ON TRACK.
David Fraser Group CEO
CEO’s message
The transition to a new era of leadership at Capricorn is now underway. Of course, succession planning has been in progress for a long time, but our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) was one of the first big public moments of change. Thank you to everyone who came along and to everyone who voted. It was the first meeting in our new building—another visible sign of the start of a new chapter in Capricorn’s story.
The board meeting held immediately after the AGM also heralded the retirement of Mark Cooper as our Chair, and the handing of the baton to Queensland Director Mark Rowe. I look forward to seeing where he and Capricorn’s new Group CEO Brad Gannon take the business from 2025 onwards.
Thanks to Mark Cooper for his excellent service. Mark has been a Capricorn Member for nearly 30 years, on our board for 11, and Chair for the past five. In that time, he has helped steward our cooperative through some challenging times for our industry. He will remain on the board as Victoria/Tasmania Director until next October.
Welcome also to Samantha Martin-Williams, our new Independent Director, who joined the board on 14 October 2024. A former Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, she has more than two decades of board experience and brings a great depth of knowledge to the board.
There is still a vacancy on our board for a Member Director from South Australia/Northern Territory. Nominations have now reopened after no eligible nominations were received earlier this year. Serving on the board is a wonderful way to help steer our cooperative and our industry, so please consider nominating – who knows where it could take you! (Note, this role will remain vacant until a new director is appointed.)
Speaking of our cooperative, we have a great article in this edition about Capricorn’s leading role in the formation of Australia’s peak body for cooperatives and mutuals, the BCCM. It’s well worth a read.
Finally, it has been wonderful to catch up with so many of you at our Gala Dinner & Tradeshows in NSW and WA, both of which were sellout events. I look forward to catching up with more of you in other zones throughout November. For me, these events are something of a farewell tour – a rather more personal reminder that a transition is underway.
5
FORGED IN FRIENDSHIP
How Capricorn and the BCCM earned a seat at the table.
8 IS THE FUTURE ALREADY HERE?
AI and the automotive aftermarket industry.
10
MEMBER RETURNS
How Members are making the most of their Rewards.
12 FUTURE RIDE: KIA PBV
Is the “IKEA” concept the future of motoring?
16
CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
How your digital tech impacts your real-life customers.
18
CITROËN'S FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA
We bid adieu to the country’s most enduring automotive marque.
24 IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO EMBRACE NEW TECH
How a digital POS platform can transform workshop management.
David Fraser Group CEO
to your workshop INJURED? ILL or What happens if you’re
What is Personal Accident and Illness Protection?
While workers’ compensation covers your employees if they are injured or become sick at work, there is no such compulsory protection for business owners.
Personal Accident and Illness Insurance fills that gap, ensuring a prolonged period without income doesn’t seriously impact your family, savings and lifestyle.
It generally covers capital benefits and the loss of weekly income as a result of accident or illness.
It may provide a lump-sum benefit amount if you are permanently disabled.
Accidents happen. If you get injured or ill and you’re unable to work, will your workshop keep running efficiently in your absence? Or will you be forced to shut the doors, with the resulting loss of income?
You can take sensible steps now to protect yourself financially from the expense and inconvenience of illness or injury.
There are often broad benefit period options from 12 to 24 months of cover.
In certain circumstances it may protect employees where Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Compulsory Third Party Insurance do not provide cover.
You are able to nominate the level of weekly gross wage or salary you want protected, to ensure you receive the level of income you need while ill or injured.
It may also include additional benefits to cover rehabilitation and activities outside of work hours.
Tailor your Personal Accident and Illness Protection
You can personalise your cover to ensure it meets your precise needs! Choose:
Cover for an agreed weekly amount
24 hour or outside of working hours cover
Benefit periods from 12 to 24 months
The amount of excess paid before a claim is paid.
Forged in friendship:
HOW CAPRICORN BCCM
the and
earned a seat at the table
David Fraser (Capricorn Group CEO), Melina Morrison (BCCM CEO), Sheena Jack (HFC CEO) and Paul Lewis (Great Southern Bank CEO) at the 2022 BCCM Resilience Dinner
If you want to drive change, you need a seat at the table where the decisions are made.
Ask Melina Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (BCCM) and she’ll tell you Capricorn’s five decades of hard work have given independent workshop owners exactly that.
She says Capricorn’s central role in the formation of the BCCM, and the tireless efforts of great Capricorn figures including former CEOs Trent Bartlett and Greg Wall, and current CEO David Fraser, have brought Capricorn and all cooperatives a great deal of influence in government and industry alike.
“In the Australian economy there’s a concentration of market power in fewer and fewer large corporate entities, and cooperatives like Capricorn give the smaller player a fair go,” Melina said.
