MTA QUEENSLAND hosts quarterly Divisional Committee meetings for:
› AUSTRALIAN AUTOMOTIVE DEALER ASSOCIATION (NEW CAR DEALERS)
› AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS DIVISION (MECHANICAL REPAIRERS)
› AUTOMOTIVE PARTS RECYCLERS DIVISION (PARTS RECYCLERS)
› AUTOMOTIVE REMARKETING DIVISION (USED CAR DEALERS)
› ENGINE RECONDITIONERS ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND (ENGINE RECONDITIONERS)
› NATIONAL AUTO COLLISION ALLIANCE (PAINT & PANEL / TOW TRUCKS)
› QUEENSLAND FARM & INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY DEALERS DIVISION (FARM & INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY)
› QUEENSLAND MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY DIVISION (MOTORCYCLES)
› RENTAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY DIVISION (RENTAL VEHICLES)
› SERVICE STATION & CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND (SERVICE STATIONS)
› TYRE & UNDERCAR DIVISION OF QUEENSLAND (TYRES, BRAKES, SUSPENSIONS)
The Agenda topics include:
› robust discussions around the priorities of the Division,
› issues that need to be directly presented to government and submissions,
› skilling needs,
› membership representation,
› technical and educational updates, and
› innovation opportunities.
The Committee meetings can be attended in-person at MTA Queensland or online. The meetings are open to members and non-members, but we strongly encourage membership to ensure all member benefits are available.
HEAD OFFICE
Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113
P.O. Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113
Tel: 07 3237 8777
Fax: 07 3844 4488
Toll Free: 1800 177 951
Email: publications@mtaq.com.au
Website: www.mtaq.com.au
EDITOR
Jonathan Nash
ART DIRECTOR
Marco Ilinic
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Evangeline Kannis
Ian Naylor POLICY
Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Email: jonathann@mtaq.com.au
EDITORIAL
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MOTOR TRADER PUBLISHING POLICY
Motor Trader is the official publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland. The role of Motor Trader is to inform members of current issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded as the business magazine for the Queensland motor industry. The role of Motor Trader is not to be in competition with the technical magazines already on the market. It will advise of new vehicles being released and of the latest technology incorporated into them; it will advise of latest technology affecting members in each of the MTA Queensland Divisions; it will keep members abreast of the latest in motor industry training and industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed of the latest technical aids available through MTA Queensland Member Services, which will assist members in staying ahead of the technological revolution presently being encountered within the motor industry. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any advertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.
MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848
CORPORATE PARTNERS
JONATHAN NASH EDITOR
HELLO
to the September 2023 edition of Motor Trader. The electrification of Australia's automotive industry continues apace, and as sales of hybrid, and especially battery electric, vehicles grow, it is becoming ever more important for Queesland's automotive businesses to develop plans on how they will adapt to be able to work on them.
Beginning in August and running through September, MTA Queensland - working with PwC and supported by the Queensland Government - has been running EV Transition workshops, events designed to give businesses the information they need to take the next step in planning their electrified future.
The workshops have been
very well attended and the feedback positive, and that's encouraging as whatever decisions automotive business owners make - whether it be to fully embrace the technology or to walk away - that planning should start now.
Read more on the EV transition workshops from page 12.
Also in this edition, we have a look at some of the amazing vehicles unveiled at the recent Montery Car Week, take a stroll down the fairway with a report on the 2023 Motor Trades Golf Day, and celebrate good news coming from this year's Queensland Training Awards.
As always there are our regular features - MTA Q&A and Concept Corner, and plenty of other news from across the automotive world.
I hope you enjoy this month's edition, and if you have some news you'd like to share, or have a classic vehicle you'd like to see featured in the magazine, get in touch and let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
Jonathan Nash, Editor jonathann@mtaq.com.auMTA Queensland welcomes the following new members
Tyrepower
Downsy’s Cars https://www.facebook.com/downsyscars/ ARD
T THE TIME of preparing this column, I am on the road for the EV Business Transition Workshop roadshow. It has been a great experience delivering these workshops to businesses, both members and non-members, across Queensland and the feedback received so far has been incredibly constructive.
ROD CAMM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND
TIME TO DECIDE MUST BE NOW.
We understand that the road to EV adoption looks different for every single business across Queensland. However, the key takeaway from these workshops is no matter what path you wish to take, whether it's embracing electric vehicles in the workshop, continuing to specialise only in internal combustion engines, or some mix of the two, your time to decide must be now. MTA Queensland will continue to bring you the latest information and support to help you make informed decisions during this period of transition.
For those who missed out on attending, stay tuned as we bring you more information about online delivery options in the coming weeks.
In other news, the issue of odometer fraud has reared itself again in the media again, following a recent investigation aired on local news.
MTA Queensland has fought staunchly for the introduction of non-discretionary substantive fines and overhaul of the reporting process for vehicles at point-oftransfer for some time. The South Australian government has recently announced harsh new penalties in an effort to crack down on odometer tampering over there, and we will continue to call for similar changes here locally.
Until next month, stay safe!
ACAN YOU BELIEVE there are only three months left in 2023? We are deep in the planning stage for the upcoming Auto Women Dinner on Friday, 6th October at the Glen Hotel here in Brisbane and I look forward to catching up with many of the women who make our industry great there!
KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY CEO | GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES
. . . APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS! THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO WOMEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY . . .
On the topic of Auto Women, applications are now open for our professional development scholarships! These scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for two women in the automotive industry to progress their leadership credentials and potential career prospects. Applications close on Friday, 29th September.
The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) recently published the ‘Unfair Contract Terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know’ guide to help small business owners prepare for the impending legislative changes coming into effect from 10th November 2023.
This guide, the first such document for the automotive industry, covers everything business owners need to know about unfair contract terms, including what they are, how to identify them, and how to protect themselves from them.
MTA Queensland was pleased to be able to work with the MTAA to bring this guide to publication, and I encourage all members to download it today to ensure they are prepared.
Finally, I would like to echo Rod’s sentiment about the EV Transition Workshops and I thank all our members who have come along! It has been excellent meeting with you all and listening in on some insightful conversations about the future of our industry.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ROAD TO EV ADOPTION LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS ACROSS QUEENSLAND. HOWEVER, THE KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THESE WORKSHOPS IS . . . YOUR
Get paid into your linked business account on the day you make the sale.
Did you know by being MTAQ members, you enjoy the benefits of preferential merchant rates on your EFTPOS. You’ll have access to experience the latest payment technology with a Smart terminal, paired with a Business Transaction Account with $0 Monthly Account Fee option and get same day settlement for your hard earned money1
Accept payments in-store or on the go
Accept payments wherever you are with our flexible EFTPOS solutions.
• Settle funds daily with a linked CommBank business transaction account.
• Take comfort knowing that Australia’s largest financial institution is working hard to keep your payments secure.
• Access insights with DailyIQ to optimise and grow your business2.
• Use our templates to design and build your online store.
So why not take advantage of your membership and enjoy your money sooner.
To find out how Commonwealth Bank can help your business move forward, contact MTAQ on (07) 3237 8777 or email info@mtaq.com.au and they’ll put you in touch with a Commonwealth Bank Relationship Manager.
Things you should know: As this advice has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should, before acting on the information, consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. A preferential merchant rate is an agreed rate with your association. Your association may receive a referral fee from Commonwealth Bank of Australia for each successful referral (excludes existing customers) on eligible Business Banking products and services. Referral Fees are not payable on referrals from existing relationship managed Commonwealth Bank customers.
1 A Business Transaction Account is required to settle your transactions, if you apply online through NetBank. You can choose to settle your transactions to an alternate account held with us or another financial service provider by calling our Merchant Sales team on 1800 730 554, any time after your application is finalised. ‘Same day’ includes all Visa and Mastercard sales before 5:30 pm (AEST) for online transactions and 9:30pm (AEST) for in store EFTPOS transactions. Amex, Diners and JCB card transactions are not eligible for Same Day Settlements.
Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply to Business Transaction Accounts and NetBank. Read the Terms and Conditions for Business Transaction and Savings Accounts at commbank.com.au/btaterms and the Electronic Banking Terms and Conditions at commbank.com.au/electronicbanking and consider whether these products are right for you. Please view our Merchant Agreement, Financial Services Guide and Operator and User Guides at commbank.com.au/merchantsupport.
2 Daily IQ has been prepared as a research tool for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make business decisions or for account reconciliation. Eligibility criteria applies. Find out more about Daily IQ and Business Insights at commbank.com.au/business/online-banking
The target market for this product will be found within the product’s Target Market Determination at commbank.com.au/tmd Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL and Australian credit licence 234945.
35 years ago, Nigel Mosley went out on his own to establish Mosley’s Automotive, a one-man mechanical business run out of a small shop behind a Caltex garage.
Today, Mosley’s Automotive occupies a huge six-hoist workshop in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane and Nigel’s five-person team is at the heart of a thriving business.
NM: We offer a one-stop auto shop where a customer can bring their car if it needs anything - whether it be tyres, wheel alignments, brakes, mechanical issues or faults, electrical work, air conditioning, anything. We also have the latest ADAS calibration equipment which calibrates lane change and windscreen cameras. We can do the work and organise it from the one spot. It's all about convenience and providing a service to the customer.
NM: I did my apprenticeship in New Zealand and came over here when I was 23. I worked as a subcontractor for RACQ
in Beenleigh for seven months. It was hard yakka because you were under the pump and you had to really work, but that was a fantastic experience.
Then an opportunity came up as a maintenance fitter for a diamond exploration company. I had diesel experience, and that suited the job, so
“WE OFFER A ONE-STOP AUTO SHOP WHERE A CUSTOMER CAN BRING THEIR CAR IF IT NEEDS ANYTHING . . . IT'S ALL ABOUT CONVENIENCE AND PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMER.”
I went and worked for six months at a diamond exploration plant on the Gregory River northwest of Mount Isa.
When I came back, I was working at a shed behind the local Caltex and when I started the business in 1988 there was just me. I then employed a mechanic and then another and we outgrew that shop. In 1995, I bought and moved up to this building, and we have been expanding and growing from there.
Initially, we were located on one side of the building, and I leased the other side to a cabinet company. But we shared one driveway access and it got to a point where they were having massive truck deliveries and we couldn’t even get our cars in and out. It was a massive restriction.
NM: There are five of us, and that includes two apprentices. I think, in a team situation, five is a great number. Once your team gets bigger than five, you need another team and another manager. In the mechanical industry, a team of five is what works for me.
YOU HAVE TWO APPRENTICES IN YOUR TEAM, INCLUDING AN MTA QUEENSLAND APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH AWARD WINNER. IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO TAKE ON APPRENTICES?
NM: I’ve had apprentices right from the
beginning. I believe we've got to give them the opportunity, it's great for the industry to get young people in, educate them, and give them a start.
NM: When you're young, you need to find out where your niche is and what your opportunities are. What I say to the team is that you never know where you are going to go but if you start something, complete it. Then you can go and do something else if you want.
In the old days, you could finish up in a job one day and go down the road and get another job the next day. We're sort of getting back into that cycle now. The opportunities that are out there, and the desperation from employers who can't get anybody, means we're happy to look after who we've got and we're willing to give anything a go.
I'm grateful to have an awesome team. We work hard but also have a chance to
“THERE ARE FIVE OF US, AND THAT INCLUDES TWO APPRENTICES. I THINK, IN A TEAM SITUATION, FIVE IS A GREAT NUMBER.”
something's wrong. We all work well together and each give each other a helping hand on the tough jobs. Communication is the absolute key.
YOU’VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AND LONGEVITY?
NM: In the beginning, you're doing it for yourself, and you want to achieve and reach some goals. But you do get knocked down quite a lot, so you have to become very thick-skinned. But doing the
business.
Also, you can get to a point where you’re burnt out and exhausted. Take a break, come back and ask, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ and make your adjustments. Do some courses too, something like, for example, Money & You – a personal development course which helps you find out what you want and where you are. We all have busy lives and tend to go with the flow and forget about the essentials. That course helps to brings things back to basics and I really recommend it.
The Mosley’s Automotive team: Theresa Richardson. Alicia Byron, Nigel Mosley, Reece Conway , and Matthew Kerr
THE INDUSTRY IS GOING THROUGH A RADICAL EVOLUTION WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF VEHICLES AND DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES. ARE YOU KEEN FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO TRAIN UP AND LEARN THIS NEW TECH?
NM: Absolutely. I say to my apprentices that you can never know everything. And they say, “But you've been doing it for so long!” But there are so many models, so many variations, you can never know everything. I let my apprentices have their phones on them and we have a five-minute rule so that if they get stuck, they can try and nut
it out for themselves for five minutes. They can use Google if they want but they must run through it with me first and then we go down the path together!
