Motor Trader - May - Online Edition by MTAQ IT

motor trader

motor trader queensland | vol. 83 | issue 4 | May 2012

VW ‘secure’ car Subaru Eyewsight™ SUV sales up Megatrends ahead

Financial Roadmapping

Member wins top award

Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland

give yourself an

advantage

- a well-known identifiable brand that signifies trust The MTA Queensland logo provides an element of differentiation between you and other businesses and may just form the key point of difference for a potential customer.

• Industrial Relations As a member of MTA Queensland you have access to industry specific-industrial relations expertise for advice and legal representation

MTA Queensland actively lobbies Governments with the best interest of our members to reduce red tape and streamline process for business owners.

• Consumer Complaints MTA Queensland will assist member businesses and mediate in the event of a consumer complaint.

Being a Member gives you input in the future productivity and profitability of your industry and the opportunity to positively influence it’s future through divisional and regional committees.

• Legal Advice Members can access professional legal assistance as part of their membership of MTA Queensland – intial phone advise free

One Stop Industry Advice

• Industry Awareness Members receive regular industry specific publications keeping you abreast of changes, legislative requirements, developments and initiatives in your industry.

• Technical Information Service Ever had the situation of working on a vehicle which you don’t usually work on? You don’t need a vast technical library – all you need is MTA Queensland membership to get all the technical resources you need.

Motor Trader, the official publication of MTA Queensland is issued monthly as part of your membership.

MeMbers cAn receive A subsTAnTiAl sAvings And efficiencies viA our corporATe pArTners The capricorn society is the largest independent automotive parts buying cooperative in Australia. The Society is based on group purchasing to secure price advantage.

dun and bradstreet is the nation’s foremost credit control and debt collection agency, with an enviable record of service to the recoverables industry. Members are eligible for substantial savings on annual subscriptions.

The commonwealth bank offers members some of the lowest eftpos charges in the country. Savings in the thousands of dollars have been achieved by members who opted for the CBA deal.

MTAA superannuation, our superannuation partner has over 200,000 members who are enjoying excellent returns from the Fund.

corporate express is the leading supplier of a complete range of office consumables, bulk stationery and janitorial supplies.

nrMA insurance has vast experience in the provision of a superior level of specialist insurance services to the automotive industry, using the buying potential of the member base, can achieve pricing far more attractive than business owners are able to negotiate individually.

MTA Queensland, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains Qld 4113 07 3237 8777 enquires@mtaq.com.au www.mtaq.com.au

Head Office 1000 Wynnum Building 8, 2728Road, LoganCannon Road, Eight Hill, Mile Qld Plains, 4170 Qld 4113 P.O. Box 4530, 560, Morningside, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4170 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 Managing Editor Michael Taylor Kellie Dewar

Art Director Editor in Chief Peter Richardson Michael Taylor

Industrial Relations Art Director Ted Kowalski Peter Richardson

Policy & Media Director Advertising Enquiries Greg Milne

Jillian Anfield Mobile: 0414 473 944 Advertising Enquiries Facsimile: Jeff Dunlop 07 3844 4488 Email: jilliana@mtaq.com.au Mobile: 0422 075 007 Facsimile: 07 3844 4488 Editorial Email: jeffd@mtaq.com.au Editorial submissions are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information telephone Editorial the Editorsubmissions 07 3237 8777 Editorial are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information telephone Subscription Rates the Editor 07 3237 8777(including GST) Australia: $72.60 annually Overseas: $110 annually Subscription Rates (including GST) Australia: $72.60 annually Overseas: $110 annually

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 Motor Trader Publishing Policy issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded Motor is the official publication of the Motor Trades Association as the Trader business magazine for the Queensland motor industry. The role of Queensland. The role of Motor Trader iswith to inform members of current of Motor Trader is not to be in competition the technical magazines issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded already on the market. It will advise of new vehicles being released and as thelatest business magazine for the Queensland role of the technology incorporated into them;motor it will industry. advise ofThe latest of Motor Trader is notmembers to be in competition withMTA the Queensland technical magazines technology affecting in each of the Divisions; already on members the market. It will advise of newinvehicles being released and it will keep abreast of the latest motor industry training and of the latest technology incorporated into them; it willofadvise of latest industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed the latest technical technology affecting in each ofMember the MTAServices, Queensland Divisions; aids available throughmembers MTA Queensland which will assist it will keepinmembers abreast the latest in motor industrypresently training and members staying ahead of of the technological revolution being industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed of the latest technical encountered within the motor industry. The publisher reserves the right to aids available through MTA Queensland Member Services, which will omit or alter any advertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnifyassist the members for in staying aheadorofliabilities the technological revolution presently being publisher all damages arising from the published material. encountered within the motor industry. The publisher reserves the right to omit alter any advertisement and the848 advertiser agrees to indemnify the MTAor Queensland ABN: 74 028 933 publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.

Corporate Partners

MTA Queensland ABN: 74 028 933 848

contents 2. From the editor 4. Policy/Viewpoint Industrial Relations

5. Fair Work Annual Wage Review Review of operation of modern awards

FEATURES

6. Financial Roadmapping 25. Megatrends ahead

Industry Update

8. Kia Supports Rotary Ride for Research Holden contributes to Chinese market growth 9. New Brisbane based Komatsu facility SAE-A appoints new Executive Director 12. Brisbane truck dealer wins top award Workshop Intelli-Charge Battery Chargers 11. Thailand opens door to Oz component firms Conti on the Gold Coast 12. MYOB: SMEs not happy with government New Transport Minister changes sides 13. Volkswagens Announced as Australia’s Most Secure Cars The up! ‘World Car of the Year 2012’ 14. Infiniti announces Australian dealers 15. Holden Crushes Cars in the Name of Safety Peugeot’s New GM/Director 16. High Performance Globes HELLA Australia gains OE with Proton 17. Suffer the children EV Charging Network Expands 18. Subaru Eyesight™ Wins Award 19. Suzuki aficionado first to buy Swift Sport New Sales GM at Audi 20. Sales on the up for SUVs Kia Motors Australia partners with SUNA Traffic