“Collectively, we’ve been able to make sure that politicians understand why you need a Capricorn in every market where you want independents to thrive. Cooperatives like Capricorn are big, but they represent smaller businesses; they’re a way for smaller business owners to cooperate and compete.”
The BCCM is Australia’s peak body for co-ops and mutuals, and Capricorn played a major role in its set-up. It had humble beginnings. In 2011 what was then Social Business Australia (SBA) was formed with seed funding from Capricorn.
“Capricorn and Trent were, at the time, well known on the global stage as strong cooperative advocates,” Melina said.
Trent had realised (as David Fraser put it) “that the cooperative movement in Australia wasn’t on
anyone’s radar”. Then the United Nations (UN) named 2012 the International Year of the Cooperative and the small but dedicated SBA committee seized the day. They set up a secretariat, led by Greg (who had replaced Trent as Capricorn CEO) and went door to door around Canberra, leveraging the UN’s decision, building relationships, and rallying the cooperative cause. Soon, commemorative coins and stamps had been minted and a cooperative summit had been held at Old Parliament House.
“Typically, the politicians’ first response was ‘cooperatives, I thought they all died out’,” Melina said. “Most of them were members of cooperatives themselves but just didn’t realise it. Quite soon we had bipartisan support.”
The SBA became the BCCM, and over the next decade its visibility grew—allowing both Capricorn and the BCCM to have influence on achievements like the Right to Repair legislation (which was driven by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association) and even having co-ops and mutuals described in the Corporations Act (the main legislation that governs large businesses in Australia) for the very first time.
The friendships between the two organisations, and the people who lead them, are deep and long-lasting-forged in the fire of creating change.
“In the weeks and months leading up to the decision on the Right to Repair legislation, I recall David and I on the phone and in constant email communication,” Melina said. “David understood the gravity of the situation for Capricorn Members and we both thought the positive view of cooperatives as an honest broker of the voice of independents was
David Fraser, Trent Bartlett, Frank O’Connor and Greg Wall at the 2019 BCCM Leaders’ Summit
something we could use to leverage support for the voice of the mechanics of Australia.”
“David attended policy roundtables and made representations, as did I as part of my work for the BCCM. Sitting in the BCCM office, which is generously hosted by Capricorn, when the news came through that we had won the Right to Repair is a sweet memory and one I’ll treasure.”
For his part, David Fraser credits Greg Wall for having the drive to make the BCCM a success.
“He lobbied our board for the licence to go out and meet with people, to spend a bit of money, to put some structures in place,” David said. “He went out and banged on doors and was able to rally support. Now the BCCM plays a large role in advocating at the government level. It was through Greg’s lobbying that the BCCM got the twentieth seat at the B20 (the “Business 20”, held when Australia hosted the G20 in 2014)”.
Melina said Capricorn’s support for the cooperative movement has never wavered. “Greg was our founding Chair of BCCM,” she said “Not to mention he was also the first Australian to serve on the global board of the International Cooperative Alliance. David has continued Capricorn’s legacy on the BCCM board as a director putting in years of service.”
Melina said Capricorn’s CEOs had long carried the torch for the cooperative movement, which was in safe hands with a new generation of leadership under Brad Gannon. She said Members should feel proud of what their cooperative has achieved.
“It’s an outstanding story of mateship really—the ethos of working together and cooperating. It’s a stunning business that demonstrates that it is possible for Australia to have independent, often mum-and-dad businesses, sometimes larger entities, running successfully, competing in markets that are very challenging and volatile and ever-changing and that they can do that through their cooperative. What Capricorn's been able to do is demonstrate that cooperatives are an incredibly flexible and strong structure for doing so many things. The great lesson of Capricorn is from little things, big things grow.”
Big things, like having a seat at the table.
Melina Morrison, BCCM CEO
AIAUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET INDUSTRY and the
What was once science fiction has now become science fact.
AI is already changing the way our industry works. It’s present in the vehicles we’re servicing today: in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), voice recognition and predictive maintenance, among other innovations. For workshops, that’s making everything from diagnostics to repair to calibration more complicated. But AI will also, ultimately, make our jobs much easier.
Diagnostic tools
AI-driven diagnostic tools allow a technician to determine what’s wrong with a vehicle without even lifting the hood. By scanning the car’s computer, the technician can tell exactly what and where the problem is. There are also visual recognition systems that use cameras to inspect vehicles for visible problems, like fluid leaks or worn brakes. Skoda has developed an app that uses sound to identify failures in major systems (like air con, power steering and transmission clutches). It identifies faults with 90 per cent accuracy. These systems take the guesswork out of diagnostics, making for more efficient repairs, and speeding up service times. That frees up technician time and gets the customer back on the road sooner.