“THE NUMBER ONE THING IS YOU NEED PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO YOU CAN BOUNCE IDEAS OFF. I CALL IT ‘TEAM POOLING’ AND IT IS THE BEST TOOL THAT YOU COULD EVER HAVE.”
That five-minute rule means they can have a go, but not stress out.
As for EVs, I do want to go with that technology. I am really interested in autonomous cars too and can easily believe that in the future we won't need to own a car – you’ll just have to push a button on a phone and the car will turn up at your door and take you wherever you want.
I have done a course in electric vehicles but am yet to do the MTA Queensland three-day course. But I want all my team to do it.
NM: The number one thing is you need people around you who you can bounce ideas off. I call it ‘team pooling’ and it is the best tool that you could ever have. We're all wired different and if you have, for instance, five different ideas that are brought to the table, you'll grow five times faster.
NM: I don't necessarily want to expand but just grow naturally. There is a possibility that demand will become so great that we'll just have to expand. Actually, with our growing population, I do expect that to happen.
I do want to take the team into
electric cars, and we want to be trained and move into that area and continue to be a one-stop shop.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MEMBER OF MTA QUEENSLAND AND HAS YOUR MEMBERSHIP BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO YOU?
NM: I’ve been a member, I think, for about 20 years, and it has helped a good deal with keeping updated with information. The mailouts and the updates fromMTA Queensland are brilliant, and you need to have that connection. The Workplace Relations team are very good. I used to ring all the time about wages and so on.
I remember I once had a company that was harassing me that I needed ‘workplace this and workplace that’ and I eventually remembered to tell them I was an MTA Queensland member and they left me alone!
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR SPARE TIME, IF YOU HAVE ANY?
NM: I enjoy waterskiing and jet skiing but enjoy the oasis that is my house. I went to Bali once for a convention and was at this palatial location which had a lap pool, a gazebo it had everything. When I got home, I built that at my place. Now, when I get home, I chill and have a couple of beers in my oasis!
THE ELECTRIFICATION OF the automotive industry is now well underway. The stats are compelling. According to the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs report released in July, in the first half of this year 43,092 battery-electric vehicles (BEV) were sold. Add in Plug-In Hybrid sales, and that number reaches 46,624. That means electrified vehicles snagged a healthy 8.4 per cent market share. Travel back a handful of years to 2011 and just 49 BEVs were sold, making barely a scratch in an Australian market that recorded more than one million new vehicle sales.
In Queensland, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, there are more than 21,000 BEVs – with the number of EVs registered in the state increasing 466 per cent over the past three years.
These figures, while eyebrow-raising now, are going to be dwarfed over the next decade. State and Federal governments will help to see to that. The Queensland Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy - Action Plan (2022-2024) plots part of this journey. The plan outlines all manner of strategies to see EV uptake expand, including incentives of up to $6000 (for eligible families) to buy a zero-emission vehicle, and mandating to replace all eligible government fleet vehicles with EVs.
The public’s appetite for electric vehicles will drive demand too, of course, as will the OEMs, all of which, to some degree, are committed to strategies that lean heavily into electrification. There are, of course, several OEMs that produce only BEVs, with Tesla being the heavyweight champion of the sector, delivering 1.31 million units globally in 2022.
With all this in mind, it is paramount for automotive businesses across Queensland to start planning for a successful transition to this new electrified environment, and MTA Queensland, in collaboration with
. . . IT IS PARAMOUNT FOR AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES ACROSS QUEENSLAND TO START PLANNING NOW FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THIS NEW ELECTRIFIED ENVIRONMENT . . .The team from PwC took attendees through many topics upon which to reflect
PwC Australia and supported by the Queensland Government, has been hosting a series of free workshops designed to help businesses understand the trajectory of the industry’s electrification, what steps they must consider and what questions they must contemplate.
The first of these workshops was held in Brisbane on August 30, with the second on the Gold Coast on September 5. Subsequent workshops were held on the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, and Mackay by September 13, with a Toowoomba workshop scheduled for September 20.
The two-hour event includes a comprehensive look at the current state of electrification in Queensland – EV sales figures, Government plans and goals, OEM strategies, infrastructure – including specific data on the region where the workshop was being held.
The team from PwC took attendees through many topics upon which to reflect – from customer strategy, parts and
equipment, health and safety, workshop infrastructure, workforce planning and training, marketing and communications, and more – and encouraged participants to complete two activities, with the first being to identify and discuss in groups the strengths, pressure points, threats and opportunities that the electric evolution poses to them, and the second to consider what aspects of their business would need to change for them to adapt to maintain and service high-voltage vehicles.
This style of activity and networking encouraged robust discussion, and many questions - both technical and business related - were asked of the assembled experts from PwC and MTA Queensland.
While there is an immense amount of information to absorb for those just beginning to think about how electrification might impact their businesses, the EV Transition Workshops have proved to be an important step to take. Every event has been well attended
by business owners and representatives from across automotive industry sectors - a reflection of the need within industry to get to grips with how electrification will affect everyone. That engagement has been just what MTA Queensland, and the Queensland Government, has been hoping to see.
“The response to the events has been fantastic, with more than 400 registrations from automotive business from right across Queensland,” said Brad Flanagan, Director Industry Initiatives for MTA Queensland. “There has been a broad spectrum of businesses registering, with automotive dealerships, independent workshops, collision repair businesses, auto parts recyclers, tyre businesses and rental car businesses all being represented. There have also been insurers, Queensland Government and TAFE Queensland representatives attending. It has been a great mix of people and because of this range of attendees there has been excellent engagement and sharing of information and ideas.
“There has been plenty of discussion and lots of questions raised, and it has
been great that MTA Queensland has brought an electric vehicle specialist to the workshops, as there have been plenty of technical questions, especially in relation to battery technology, storage of batteries and the installation of charging facilities,” added Brad. “However, the business planning elements have thrown up lots of queries and driven some insightful discussion as well.
“The workshops have clarified for people why this transformation is happening, the scope of the transformation, and
.
. . THE EMERGENCE OF EVs IS A MONUMENTAL DISRUPTOR AND BUSINESSES NEED TO HAVE CLARITY AROUND THE ISSUES FACING THEM INTO THE FUTURE AND BE WELL INFORMED SO THEY CAN MAKE GOOD BUSINESS DECISIONS.The second EV Transition Workshop was held on the Gold Coast on September 5
helped them to think about their future workforce, and the business, skills and workforce planning they need to do for their businesses to evolve.”
For many of the attendees, the workshops have been an opportunity to get some truly useful expert insight on the direction of the industry.
“It has definitely opened our eyes to what other possibilities we need to look at, what training our staff needs and we need as business owners,” said Hayden Featherstonhaugh, owner of The Service Depot in Capalaba. “It [electrification] is going to be part of our future whether we like it or not, and we should embrace it, just get on with it and learn and get the training we require.”
“It was good to have industry experts here to answer questions – questions that half of us didn’t even think about before someone else asked it!” said Peter Armstrong, owner of Momentum Mobile Mechanics in Mogill. “Having many minds here thinking about it and then having many minds to answer most of the
questions was excellent.”
While the EV Transition Workshops have proved to be a useful resource, they are just a step on the journey that many businesses will take as they adapt to electrification. MTA Queensland, the Queensland Government, and other organisations, all offer further assistance to businesses. MTA Queensland, for example, have a range of microcredential courses aimed at offering short, sharp upskilling opportunities for technicians and apprentices, and also provide more in-depth high-voltage training via its Depower and Reinitialise HEVs and BEVs, Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set, and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set courses.
“The Queensland Government wants businesses, and especially small businesses, to be resilient, flexible, adaptable, and ultimately to continue to be successful,” said Brad Flanagan. “For future economic stability and prosperity, the Queensland Government needs businesses to grow and thrive. For the automotive industry, the emergence of EVs is a monumental disruptor and businesses need to have clarity around the issues facing them into the future and be well informed so they can make good business decisions.
“The automotive industry in Queensland is a critical enabler for communities and employs around 90,000 people, so it is crucial that this industry continues to evolve as technology changes to keep people moving and continue to be an industry of choice for future workers across Queensland.”
WHILE THE ELECTRIFICATION of the automotive industry is gathering pace, many businesses have yet to decide on the course of action they will take to be able to service and maintain high-voltage electric and hybrid vehicles. This is a weighty decision, with investments in time, training, infrastructure, and equipment all part of the equation.
MTA Queensland’s EV Transition workshops – held through August and September at locations across the state – have been designed to give automotive businesses insight into the growth of the electrified sector and they offer a wealth of information that can help business owners make those decisions.
However, there are businesses that have already made the move to embrace electrification and are now offering a suite of EV and hybrid vehicle-specific services.
For Fionna Blackburne, owner of Southeast Auto Mechanical in Beenleigh, taking her business on the electrification journey is one that makes commercial sense and recognises that the uptake of EVs and hybrids in her location on the south side of Brisbane will be relatively rapid.
“For me, it was a strategic move to take advantage of the EV movement and the changing preferences of our customers,” she said. “I hope it provides my business with a competitive edge and positions us for long-term success.”
There were, said Fionna, many decisions to weigh up as she considered the electrification move, and while Southeast Auto Mechanical can now offer service and maintenance of high-voltage systems,
there were more questions to consider, including that of space – as with many independents, Fionna’s workshop is not huge, and making room to accommodate an EV and meet safety guidelines is a headache – and of being able to offer a recharging facility.
“Initially, there was the issue of knowledge and training, so I enrolled my head technician in MTA Queensland’s EV course, and all staff have undertaken education on EVs, whether it be via MTA Queensland’s micro-credentials or their onsite EV course,” she said. “Then I needed to acquire the correct tooling and diagnostic equipment and further ensure that we have the safety protocols in place for working on high-voltage components.
“Space is a concern as we must section off a work bay to service and repair an
“FOR ME, IT WAS A STRATEGIC MOVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EV MOVEMENT AND THE CHANGING PREFERENCES OF OUR CUSTOMERS.”VIDEO: THE STEPS TO TRANSITIONING A WORKSHOP TO EVs
EV. Further to that is the issue of setting up charging stations within the workshop – something I am yet to do.”
An additional path Fionna has taken is to join the EV & Hybrid Network. An initiative of The Automotive Technician (TAT), the networking web platform enables electric vehicle-ready shops to access pooled knowledge and resources as well as be part of a searchable EV workshop location finder available to members of the public looking for an independent business to service and maintain their vehicle.
The EV & Hybrid Network was developed by a team that included Brendan Sorensen, Technical Director of TAT and Head Technician at Steve Sorensen Mechanical.
Located in Browns Plains, south of Brisbane, and established 27 years ago, Steve Sorensen Mechanical now offers, alongside its range of traditional ICE vehicle service and maintenance options, a broad range of high-voltage services – including battery State of Health (SOH) checks, electric motor functionality inspections, diagnostics, and battery cell replacement.
Like other businesses that have stepped up into this space already, it is the recognition of the direction the industry is heading and the public’s growing interest in EVs - added to his own interest in technology - that spurred Brendan to channel the business into investing in and adapting to offer electric vehicle maintenance and services.
Those services, and the fact that the
business has worked hard to be able to provide them, is featured prominently on their website and, said Brendan, being able to offer them will mean the business will appeal to customers who may be considering the purchase of an EV but may be uncertain whether an independent can deliver them.
“The EV and hybrid customer is pretty tech savvy . . . and we've put a really big focus on the marketing side of things to show them that we are putting in the effort to do the training,” he said. “We've got the signage up to let them know that on the website, and that's really helping us to retain customers. We hope that it's going to secure our place in the suburbs so that we can be the place for people to come.”
Opportunities exist, argued Brendan, for independents to offer a different service to the of dealerships. Independents, he said, have traditionally searched out the cause of a problem and repaired it rather than remove and replace components, and they can continue to do just that with batteryelectric and hybrid vehicles. While that may prove tricky to begin with, being part of a network of shops pooling knowledge
Director“THE EV AND HYBRID CUSTOMER IS PRETTY TECH SAVVY . . . AND WE'VE PUT A REALLY BIG FOCUS ON THE MARKETING SIDE OF THINGS TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO DO THE TRAINING.”Brendan Sorensen, Technical of TAT and the Head Technician at Steve Sorensen Mechanical
and experience, and creating a database of common faults, offers a way to pick up tricks of the trade.
“We may go inside the battery pack itself and replace a startup capacitor that we know is a common fault and it's only a $1 part. Why throw away an entire battery pack for something like that?" said Brendan. "By teaming together with the independents . . . we can find these common problems. We can offer
really good solutions for the customer and show them that the independent is a really good place to take your EV or hybrid.”