Health

22. Dealing with chronic pain

MIT News

23. Students of the Month 24. New motor industry training

Members

26. Automotive Obsession wins top award Member wins BBQ in Commonwealth Bank promotion

Sport

27. Impressive Debut for Private Mégane Auto One backs V8 Supercar driver 28. MAN continues as V8’s Official Transporter The Champion in Touring Car Racing

Automobile News

31. Subaru Liberty Infiniti EMERG-E Concept Hyundai Accent 32. Falcon EcoBoost Audi Q5 Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept motor trader queensland

from the editor

Be part of an industry that offers more than you

Michael Taylor, Editor

efore the end of the financial year is a great time to understand how well your business has performed this past year and what are your targets for next year. Sue Hirst from CFO On-Call tells us that a ‘Financial Roadmap’ will help improve profit and cash flow by ensuring funds will be available to spend on developing new products and services, marketing, sales, operations, customer service and human resources. If you want to grow a business you must have funds available at the right time to cover your needs. The easiest way to develop a financial roadmap is to have a Budget and Cash Flow Forecast, which you can read about starting on page 6. BDO has provided this edition with an insightful article regarding why dealerships must learn to use the increased transparency brought by social media to their advantage (page 25). The influence of social media

The influence of social media will develop and expand in the coming decade, as it replaces the media as the primary consumer watchdog. will develop and expand in the coming decade, as it replaces the media as the primary consumer watchdog. In turn, this is making organisations more transparent than ever before – as social media is changing the way consumers select products and services, based on real time views of others. MIT (MTA Institute of Technology) and Suncorp have combined to develop a program specifically for Motor Vehicle Loss Assessors called the Certificate IV Vehicle Loss Assessing qualification, a qualification that was formalised by ASA (Auto Skills Australia) in response to significant industry

demand to support training of new entrants (page 24). The course is being delivered through MIT and is designed to run for 24 months, although recognition of prior learning will enable some participants to complete the qualification sooner. Hats off to MTA Queensland member Automotive Obsession from Bohle. The business won the Repco Authorised Service Best New Member Award for 2011 (page 26). The National Manager of Repco Authorised Service, Peter Webb, said that Automotive Obsession “has embraced the essence of what it is to be a RAS member, practices constant innovation, is willing to adapt and learn new business techniques and has the vision to invest in the business’ future”. Well done!

We come to you! Certificate IV Frontline Management (Workplace Delivery) enrolments are now open. An MTA Institute of Technology trainer is available to come to your workplace* on a fortnightly basis to see you through to qualification.

•

Specialising in: • Light Vehicle Mechanical Technicians • Motorcycle Mechanical Technicians Automotive Electrical Technicians • Parts Interpreting • Management Courses • Front Line Management Courses • Specialist Automotive Technicians • Tyre Fitting Light and Heavy • Panel Beating and Vehicle Painting • Heavy Vehicle Road Transport & Diesel

*Areas available include Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Brisbane metro and west to Toowoomba. Telephone Anthony Bonaccorso on 1 800 884 137 to register your interest.

motor trader queensland

INS TITUTE OF TE CHNOLOGY

Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Tel: 07) 3722 3000 Fax: 07) 3722 3030 Funding for Traineeships and Apprenticeships is made available from the Department of Education and Training

policy/viewpoint New Ministers at the reins of government

Tim Mander as the Assistant Minister, Sport and Racing.

Another chapter in Queensland history begins this month when the new Liberal National Party Government of Campbell Newman holds its first parliamentary sitting.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls will have the responsibility of handing down the LNP Government’s first Budget, which will formally put into place many of the election promises.

It’s now history that Queenslanders gave the Newman Government a decisive mandate to govern at the 24 March election. The LNP will dominate the Parliamentary Chamber with its 77 members. By contrast, Labor has seven members, Katter’s Australia Party two and Independents two. Many of the LNP team will be taking their places in the new Parliament for the first time. Similarly, most of the Cabinet are first time Ministers, an inevitability after almost 20 years of Labor rule. A number of key appointments will be of interest to MTAQ members. The new Minister for Transport and Main Roads is Ipswichborn Scott Emerson, a former journalist who worked for ABC Radio and ‘The Australian’ newspaper (see separate article). Former LNP leader, John Paul Langbroek is Minister for Education, Training and Employment, while Joord Bleijie is the Attorney General and Minister for Justice – his portfolio looks after the important Office of Fair Trading. Premier Campbell Newman has also created a number of Assistant Ministers to give his new team experience. A notable appointment is former rugby league referee 4

motor trader queensland

industrial relations

Greg Milne, Policy and Media Director

However, Queenslanders will have to wait for the state’s economic blueprint with the Premier announcing the 2012/13 budget is to be delayed until 11 September, instead of the usual June date. Mr Newman said his government needed more time to undertake a major restructure of the state government departments. “It will give the directorsgeneral time with their ministers to establish those new departmental structures and then get the budgets right under those new structures,” he said. An economic statement would be released in the interim, he said. Mr Newman has warned his ministers to cut costs wherever possible to help relieve cost-of-living pressures.

An update on issues affecting members Changes to repair register legislation: Unless the new Government changes its mind, and after some three years of discussion involving a large group of stakeholders, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has agreed to (pending Ministerial sign off) modernise and consolidate s133 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and Section 161

of the Traffic Regulation 1962. The amendments will remove the outdated and onerous requirements for ‘the owner of every garage of other premises where motor vehicles are repaired or painted shall keep a (dedicated) register in writing’. The amendments will also remove a provision for a maximum 6 months jail term for owners who didn’t keep a ‘register’.

Positive reform for dealers with exempt vehicles: Following approaches from the MTAQ, Queensland Transport (TMR) has agreed to (pending Ministerial sign off) amend s4 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2010 to provide that unregistered vehicles that are dealer’s stock being used within the dealer’s business premises are exempt vehicles. This will ensure that, as a CTP insurance policy is not available for exempt vehicles, dealers may obtain liability insurance to cover unregistered vehicles used on their premises. Any registered vehicles that are dealer’s stock used in this area would be covered by CTP insurance policy.