Predictive maintenance
Better than diagnosing a problem after it happens is diagnosing it before it becomes a problem. AI uses data (from the vehicle’s sensors) and machine learning (that is, it gets smarter with each use) to recognise patterns and anomalies and predict potential issues. That means workshop owners will be able to use AI to proactively schedule the maintenance of a customer’s vehicle, rather than wait for either their next logbook service or a breakdown to occur.
Inventory management
How much time do you spend checking your inventory and ordering spare parts? AI-driven technology now exists (for example, PartsTech) that monitors your workshop’s parts inventory, predicts potential problems, and automatically orders the stock you’re likely to need. This bit of AI, which just runs along in the background while you run your business, has the potential to avoid unnecessary and frustrating delays to delivering your customer’s repair.
Robotics
AI-driven robots really do sound like a science fiction nightmare, but they might be about to make life in the workshop much easier when it comes to difficult, precision or dangerous repairs. Robots are already used by car manufacturers for precision tasks like welding, painting and assembly, and that same efficiency is heading to workshops, too. AI-driven robots (like Robotire) are also already radically improving efficiency in areas like replacing, balancing and aligning tyres. Robotire can change four tyres accurately in 25 minutes, freeing up technicians to complete other tasks.
Augmented reality
Porsche is already using special augmented reality (AR) glasses to help their technicians make necessary repairs. The AR glasses show the technician
In industries all over the world, business owners are finding ways to use artificial intelligence (AI) to become more efficient and profitable—and the automotive aftermarket is no exception.
instructions to fix the specific problem they’re looking at, helping improve efficiency—especially on really complicated repairs. Ultimately, this technology also leads to faster repairs and better-trained technicians.
Virtual assistants
AI isn’t just driving efficiencies out on the workshop floor, it can also improve workflows out the front. Virtual assistants, chatbots and automated booking systems that are AI-driven can free up time by answering and sorting customer enquiries, potentially saving you time on the phone. Recently, Capricorn Member Nathan Brookes (of The Garage Miami in Queensland) revealed his online booking system had cut down the volume of phone calls he was handling by 30 per cent, and he reckoned customers booking services online were “self-selecting an extra $50 to $200 worth of upsells on every booking”.
Customer relationship management
Many workshops already use a customer relationship management (CRM) system to record customer details and interactions. AI-driven systems also leverage the ability to predict what a customer will need or want.
The AI future is already here
The benefits sound great, of course, but technology doesn’t come cheap. Achieving all those AI efficiencies means investing in the tools and the training needed to operate it and leverage it. Which investments make sense to you will depend on your business strategy and your future growth plan.
But it’s clear, at least, that AI is also a technology with a range of potential applications that would help every workshop become more efficient and effective and, in some applications, safer.
For your workshop, embracing AI-driven technology is likely to result in:
Faster and more precise diagnostics
The ability to deliver predictive maintenance
Cost and time efficiencies, both out front and out back
We can choose to view AI as the spooky cyber monster science fiction makes it out to be, or we can choose to see it as an opportunity. Now, while the technology is relatively new, is a great time to investigate it and see where we can leverage it to our advantage.
Member Returns
Amer Sibai, Glynde Garage
Stephen Rowe, Jarrow Auto Service
How Members are making the most of their Rewards.
For Capricorn Member Amer Sibai, Managing Director of Glynde Garage in South Australia, using his Capricorn Rewards Points* to pay off his Trade Account is a no-brainer. It really helps with cash flow, at a very important time of year.
“We always use them to pay the bill from Capricorn at the end of the month come Christmas time, because we try to shut for a few weeks then,” he said. “The business has grown quite a bit and having 24 people and closing the business (over Christmas), it’s stressful coming back in.”
“We’ve always used the points to reinvest back into the business. We’ve always spent it wisely— whether it’s for equipment, or to pay our bills.”
Over the past month, eligible Capricorn Members across Australia and New Zealand will have received their Wealth Certificates and information about their share of this year’s Trade Rebate and dividends.
In 2024, Capricorn has returned $92.3 million in value to Members (up from $82.8 million in 2023). This equates to a Member Value Return of 26.9%—meaning that for every dollar invested in Capricorn, Members received a 26.9c return.
Almost $56.6 million in Capricorn Rewards Points were earned last financial year, and a Trade Rebate of $18.5 million was paid to Members for Trade Account purchases made throughout the year. This rebate was issued as Bonus Rewards Points on Members’ September statement.
In September 2024, $15.3 million was distributed to Member shareholders by way of an ordinary dividend of 7 cents per share in relation to the year ended 30 June 2024.
Amer said he had come to realise that having shares in Capricorn represented a big investment for his business.
“When you hear the great stories of businesses that have done it for the last 20, 30 years, and what they’ve ended up with at the end, it’s good to throw back in,” he said.