There is, of course, a cost involved in adapting to working with high-voltage vehicles. While that cost can vary depending on just how many services a workshop may wish to offer, there are a few items, said Brendan, that a business must have, including insulated tools as well as testing and safety equipment.
“Even $5,000 is a pretty reasonable amount and you'll be pretty covered,” said Brendan. “That's going to get you your safety equipment, that's going to get you a basic set of insulated hand tools and it's going to get you a multimeter and megaohmmeter.”
That being said, there are other, much more specialised, and much more expensive, items that a workshop could use if more detailed and complicated repair work is part of the business plan - for example, a motor analysis device such as those from All-Test that can detect problems with a vehicle’s stator, connections or rotor.
As many others have done, Brendan, an experienced diagnostics expert, did his initial electric vehicle training with
MTA Queensland, although he would take things up several notches by flying to the U.S. to spend a week at the AC DC Training Centre in Boston. Obviously personally enthusiastic about the technology and what it means for the future of the industry and Steve Sorensen Mechanical, there was, said Brendan, a varied reaction from his staff to the idea of pursuing an electrification strategy.
“There's been a bit of a mixed bag,” said Brendan. “The younger guys, as expected, are pretty keen to embrace this with open arms but it makes sense that if you're further into your career, you might go, ‘Is this really for me?’
“But we've found that is shifting, because once you start to see some of the stuff that's getting worked on, doing an oil change or the regular set of struts or something is not that exciting, is it.
“At the moment I'd say half of my staff have at least their RTO-based training, so they're the ones that are more interested in it. The other guys are starting to come around and if they show me the
interest and they want to get into more training, then that's where we'll go.”
While both Brendan and Fionna are ready to accept battery-electric vehicles to their businesses, it is true EVs are still a fairly unusual sight at the workshop, at least for the moment. However, being able to show customers you are making a move on EV and hybrid work is important.
“They are still relatively rare,” said Brendan. “I'd say that we get maybe one or two a month, mainly for servicing. Hybrids are a different story, and the reality is that is where a lot of the money is to be made at the moment.
“When are we going to start seeing more EVs rolling in? A lot of them are still in warranty, so many people are going to stay at the dealer . . . I think the key is to get on the front foot and be seen by the customer as the safe place to bring their EV or hybrid.”
And that is important, said Brendan, even for those long-standing customers who may still be driving that ‘clapped-out old HiLux.’
“You don't know what they're thinking about for their next vehicle, and you want to make sure that you're going to retain them as a customer . . . I think there are really big opportunities here and we can already have our foot in the door. And by the time the big wave comes and it crashes on the industry itself, you've already learned to swim and you'll be able to prosper.”
“. . . I THINK THE KEY IS TO GET ON THE FRONT FOOT AND BE SEEN BY THE CUSTOMER AS THE SAFE PLACE TO BRING THEIR EV OR HYBRID.”
We all know super pensions give us regular income in retirement. But did you know you can access some of your super before you retire?
A transition to retirement strategy lets you access some of your super before you turn 65 and are still working. This gives you more flexibility and control over how and when you retire. It can also help you boost your super balance in the years before you stop working.
A transition to retirement strategy involves accessing some of your super as an income stream before you stop working.
To get started, you transfer a portion of your super into a new Transition Pension account. Now you have two accounts: your regular super account, where you continue to put any super you earn, and a Transition Pension account that you withdraw money from (super you’ve already saved).
This additional income stream opens up many options for getting the most out of your super before you retire.
There are two common transition to retirement strategies. Which strategy you choose will depend on your financial situation, lifestyle needs and retirement goals.
If you’re not ready to stop working but want more time to ease into retirement, you can use a Transition Pension to supplement your current pay and reduce your work hours. This means you can potentially work fewer hours but still take home the same amount each week.
This option gives you the freedom to dip your toes into retirement without sacrificing your current lifestyle. As a bonus, because you’re still working part-time, your super keeps growing too.
Strategy 2: Boost your super and keep the same take-home pay
If you’ve reached preservation age but want or need to keep working, you can use a Transition Pension to leverage super’s special tax rules to give your retirement savings a boost. This strategy involves salary sacrificing more into super while supplementing your income with regular pension payments. Because salary sacrifice contributions are taxed at only 15% (likely less than your marginal income tax rate) and pension payments are tax-free if you’re over 60, these additional contributions and subsequent tax savings can boost your balance.
This strategy can look complex on paper, but the results are straightforward: same work hours, same income, tax savings and a boost to your super.
No matter your retirement approach, it’s important to understand your goals and find out which pension options will work for you. The best way to do this is to get advice from the super experts.
Spirit Super has a team of qualified super advisers ready to help online, over the phone or in person. This advice comes at no additional cost to members — it’s all part of the Spirit Super service.
Call us on 1800 005 166 to book an appointment today.
This
is general information only and doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision about Spirit Super, you should consider if this information is right for you. Consider the PDS and TMD at spiritsuper.com.au/pds before making a decision about Spirit Super. Issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Advice is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443). Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of investments can rise or fall, and investment returns can be positive or negative.
IF YOU FAIL to plan you are planning to fail” (Benjamin Franklin – circa 1790).
I now dislike that quote. I have used it to open all of my planning sessions with budding entrepreneurs and I always have used it when trying to empower staff to engage in the planning process. There is always a soft groan when it appears in and even an audible and very ironic “really” by some participants. No one is even sure that Benjamin Franklin actually said it, but he is credited with it and as he was an early entrepreneurial genius, he is stuck with it.
The other reason I have come to dislike the quote is that it happens to be true. Given the large number of annual business failures (estimated at between 25 – 30 per cent) that are in part credited to a raft of business planning failures ranging from poor financial planning through to a poorly developed business model, a wellresearched and thought through business plan is often regarded as a business's best chance for survival and growth.
That is why when Rod Camm announced the Transitioning Your Business to an Electrified Future Workshop which included a session on a structured business planning process, I wanted to participate in the process. As an ex-Chair of the MTA Institute, I was involved when MTA Queensland first launched Carmageddon and thought this was a really excellent follow-up initiative by Rod and his team.
I also know through my many years working with the automotive industry as
a consultant and trainer, that business planning in automotive businesses might not be as comprehensive as it could be.
Anyone with the commitment, vision, work ethic and drive to start a business and maintain it in often very challenging economic and regulatory environments, needs all the help and resources they can get. Entrepreneurial skills, character and resilience can only take you so far. There might not be a business plan in an embossed folder sitting on a velvet cushion in the office somewhere, but there is evidence of effective business planning in all successful businesses everywhere you look. The business would fail without it.
Which brings me to my second motivation for writing this piece. A lot of start-up entrepreneurs that I had the privilege of working with were still operating into their fourth quarter despite often having little or no start-up capital – with some even thriving. The reason for their success was that the bedrock for their business idea was their business plan. This was done though a similar planning template to the one presented at the MTA Queensland workshop.
The other clear reason for their success was that we followed up the business plan with a structured business coaching program. The use of coaches supporting business and personal development is a very common practice in the US where Forbes reports that up to 68 per cent of organisations follow up leadership training or workshops with coaching programs to gain the maximum benefit from their training investment. The use of coaching in business in Australia is growing and is a very cost-effective process to improve and help businesses build a plan for growth, or diversification, or even if just to make the business operate more effectively.
The fundamental reason why business coaching works, is that a well-designed coaching program adapts to the unique needs of
the business and can be adapted to your specific needs and challenges. Coaching also helps to provide guidance, objectivity, helps keep the business accountable and is focused on empowering people within the organisation to grow and develop.
I was so impressed by the transitions I witnessed through providing coaching to start-ups, businesses, CEOs and Executives, that two years ago my partners and I transitioned our consulting business, Empresario Group, into a Leadership and Coaching Service.
In support of this initiative by MTA Queensland, Empresario Group are offering a number of pro bono business coaching consults to help automotive businesses in developing their business plans. If this is of interest, you can contact me via my email at ian@theempgroup.com and we can organise a free initial 30-minute consult.
For further details on our Coaching and Leadership services, contact us through our website or our LinkedIn Page for full details on the services we provide.
So if you are a business interested in taking up the business planning challenge as outlined in the MTA Queensland sessions, or just want to develop your business model or strategy and you are a very time-poor and pressured entrepreneur, get a Coach. Its what Benjamin Franklin would have done if he could have found the time to invent coaching.
ANYONE WITH THE COMMITMENT, VISION, WORK ETHIC AND DRIVE TO START A BUSINESS AND MAINTAIN IT IN OFTEN VERY CHALLENGING ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTS, NEEDS ALL THE HELP AND RESOURCES THEY CAN GET.
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, around 80 of the Queensland automotive industry’s most enthusiastic golfers descended on the Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane to take part in the 73rd Motor Trades Golf Day.
Representatives of 24 businesses and organisations made up the 19 teams competing for the title and things swung into action early on a glorious morning as the teams of three to four players battled it out over 18 holes played under Ambrose rules – in which the location of the single best shot from the team is used by all team members for their subsequent shots.
As always, the standard of play was
REPRESENTATIVES OF 24 BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS MADE UP THE 19 TEAMS COMPETING FOR THE TITLE . . .
varied, with the casual players mixing it fearlessly with those who clearly were not strangers to a golf course.
The result would see the team from Springwood Mazda – Ray Stewart, Kevin Cutler, Carl Robinson, and Jason BrettelEvans – snare victory, with the team from Bridgestone Albany Creek – Tom Sparks, Paul Graham, Josh Graham, and Peter Kennedy – taking second place.
While claiming overall victory and the magnificent trophy was the grand prize, there were a couple of other competitions run throughout the day, with Todd Malseed from the Superformance team claiming the Closest to the Pin competition on Hole 3, and Jordan Tua from the Brisbane Car Yard team snaring the win for the same competition on Hole 12.
MTA Queensland’s charity partner Youngcare – which works to ensure young people with physical disabilities can
live a life of choice, independence, and dignity - was also out on the course raising money and hosting a fun game of ‘Hit a marshmallow as far as possible.’
The automotive industry, as it always does, showed its generous spirit, with $2,120 raised over the course of the day.
There is a competitive edge to the Motor Trades Golf Day, but the event is much more than about who gets bragging rights for the year – although that is important, of course! It is also
The team from Springwood Mazda – Kevin Cutler, Ray Stewart, Carl Robinson, and Jason Brettel-Evans – winners of the 73rd Motor Trades Golf Day
about getting members of the automotive industry together for a few hours to let off some steam, enjoy a fun time out on the course and end the day with a good meal, a few drinks and a good deal of laughter. We look forward to doing it all again next year.
MTA Queensland would like to thank our event sponsors for their support of the Motor Trades Golf Day: Capricorn, Western Truck Group, Auto Women, Youngcare, and the Virginia Golf Club.
VIDEO: 73RD MOTOR TRADES GOLF DAY
MTA QUEENSLAND IS leading the effort to tackle the skill shortage in the automotive industry head-on, announcing the launch of a new online job platform to connect local employers with the global labour market.
With the competition to attract and retain talent stronger than ever, MTA Queensland’s Automotive Jobs Queensland platform, developed in partnership with WorkinAUS, will deliver an all-new outlet for automotive employers to put their job openings in front of the domestic and international labour pool at the same time, saving time, money, and reaching a greater audience.
Partnering with WorkinAUS, whose market-leading technology matches thousands of international job seekers to local employers each month, will give employers access to a wide network of industry and Government job boards, while also assisting with recruitment marketing and compliance requirements.
The platform also features advanced technology including built-in video capability, applicant tracking system integration, and AI job tool writing integration, allowing employers to input basic information about the job and a compelling job ad produced within seconds!
For jobseekers, Automotive Jobs Queensland will be the go-to site for skilled workers seeking to further their careers, new-starters looking to enter the industry, and international talent to make Queensland home.
“The ongoing drastic skill and labour shortage that continues to
impact the Australian automotive industry requires an outside-the-box approach to attract new talent pools,” said Rod Camm, MTA Queensland CEO. “As the peak body representing automotive employers in Queensland, we are thrilled to be able to bring this global jobs platform to market to ensure our members have the capability to cast the widest net possible to find and recruit talent.
“With jobs available across the state, the Automotive Jobs Queensland platform will not just advertise jobs, but advertise Queensland as the ideal place to come work and live, creating an ongoing pipeline of experienced candidates for businesses to connect with.
“The platform is innovative, easy to use, and price competitive, and I am optimistic that it will be considered a strong avenue of recruitment going forward.”
The Automotive Jobs Queensland platform is now live, and to celebrate the launch, MTA Queensland members can sign up now for free and receive unlimited job ad posting until 2nd October 2023!
now has a comprehensive guide for our members to assist in protecting themselves against unfair contract terms. With new legislation coming into effect from November 2023 which will see greater penalties imposed on businesses who propose unfair terms during standard form contract negotiations, it is important that small business owners are prepared and equipped with the information necessary to be able to protect themselves.