Dealer trade plates set to change The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) recently asked the MTAQ to provide feedback on the possibility of changing the sizes for dealer and trailer trade number plates. TMR’s plate manufacturer, LicenSys, advised that the current dealer plate size 166mm x 166mm was the only one of its kind used in Australia. The sizing causes

concern for the manufacturer as the raw material ordered to accommodate this size can only be purchased in 8 tonne lots. LicenSys wants to change the width to be the same as a regular motor vehicle number plate, 134mm. The length would remain the same. tThe MTAQ thanks those AADA members who provided comment and will update you on any final decision from TMR.

ACCC considering formal investigation into shopper dockets After representations from the MTA-Q and our national body AMIF, the ACCC is considering a formal investigation into the impact of shopper dockets on fuel retailing. We advised last month that the ACCC wanted to hear from service station members with any evidence of market abuse by Coles and Woolworths – and it now seems a more formal step could be taken. But any investigation will rely upon involvement from MTA-Q members and going on past history, could take up to 12 months to complete. If there is public announcement from the ACCC, members will be advised through an MTA-Q bulletin. It’s more likely however, the Commission will go about its work quietly, seeking the co-operation of service station operators and building a case slowly. In the meantime, members can contact the ACCC’s Jessica Buik on (02) 62434940 if they want to discuss specific concerns.

Fair Work Annual Wage Review

Ted Kowalski, Industrial Relations Manager

11th May to lodge any supplementary submissions. Fair Work Australia then conducts hearings in Melbourne from 14th to 18th May and usually releases a decision a week or two later to take effect from 1st July 2012.

All submissions received are published on the FairWork web site. Submissions had to be lodged by 16th March while all submissions-inreply had a deadline of 27th April. Following the release of the Budget, interested parties will then have until approximately

The submissions lodged ranged from that of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) urging an increase of $26 per week up to thetradesman’s level and 3.8% for all award wages above that figure, to that of the National Retailers Association asking that that industry be excluded from any increase, and a range of other employer bodies arguing for between $9.40 and $14 per week. The Federal Government’s submission did not quantify what increase it sought but urged that cost of living increases be covered by any award.

air Work Australia is the body that has the responsibility to set minimum wages for all employees and it is currently conducting its annual wage review. The process involves taking written submissions from interested organisations and individuals; consultations before the Minimum Wage Panel and research commissioned by the Minimum Wage Panel.

Review of operation of modern awards

air Work Australia (FWA) is also conducting a review of the operation of modern awards. Interested parties had until 8th March to lodge applications to vary particular modern awards to correct perceived anomalies/ inequities or to address issues that may have been overlooked in the original establishment of the modern awards. The President of FWA, Mr. I. Ross, released a statement on 27th April to set out how the various issues would be dealt with. Of particular interest to the motor industry, an application by the Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union (AMWU) to increase rates of pay for apprentices will be

dealt with by a Full Bench of FWA after a directions hearing on 9th May to determine the scope and timetable for dealing with the application. (Quite a large number of modern awards, apart from the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award are also affected by this application.) A single member of FWA will hear and determine thespecific concerns raised by a large number of parties about the operation of the annual leave clause and the circumstances under which leave loading is payable. There are also a number of other issues that the motor industry has raised that require clarification. The President has indicated in his statement that the objective of the Tribunal is to endeavour to substantially complete the process by the end of the year.

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members Business Name

Principal/s

Address/Email

Division

James for Mercedes

Mr James Mulholland

Lot 8, Unit 1 John Lund Drive, HOPE ISLAND QLD 4212 jamesmulholland@hotmail.com

Airlie Panel & Paint

Mr Dean Kercher

31 McIntosh St, WHITSUNDAY QLD 4802

Chermside Auto Electrical Service

Mr Patrick Coogan

54 Boothby Street, Kedron QLD 4031 Ana_coogan_86@yahoo.com

Gaggiano Custom Panel & Paint

Toni Gaggiano

39 Skinner Street, INGHAM QLD 4850 gaggianobros@bigpond.com.au

NACA

Bumpers Online (Brisbane)

Ray McCracken

3673 Pacific Highway, SLACKS CREEK QLD 4127 info@bumpersonline.com.au

APRD

M&S 4x4 Dismantlers

Sue Cameron

10 O’Loughlin Street, MACKAY QLD 4740 sue. cameron@metcash.com

APRD

Townsville Custom Cycles

Leeroy Donovan

93 Ingham Road, TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 leeroy@ townsvillecustomcycles.com.au

QMID

Wayne Neven Mechanical

Wayne Neven

18 Carroll Street, Mount Louisa QLD 4814 wnmtsv@ bigpond.com

AED

Queensland Mechanical and Engineering

Mr Richard Ching

6 Anson Close, GLADSTONE QLD 4680 Richard. ching@qldme.com.au

AED

AED NACA AED

motor trader queensland

Where a ‘Financial Roadmap’ will help improve Profit and Cash Flow.

The easiest way to develop a financial roadmap is to have a Budget and a Cash Flow Forecast. Here’s an explanation of the difference between the two. • A Budget is a financial plan of what you are going to sell, what it is going to cost you and what overheads you are likely to incur. It also includes finance costs such as interest. The budget sets out how much profit or loss the business is planning to make, usually on a monthly basis.

Financial

A budget is often required by lenders and only done for that purpose. If you do a budget for yourself as a business owner it provides a fantastic financial roadmap and helps to clarify what everyone needs to work towards for the business to be profitable and successful. People will often say, “I can’t do a budget because I don’t know exactly how much I’m going to sell”. This is a reasonable enough statement but shouldn’t put you off developing a budget. The best way to start a budget is to work out your ‘break-even point’. Breakeven point helps you to work out how much you need to sell to make neither a profit nor a loss i.e. a zero result. Obviously this isn’t what

Roadmapping B

efore the end of financial year is a great time to understand how well your business has performed this past year and what are your targets for next year. A ‘Financial Roadmap’ will help improve profit and cash flow by ensuring funds will be available to spend on developing new products and services, marketing, sales, operations, customer service and human resources. If you want to grow a business you must have funds available at the right time to cover your needs.