A panel beater by trade, Amer bought what was then Glynde Crash Repairs in 2014. Two years later, he and business partner Andrew Lepore, a mechanic, expanded the businesses offering to make it a “one-stop shop” and rebranded to Glynde Garage. They’ve been Capricorn Members for 10 years.
Twenty minutes south of Glynde, in the Adelaide foothills community of Panorama, is Capricorn Member Stephen Rowe’s Jarrow Auto Service. The business has been in the family since 1960, when it was started by Stephen’s father, Milton. The family have been Members since Capricorn first expanded from WA into SA. Stephen is also very appreciative of the opportunities Rewards Points and dividends give his business.
“Everybody’s got their own take on it,” he said. “Some people like to use it for their holidays; some people pay accounts with it. We use it a bit like that sometimes, but I tend to try to save it and purchase shares through my account and use Rewards Points to pay my account. I like to think that might be a nice little kick along for the retirement fund.”
“I often just get some of the gift cards for my wife, as then she gets something out of the business as well—because sometimes the silent partner doesn’t get rewarded as much.”
Stephen said what he found great about Rewards Points was that you were, “being rewarded for what you would be doing anyway”
“You do your normal job, every day, buying your parts from wherever you’re getting them from— the Capricorn Preferred Suppliers— you don’t have to think about what you’re doing,” he said. “And, in the background, Capricorn just grows. You’re getting rewarded for just being at work and doing what you have to do anyway. So, it’s really unlike a lot of other things, where you’ve got to change the way you do things.”
“Just being part of it and watching it grow and reaping a lot of those rewards is pretty awesome. You don’t have to watch prices or anything. You just sit there and it just quietly ticks away and keeps growing.”
Stephen said he also valued the access Capricorn membership gave him to a wider range of Preferred Suppliers.
“Being with Capricorn, you can break into a few other companies at a more wholesale level, and increase your profitability,” he said. “It just gives you greater buying power and you build some really good relationships in business through that as well.”
The past performance of Capricorn is no indication of future performance or returns. Shares are issued by Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313). No offer of shares is made in this article or publication. An offer of shares will only made in, or accompanied by, Capricorn’s Prospectus and any Supplementary Prospectus which is available on request or may be viewed at capricorn.coop under “Corporate Documents.” Before making any decision to apply for shares you should consider the prospectus and any supplementary prospectus. Any application for shares must be made on the application form in or accompanying the Prospectus. *Participation in Capricorn Rewards is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions which can be found at cap.coop/tc.
KIA
THE PBV IS MORE IKEA THAN KIA, BUT IT IS A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.
PBV
Hollywood movies have convinced us the future of automotive is desperately cool—flying cars, magnetic levitation, the ability to shapeshift. But what if, rather than anything promised by Blade Runner or Ready Player One, the future of automotive had more in common with an IKEA kitchen— practical, simple, modular, efficient?
On paper, that sounds like a pretty uninspiring revolution. But don’t dismiss the idea too quickly. It might just be exactly what we all need. It might just be an idea that leaves us all scratching our heads thinking, “why didn’t we always do it like this?”
When Kia unveiled its “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2024, it promised motorists, “adaptability that stands ready to answer every question”. What is PBV?
An incredibly customisable transport solution—a “blank canvas to redefine how space and mobility can adapt to (motorists’) needs by providing exceptional flexibility through radical modularity”. In other words, just like an IKEA kitchen, this vehicle offers you a list of available elements to design the precise vehicle you need.
This isn’t customising like you imagine it (choosing paint colour, leather interiors or alloys); this is selecting a long or short wheelbase, mixing and matching seating arrangements, deciding if you need a high roof or a chassis cab. It’s just like going through a kitchen catalogue, choosing the oven, dishwasher, sink and fridge you want, and arranging the cupboards around them to best suit your kitchen. The result is a bespoke, if slightly utilitarian, kitchen that arrives in flatpack form.
Surely the PBV doesn’t arrive in kit form though, right? Well, it sort of does. Kia describes it as having a weldless body structure that is designed specifically so it can be shipped in “standardised kit form”.
If that sounds a bit flimsy, the company is quick to reassure potential customers the PBV is robust.
“Comprised of high-strength tubular steel and engineered polymers, typical parts are reduced by 55 percent with no loss in rigidity,” the corporation says.
Where Kia’s PBVs have it over your IKEA kitchen is in their ongoing adaptability. Once your kitchen is in, it is what it is. Not so for the PBV, which has what Kia calls “Easy Swap” technology designed to “flexibly address the diverse demands of customers”.
“A single vehicle chassis can be used to fulfil multiple mobility needs,” the company says. “Behind a fixed cab, or ‘driver zone’, a variety of interchangeable upper bodies, or ‘life modules’, can be connected to the base vehicle via a hybrid electromagnetic and mechanical coupling technology, turning the PBV into a taxi during the day, a delivery van at night, and a personal recreational vehicle on weekends.”