The Unfair contract terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know guide lays out what exactly unfair contract terms mean, how businesses can be taken advantage of, and what a business can legally do when they have identified unfair contract terms under the new legislation.
Developed and prepared by the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), of which MTA Queensland is a member, and with the help of HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, the guide helps vulnerable business owners recognise unfair contract terms, what they mean for their operations, and what they can do about them, so they don’t find themselves in unequal and untenable situations.
The Treasury Laws Amendment (More Competition, Better Prices) Bill 2022 (Cth), imposing penalties for unfair contract terms, received royal assent on 9 November 2022. The new legislation – which comes into effect on 10 November 2023 – amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 (Cth) to
impose penalties for proposing or relying on unfair contract terms.
Ensuring standard form contracts do not contain any unfair contract terms is now even more important.
MTAA’s guide can assist business owners in all sectors of the automotive industry to ensure they’re ready for the unfair contract terms changes.
“MTAA is proud to produce a revolutionary document consistent with the vision, purpose, and values of MTAA and its members,” said Geoff Gwilym, MTAA CEO.
“Unfair contract terms in the automotive industry: Everything you need to know is the ‘go to guide’ for automotive businesses. It’s easy to read and simple to navigate. There is nothing of its kind on the market.”
The guide features 15 automotive industry sectors, with 41 unfair contract term examples, explained in plain English. The comprehensive information within the guide seeks to simplify complex unfair contract terms legislation to create a usable guide for everyone in the automotive industry.
“MTAA has long held its commitment to the industry to provide information that is relevant and critical to its members’ business success. This is yet another class-leading example,” said Mr Gwilym.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has partnered with Wykes Engineering Ltd to develop one of the largest energy storage systems in the UK to harness solar and wind power using second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries.
A single Wykes Engineering Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) utilises 30 second-life I-PACE batteries and can store up to 2.5MWh of energy at full capacity. The batteries supplied have been taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, and JLR aims to supply enough batteries to store a total of 7.5MWh of energy – enough to power 750 homes for a day – by the end of 2023. After this point, the company says more containers can be created to house additional
second-life batteries removed from used production vehicles. The company says each BESS is capable of supplying power direct to the UK’s National Grid during peak hours and draw power out of the grid during off-peak hours to store for future use.
JLR says it batteries can be deployed in
“WORKING TOGETHER WITH INDUSTRYLEADING PARTNERS, WE ARE DEVELOPING A COMPLETE EV ECOSYSTEM, FROM BATTERIES TO CHARGING, SUPPORTING OUR NET-ZERO TRANSFORMATION.”
low-energy situations once their health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle, which typically leaves a 70-80 per cent residual capacity. Once the battery health falls below the required level for these second-life use cases, JLR will recycle the batteries so that raw materials can be recovered for re-use.
“Our sustainability approach addresses the entire value chain of our vehicles, including circularity of EV batteries,” said François Dossa, Executive Director, Strategy and Sustainability at JLR. “Our EV batteries are engineered to the highest standards and this innovative project, in collaboration with Wykes Engineering, proves they can be safely reused for energy sector application to increase renewable energy opportunities. Using the 70-80 per cent residual capacity in EV batteries, before being recycled, demonstrates full adoption of circularity principles.
“Working together with industry-leading partners, we are developing a complete EV ecosystem, from batteries to charging, supporting our net-zero transformation.”
JLR says it is transforming our business to become carbon net zero across its supply chain, products, and operations by 2039.
CATL (CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX Technology Co. Limited), the giant Chinese battery manufacturer which collaborates with companies including Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and SAIC Motor and many more, has launched Shenxing, a new ‘4C superfast charging’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery it says is capable of delivering 400km of driving range with a 10-minute charge as well as a range of over 700km.
The company says innovations in super electronic network cathode technology, graphite and fast ion ring technology, and a new superconducting electrolyte formula have enabled the creation of Shenxing.
"The future of the EV battery technology must remain steadfastly anchored at the global technology frontier as well as the economic benefits," said Dr. Wu Kai, Chief Scientist of CATL, speaking at the launch event. "As EV consumers shift from pioneering users to ordinary users, we should make advanced technology accessible for all and enable everyone to savour the fruits of innovation."
According to Gao Huan, CTO of CATL's China E-car Business, mass production of Shenxing will be achieved by the end of this year, and electric vehicles equipped with Shenxing will be available on the market in the first quarter of next year.
BMW HAS SHOWCASED the Vision Neue Klasse – its concept for what the next generation of vehicles from the core BMW brand may look like. The Neue Klasse platform, which underpins the concept, promises a future range of vehicles that offer more range, faster charging, more efficiency, and a range of high-tech digital features and functions.
Production models of Neue Klasse cars will be available from 2025. Those will be built at BMW’s plant in Hungary – with production to follow in Munich, China and Mexico -
and be purely electric, fully digitalised and developed with a focus on sustainability. Six models, from sedan to SUV, are
VIDEO: THE BMW VISION NEUE KLASSE
scheduled to be available within 24 months of initial production.
The design of the showcased concept is clean and futuristic, keeping the cues that make a BMW a BMW, but it’s all that goes into making the car – the materials and the tech – that make it something new and so important to the company.
In addition to highly efficient electric motors, BMW says major advances in its eDrive technology include newly developed round battery cells with more than 20 per cent higher energy density than that of the prismatic cells previously used. Sixth generation eDrive tech will improve the charging speed for Neue Klasse models by up to 30 per cent, in addition to boosting range by up to 30 per cent. As a result of these measures, the company says, overall vehicle efficiency will increase by up to 25 per cent.
"30 percent more range, 30 percent faster charging, 25 percent more efficiency - the Neue Klasse represents a major technological leap that will take EfficientDynamics to new heights. The same applies to its design – which could not be any more futuristic," said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. "With the Neue Klasse, we
have embarked on the biggest investment in the company's history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we're writing a whole new book. That's why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations."
Analogue operating controls in Neue Klasse models will be reduced to a minimum with occupant-car interaction taking place through the BMW Panoramic Vision – the vast head-up display that runs the full width of the base of the windscreen and which will be available for the first time in Neue Klasse models - as well as a central display and multifunction buttons on the steering wheel. There’s also voice control via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The new BMW iDrive consolidates data related to the driving experience and infotainment with data from the vehicle's electronics and electrical system and the BMW cloud. Interaction between human and vehicle can, the company said, then be tailored even more closely to the driving situation and individual needs.
Manufacturing will start at BMW’s Decrecen plant in Hungary, with the company saying they will be built without fossil fuels and with much wider use of raw and secondary materials produced with reduced CO2.
WAE TECHNOLOGIES (WAE), the UK-based technology company that grew out of Formula One’s Williams Grand Prix Engineering and is now owned by Australia’s Fortescue mining and energy company, has revealed a new ultra-high performance hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) vehicle platform.
The platform - EVRh - features a lightweight composite structure with the high-performance hydrogen fuel cell and battery system situated in the middle of the vehicle. The company says the platform’s design flexibility enables manufacturers to create multiple configurations from track-only vehicle, where power-to-weight is maximised, to road-going models of both open-roof Targa and fixed-roof GT style.
This is made possible by the architecture’s central tub which has been
technology such as active aerodynamics. The powertrain has a liquid-cooled FCEV battery pack at its core, with EVRh capable of discharging 430kW of power and having 120kW charge power. WAE says it is capable of sub-2.5secs 0-100km/h acceleration. Hydrogen storage is in two tanks with a combined volume of 100 litres enabling a range of 600km. All-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive layouts are supported through multiple e-motor configurations.
WAE says the hydrogen hybrid powertrain brings multiple benefits to manufacturers, enabling an accelerated route to market, with the entire engineering and assembly completed by WAE, significantly reducing time and cost from development to market launch.
WORDS: LARA WILDE
IMAGES: JESSE DONOGHOE, SWEET SPOT PHOTOGRAPHY
The team at LG Auto are madly passionate about performance cars and so it just makes sense that owner Lee has a super mean-looking big, black, street machine around the shop. We recently visited Lee Hernandez to learn all about his Mercedes Benz with a twist.
THERE SHE WAS. Sitting pride of place in the LG Auto workshop driveway. At first glance, from a distance, it is a standard 1970 Mercedes Benz 280SE. Originally sporting a 2.8-litre petrol, inline six-cylinder motor, the Mercedes Benz had a 0-100km/h record time of 10.5 seconds. They were built
“I KNEW THE MERCEDES INSIDE AND OUT, SO I KNEW HOW SOLID THE CAR WAS . . . IT LOOKS GREAT, IT SOUNDS GREAT, AND IT DRIVES GREAT. I HAD TO HAVE HER.”
for comfort, prestige, and luxury; not speed and performance. On a second, much closer glance, you realise that this particular German automobile has changed more than a little in the 53 years since it rolled off the production line.
Satin black paint, some ventilation cut into the bonnet, and a mess of gauges lining the dash and pillar. Stacked headlights with an intake where the lower illuminating beams should be, gun-sight crosshairs where the Mercedes hood ornament used to be, and a pair of shifters that scream Sunday racing not Sunday cruising. She sports a perfect blend of old-school taste and new-school performance.
There’s the original steering wheel with the horn on the inner chrome ring; leather upholstery on big, wide, bum-loving seats that don’t grab at you to make you regret that last McDonalds thick shake; woodgrain trim in the dash that houses original gauges alongside the suite of Autometer diagnostic tools; an original chrome bumper with the decorative front grille replaced to showcase the intercooler making sure that she looks cool in every way.
The bonnet pops open to reveal a serious looking bit of donk. A twin-turbo, 427 cubic inch Dart block is nestled into the engine bay, punching out a respectable
1,200 ponies at the rear wheels. Paired up to a TH400 gearbox and a 9-inch diff, the big Benz has had all of the fruit thrown at it. An engine conversion, a transmission conversion, modified tail shaft, a new diff, a custom exhaust system, a custom bonnet to let the engine goodness breathe, a custom shift and then all of the tuning that the LG Auto house could put into it.
Building a custom street machine like the Mercedes Benz is not a task for the fainthearted. A lot of planning must go into every detail so that it not only looks great but also performs and is reliable. Lee drew on the expertise and skillset of his team at LG Auto to complete the build. What is the biggest lesson the build taught Lee?
“Patience,” he says. “So many times we wanted to finish her but we had to wait to find just the right part to complete the look and make sure she would perform the way we knew she could.”
The Mercedes originally belonged to a customer at LG Auto. A long time ago, Lee was engaged to build the car for the customer. As he always does, he built the car with all of the attention to detail, and care that he gives his own cars. The customer loved the end result and so last year when they decided to sell the Benz and move onto something new, they reached out to Lee to find a buyer.
Lee was that buyer.
“I knew the Mercedes inside and out, so I knew how solid the car was,” he says. “It looks great, it sounds great, and it
drives great. I had to have her.”
Of course, if Lee was to build the Mercedes again knowing now what he didn’t know back then, he would do things slightly differently. The main difference would be a different manifold so that the black beast could run air conditioning.
“Living in Cairns is not possible without air con, and summer cruises would be much more pleasant with some fresh cold air through the vents.”
So, is this a dream car for Lee?
“This is it,” he says. “I love this car. To take my fiancé Teish out to dinner, to cruise on the weekends, or to chill out with friends. This car can do it all.”
But is he done with her or is there more to come?
Lee brings the big Mercedes Benz out on a regular basis for cruises to lunch with friends and local events, but he has plans for her to evolve a little yet.
“I LOVE THIS CAR. TO TAKE MY FIANCÉ TEISH OUT TO DINNER, TO CRUISE ON THE WEEKENDS, OR TO CHILL OUT WITH FRIENDS. THIS CAR CAN DO IT ALL.”
While a 1,200hp weekend cruiser seems like enough for most people, Lee is not satisfied. On the to-do list are larger turbos so the Mercedes can hit the 2,000hp mark.
“I want her to be a weapon that we can take to Power Cruise and have some fun with,” says Lee.
When Lee isn’t behind the wheel of the Mercedes, his garage has plenty of other toys on offer. Sitting behind his roller door at home is a Holden VK Calais with a naturally aspirated LS conversion on nitrous; two LS-swapped Holden VH Commodores, one for the streets and one for skids at burnout competitions; and two Holden VB SLE’s with one set up for drag racing, fully tubbed with a roll cage and a twin-turbo LS, while the other is a Targa-spec street car to compete in Targa Great Barrier Reef.
To tow the toys to events there is a Holden Colorado with a long-range fuel tank, an
upgraded turbo, intercooler, suspension, brakes, and a custom remap to make towing and travelling a breeze. A second tow vehicle parked in the shed is a twinturbo, LS-swapped Dodge Ram with a 10-speed Auto. Lee’s fiancé Teish has a daily driven Ford FG XR6 turbo sedan that is pushing out 1,000hp at the wheels and occasionally drag raced. As a shop truck, there is a Mitsubishi Triton with upgraded suspension and a remap.