motor trader queensland

• A Cash Flow Forecast is a plan of when the cash will flow into and out of the business. It’s important to have both because a budget may show that you’re going to make profit, but customers take time to pay and suppliers require payment, often before customers have paid you. It’s vital to plot this all out in black and white, so that you can see where the ‘peaks and troughs’ are likely to occur and plan what you’re going to do to manage them.

you’re in business for, but it’s a great place to start to give you targets to work towards and to avoid losses. To work out your ‘break-even point’ the best place to begin is with your overheads i.e. the fixed expenses you incur whether you sell anything or not, such as rent, permanent staff wages, equipment leases etc. You then need to know what your gross margin is on sales. Gross margin is the percentage you make on sales after direct costs of your product or service such as cost of the actual product or labour and materials on

jobs are deducted. For example if you know that products or jobs cost you 40% (on average) of your sale price, that means you’ve got a 60% gross margin left to cover your overheads. If your yearly overheads are $600,000 you will need to sell $1,000,000 to break-even. Once you know your ‘break-even’ sales figure you can use this as a basis for your budget by entering the monthly figures into a spread-sheet and play around with increasing and decreasing

the monthly sales to see what would be the impact of changes. You could also work it backwards to calculate what profit you desire and therefore what you need to sell to achieve the result. Or if you can find ways to reduce your direct costs how much impact that could have on your profit. The Cash Flow Forecast is similar to the budget, but looks at the situation from a cash perspective rather than a profit one. You begin with your opening bank

balance then plot in monthly what income you expect to receive, based on when and how much customers pay, against what you expect to pay out based on fixed monthly overheads and amounts owed to suppliers. The Cash Flow also includes items such as tax, repayment of loans and dividends which aren’t included in the Budget. By doing this forecast you can see what will be your closing bank balance for each month and where you might experience ‘peaks and

trough’s. Once you know the amount of the ‘peaks and troughs’ you can play around with a spreadsheet to work out how to retain a positive bank balance or when you may need funds to cover a shortfall. By doing this at the beginning of the year, you can approach lenders with a clear picture of your requirements rather than rushing in ‘cap in hand’ begging for help to cover a shortfall you didn’t expect. Both of these financial tools will help you to sleep easier

at night and be able to plan for the best or worst in your business. CFO On-Call will run webinars on ‘How to develop a financial roadmap’ in May and June. To register visit http://www. cfooncall.com.au/events/ seminars-and-events.html. All attendees will receive a FREE template Budget and Cash Flow Forecast spreadsheet. For more immediate financial help call us on 1300 36 24 36. motor trader queensland

New Brisbane based Komatsu facility

industry update Kia Supports Rotary Ride for Research

Andrew Kalogirou, Sales Manager Dandenong Kia, handing over the Kia fleet of support vehicles to the Rotary team.

omatsu Australia recently announced the official opening and commissioning of its new regional headquarters at Wacol, southwest of Brisbane.

ia Motors Australia has provided logistics support to the 2012 Rotary Ride for Research, which over the past 25 years has raised over $820,000 for Australian Rotary Health (ARH).

Total project expenditure in excess of $55 million has been injected into the local economy, with up to 400 workers employed during the construction phase, which was completed in March.

ARH is a major research grants fund and is the largest Australia-wide project undertaken by Rotary. Since 1985 the fund has allocated over $26.7 million through 495 grants for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Care of the aged, adolescent health, family health, mental health, cancer and more. From 15 to 21 April 2012 around 40 riders embarked on a 990km Victorian journey from Melbourne through Ballarat, Heathcote, Bendigo, Murchison Seymour, Alexandria, Eltham and back to Melbourne to raise valuable funds for ARH. Kia Motors Australia supplied five vehicles for the duration of the event to assist with logistics. Two Sorentos, two Carnivals and one Kia Rio provided rider support to each of the four groups.

who have simply run out of puff. “The vehicles look fantastic. They draw crowds to the event when we stop and really add a professional look to the ride. They make it easier for us to source Support Crews when we tell them they’re going to be driving a brand new Kia for the week.”  “Most importantly they are very spacious and allow us to transport people and on some occasions a bike if required, which certainly adds a safety element to their involvement.”

“The support Kia provides to the event each year is fantastic,” said ride coordinator and Boronia Rotarian Rod Henry.

Each vehicle was responsible for looking after a specific team of riders while they negotiated the course through regional Victoria, averaging around 140 km per day.

“The Support and Gear or SAG wagons as we call them, carry food, clothing and offer respite for riders

The 2012 Ride for Research event managed to raise another $30,000 for Australian Rotary Health.

motor trader queensland

Holden contributes to Chinese market growth

urther strengthening Holden’s position in the GM empire as a center for design and engineering excellence, the Australian outfit has been picked to develop two new cars to be sold in the Chinese market by GM and its partners. Holden recently signed an agreement with Shanghai General Motors (SGM) and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) to develop the cars for SGM and its affiliates in the growing Chinese market. PATAC is a 50-50 joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) that provides engineering services including design,

development and testing of vehicles for SGM and other firms in China. The agreement is for a longterm partnership so there could certainly be more development work beyond just these two initial cars. There’s been no mention of the types of cars that will be developed, although it has been confirmed that they will be underpinned by global GM platforms. Holden designers and engineers working on the program will be based in Holden’s Technical Center in Port Melbourne, Australia. Speaking at the announcement of the agreement, Holden boss Mike Devereux said that “Holden is a valuable source of expertise within GM international operations and we’re one of only seven fully-integrated design, engineering and manufacturing operations in the GM world”.

The facility will act as a onestop shop for Queensland customers, with the sale, service, assembly and remanufacturing of mining and construction equipment taking place on site. The site also features Komatsu’s Condition Monitoring Services’ oil-testing laboratories. More than 150 permanent employment opportunities have been created with the

establishment of the Wacol site, according to Komatsu. In addition, the site will play an integral role in the employment of up to 100 new trades-based apprentices over the next 12 months. The new “operational hub” will also house Komatsu Australia’s Mining Division head office and service customers through a mechanical component remanufacturing centre. Komatsu says the Wacol site has 40 per cent more capacity and will assemble up to 70 “Ultra-class” mining dump trucks each year, with the facility strategically located and built to better service customers in the rapidly expanding Queensland resource sector. Managing Director, Sean Taylor, said the Wacol facility was the company’s single biggest investment in Australia to date. “The commissioning of our all-new Wacol facility is an important milestone in the strategic expansion of Komatsu’s nationwide sales and service network,” he said.

