-on Equipment

Wheel Service Equipment

086 176 2766

Leaderquip

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

011 334 1680

AAAS - Midas

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

PCL - AEI

Workshop equipment & Tools

011 474 7480

Snap-on Tools

Tools & Garage Equipment

086 176 2766

Alfa International

Brake Drums, Discs, Linings & Pads. Clutches & Flywheels

011 608 0801/3

AUDI Parts

Genuine OE Parts

086 043 4838

Auto Magneto

Alternators, Starter motors, electric & electronic parts

021 531 8144

Bosch

Parts, Accessories & Batteries

011 651 9600

AAAS - Midas

Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

011 879 6000

Mahle

Engine parts, Filters & Thermal management

041 408 3598

AAAS - NAPA

Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

011 879 6000

AAAS - Parts Incorporated Africa

Automotive Components & Accessories

011 879 6000

Tenneco

Shock Absorbers

011 574 5602

VW Parts

Genuine OE Parts

086 043 4737

ZF Lemforder

Genuine Replacement Parts

011 457 0000

Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

Electronic Parts (Electrical) Catalogue

012 327 6210

Bosch

Automotive Training Courses

011 651 9600

AIR CONDITIONING

BODY REPAIR EQUIPMENT

CLEANING EQUIPMENT

DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

GARAGE EQUIPMENT & TOOLS

PARTS MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS

SERVICES

PAGE 62

Vehicle Scissor Lift VLS 5235 PN: 1 697 000 935

New Lift Range From Bosch

In or above ground vehicle scissor lift. Loading capacity 4 tons, 4.3m length platform, 1.85m max. lifting height. High safety: Mechanical and hydraulic safety device for first & second lifting platform. Suitable for wheel alignment usage. Power supply: 220v/50Hz Small Scissor Lift VLS 3330H PN: 1 697 000 928 Low profile scissor lift. Loading capacity 3 tons, 1.85 meters maximum lifting height.

VLH 2240H Two Post Lift PN: 1 697 000 950

www.bosch.co.za

Rated loading capacity 4.0 tons Asymmetrical posts and clear floor design Electronic safety lock release device Standard four 3-stage extension arms Standard SUV extension support sleeve Power supply: 220v/50hz Also available with rated loading capacity 5.0 tons Model VLH 2245. PN: 1 697 000 980 For more information contact: Nhlanhla Maseko nhlanhla.maseko@za.bosch.com

re at r-o-cu e A t i s Vi

AutoForum - March / April 2017

‘17 Sepot.Centre h t 0 3 27- nesburg Exp Johan

Aer-o-cure provides an air-tight solution for refinishing professionals. Aer-o-cure’s Combination Downdraught Spraybooths are designed for automotive refinishers that demand a reliable, high quality paint process with minimum running costs. The powerful downdraft ventilation system guarantees a healthy working environment and optimal conditions for painting, removing all vehicle overspray immediately and ensuring a mirror-perfect finish after baking. Minimising energy usage during both the painting and baking cycles is a high priority and is achieved through precisely controlling the motor’s speed via the Microprocessor control. Energy-saving neon lighting is utilised to provide uniform conditions allowing for correct colour tones to be achieved with absolute precision. For a complete Aer-o-cure Spraybooth and Mixing Room solution, visit our website or call now for more information.

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