Lee lives and breathes cars, and his passion is evident. When he isn’t working on them in the LG Auto shop he is playing with them at home or at an event, towing vehicles to the Northern Territory, Victoria and the ACT to attend competitions and enjoy his love of all things cars. When you spend your days working on some of the best performance cars in Far North Queensland, owning your dream car and cruising in your modified Mercedes is a pleasure.
EVERY AUGUST, THE eyes of the automotive world turn to the small communities of the Monterey Peninsula in California and Monterey Car Week. During those few days, a number of high-profile events – including the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance – are held, and car manufacturers from across the globe take the opportunity to reveal some of their latest concepts and production models. For the most part, those manufacturers are from the premium end of the market,
and the 2023 edition of Monterey Car Week saw an abundance of incredible cars unveiled by carmakers such as Lamborghini, Pininfarina, Ferrari, Zenvo, Lotus, and more. From iconic Italian manufacturers embracing all-electric power to equally iconic American carmakers producing brutally powerful new combustion engine hypercars, there was plenty to keep the automotive enthusiast interested, and across the next few pages we’ve picked out a few of the reveals that caught our eye here at Motor Trader.
UK CARMAKER LOTUS has a fine history in motorsport. Since its founding more than 70 years ago as Lotus Engineering, racing was a focus and found great success in competitions, including Formula One, for decades.
In 1970, the company’s founder, Colin Chapman, looked to enter a company car – the Type 66 - into the then high-profile Can-Am Series in North America. However, Lotus’ success in, and focus on, Formula One meant that the design that Lotus
draughtsman Geoff Ferris came up with never made it into production, and never went beyond technical drawings and scale models.
This year – the 75th since Chapman built his first competition car – Lotus has gone back, dusted off those drawings and premiered the ‘new’ car, confirming the Type 66 track-only racer will go into production. Just 10 examples of this ‘rediscovered and reimagined’ Lotus V8 will be built.
Adorned in heritage-inspired livery, the Type 66 is a retro beauty, and as one of the most exclusive projects Lotus has ever undertaken, it will have a price tag to match - each example will cost in excess of £1million ($AU1.96 million).
The Type 66 has benefitted from more than 50 years of technical progress since it was first sketched, and in order to conform to modern safety standards, the original designs were, Lotus says, ‘delicately reinterpreted.’
New features include a modernised driver compartment, inboard fuel cell, sequential transmission and anti-stall system, and everything is contained in a full carbon fibre bodyshell.
The company says more
than 1000 hours of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) work has gone into the Type 66 program, resulting in downforce in excess of 800kg at 150mph (241km/h). That’s far more than the original underbody design would have been able to manage, Lotus says, enhancing both driver safety and vehicle performance for quicker lap times. Lotus claims that the Type 66 now matches the dynamic performance and lap times of a modern GT3 race car.
At the heart of the Type 66 is a periodrepresentative V8 push-rod engine. It’s mid-mounted and tuned to produce more than 830bhp (619kW). Modern components include a forged crank, rod and pistons, and the there's more than 746Nm og torque being generated.
Other modern features include an EPASS motorsport power steering column, a sequential racing gearbox, a race ABS braking system, an anti-stall multi-plate clutch and a fixed rollover bar.
“The Type 66 perfectly blends the past and present,” said Simon Lane, Executive Director, Lotus Advanced Performance. “It takes drivers back in time, to the iconic design, sound and pure theatre of motorsport more than 50 years ago, with added 21st century performance and safety. This is a truly unique project and in our 75th anniversary year it’s the perfect gift from Lotus to fans worldwide and to a handful of customers.”
LAMBORGHINI – THE ITALIAN supercar manufacturer famed for creating awesome-looking sportscars with uber-powerful engines – unveiled its Lanzador concept at Monterey Car Week. The sleek GT with 2+2 seating is a pure electric beast and is destined to be the first all-electric production Lambo. The Lanzador is an interesting play
NOT QUITE A ROAD-HUGGING
SPORTSCAR NOR A POWERFUL SUV
LIKE THE COMPANY’S URUS MODEL, THE CONCEPT SITS HIGH ON 23-INCH WHEELS, PRESENTING SOMETHING OF A HYBRID BETWEEN THE TWO.
from Lamborghini. Not quite a roadhugging sportscar nor an SUV like the company’s Urus model, the concept sits high on 23-inch wheels and presents as
something of a hybrid between the two. Power and performance are crucial, of course, and the Lanzador has plenty of that. Lamborghini says ‘a high specific power electric motor on each axle ensures permanent all-electric drive in every condition, surface and driving style and a peak power of over one megawatt.’ One megawatt is 1000kW, and 1000kW is 1341hp. No doubt the all-wheel-drive Lanzador is going to have some serious punch.
No comment as yet on the size of the battery pack, but the company adds that ‘energy is provided by a new generation high-performance battery, which also ensures a long range.’
There’s active e-torque vectoring on the rear axle, a newly developed Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo lntegrata (LDVI) driving dynamics control system, active
aerodynamics (including on those massive wheels, where aeroblades work to minimise turbulence), and an active chassis including a steerable rear axle and air suspension.
The interior layout – apparently inspired by jet fighters and spaceships - follows the 'feel like a pilot' design philosophy. There’s a slim and lightweight dashboard and the driver and passenger (pilot and co-pilot in Lamborghini-speak) sit low, separated by a centre console. Positioned within the centre console is a pilot's unit for control of the entertainment system, climate control and new digital functions.
Two large displays sit before the driver and passenger. The driver can switch between different driving modes, including Efficiency and Performance, for the best possible driving dynamics.
The beautiful interior is made almost entirely of sustainable materials. Merino wool dresses the dashboard, seats and door panels, and recycled material and 3D-printed recycled fibres are used, along with regenerated carbon.
There are still plenty of details to come regarding the Lanzador, but this all-electric monster is supposedlt set to appear in production form in 2028.
AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA HAVE been busy. The company responsible for the Battista all-electric supercar have now unveiled the Pura Vision concept – see pages 92 to 96 for that – and this stunner, the B95.
The B95 Barchetta (a word that denotes an open-topped sportscar) is, like the Battista, a brutally powerful machine. It features the same powertrain but with a unique tune – one that enables a 0 to 100km/h sprint somewhere around the two second mark and a top speed of more than 300km/h.
That powertrain features a 120kWh lithium-ion battery, four independent electric motors – one driving each wheel
– and peak power of 1400kW. The liquidcooled, T-shaped battery pack is protected within a strong and lightweight carbon fibre housing and can be charged using DC fast chargers up to 270kW – for a 20-80 per
VIDEO: B95 | EXPLORE THE WORLD’S FIRST HYPER BARCHETTA
THE B95 BARCHETTA (A WORD THAT DENOTES AN OPEN-TOPPED SPORTSCAR) IS, LIKE THE BATTISTA, A BRUTALLY POWERFUL MACHINE.
cent top up in as little as 25 minutes. There are five distinct drive modes that leverage Full Torque Vectoring to enable the driver to tailor power delivery and handling. With no windscreen, you might think driving this car at speed would be a somewhat unpleasant experience, but up front there are two adjustable aero screens – inspired, the company says, by two-wheel motor racing and vintage fighter planesthat can be raised and lowered to move air over the B95 occupants.
Just 10 examples of the B95 are to be built and will be priced from €4.4 million ($AU7.4 million). That’s a pretty decent chunk of cash, but for that money, owners will not only get something rare and special, but a car that can be personalised in all manner of ways, making it unique.
The example revealed at Monterey is finished in metallic Bronzo Superga along with a Giallo Arneis gloss section at the front and atop the driver’s dome, which also features Black Gloss ‘95’ lettering. The body finish combines gold metallic flakes which Pininfarina says makes the accents appear gold in texture and colour during the day and gives them a bronze hue at night. There are forged aluminium, Matt Black wheels – 20-inch up front and 21-inch at the rear. The interior features carbon fibre, leather with bespoke embossing, aluminium, and houndstooth trim. It’s pretty impressive and one can only wonder what unique ideas owners will apply to their own B95.
BACK IN 2020, Maserati revealed the MC20 supercar, a quite beautiful sports car powered by a new Maserati-built engine called the Nettuno – the first in-house engine from the company in 20 years. A 470kW (630hp) V6 twin-turbocharged unit, the Nettuno delivers on performance with the MC20 tickling the 0-100 km/h time at 2.9
.
. . THE ITALIAN MANUFACTURER HAS UNLEASHED THE MCXTREMA –A SINGLE-SEATER (A PASSENGER SEAT IS OPTIONAL), TRACK-ONLY RACING CAR THAT USES A NETTUNO-DERIVED ENGINE THAT PUMPS OUT 540KW (730HP).
seconds and reaching a top speed over 325km/h.
Now, the Italian manufacturer has unleashed the MCXtrema – a single-seater (a passenger seat is optional), track-only racing car that uses a Nettuno-derived
engine that pumps out 540kW (730hp).
That power is paired with a racing set-up that includes motorsport double-wishbone suspension, a carbon racing braking system, 18-inch forged aluminium wheels with centre lock fixing, a six-speed sequential racing gearbox with a racing clutch and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and rear-wheel drive with a limited-slip mechanical self-locking differential.
As a track-only sports car, there is plenty of aerodynamic bling on the MCXtrema, all aimed at delivering plenty of downforce and making the car as slippery as an eel. There are air scoops, vents, splitters, channels, a central fin, and a
whopping adjustable wing at the rear – all designed to deliver on grip, cooling, and speed. The monocoque chassis is made of ultralight carbon fibre and everything is aimed to keep the car as close to the track as possible.
Inside, the racing ambitions of the MCXtrema are just as apparent.
The MCXtrema’s cockpit includes a racing seat with 6-point belts and roll cage (both FIA-homologated). There are also additional safety nets, a fire extinguisher and integrated safety roof hatch.
There’s an adjustable pedal box and steering column, a field-of-view and rear-view camera display that have also been designed according to a track-only approach, and access to different settings - from steering calibration to traction control levels, from brake balance to engine strategies – are, Maserati says, immediately accessible for the driver.
Only 62 of the MCXtrema are to be produced and at a reported $AU1.9 million per unit, only well-heeled Maserati enthusiasts need apply. Actually, they already have – Maserati says that all 62 have already been snapped up.
FORD HAS REVEALED an extra-beefy, pumped-up variant of its iconic Mustang. A bulging-biceps version of one of the world’s most iconic muscle cars, the new, limited-edition model, dubbed the GTD, is an ultra high-performance variant boasting some big performance and power figures. Ford says it is built to be the quickest road-going Mustang ever.
Inspired by the Mustang GT3 race car, the road-legal GTD was designed and engineered as a collaboration between Ford and Canadian engineering company Multimatic - which developed the Mustang GT3 and Mustang GT4 – and it sports a mostly carbon-fibre body, underneath which is a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 delivering 597kW (800hp) of power to the rear wheels.
Active aerodynamics – including a monster, hydraulically controlled active rear wing - delivers some serious downforce, and enormous grip is offered from huge tyres mounted to a dual ride height short-long arm front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes
deliver the stopping power and there’s a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle and lightweight carbon fibre driveshaft for near 50/50 weight distribution.
The Mustang GTD features technology new to Ford with Variable Traction Control in track mode. This allows the driver to push the limits of the car by modulating engine output and traction control intrusiveness. Adjustments can be made without taking hands off the wheel.
INSPIRED BY THE MUSTANG GT3 RACE CAR, THE ROAD-LEGAL GTD WAS DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED AS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN FORD AND CANADIAN ENGINEERING COMPANY MULTIMATIC ...VIDEO: MAKING MUSTANG HISTORY | FORD
The cabin features are finished in premium materials including Miko suede paired with leather and carbon fibre. Displays are digital. There are Recaro seats, 3D-printed titanium paddle shifters, and rotary dial shifter. The rear seating area has been removed to reduce weight.
Ford says the Mustang GTD will be available with multiple interior colour combinations and in several special option packages. It can also be ordered in any colour, including a colour matched to a customer-provided sample. These customisable options allow buyers to create a really unique vehicle.
One goal that Ford has set for the GTD is a sparkling sub-7-minute Nurburgring
time – which would see it muscling up into hypercar-time territory. That would be quite an achievement.
“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fibre Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
Production of the Mustang GTD will be limited, and it is scheduled to be available toward the end of 2024 and into 2025. Ford says the price will likely be somewhere around $US300,000 ($AU468,500).