SAE-A appoints new Executive Director

he Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia (SAE-A) has appointed 20-year automotive industry veteran Geoff Pearson as Executive Director. Founded in 1927, and affiliated with SAE International, the Society promotes excellence in automotive engineering through professional development, education, conferences and networking activities. SAE-A President Bill Malkoutzis acknowledged the contribution of previous Executive Director Max Chanter, who is retiring. Bill Malkoutzis said an exhaustive search secured a leader who will bring innovative ideas and diverse industry experience to the role. “Geoff has been active in SAE-A programs for many years, particularly the international Formula SAE-Australasia education competition for engineering students hosted by the Society at the end of every year,’ he said.

“Geoff’s close links with the universities, their engineering students and the companies that employ them, will bring a fresh and vibrant approach to the Society’s programs,” said Bill Malkoutzis. Geoff Pearson’s early working years were in the motorcycle industry before moving into engineering for vehicle manufacturing. His studies then led him into academia, where he lectured and became a Formula SAE-A faculty advisor.

“SAE-A has a wonderfully diverse membership spanning the full spectrum of automotive engineering. We have experts in engine development, chassis design, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, mechanical and body repair, crash investigation, insurance assessment - the list seems endless,” said Geoff Pearson. “While senior members bring wisdom and many years engineering experience to the table, our young members share enthusiasm to learn and fluency in today’s communication technologies. At National Office, our goal will be to continue to create learning opportunities for members. “As long as we engineer things, as long as we have a desire to learn, and as long as we have passion for things automotive, there will be a place for SAE-A,” he said. motor trader queensland

boats to tractors. It provides world class 7 stage quality charging to maximise a battery’s performance and life.

industry update

Brisbane truck dealer wins top award

The Projecta Intelli-Charge 25A charger maintains a constant voltage on a battery making it ideal while carrying out diagnostic work. Its output can be easily adjusted making it suitable for charging motorcycle batteries right up to and including truck batteries. Both battery chargers are competitively priced and come with a two year warranty.

t the Hino Dealer of the Year Awards, Hino Motor Sales Australia named Brisbane-based Sci-Fleet as the Hino metropolitan dealer of the year. Bendigo Truck Centre was named the regional dealer of the year for 2011. The awards were announced at an official gala awards dinner in Sydney on Friday, 20 April 2012. The metropolitan award was presented by President and Chief Operating Officer of Hino Australia, Steve Lotter. Sci-Fleet Dealer Principal, Craig Andersson, accepted the metropolitan award. Dealer Principal of Bendigo Truck Centre, Steve Elliott, accepted the regional award. Mr Lotter said the 2011 awards were particularly important considering the number of challenges faced throughout the year. “These awards recognise the dedication of the Hino dealer network, especially in the wake of a number of significant natural disasters in 2011 – both at home and in Japan,” he said. “Our dealers were all impacted by stock shortages following the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami, but their strong resolve and commitment to customers saw sales recover strongly. 10

motor trader queensland

Thailand opens the door to Australian automotive component companies

“Craig and the team at Sci-Fleet are to be congratulated on their achievements - especially given the dealership was severely damaged in the January 2011 Brisbane floods. “It was also pleasing to see Steve Elliott and his team at Bendigo win the regional dealer of the year award – their dealership continues to go from strength to strength and we congratulate them on their success.” Both Mr Andersson and Mr Elliott recognised the hard work and dedication of their staff in winning their awards.

Workshop IntelliCharge Battery Chargers

wo 7 stage 12V automatic Intelli-Charge Battery Chargers have been introduced by Projecta, complementing the existing range but with additional features ideal for small and large workshops. The new 12V 7A - 7 stage Battery Charger is a sophisticated and compact charger fitted with protective rubber moulded end caps for enhanced durability and protection, ideal for the rigours of workshop environments. With multi-chemistry settings for charging

Wet, Calcium, AGM or Gel batteries, it is ideally suited for starting, marine and deep cycle batteries. The power supply mode retains vehicle computer settings when changing a battery or it can run 12v appliances. It is shock and dust proof for the toughest of conditions and is ideal for applications such as small passenger vehicles through to 4WD’s. The second charger is the powerful 12V 25A - 7 stage charger which is also fitted with protective rubber moulded end caps for superior durability and to prevent the charger from slipping off or damaging the vehicle’s duco. With multi-chemistry mode capabilities for charging Wet, Calcium, AGM or Gel batteries this charger is ideally suited to a range of

workshop applications from motorcycles, jet skis, passenger cars, caravans

The new advanced Projecta Intelli-Charge Battery Chargers are available under Part No. IC700W (7A) and Part No. IC2500W (25A), from leading automotive and transport outlets.

Thailand opens door to Oz component firms

hailand says Australia’s struggling automotive component companies should take some or all of their operations to that country. With the Federal Government already encouraging component makers to broaden their operations, the visiting Deputy SecretaryGeneral of Thailand’s powerful Board of Investment, Duangjai Asawachintachit, said her country’s solid economic growth and free trade links to other Asian economies offered vast new opportunities. She said that the bilateral free-trade agreement between Canberra and Bangkok had helped build Thailand’s automotive sector, with Australia now its biggest customer.

“Car manufacturing operations in Thailand are growing,” Ms. Duangjai said.

"The spreading

“Last year we produced 1.5 million cars.

agreements in Asia

“That is a lot more than you’re producing in the Australian market so it’s a lot of room for growth and demand for automotive parts and companies,” she said. Recently the Australian Government announced a 10year $1 billion co-investment deal with Holden to keep the carmaker operating in Australia until at least 2022. The deal involves $275 million in taxpayer subsidies and extra funds to push component manufacturers into bigger international markets. The Government says the automotive industry employs 55,500 in Australia and supports an associated 200,000 jobs. However, it is concerned the component sector is too dependent on Holden, Ford and Toyota, and it wants manufacturers to seek a

network of free trade offered companies based or operating in Thailand an open door to the booming Asian economy." bigger slice of the international action. To that end, it has put $24.5 million into an Automotive New Markets Initiative designed to promote access to overseas supply chains. Ms. Duangjai said the spreading network of free trade agreements in Asia offered companies based or operating in Thailand an open door to the booming Asian economy. “We can often tell companies if they set up in Thailand, they can access all of those other markets,” she said.