Now that really is revolutionary.
Kia unveiled five concept configurations at CES and announced one of them (the PV5, an electric van that comes in three basic pre-customisation configurations—passenger, delivery and cab chassis) would go into production in 2025. The much larger PV7 and much smaller PV1 will follow soon. They are building a factory in South Korea right now with capacity to produce 150,000 vehicles a year and have launched a dedicated business to oversee the global rollout of PBVs. This isn’t just a neat concept to grab headlines at a gadget show; it’s really happening.
What’s under the bonnet? Kia is keeping tight-lipped. There’s almost no information available beyond the fact these vehicles are electric and a promise that “Kia’s EV charging solution optimises charging for maximum efficiency”. But Kia’s very happy to talk about the technology they’re developing to make it even more adaptable—with robotics, advanced air mobility (the future Blade Runner promised us!), and autonomous driving all apparently on the way.
PBVs obviously lend themselves to fleet applications, so Kia has also integrated its Fleet Management System, which monitors everything from sales and inventory to temperature control, intelligent route planning and predictive maintenance.
If there’s a problem with the concept at all, it’s that the aesthetic is so uninspiring. One motoring journalist described them as “boring blobs”. But then, it’s a rare van or people mover that draws a second look, let alone gets rev-heads salivating. Perhaps the bigger crime is taking a genuinely revolutionary idea and giving it a name as bland as “Platform Beyond Vehicles”. Kia has created something that could forever change the way our industry designs, builds and sells vehicles. Sprinkling a little Hollywood magic into the marketing would go a long way to giving a revolutionary idea the blockbuster launch it deserves!
PBV
Images by Kia
Consumer expectations in the digital age
Digital technology has fundamentally transformed the way we all, as consumers, interact with businesses across every sector. From booking an appointment to doing our banking, we expect a seamless digital experience.
Whether we’re running a small independent workshop or a large dealership, business owners must adapt to meet these evolving expectations if we want to remain competitive.
It’s not just customers changing, the automotive aftermarket industry is evolving too. According to the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), in the last five years, the number of workshops has increased by 3,500 (or 12%) in Australia. The data also shows that existing workshops are also getting larger. With so much competition in the market place, standing still and ignoring the digital transformation is not an option.
So, how can we meet our customers’ digital expectations?
Real-time communication
These days customers expect instant access to information and quick responses to their enquiries.
Consider:
Informative and user friendly website
A live chat function
Being responsive on Facebook
Online appointment booking and quote request systems on your website
Efficient ways for customers to receive service updates
Transparency
Customers expect clear, upfront pricing and detailed explanations of the services you’ve recommended (or provided). Some businesses now offer digital vehicle inspection reports with photos and videos, allowing customers to see exactly what needs attention on their vehicles.
Online booking
In many industries online booking is now the standard. It’s a little trickier for some workshops because of the nature of the work but Members who’ve invested in these systems and set them up cleverly (including price lists, allowing customers to select the level of service required) say it’s saving them lots of phone calls, and customers are self-selecting for more services than they otherwise might. It also saves on the hard sell at the reception desk.
Still being human
Finding digital efficiencies doesn’t mean we stop providing good old-fashioned customer service. Quite the opposite. We’re embracing digital tools to provide a better service than we ever have before—faster, more efficient, more communicative, and more convenient. By embracing digital technology (like data analytics, customer relationship management systems, and even AI) you can provide consumers with an even more personalised service than before.
Online payment options
The days of cash-only transactions are long gone. Customers expect a variety of payment options, including contactless payments, mobile wallets or even interest free buy now pay later options.
A strong online presence
Customers expect to find detailed information about your services, pricing, and business credentials on well-designed, mobile-friendly websites. Mobile-friendly is critical here, as more people are using their phones than desktop or laptop computers to research and book services these days. New customers in particular are also likely to rely heavily on online reviews and ratings. We should all be actively managing our online reputation and engaging with customer feedback (warmly, whether it’s positive or negative).
Virtual reality
Some workshops are already experimenting with virtual and augmented reality technologies that allow customers to visualise repairs or upgrades on their vehicles before committing to the service (e.g. being able to show customers their car in a new colour before it’s sprayed). This is still a toy, really, but it has genuine applications that could give some businesses an edge.
Consumer expectations are driving the digital transformation of the automotive aftermarket. Businesses that embrace these changes and invest in technology to meet customer expectations will be better placed to build a loyal customer base and to thrive long into the future.