YOU MIGHT NOT think of Denmark as a hotbed of hypercar creation, but Zenvo, founded in the small town of Præstø in 2007, has been plugging away in that rarified market with potent low-production sportscars such as the ST1, TS1 and TSR models. On the eve of Monterey Car Week, the Danish company revealed a brace of hypercar models – the Aurora Agil and the Aurora Tur.
Both models are built on an all-new ZM1 modular carbon composite monocoque design, with that composite material also used for sub frames and body panels. The Tur is designed as a Grand Tourer, while the Agil has a focus on track driving.
Powering both two-seater Aurora models is a hybrid set-up that pairs a centrally located and whopping 932kW (1250bhp)
6.6-litre, quad-turbocharged V12 engine with a lightweight electric motor system that generates up to an extra 447kW (600bhp) depending on the drivetrain configuration.
The rear wheel-drive system in the Agil features a single integrated electric motor, while the four-wheel-drive set upstandard on the Tur and optional on the Agil – adds a further electric motor to each of the front wheels. In the Agil, combined system output comes in at 1081kW (1450bhp) and 1400Nm. In the Tur, those numbers get a juicy bump up to 1380kW (1850hp) and 1700Nm. Astonishing.
Fitted with a seven-speed hybridised gearbox, there’s an electric reverse and engine start in place of a traditional start
ZENVO SAYS PRODUCTION OF BOTH AURORA MODELS WILL COMMENCE IN 2025, WITH EACH MODEL HAND-BUILT AT THE COMPANY HQ IN DENMARK.Aurora Tur Aurora Agil
motor. The transmission includes an e-differential.
All that power pushes along the lightweight cars – 1300kg for the Agil and 1450kg for the Tur – to quite jaw-dropping performance numbers. Zenvo claims the track-focused Agil can reach 100km/h in 2.5 seconds and scorch to a top speed of 365km/h. The Tur, meanwhile, can steam to 100km/h in 2.3 seconds and top out at 450km/h.
“The Aurora project is best described as an equilibrium of extremes,” said Jens Sverdrup, Chairman of the Board & Chief Commercial Officer. “Throughout the development phases, we have been very clear that we did not want to be chasing specific numbers or lap times, as this can then cause a distraction or compromise when it comes to other areas.
“However, what was important was the drive to push the Aurora to be on the leading edge of what could be achieved through pushing each element to the maximum in synchronisation with the others. We just wanted to build an uncompromised drivers’ car, which delivered on every level, but without any one aspect negatively impacting another.”
Zenvo says production of both Aurora models will commence in 2025, with each model hand-built at the company HQ in Denmark.
VIDEO: ZENVO AURORA
WHEN CONSIDERING OFFROAD-CAPABLE SUVs, there are plenty of brands and models from which the Australian consumer can choose. Recently, a new name – the Mahindra Scorpio – popped up onto the list and thanks to the kind souls at the Brisbane City Mahindra dealership, Motor Trader was given the opportunity to test it out over the course of a few days. The result? If given the chance by curious potential buyers, the Scorpio should be a winner. Built on Mahindra’s latest body-on-frame platform, and sporting the company’s 4XPLOR 4x4 system, the Scorpio – which is available in two variants, the Z8 and the range-topping Z8L – has been lauded for its off-road abilities. There’s a suspension setup comprising double wishbone at the front and Watt’s link at the rear, and the
4WD system is shift-on-the-fly between 2H and 4H, has a low-range transfer case, and a self-locking mechanical rear differential and a brake-locking differential.
Power for both the Z8 and Z8L comes from a 2.2-litre mHawk four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 129kW of power and 400Nm of torque. That power is channelled through a six-speed auto transmission and by most accounts, the Scorpio’s 4WD abilities make it a serious contender for those looking for an SUV to carry them on more adventurous travels. That engine, by the way, is Euro 6b emission compliant and uses DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid, aka AdBlue).
Motor Trader will, hopefully, get the chance to test those off-road credentials at a later date - perhaps when an updated version of the Scorpio arrives sometime before early
Brisbane City Mahindra dealership2025 – so, in the meantime, we’ll take a look at what other features and functions the handsome new SUV has to offer.
And there is plenty here to like, although, for the moment, not everything one might expect.
First up is styling and design, and the Scorpio is a dead-set winner here. At 4662mm long, 1917mm wide, and 1857 tall, it is not the biggest of large SUVs, but it looks the part, and the styling is smart –
including some tidy 18-inch wheels – and sufficiently different from its rivals to make it stand out from the crowd.
On the inside, the six-seat layout and cabin fit-out is top-notch. The chocolate and black two-tone trim is very nice indeed and materials are a mix of soft leatherette and hard plastic. It works well and feels kind of premium. The same leatherette material wraps the steering wheel, which is chunky and nice to the touch and has firm-to-use buttons and roll-switches, which are nice.
The driver’s seat in the Z8L is powered and there’s plenty of adjustment available, including lumbar support, and the seating position offers a commanding viewpoint. Seats are comfortable and are arranged with the second row as Captain’s Chairs which tumble forward when required. There’s plenty of leg room here. The third row is a bit tighter for adults and is a more familiar two-seat set-up. Behind that third row, is a little bit of space for storage.
Talking of storage and space, the Scorpio’s seating set-up means when folded there isn’t a flat floor, which is a touch awkward. The third-row seats can be removed completely, however.
Up front for the driver, things are set-up logically and are simple to use. In the Z8L there’s a digital info display with speed and rev gauges that will show info such as fuel
economy, DEF level, tyre pressures, digital speed and more. There’s also an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. In the Z8L there’s wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which we found a breeze to set up, and a camera system offering front and rear view. There’s a tyre pressure monitoring system, parking sensors (front and rear on the Z8L) and the top model also gets a pretty good Sony 12-speaker audio system. Also fitted are USB charging and data ports.
Down the centre stack, below the infotainment display, there are knobs and buttons to control various functions, a wireless charging tray for your phone, a leatherette-covered gear selector and a 4WL/4WH and drive mode selector.
Also here is a physical handbrake – a nice change from the push-button control seen on many new cars these days. There’s also a button here that allows the driver to turn off the start/go function which, for this driver anyway, was a big plus.
What isn’t here are some of the driver
assistance features that many a modern vehicle receives. There’s Electronic Stability Control, Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control, ABS and EBD, Parking Sensors, the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and not much else. The thing is, at least for this driver, that wasn’t an issue. Having driven other cars fully stocked with such assistance systems, driving one without the nudging or warning from a lane keeping system or driver attention alert was a not a problem. However, time and regulations will dictate that future models must have a suite of driver assistant features and they will come to the Scorpio.
Driving the Scorpio is a real pleasure. The steering is light and responsive, the
turbo diesel pumps out enough grunt to keep you happy, and cruising the highway is effortless and comfortable. Maximum braked towing is 2500kg and unbraked is up to 750kg. Mahindra claims fuel economy a 7.2 litre per 100km combined.
Pricing for the Scorpio comes in at $41,990 drive away for the Z8, and $45,990 for the Z8L, and it comes with a sevenyear/150,000km warranty, which makes the offroader very attractive. Driver assistance features or not, it just makes sense to put the Scorpio on the list of options when considering what 4x4 you should be checking out.
. . . THE SCORPIO – WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN TWO VARIANTS, THE Z8 AND THE RANGE-TOPPING Z8L – HAS BEEN LAUDED FOR ITS OFF-ROAD ABILITIES.
HYUNDAI HAS UNVEILED its new, fifth-generation Santa Fe, and the sparkling new model is quite a departure – as Hyundai itself says, the large SUV has been ‘radically transformed.’
It’s big, boxy and bold in the styling stakes with an angular design, long wheelbase, short overhangs, prominent wheel arches, high bonnet, and H-shaped headlamps joined via a light bar across its front. The flat rear-end, with its large tailgate, has the same H-style design for its lights and there are some very smart-looking, 21-inch wheels rounding out the look.
The interior has a premium look, stacked with features. There’s a panoramic curved display that includes a 12.3-inch
IT’S BIG, BOXY AND BOLD IN THE STYLING STAKES WITH AN ANGULAR DESIGN, LONG WHEELBASE, SHORT OVERHANGS, PROMINENT WHEEL ARCHES, HIGH BONNET, AND H-SHAPED HEADLAMPS JOINED VIA A LIGHT BAR ACROSS ITS FRONT.
digital cluster and infotainment system, a 6.6-inch climate control display, digital rear-view mirror, dual wireless charging for smartphones, USB-C charge ports, and even a UV-C sterilization tray on top of the glove compartment that can be used to sterilize items such as a phone or wallet.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Clever touches include a ‘bi-lateral multiconsole storage space’ that can be opened by both front and rear passengers.
Hyundai says over-the-air (OTA) updates will be available to maintain vehicle systems with the latest software.
Second and third-row seats are fully foldable with the Santa Fe’s larger and longer size - now 4,830mm long by 1,900mm wide by 1720mm tall
(without roof rack) with a wheelbase of 2,815mm - offering more space and more legroom, while eco-friendly materials, including recycled plastic and ecofriendly leatherette, are used throughout the interior on elements such as the headliners, mats, seatbacks and coverings. In most markets, the new Santa Fe will be available in 10 exterior colours, including Abyss Black Pearl, Creamy White
The interior has a premium look, stacked with features
Pearl, Creamy White Matte, Typhoon Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Ocado Green Pearl, Terracotta Orange, Cyber Sage Pearl, Earthy Brass Metallic Matte and Pebble Blue Pearl.
Hyundai says the Santa Fe will be available with a host of safety and driver assistance features, with Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Rear View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Front/Rear Parking Distance Warning, Surround View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Smart Cruise Control and driver attention and monitoring systems amongst them.
The Santa Fe will get a variety of powertrain options depending on the market (it’s not yet clear which will be available in Australia). Those powertrains include a petrol 2.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 207kW and 422Nm; a 1.6-litre petrol turbocharged hybrid with 132kW and 265 Nm; a 1.6-litre petrol turbocharged plug-in hybrid delivering 118kW and 265 Nm; and a 2.5-litre petrol engine delivering 143 kW and 246Nm.
The all-new Santa Fe model is expected to go on sale in Australia in the first half of 2024.
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RENAULT’S MEGANE E-TECH EV60 is now available to order. The all-electric compact crossover is built on the CMF-EV platform and is powered by a system combining a 160kW/300Nm electric motor with four levels of regenerative braking and a 60kWh battery.
Renault claims a range of 454km (WLTP) with recharging possible via a domestic socket, a 7kW wall box, public AC power charging stations, and DC fast chargers up to 130kW. The latter delivers up to around 300km of range in 30 minutes. Renault claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.4 seconds
The interior includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster combined with a 9-inch infotainment display, wireless charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone replication. Interior ambient lighting can be set to automatically change colour throughout the day or can be set to one of 48 lighting colour options.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) include automatic emergency braking with junction assist that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, and emergency lane keeping assist with oncoming traffic and road-edge detection. Also available are traffic sign recognition, hill start assist, driver drowsiness alert, distance warning alert and adaptive cruise control. A smart rear-view mirror uses a camera located at the top of the rear window to display a real-time view of the road behind.
An ambition to be environmentally friendly and a leader in sustainability sees the E-Tech EV60 fitted with a motor
containing no rare earths, and the use of recycled aluminium panels and recycled material throughout. On the inside, the dashboard is topped with a recycled textile finish, while the seat upholstery is 100 per cent recycled.
The Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 is priced from $64,990, and has a 5-year/100,000km warranty and 8-year/160,000km battery warranty.
THIS IS THE Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, a jaw-dropping new supercar from the Italian manufacturer that harks back to one of its glorious earlier models while also offering cutting-edge modern technology.
Design-wise, the sleek and curvaceous
model is very reminiscent of the wonderful 33 Stradale that appeared in 1967 (surely one of the most beautiful cars ever conceived) but what lies beneath that slinky exterior is totally different.
For a start, the new 33 Stradale - of which
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
just 33 units are to be made – will be available with either a twin-turbo V6 with eight-speed DCT gearbox, rear-wheel drive and electronic limited-slip differential churning our 462kW; or a battery-electric set-up delivering 560kW. There aren’t so many details around that battery-electric system, although the company does say range will be 450km.
Performance is predictably outstanding for both variants. Alfa Romeo says
both can hit 333km/h and accelerate to 100km/h in under three seconds.
The new 33 Stradale is built on an H-frame made of aluminium with a monocoque made of carbon fibre. The roof structure has been engineered in carbon fibre and aluminium with specially developed hinges for the butterfly doors. Window frames are also carbon fibre.
The 33 Stradale adopts a dual-arm suspension with active shock absorbers and semi-virtual steering on both the front and rear axles. Alfa Romeo says this tech provides optimum control of the steering wheel and the highest degree of steering precision, while also delivering great handling in all driving conditions.