Conti on the Gold Coast

yre specialist Continental is opening its first Gold Coast outlet in the suburb of Nerang. The new branch joins six other Continental retail outlets across the country including Cannonvale (QLD), Wanneroo and Mundaring (WA), Murwillumbah and Port Macquarie (NSW), and Nailsworth (SA). “Continental is one of the most well respected and reputable tyre brands in the world, but it isn’t that well known here yet,” said David McCarthy who heads operations in the Nerang outlet. “Therefore it’s a great opportunity to be one of its first retail stores in Australia.” The opening of these retail outlets is part of Continental’s decision to expand its operations in Australia and enhance brand recognition through a visible presence across all states. motor trader queensland

industry update

MYOB: SMEs not happy with government

s the Federal Budget announcement draws near, new MYOB research has found one in two small to medium business operators are dissatisfied with the Federal Government’s support for helping businesses such as theirs succeed.

asset write off threshold, a significant realignment of all income tax rates including the increase in the tax free threshold, and a pending reduction in company tax rates for SMEs that are incorporated. “Many changes will be good for many small businesses, but they must plan well if they are to capitalise on the opportunities. It will be interesting to see later in the year if the policies strike a chord with them.”

The low level of satisfaction reported by SMEs was closely aligned with the level of respect they felt the Federal Government showed. More than half of the survey respondents (51%) claimed the government demonstrated a high level of disrespect towards businesses like theirs. MYOB CEO Tim Reed said, “Small to medium business operators’ dissatisfaction with Federal Government support remains high. The good news for the government is that it has decreased since our previous report, published in October 2011. “Our political leaders have a full agenda over the next few months – the carbon tax introduction, the pending 650 percent rise in the instant 12

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Fewer than half the SMEs were content with their State Government’s performance. When asked ‘How satisfied are you with your State Government’s performance in the last six months in terms of making things better, rather than worse, for your business’, 51% of business owners expressed high levels of dissatisfaction – a slight increase on the 50% in the October 2011 Business Monitor report. NSW

VIC

QLD

Very dissatisfied

14%

18%

30%

28%

23%

Quite dissatisfied

27%

28%

38%

39%

23%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

42%

36%

20%

26%

34%

Quite satisfied

14%

17%

10%

16%

Very satisfied

Don’t know

*Note: TAS, NT and ACT were excluded from the above table (though were in the national figures), as they accounted for only 38 respondents. Also note that the survey was completed before the recent QLD election.

Over the past two years this proportion has increased significantly, from 38% in the March 2010 MYOB Business Monitor report to 52% in the March 2012 report. However, the latest result was lower than the highest level of performance dissatisfaction recorded by the study – 56% in October 2011 and July 2008. Only 11% said they were satisfied with the support provided and 36% were neutral on the subject.

Satisfaction with State Governments

Election votes up for grabs Making business life easier by reducing the paperwork burden and investing further in city transport infrastructure were among the top political initiatives that would turn SMEs’ election votes towards the party that proposed them. The top five initiatives were: 1. More Federal Government investment in transport infrastructure in major states and cities – 68% 2. Policies that significantly simplify the GST/BAS reporting process – 67% 3. The abolition of the carbon tax – 61% 4. Increased government funding for innovation research and development by Australian businesses – 60% 5. Introduction of a ‘Buy

Aussie Made’ policy for all central and local government procurement where possible – 60%

5. The abolition of the intended rise of the Superannuation Guarantee Levy from 9% to 12% over the next four years – 32%

The top five initiatives that would turn business owners’ votes against the party that proposed them were:

“Transport related issues feature heavily in the top rungs of the SME voting ladder, which concurs with our Business Monitor finding around the major pain points business owners say they are facing in the next year. Fuel prices ranked above all others, followed closely by cash flow and interest rates,” Mr Reed commented.

1. The sale of state assets to assist reducing government debt levels – 54% 2. The introduction of a heavy transport fuel levy – 50% 3. The creation of a common currency and economic zone with New Zealand – 39% 4. The adoption of Andrew Wilkie’s proposed poker machine reforms – 33%

New Transport Minister changes sides

t is fair to say Scott Emerson has switched sides – from being a journalist reporting on politics to being reported on himself by his former journalistic colleagues.

The state’s new Minister for Transport and Main Roads in the Newman Government spent many years working

as a journalist – first for the ABC in Brisbane and Sydney, and then for ‘The Australian’ newspaper as its chief political reporter. The man whose decisions over the next few years may have a big impact on the automotive industry in Queensland was born in Ipswich where his father, an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, was working at the nearby Amberley base. Emerson attended schools across Australia and overseas as his family moved with the RAAF. After finishing high school in Canberra, he attended the University of Queensland where he completed an Arts degree in 1985 (majors in Laws and Journalism) and an Economics degree in 1987. The young journalist began his media career in 1988 as a cadet reporter with the ABC in Brisbane, working on the current affairs programs AM, PM and The World Today. In 1994 he joined the national newspaper ‘The Australian’ as its Queensland political reporter, spending a decade with the paper before opting out to become a director and equity partner in Crook Publicity, a Brisbane-based public and media relations firm. In 2009 he won the seat of Indooroopilly for the LNP at the State election and was soon elevated to a shadow portfolio. Outside of politics, Emerson has been involved in rugby as team manager at Wests Junior Rugby and was also a volunteer at

the RSPCA including working as a qualified dog trainer at weekends. His experience as a journalist should hold him in good stead handling a tough portfolio and one that is sure to attract its fair share of media attention once the traditional new government ‘honeymoon’ period is over.