ADIEU TO CITROËN
AUTOMOTIVE PIONEERS one of Australia’s
by Paul Marinelli
The first Citroën was driven onto our roads back in 1923. It’s hard to believe, but in the intervening 101 years, the French car manufacturer became Australia’s most enduring automotive marque.
Citroën, one of the world’s best known, innovative and quirky car manufacturers, ended its 101-year French love affair with Australia as a vehicle importer as of 1 November 2024. Citroën owners don’t need to panic, however, as the company is committing to retain a network of 35 factory supported service centres to take care of its existing Australian customers.
In the end it was cold commercial reality that led to this difficult decision for the globally renowned car maker. Citroën’s new car sales in Australia had been in sharp decline and were showing no signs of improvement, despite the introduction of several impressive new models over recent years.
The French company sold a total of 87 new cars in Australia during the first half of 2024, which was 35% less compared to the corresponding period last year. To put these sales figures into perspective, cars which sell at some ten times the cost of a Citroën, such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley and Lamborghini, all easily surpassed or almost doubled the number of Citroën sales in Australia during the same period. In May 2024, Citroën only sold 14 new cars, which represented a 43% year-on-year decline. In fact, Citroën car sales had collapsed by 94% since their peak Australian sales levels were achieved in 2007.
Citroën was one of Australia’s automotive pioneers, importing vehicles (and assembling some models) just four years after the company was established in Paris. It also became a proud part of Australian automotive history when 22-year-old Neville Westwood completed the first road-based circumnavigation of Australia driving a Citroën 5CV back in 1925. The car’s historical significance to this country saw it become a permanent resident of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
Visionary company founder, André Citroën, started out in the design and manufacture of industrial gears. He bought a patent in 1900
on a chevron-shaped gear used in milling. After years of success in gear manufacturing, he turned his design and manufacturing vision to cars, using his patented double chevron gear design as the Citroën logo.
Citroën took a different approach to the huge French car maker Renault and other global car makers of the early 1900’s, focusing on designing and manufacturing small and affordable cars. The most popular model he created was the ultra-inexpensive, highly reliable and strong front-wheel drive pioneering 2CV. This innovative car was designed prior to World War II but wasn’t released until 1948 in order to hide the design from enemy countries. This outstanding design and the car’s global success saw the 2CV remain virtually unchanged, with production continuing all the way through to 1990.
Sales in Europe soared for the French manufacturer in the 1950s when French President Charles de Gaulle selected a fleet of Citroën DS sedans to be his official state vehicles. The design innovations of this model were outstanding, highlighted by a hydropneumatic suspension system that allowed the driver to adjust the ride height of the car via a foot-operated lever. A de-specced version of this model, tailored for Australian conditions, was the first of a number of Citroën cars to be assembled in Australia from 1960 to 1966.
The Citroën DS went on to become one of the world’s most iconic vehicles. “DS” stood for “Diesse”, the French word for “Goddess”, the body designed by a young Italian industrial designer and sculptor, Flaminio Bertoni. He would go on to design some of the world’s most beautiful sedans and sportscars in the years to come.
Since its establishment, Citroën had designed and manufactured all of its mechanical innovations in-house, which was even more impressive given that some of their 300-strong model line-up were cars that featured developments that forever marked the global automotive industry.
These innovations reflected the visionary genius and legacy of André Citroën, who achieved so much in his short 57-year life. Along with its major successes, the Citroën company endured more than its fair share of financial problems over the years, being saved from bankruptcy twice, the second time when rival French brand Peugeot acquired 90% of the company in 1976. In 2021 both Peugeot and Citroën joined Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to create Stellantis, the company that has subsequently made the difficult decision for Citroën to say goodbye to Australia, emphasising its local focus on the much more successful Peugeot marque.
At the time of the announcement, Citroën had four models available in Australia, the C3 Hatchback, C4 Hatch, C5 Aircross SUV and the C5 X Crossover, with the final new model for Australian delivery being the C5 X Plug-in Hybrid variant.
According to the company, it was a combination of factors that led to this difficult decision. These included current and future products available for the Australian market, the preferences and requirements of Australian new vehicle buyers, and the sheer competitiveness of this market, along with its relatively low overall sales volumes.
As such, Australia must bid a very fond adieu and merci to Australia’s longest-serving French automotive mate, Citroën, a marque that has left an indelible mark in this country and all over the world.
1973 Citroën DS-23 images by Danny on carsales.com
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Rockies Odyssey and Alaska Cruise 22 days Victoria to Vancouver
DEPARTURES: APRIL-SEPTEMBER 2025
Venture into vast national parks and discover unique landscapes and communities with local experts as you explore Canada and Alaska. Journey through the spectacular Rockies in luxury GoldLeaf Service aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer and cruise the stunning icy waters of the Glacier Bay National Park.
• GoldLeaf Service on Canada’s iconic Rocky Mountaineer train.