A front axle lift enables the lifting of the front when passing obstacles to avoid damage to the bodywork. This can be activated via the central console when
PERFORMANCE IS PREDICTABLY OUTSTANDING FOR BOTH VARIANTS. ALFA ROMEO SAYS BOTH CAN HIT 333KM/H AND ACCELERATE TO 100KM/H IN UNDER THREE SECONDS.
driving under 40km/h and sees the hydraulic system raise the front axle by 50cm.
Drive modes include ‘Pista’ mode –which acts on the gearbox, traction control and power to maximise acceleration by avoiding wheel slippage - and ‘Strada’ mode, which is more road-focused. Braking comes via a brake-by-wire system with carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo. There’s a six-piston caliper set-up in the front, with a four-piston set-up at the rear. Interiors are, Alfa Romeo says, minimalistic and designed for the greatest possible engagement in the driving experience. Directly ahead of the driver is a display while the steering wheel is devoid of all its usual buttons. Controls are instead located at different levels in the low centre console and in the central lining on the inside of the roof.
The aviation-inspired dashboard and
DRIVE MODES INCLUDE ‘PISTA’
MODE – WHICH ACTS ON THE GEARBOX, TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER TO MAXIMISE ACCELERATION BY AVOIDING
WHEEL SLIPPAGE - AND ‘STRADA’ MODE, WHICH IS MORE ROAD-FOCUSED.
upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather.
As with many low-production, highly valued supercars, the 33 Stradale can be customised, and therefore each will be unique. What those customisation choices will be for each of those units is, presumably, already decided as all of them have been bought. No word on what the 33 Stradale cost, but one can assume it would
Toyota HiLux Revo BEV
says, to take part in testing and evaluation to help further the development of alternative powertrain technologies.
Electrification was also evident in the display of a production HiLux and pre-production version of the all-new LandCruiser Prado, both fitted with 48-Volt Technology.
The 48-Volt Technology is combined with the 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission and comprises an additional 48-Volt battery, small electric motorgenerator and other components to help reduce fuel consumption. Both vehicles are due to launch in Australia in 2024 and the pre-production Prado prototype is being used for testing.
Another vehicle on display was the full-size hybrid Tundra pick-up. The Tundra is a full-size dual cab pickup featuring a hybrid 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 that generates 326kW of power and 790Nm of
Toyota HiLux GR Sport
Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series
Toyota LandCruiser Prado
Toyota C-HR GR Sport
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota HiLux
IT WAS A recordbreaking month for new vehicle sales in August with Australian customers taking delivery of 109,966 new vehicles, a 15.4 per cent increase on the same period in 2022.
Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed sales across every State and Territory increased compared with August 2022, with Queensland recording a 7.8 per cent increase (23,049). The Australian Capital Territory achieved 21.5 per cent (1,713) growth; New South Wales was up 13.6 per cent (34,655); South Australia 21.9 per cent (6,952); Tasmania 14.4 per cent (1,843); Victoria 16.3 per cent (29,126); Western Australia 32.5 per cent (11,637) and the Northern Territory was up 21.4 per cent (991).
Toyota was the highest selling marque with 22,321 sales. Mazda followed with 8,458 then Ford (7,898), Hyundai (6,513) and Kia (6,510).
The Toyota Hi-Lux was the top selling vehicle recording 5,762 sales. It was followed by Ford Ranger (5,760), Toyota RAV4 (3,317), Isuzu Ute D-Max (3,281) and MG ZS (3,193).
“The Australian automotive sector continues to demonstrate its strength, with August recording unprecedented sales figures, reflecting both a high level of demand from Australians and improved supply of vehicles,” said Tony Weber, FCAI Chief Executive.
“Year-to-date sales have increased 9.9 per cent which is a better indicator of the underlying strength of the market,” he added.
Electric vehicles accounted for 6.4 per cent of sales and hybrid vehicles accounted for 10.5 per cent in August.
"As consumers continue to embrace low-emission technologies we are seeing growth in electric, plug-in and hybrid vehicle sales. More than 1 in 6 vehicles sold in the month of August featured low emissions technologies.”
The Passenger Vehicle Market was down by 661 vehicle sales (-3.3 per cent) over the same month last year, while the Sports Utility Market was up by 13,742 (28.3 per cent); the Light Commercial Market was up by 1,559 vehicle sales (6.9 per cent) and the Heavy Commercial Vehicle Market was up by 70 vehicle sales (1.7 per cent) versus August 2022.
TOYOTA WAS THE HIGHEST SELLING MARQUE WITH 22,321 SALES. MAZDA FOLLOWED WITH 8,458 THEN FORD (7,898),HYUNDAI (6,513) AND KIA (6,510). Image: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com
ARECENT CASE HIGHLIGHTED the perils of litigating hurt feelings. The case started with allegations that workplace disagreements were racebased insults.
Having convinced herself of her own interpretations, the claimant built upon mostly unremarkable workplace events, “to cast them in a most nefarious light”.
During her employment as a sales consultant, the employee came to her own understanding that she was not well liked or especially popular by her colleagues. She became incredulous that this might be because of her personality.
Allegations were made against various staff members, later accusing the employer of failing to prevent staff members behaviour towards her and therefore was vicariously liable for their conduct. The workplace was found to be genuinely diverse, multicultural and multiracial, tolerant and respectful where reasonable steps were taken
to address concerns raised. The evidence showed the employee herself had limited courtesy or etiquette towards others including usurping the sales of other staff.
The Federal Court judge concluded the employee herself had contributed to her own plight in the workplace, where the litigation initiated after she ended the employment was centred on her unhappiness at not being liked. The Judge said there was no evidence the employer created a "hostile working environment" for the employee, "albeit she may have created that for herself by her approach to sales, and a general demeanour whereby she frequently took umbrage at the predominantly anodyne actions or comments of her colleagues". Thus the claim failed.
The content in these articles is only general advice. It is advisable to seed the independent advice of relevant experts. MTA Queensland’s Workplace Relations advisory services help business in investigations and disciplinary matters. Ph 07 3237 8777 to find out more.
US closer to achieving our quality agenda. Earlier in the year I spoke about the growth of our apprenticeship numbers for the FY2022/23 (2500+) and, like all employers, we’re not immune to growth pains and recruitment challenges.
I can happily report we’ve successfully recruited several new trainers throughout Queensland to assist in the mammoth task of supporting all our students through their skilling journey.
In addition to having more trainer/ assessors in the field, we are reviewing our fleet of vehicles and moving from mostly sedans to vans. Vans will allow us to bring all we need to your workplace and ensures our trainers are fully kitted out and have all they require to successfully complete the training objectives in both a theoretical and practical sense.
The end of August saw us complete another pre-vocational group who are now prepped and job ready with the next group commencing in early October.
September saw us mobilise our Electric Vehicle Skill Set training into Far North Queensland (Cairns). I’d like to thank both the crew from Cairn Customs
for hosting us and providing their fantastic facilities for the duration, and our local trainer, Antony Joslin, for supporting our EV guru Keith Minchin in delivering the course. As EVs become more prevalent, we’ll look at mobilising the training into more regional parts of Queensland.
Bye for now.
“I CAN HAPPILY REPORT WE’VE SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED SEVERAL NEW TRAINERS THROUGHOUT QUEENSLAND TO ASSIST IN THE MAMMOTH TASK OF SUPPORTING ALL OUR STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR SKILLING JOURNEY.”
THE 2023 QUEENSLAND Training
Awards were held in Brisbane on September 9th, and on an evening which showcased the work in vocational education and training (VET) across the state - and honoured apprentices, trainees, vocational students, teachers and trainers, training providers, and employers across a range of award categories - two finalists with close ties to MTA Queensland were announced as winners and will now move forward as finalists for their respective caategories at the national Australian Training Awards, to be held in November.
Gabrielle Clift, a name likely to be very familiar to MTA Queensland members, was presented with the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year title.
It has been an amazingly successful few years for Gabrielle, who won both the MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year award, and the Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year award in 2020. Today, after completing her light vehicle apprenticeship at Highfields Mechanical near Toowoomba and her training with the MTA Institute, Gabrielle works for the renowned Triple Eight Race Engineering outfit in Brisbane.
Interviewed after receiving her award, Gabrielle was typically modest about her success, praising her fellow finalists, voicing her support for VET training, and sending out an encouraging word for those who were finding things a little tough.
“I am so shocked to be honest. I came here tonight thinking I’ve done well to be
a finalist for the state and the fact they have just read my name out – I’m still a bit like ‘How did this happen?’, she said.
“I am so honoured that I received the award and from here on it’s dedication to the trade, and it’s dedication to getting people into trades or vocational training – that is my goal.
“I truly am passionate about what I do and I know some days they can be rough and some days you think ‘Why do I do this?’, but after every step down you get back up, you keep trying and you keep fighting, and it is all worth it . . . [this award] is proof that this is what I am meant to do, this is why I am here.
Asked about her training organisation, Gabrielle had a nice word to say about MTA Queenland too.
“MTAQ were phenomenal. They were willing to keep testing me . . . and whenever I fired a question of ‘Why?’ they helped me search the answer.
“I think it is incredibly important for anyone who is trying to get into a technical field such as being a mechanic, you always have to push, push, push. You can’t just settle for ‘this is how it is’, you’ve got to find out why it does it and if you can improve it or make it better . . . They encouraged me, given me opportunities – I am a mentor for the MTAQ Auto Women group - and given me the ability to inspire others and to support others, so they are a huge part of the success.”
Being a committee member and mentor for MTA Queensland’s Auto Women
initiative (which works to provide a supportive environment for women working across the automotive industry to network and grow) is a role Gabrielle has in common with a number of other successful women, including Andrea McCarthy from McCarthy Panel Works in Mackay which claimed the Small Employer of the Year crown at this year’s Queensland Training Awards.
The business was founded more than 50 years ago, with Andrea and husband Craig now running the collision repair shop and receiving the award for their dedication to train and upskill the next generation to strengthen the panel repair industry. That dedication has seem them support 31 apprentices over the years and McCarthy Panel Works continues to support its community and the industry
through partnerships, mentoring, and training programs, and offers extended training to technicians to bridge the gap between apprentice learning and new technologies.
Andrea, who is also an MTA Queensland Board member and Chair of the Association’s National Auto Collision Alliance, was thrilled to receive such a prestigious award and was looking forward to the opportunities that the national awards will present.
“It is very exciting and a shock to win, and at the national awards in November we get to do some seminars and group experiences which will help with leadership and things like that. It’s essentially a week-long event with the awards night at the end and, for me, it is about raising awareness of VET training. Any avenue in which I can do that is worthwhile.”
Asked why McCarthy Panel Works won the award, Andrea pointed out the diversity within her business and her mission to help people reach their potential.
“For the State Government, we are a diverse employer,” she said. “We have people with disabilities - although I don’t see them as having a disability necessarily, it just means a different way of looking at
“I AM SO HONOURED THAT I RECEIVED THE AWARD AND FROM HERE ON IT’S DEDICATION TO THE TRADE, AND IT’S DEDICATION TO GETTING PEOPLE INTO TRADES OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING . . .Gabrielle Clift, MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year winner in 2020 and now working with Triple Eight Race Engineering, was named the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Queensland Training Awards
what that person can bring to the table –and of different cultures in the workshop.
“It’s about how inclusive we can be with the people we have and how we can extend their role beyond what they may have initially seen. I am hopeful that this is the area we can expand . . . for me personally and for our business it’s about trying to raise everyone up and show that they have a place where they can grow.”
“It is great to see McCarthy Panel Works take home an award this year for their exceptional support of their employees and their community and I hope this will inspire more of our local students and employers to pursue their goals through vocational education and training,” said Julieanne Gilbert MP, Member for Mackay and the Assistant Minister for Education for the Queensland Government.
Minister for Training and Skills Development, Di Farmer MP, also congratulated the award winners, noting the strong presence of women amongst the finalists.
“These Awards highlight how the Palaszczuk Government is helping to strengthen our local communities – providing great training and keeping jobs local,” she said.
“In the individual award categories, we honoured trailblazing women – who are forging careers and driving change in male-dominated industries.
“We’ve also recognised outstanding teachers and employers, whose enthusiasm, advice and encouragement are helping to grow Queensland’s skilled workforce.
“These annual awards are not only an important celebration for the training sector, but a reminder of the many people who contribute to our success, and who are helping to address workforce shortages across the regions.”
While Gabrielle and McCarthy Panel Works were honoured with the top prizes in their category, other MTA Queensland members also performed brilliantly to be finalists at the Queensland Training Awards. R.H.D Classic Supplies and Services of Townsville, owned and run by Sharine Milne (aka Spanner), was a finalist in the Small Employer of the Year category; while RGM Maintenance of Rockhampton was a finalist in the Medium Employer of the Year category.