Volkswagens Announced as Australia’s Most Secure Cars

olkswagen has added the accolade of Australia’s most secure new vehicles to its growing list of honours, after sweeping top awards in four of six classes in an event held by the country’s expert body on vehicle crime, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC). Volkswagen’s Polo, Golf and Tiguan all earned the title of most secure vehicle in their respective classes, while the Volkswagen Passat finished joint-first in the Medium Car group, as part of a test that included over 70 current models. The New South Wales

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Michael Gallacher, MLC joined the NMVTRC to present the Secure by Design 2012 awards to a Volkswagen Group Australia representative. NMVTRC Chairman, David Morgan, said: “While there are some luxury vehicles amongst the winners, the inclusion of the many affordable cars, with the Polo starting at around $20,000 clearly demonstrates that good security is within reach of everyday motorists and that other manufacturers should be aspiring to matching these levels of design. Each of the winning vehicles were expertly assessed against leading market competitors, earning credit for the security of its entry systems, engine immobiliser and vehicle identification. Doors, ignition locks, alarms, boot access, glazing, body stamping and micro dotting were among the many considerations which helped the Volkswagens distinguish themselves as the most secure cars in their class. Managing Director, Ms Anke Koeckler, commented: “We’re delighted to accept not one, but four awards for the most secure cars in Australia. These awards further demonstrate our commitment to offer cars with

class-leading security as well as unparalleled drivability, at a price to suite every motorist.”

The up! ‘World Car of the Year 2012’ Latest triumph for Volkswagen: the up! is ‘World Car of the Year 2012’! This much sought after title was awarded today at the New York International Auto Show. The jury, consisting of 66 top journalists from 25 countries, voted by a majority to name the up! ‘World Car of the Year 2012’. In the end, Volkswagen’s city car beat off two other finalists to secure the internationally recognised prize. “This award shows once again that in the up! our designers and engineers have created a vehicle that has been thought through in minute detail. A vehicle that sets standards in its class for efficient use of space, safety, motoring fun and environmental compatibility,” remarks Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chariman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. Within just a short time of its launch last December, the up! was, for example, already topping the statistics for new vehicle registrations in Germany. At around the same time, consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP awarded the up! a top score of five points and also gave it an ‘Advanced Award’ for its city emergency braking system. The highly regarded iF Design Institute in turn gave Volkswagen’s smallest car the ‘iF design award in Gold’. Nor does it end there! The up! has to date also won the ‘2011 Goldene Lenkrad’ (Golden Steering Wheel) in Germany and three awards from British motoring magazine ‘What Car?’: ‘Car of the Year’, ‘City Car 2012’ and the ‘Safety Award’.

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industry update

Holden Crushes Cars in the Name of Safety

Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe

Infiniti announces Australian dealers

eventy Holden cars with latest automotive technology provided Twenty-one teams taking part in over 60 road rescue scenarios

nfiniti Cars Australia recently announced its first authorised retail partners.

Holden has donated 70 cars to the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) to help hone the emergency response skills of hundreds of road rescue workers from around the world taking part in the annual training event.

The performance luxury car manufacturer from Japan has partnered with three of Australia’s most experienced and respected luxury car retailers to establish and operate the country’s first official Infiniti retail centres in time for the brand’s start of local sales this August. These first appointments are the culmination of an extensive industry-wide search and are the first of a number the company has planned as Infiniti implements the initial phase of its long-term retail plans for the Australian luxury car market. Australia’s first official Infiniti retail centres will be situated in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Plans for the first authorised Infiniti centres in both Perth and Adelaide, targeted to open in 2013, are currently underway. Suttons Motors Group: Suttons Motors Group has been appointed Infiniti’s first official retail partner in Sydney, Australia’s largest capital city. Suttons is Australia’s largest familyowned automotive dealer group and is currently developing an impressive inner-city-based Infiniti retail showroom and dedicated service facility. Penfold Motors: Infiniti Cars Australia has appointed Penfold Motors, one of Australia’s most respected auto businesses, to develop

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The performance luxury car manufacturer from Japan has partnered with three of Australia’s most experienced and respected luxury car retailers to establish and operate the country’s first official Infiniti retail centres and operate Infiniti’s first Victorian retail centre. Penfolds boasts 50 years of experience in automotive retailing and is in the process of readying its boutique showroom. A.P. Eagers: Infiniti’s first official retail partner in Brisbane is A.P. Eagers. This national automotive retail group, which employs around 2,900 staff, is one of the country’s largest with close to 100 dealerships across Australia. These first independent appointees exceeded the selection criteria set by Infiniti Cars Australia, which included the ability to deliver personalised and unique customer service, a proven record of exceptional customer satisfaction, and

provision of suitably skilled and experienced branddedicated teams for both sales and management functions. Australia’s first Infiniti Retail Centres will be stand-alone stores styled according to Infiniti’s global retail centre design standards, a project spearheaded by leading Melbourne architectural practice Graphos Architects. In a break with long-standing automotive industry practice, Infiniti’s retail centres will resemble boutique luxury hotels more than traditional car dealerships, especially with regard to their interior designs and overall customer experience. “Announcing our first Australian retail partners is an exciting milestone,” said Kevin

Snell, General Manager of Infiniti Cars Australia. “We have tailored a retail model that will allow us to successfully implement our Total Ownership Experience philosophy, which will give our customers a luxury retail experience that is more personalised, intimate, convenient and enjoyable. “In short, our retail model challenges the traditional approach to automotive retailing,” Snell concluded. From August, Infiniti will commence sales in Australia with the first of many models, the Infiniti FX performance cross-over and the stunning Infiniti M sedan. The Infiniti G Coupe and G Convertible, two exciting cars for lovers of driving, are scheduled to hit Australian roads in December.

The vehicles, previously used by Holden for engineering evaluation and not for public sale, include a range of Holden vehicles and body styles such as Commodore, Caprice Cruze and Captiva. Each vehicle will be used by ARRO to provide crash scenarios for participants in the 2012 Australasian Rescue Challenge in Hobart, from 26 to 29 April 2012. Teams will take part in simulated emergency

“As we all know, refreshing the skills of the road rescue teams with the latest technology is critical. That’s why over the last 12 years Holden has donated nearly 1000 vehicles, giving the emergency services access to the most recent models out on the road.” situations all designed to improve their emergency response skills including rescue and medical treatment for injured motor vehicle occupants.