• Stay at iconic Fairmont properties in Banff, Jasper, Vancouver and Lake Louise.
• Verandah Stateroom on a Holland America Line cruise.
• Luxury dining with a total of 43 meals.
APT Solara in Budapest (artist’s impression)
APT Solara sun deck (artist’s impression)
FREE APPLE AIR TAGS*
PREFERRED SUPPLIER PROFILES
Melbourne Auto Parts offers a wide range of high-quality car parts for various makes and models, with a special focus on Mazda and Honda vehicles. Their experienced and knowledgeable staff provide professional advice to help with any automotive issue. They prioritise building strong relationships with customers by delivering exceptional service, making the job easier for both mechanics and car enthusiasts.
Melbourne Auto Parts distinguishes itself by offering exceptional customer service paired with top-tier quality products. They ensure every customer has a personalised experience, providing reliable and high-quality parts that meet their needs. Their commitment to service excellence and product reliability keeps their customers coming back time and time again.
MELBOURNE CITY HYUNDAI VIC/TAS
Melbourne City Hyundai has been a cornerstone in South Melbourne for a decade, supplying parts to the trade industry for the past three years. Their 2P philosophy—Proximity and People—ensures exceptional service and industry know-how at all times. Conveniently located next to the Westgate Freeway entry off Montague Street, they offer swift access to major roads and inner-city convenience.
Embracing a “we are locals too!” mindset, Melbourne City Hyundai seamlessly integrates into their clients’ routines, catering to inner-city life and commutes. As key suppliers to corporate and fleet clients, they prioritise flawless service, aiming to get it right every time. They supply OEM parts for Hyundai and Genesis, and pride themselves on great customer service paired with a price match guarantee for OEM parts, delivering to customers Australia-wide.
melbournecityhyundai.com.au
PREFERRED SUPPLIER PROFILES
PACEMAKER AUSTRALIA SA/NT, QLD, VIC/TAS
3 YEARS
Pacemaker Australia is a trusted name in the Australian automotive industry, manufacturing high-quality products since the 1970s. Their factory in Richmond, South Australia employs over 50 skilled Australians.
Pacemaker Australia specialises in producing industry-leading exhaust headers for Ford and Holden vehicles. With a wide range of exhaust systems available for late-model petrol and diesel 4WD vehicles, they stock popular models like the Chrysler RAM, Jeep Trackhawk and Nissan Y62. They also offer sports exhaust systems for Commodore VE/VF, Chrysler 300C and Ford Mustang vehicles. Their in-house ceramic coating business adds an extra level of performance and enhances durability.
They are committed to Australianmade products of exceptional quality, precise fit and adherence to industry standards. With extensive stock, fast turnaround times and excellent customer service, they ensure customers receive their orders promptly.
pacemaker.com.au
SAPE GROUP AUSTRALIA
15
Sydney Automotive Paints and Equipment (SAPE) is a distributor of automotive refinishing products to the collision repair industry. Since 1976, SAPE has rapidly grown into Australia's leading distributor of Automotive Paints, Consumables and Equipment with 12 locations throughout Australia.
With a highly trained team and indepth industry knowledge, they serve leading collision repairers of all sizes. Their goal is to help customers and the industry achieve success by offering the most innovative and profitable products that meet international standards. Over the years, SAPE Group has developed strong relationships with leading manufacturers.
sapegroup.com.au
It’s never too late to embrace the digital world
by Geoff Mutton
In any business these days—and this particularly applies to automotive aftermarket businesses—keeping up with front office technology is as important as the investment in training, tools and specialised equipment for those doing the income-producing work. Keeping up will mean embracing the digital world.
Workshops have been forced to invest in the technical side of the business to keep up with the huge advances in automotive technology, but there hasn’t been the same pressure in the front office.
Investment in new front office technology has been slow. The old, and quite valid, excuse is that most workshop owners are technicians by trade, so front office technology takes a back seat.
Failure to keep up to date with new office technology comes with a risk. Workshop staff are being asked to do more in less time, the result being that the office can become the workshop bottleneck with service managers often lost in a trail of paper.
Without doubt the number one piece of office equipment every workshop needs is an up-to-date, automotive-specific point of sale (POS) platform.
MYOB, QuickBooks, and Xero are all brilliant systems. However, fundamentally, they are accounting programs. They lack the automotive focus that dedicated automotive software programs offer.
If you don’t operate a specialised workshop POS system, or you have one but don’t know how to use its features, this article might motivate you.
These programs are designed to make managing your workshop easier and less time-consuming. They are not designed to make your life harder. Those who say they are too complicated haven’t really given them a proper go. They may be different from what you are used to, but that doesn’t mean they are complicated. It’s worth spending the time to learn how to use them properly. In time, you will be processing transactions with your eyes closed.