MTA Queensland congratulates all for their outstanding work and contribution to our industry.
“IT’S ABOUT HOW INCLUSIVE WE CAN BE WITH THE PEOPLE WE HAVE AND HOW WE CAN EXTEND THEIR ROLE BEYOND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE INITIALLY SEEN.”
MTA Queensland will represent you to state and federal governments on BIG issues affecting your business and the industry. We represent service stations, new & used car dealers, tyre businesses, paint & panel, repairers, parts recyclers, engine re-conditioners, farm & industrial machinery businesses, motorcycle sales and rental vehicles, so can actively espouse direct industry perspective.
Receive FREE expert advice on Workplace Relations matters & Consumer Complaint Support. Access a website building service and, through the Member Portal, information regarding wages & awards, health & safety, public holidays and more. There also is a FREE-to-use online Jobs Board platform, and discounted products available through the online MTA Queensland shop.
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Our corporate partners offer a wide range of services & benefits, including banking, insurance, payment options, legal advice, and advice on workplace health & safety compliance Library of online business resources and templates Weekly industry bulletin Webinar and micro-credential program (coming soon). FREE Jobs Board Discounts on stationery & workshop products Monthly subscription to the Motor Trader e-magazine Regular specials & discounts
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The 22-year-old is in the third year of his auto-electrical apprenticeship and works for Kinetic Fleet Services in Mackay, which services and maintains the buses and coaches for the Kinetic transport fleet in the region.
Jack started his career as a technical assistant at Greyhound Resources – a transport business focused on the mining sector - in Brisbane before moving to that company’s workshop in Mackay to start his apprenticeship. Kinetic would subsequently acquire that company in 2021 with Jack continuing his training with the new company.
2023 has been an interesting year for Jack, with Kinetic –Australia and New Zealand’s biggest bus operator – bringing two all-electric buses to its Mackay routes earlier this year. As an auto-electrical apprentice, that has given Jack the opportunity to get a close look at the technology that will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry, and he has already been able to travel to China to visit the factory of the vehicle manufacturer, Yutong, for a week-long training program.
“When the buses turned up, the question around the workshop was who was going to work on them?” said Jack. “I kept asking whether I could get high-voltage training so I could work on them and out of the blue I got a call from the boss saying would I like to go to China to the Yutong factory in Zhengzhou.
“There were 11 people in total on that trip – including four, I think, from Kinetic in Sydney and the Gold Coast – and I was the only person from Mackay.
“We did the factory tour and completed some theory work, and they showed us everything – from the battery packs and how they worked, how they were wired, the buses and how they
operate and even the air con side.”
The result of his trip is that Jack is keen and ready to go to work on the technology – once the brand-new buses actually require some maintenance and service – with any worries he might once have had about high-voltage work now a thing of the past.
“I really wanted to do it, but I was nervous,” he said. “However, now I have done it and I know, for example, what wire does what and so on, it is actually pretty simple. It is exciting to be at the forefront of it.”
Jack’s interest in the electrical side of automotive started at a young age. He was, he said, always interested in how wiring and electricity could make things work.
“I just like wires!” he said. “I used to get those kits from Jaycar that you’d have to solder together. I’d buy them and tinker about with them and then, when I was older, I would be doing stuff on the Subaru that I had at the time, and so on.”
It’s an interest that will be extremely useful as the industry – from two-wheel scooters to the heaviest of heavy goods vehicles – shifts to an all-electric, battery-powered future.
“It’s the way things are going. Everything is going electric, and this is one of the trades to be in – there’s certainly a future in that trade,” said Jack.
For the moment, Jack will continue to train to service and maintain Kinetic’s bus and coach fleet – including those two new electric buses when they require it – and do the jobs that come his way in the workshop. As well as the regular electrical upkeep of the fleet, those jobs include installs, which he particularly enjoys, of items such as camera, tracking, driver fatigue monitoring, and digital UHF systems.
Always looking to increase his knowledge and skills, Jack is aware that working for a major national company such as Kinetic can offer plenty of opportunities to train and establish a long career just about anywhere in Australia.
“High-voltage systems is what I am leaning towards working on, but being able to work on diesel and electric buses means you can go anywhere, and Kinetic have locations across the country.”
• Are you employing an apprentice who is excelling in the workplace?
• Do you have a high-achieving apprentice colleague?
• Are they training with MTA Institute?
If the answer is ‘yes’, then nominate them for the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month Award.
MANY MTA QUEENSLAND members will know the name Anthony Bonaccorso. A mainstay of the Association and the MTA Institute, Anthony has been part of the family for nearly two decades but is now moving on to a new opportunity within the education and training sector.
A true automotive enthusiast, Anthony’s career with MTA Queensland has been broad, seeing him involved in the direct education of hundreds of apprentices as well as the crafting of training courses, business development concepts, the planning and implementation of new programs, working with international delegations and running international study tours, amongst much else.
That career began for Anthony when, aged just 15, he began his mechanical apprentice at an independent shop in Brisbane. He would go on to complete his apprenticeship at Southside Ford in Woolloongabba and then embark on a busy early career that would see him assist in running a family-owned automotive mechanical business, work with a number of other independent and dealership shops, and even squeeze in a role as lead mechanic for a Ford-backed team in the national Australian Rally Championships (ARC).
In 2005, Anthony joined the MTA Institute as a technical trainer, training apprentices and students in Brisbane – and for a short period in Cairns – across a range of disciplines, including light vehicle, motorcycle, diesel fitting, and auto electrical, as well as in traineeships such as tyre fitting. In 2011, Anthony moved from the on-the-road training role to become a Business Development Manager, before becoming Operations Manager for the MTA Institute.
Throughout his time with MTA Queensland and the Institute, Anthony showed a great talent for developing and maintaining relationships - a particularly useful skill in an industry in which communication of technical and training developments, changing methods and regulations,
and evolving training and business opportunities, is vital.
“One of Anthony’s key attributes is his communication skill,” said Marcello Riotto, Director of the MTA Institute.
“Everyone that Anthony engages with soon discovers he loves a chat, which is part of the reason he did so well in all the roles he performed. He built strong relationships with all stakeholders, which was particularly important in his business development role.
“He thrived on providing solutions to customers and generally servicing the industry he loves and which has provided him so many great opportunities. We wish him the best in both his professional and personal life and I’m positive we’ll cross paths soon and talk shop!”
Being part of the MTA Queensland team working to promote and help the industry and, in particular, help guide the next generation of tradespeople through their training, has been, said Anthony, a great privilege.
“MTA Queensland gave me the opportunity to move from the workshop but still live and breathe the industry and help the people and businesses in it as best I could,” he said.
“Understanding the people and the challenges within the industry is critical and MTA Queensland knows that and works terrifically hard to see that everyone - from the schoolkid doing their first automotive introductory course to the veteran business owner – has the tools and support to succeed.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my roles at MTA Queensland and I will miss the team who I have been fortunate to work with for so long,” added Anthony. “Every department works so diligently to make things happen - while not forgetting to have a laugh along the way - and seeing all that effort come together successfully has been truly rewarding.
“I wish every success to my MTA Queensland and MTA Institute colleagues and friends, and all the friends I have made in the industry over the years.”
ARE YOU FINDING it difficult to recruit skilled technicians and apprentices? Almost every automotive business I speak to responds with the answer ‘absolutely’!
The automotive industry has been facing significant skills and labour shortages for years, and COVID-19 exacerbated what was already a difficult situation. During the pandemic, the available workforce shrank and has not fully recovered. As the pandemic eased, the economy created new jobs and these new jobs are being filled with whatever labour is available, adding pressure to industries that were already finding it tough.
DANIEL NICHOLSON INDUSTRY WORKFORCE ADVISOR
What are the answers to this dilemma? There are answers, but none provide a quick fix. However, if you put together a strategy and action plan, you can be successful.
For instance, have you considered looking overseas? Hardworking, highly skilled technicians are looking to migrate to Australia and this is a solid option. However, bringing in technicians from overseas is costly and can take up to 12 months. Recent changes to skilled migration regulations also mean these workers will need to be paid a yearly minimum salary of $70,000.
What about growing your own? This option doesn’t necessarily mean taking on someone who is completely ‘green’. There are many people in the community who have relevant skills and might be looking for a change. You could attract workers from other sectors if you are offering a position that recognises their abilities and provides a pathway to a trade qualification. In recognising past skills, you could also work on fast-tracking their wages. This could be enough to appeal to someone looking to become an automotive technician.
What if you want to take on a young
person? How do you attract them to your business? Offering good conditions is a start. I hear many people talk about the wages being paid at the mines, but the reality is that big money is the only way the mines can attract labour. Many businesses have other ways of attracting young people, such as nine-day fortnights, bonuses for not taking sick leave, running a free barbeque every fortnight, and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Making young people feel valued and understanding their values and aspirations is important and it goes a long way to attracting and keeping them in your business.
Connecting with your local schools is another excellent way of engaging with young people. Have a look at the schools near your business and form a relationship with their careers counsellors. Once you establish that relationship, provide opportunities for work experience and offer school-based apprenticeships.
Another strategy is to contact your local automotive registered training organisation (RTO) and find out if any of them are running pre-vocational training. Ask if you can meet the students. You never know, a great future apprentice might be looking for an opportunity.
Want to get started on a new approach to getting skilled labour from overseas, or want support to grow your own workforce? Get in touch with Daniel Nicholson at MTA Queensland. He can help you develop a workforce action plan and connect you with the contacts that can support your business to navigate the challenges and pitfalls.
THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FACING SIGNIFICANT SKILLS AND LABOUR SHORTAGES FOR YEARS AND COVID-19 EXACERBATED WHAT WAS ALREADY A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
THE MTA INSTITUTE is the largest independent provider of automotive apprenticeships and training in Queensland and it is always a proud moment when its
students complete their trade qualification. Congratulations to everyone who was issued a qualification in August 2023. It's a fantastic achievement!
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TO MORE THAN 17,000 PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE MOTORING INDUSTRY (website or e-magazine options)
PININFARINA, THE FAMED Italian design house and coachbuilder, has been creating fantastic vehicles for decades. In 2018, Automobili Pinanfarina was founded to launch the company name into electric vehicle manufacturing, and in 2019 the company unveiled its first branded car, the astonishing Pininfarina Battista all-electric supercar. That vehicle, powered by a 120kWh battery, four-motor, 1417kW electric set-up supplied by Rimac, can hit
PININFARINA SAYS IT IS A ‘DESIGN CONCEPT’ AND IT IS A PRETTY SLEEK ONE, WITH ITS SUPERCAR FEATURES GIVEN EXTRA BULK AND BOLDNESS.
100km/h in under two seconds, has a top speed of 350km/h and a range of 500km.
That amazing car would appear to be an influence on this, Pininfarina’s newest creation, the Pura Vision electric Luxury Utility Vehicle (e-LUV).
Pininfarina says it is a ‘design concept’ and it is a pretty sleek one, with its supercar features given extra bulk and boldness.
No word on what will power the Pura Vision, but it’s safe to assume it will be a beast of a set-up – surely something that will rival its supercar sibling.
Powertrain apart, there are plenty of details available about the Pura Vision that will keep you staring. It’s big at 5,215mm long, 2,147mm wide, and 1,641mm tall, and there are some show-stopping features such as its narrow glasshouse and wickedly cool tri-opening pillarless doors. There’s clever lighting tech, a panoramic roof, carbon fibre touches and enormous 23inch alloy wheels.
Those unusual doors open up to a luxurious 2+2-seater cabin with ‘floating’ front seats. Ahead of the driver is a wide digital instrument set-up, an intuitive central touchscreen, and a head-up display – all of which can be personalised. The central display rises from the console when required but can be stowed to
minimise distractions, while speakers in the headrests provide individual sound zones for each occupant. For that extra slice of fancy motoring, there’s an integrated wine cooler between the two rear seats.
Each of the Pura Vision’s four seats features a crisp white finish, while there’s charcoal leather on the dashboard and door tops. Semi-aniline leather mixes with a signature textile fabric throughout. Also used is exposed carbon fibre and anodised aluminium. As part of its production, Automobili Pininfarina says it used waste aluminium from PURA Vision’s wheels to craft bespoke protective kickplates that adorn the door sills, while its ‘signature’ fabric combines 30 per cent Nativa wool and 70 per cent recycled polyester.
While the Pura Vision is a design concept, it feels inconceivable that Pininfarina won’t make some production version of this beauty. We can’t wait.
“EACH OF THE PURA VISION’S FOUR SEATS FEATURES A CRISP WHITE FINISH, WHILE THERE’S CHARCOAL LEATHER ON THE DASHBOARD AND DOOR TOPS.”
Accredited courses are nationally recognised and lead to a formal Vocational Education and Training qualification being issued.
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