Six reasons to adopt a POS platform
Workflow management
The old manual systems for booking diaries, job cards, service checklists, and planning work very well until someone forgets to fill them out, or scribbles down illegible writing.
With a dedicated POS system, you now have the option for these essential documents to be electronic. Creating a new booking or job card, assigning and ordering stock, creating an invoice, and sending work updates are all done with the click of a button.
In short, your days of recording information on multiple documents are over. Less time managing the admin side of your business can only be a good thing.
Database management
Keeping in contact with customers via service reminders, registration and Warrant of Fitness reminders, thank-you messages and vehicle status updates can all be done with the click of a button. Most platforms give you the option of email or SMS and the frequency can be customised to match your customers’ driving habits.
No more exporting your database into mail merge to send your service reminders. Simply set the reminder date when processing your customer’s invoice, and future reminders will automatically be sent on the selected date.
Integrations
Staff management
2 4 6 3 5
Operating in one system and then closing it down to look at another system is just not feasible in a busy workshop. It doesn’t matter how good a product is; if it slows a workshop down, it’s not paying its way.
Integrations into various marketing platforms, accounting platforms, banking platforms, supplier platforms, and more recently AI, could save time in a busy workshop.
They can all be used as standalone platforms, but when integrated with your POS, they become much more powerful.
For many businesses, the greatest workshop management challenge is staff and their output.
It’s a common misconception that workshop owners believe they know what everyone is doing every minute of every day. Eventually, the workshop owner will become the bottleneck because they try to control everything. As a result, profitability starts to suffer even though it appears everyone is working hard.
If a POS system is used correctly, at the end of every day the workshop owner can see exactly what everyone has done and how profitable they have been. This information is invaluable and is the key to running a profitable workshop.
Stock management
Most mechanical workshops are holding less stock than they once needed to. Nevertheless, having accurate stockholding levels is still important.
In addition to this, knowing what mark-up or margin you are applying to stock is critical. Every time you price a job, you will instantly know what profit and margin you are making. With this information staring back at you, there is much less chance of getting it wrong.
Management reporting
What gets analysed gets improved. Having valuable business information at your fingertips is essential. Sales breakdown reports, job profitability reports, work-in-progress reports, productivity reports and marketing reports are available at the click of a button.
This information will help management make the best decisions. Manually trying to extract this information is time-consuming, and most often will be avoided.
All the top platforms offer generous free trial periods with many hours of video demonstrations. Check them out and do your due diligence. Ring around and ask your fellow workshop owners what they like and don’t like, and how their customers are reacting to their communication systems.
If you do make the jump, just be prepared to invest the additional time and effort needed to get your POS platform running to its full potential. It will be worth it in the end.
Don’t be the person that gifts the ugly sweater. Again.
Get your Christmas shopping sorted early with Capricorn Rewards.
It’s easy to run short on time during the silly season. Make sure you beat the rush and place your orders now.
To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, any product orders must be placed before 15 November 2024 and vouchers before 16 December 2024*
Scan the QR to check out rewards and skip the sweater. *
FUN ZONE
Submit your entry at cap.coop/funzone by 30 NOVEMBER 2024
September Winner: JARVIS SUZUKI WON 5,000 BONUS REWARDS POINTS
Please note that this competition and participation in the Capricorn Rewards program are subject to terms and conditions. For the full Terms and Conditions, visit cap.coop/tc.
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT!
50 Years Strong Memories Competition (July-August 2024)
ANGUS CAR SERVICE is throwing a celebration of their own with a $1,000 credit to their Trade Account.
Woolworths at Work (May-July 2024)
HAHN AUTOS won a $2,500 shopping spree.
Opt-out of Paper Statements (March-May 2024)
Congratulations to all the following winners of our latest promotions:
BATTERIES ’N MORE
MAIRANGI AUTOMOTIVE
GENESIS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES THE WORKSHOP MANSFIELD
Each Member won 20,000 Bonus Rewards Points.
Capricorn Rewards (July 2024)
LANTECH AUTOMOTIVE won 50,000 Bonus Rewards Points.
LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS
Capricorn Fuel Card Promotion Australia (June-August 2024)
June: DERRICK'S AUTO-AG
July: P & M AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
August: SLOAN LIVESTOCK & MACHINERY
Each Member won 50,000 Bonus Rewards Points.
Thank you very much to all the Members who participated in our latest promotions.
Make THREE PURCHASES each valued at $150 OR MORE per month in November and December, for an entry into that month’s draw to win a DeLonghi Eletta Explore coffee machine valued at $1,999 each. Shop in-store at Woolworths or online at Woolworths at Work to enter.*
Apply now via myCAP Don’t have a Woolworths at Work account?