Peugeot’s New GM/Director Peugeot Automobiles Australia has announced the appointment of Bill Gillespie to the position of General Manager/Director, effective 1st May 2012. Mr Gillespie has been with Peugeot Australia for the last 15 months during which time he has held the position of National Sales Manager. Bill has had an illustrious career within the industry having previously held senior management positions with Nissan, Kia and Toyota. Mr Gillespie replaces Ken Thomas who has stepped down from his position as GM/ Director for Peugeot Australia after 10 years with distributor Sime Darby. Mr Thomas will continue his association with the industry as a

Director of Government Relations and Internal Communications, Matt Hobbs said Holden was very proud of its long-term association with ARRO.

last 12 years Holden has donated nearly 1000 vehicles, giving the emergency services access to the most recent models out on the road,” Mr Hobbs said.

“As we all know, refreshing the skills of the road rescue teams with the latest technology is critical. That’s why over the

“We believe that safety on our roads comes down to four factors; safe driving, safe cars, safe roads and the everyday

corporate consultant. Ken commenced his career with Ford Motor Company in the early 70’s before moving to BMW Australia. He then went on to work with Jaguar, Land Rover and Peugeot. “Ken has been a driving force behind the success of the Peugeot brand in Australia for more than 10 years, especially in his role as the General Manager/Director, a position that he has held for the last 3 years” says Sime Darby Managing Director Rob Dommerson. ``However, we are very pleased to have found someone with Bill’s calibre to replace Ken in what is to be a significant year for Peugeot with the launch of the all-new 4008 and 208 model ranges.’’

heroes who have been trained to save lives. “It is the outstanding work of these men and women that goes a long way towards reducing the road toll and it’s great for Holden to play a role in their training.” Holden Specialist Engineer, Derek Scott, will also be on hand to give expert advice on the latest vehicle safety systems. He will observe teams participating in crash scenarios to provide valuable feedback to the Holden Safety Engineering group. Executive Officer of ARRO, Paul Jerome said Holden’s involvement was a vital component to the success of the training event. “Holden’s support of this program gives our road rescue teams the valuable opportunity to get real hands on experience using new vehicles with the latest automotive technology. There is no other manufacturer in the world that provides this level continued on page 16

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industry update of support, with both vehicles and technical expertise,” said Mr Jerome. “The end result means the teams are better equipped with outstanding skills and techniques, which can make the difference at a real life accident scene.

High Performance Globes

eading globe and lighting technology company Narva, has released Australia’s first complete range of fully ADR compliant and street legal performance headlamp globes. Motorists can now upgrade to globes that deliver amazingly superior light and performance with the peace of mind that each globe in the new Narva range is ADR approved and street legal. For automotive retailers and the trade generally, the

Motorists can now upgrade to globes that deliver amazingly superior light and performance with the peace of mind that each globe in the new Narva range is ADR approved and street legal. promotion of Narva globes eliminates any thoughts about the legalities or otherwise of the various globe options and the concerns related to their recommendations. For those looking to see further there are now three options to choose from. These are Plus50, Plus100 and for the first time in Australia, a Plus120 globe. A practical street legal upgrade that improves road safety by increasing the light volume by 50% is the Plus50 globe. This simple upgrade provides up to 20 metres longer beam, is suitable for polycarbonate lamps

HELLA Australia gains OE with Proton HELLA Australia recently announced that the company has entered into an Original Equipment supplier agreement with Proton Cars, Malaysia.

According to HELLA Australia CEO, Olavi Rantala, HELLA Australia continues to grow, diversify and expand its research, design and manufacturing reach.

Employing more than 350 Victorians at HELLA’s manufacturing plant in Mentone, this agreement places Australia as a key automotive component manufacturing partner with one of the world’s best known and fastest growing vehicle marques.

“HELLA Australia is meeting these challenges head-on to ensure our continued success as a proud Australian manufacturer,” said Mr. Rantala.

HELLA has decades of experience in supplying all three Australian car manufacturers, Toyota, Ford and Holden (and their predecessors) with Original Equipment headlights, rear lamps and many other application specific automotive lighting products. The company has made major investments to its Australian manufacturing capabilities to ensure its long term viability and success within the Pacific region and beyond. with no increase in power consumption or heat. Through maximising the Xenon filler gas in the Plus100 globe, driver vision has been dramatically improved with the delivery

“This is definitely the result of our hard working staff who are as committed as the company management is to ensuring our long term success and viability as an Australian manufacturer,” he added. On a global basis, HELLA employs 25,000 people with 3,800 working in research and development. The German privately owned company which was founded in 1899, operates in more than 100 countries. HELLA Australia is one of the company’s Global Centres of Excellence for design and manufacturing. of 100% more light on the road. These globes achieve up to 35 metres longer beam without any increase in heat or power consumption. One of the premium performance globes, delivering the highest light output available, is the new Narva Plus120 performance globe. These produce 120% more light on the road compared with a conventional halogen globe, achieving up to 40 metres longer beam with no increase on power consumption or heat. A first for Australian motorists, these new globes are also suitable for use with polycarbonate headlamps. Some drivers will prefer the colour of the globe to be whiter and Narva offers 3 globes that deliver more light combined with a whiter colour. Normal halogen globes are rated

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at 3,200 Kelvin and Blue Plus90 globes combine the benefits of 90% more light on the road compared with conventional globes, with a 20% whiter light output delivering 3,750K. The Arctic Plus50 globe at 3,900K with its distinctive white headlamp appearance has 50% more light volume. ‘Intense’ is the latest breakthrough from Narva completing the ADR approved range at 4,200K This globe delivers the maximum legal blue, bright white light output and brilliant steel blue headlamp appearance with up to 30% more light volume. Commercial vehicles have also been catered for with technological developments from Narva. A revolutionary new 24V filament design in the 24V Plus100 globes now produces 100% more life and 100% more light volume on the road with no increase in power consumption or heat build up that could impact on the vehicle wiring.

Suffer the children

new study from Continental has discovered that children feel their parents do not concentrate enough when driving.   The study of 500 German children and youngsters

EV Charging Network Expands Mitsubishi i-MiEV drivers can now re-charge their electric vehicles in Stirling, South Australia. A convoy of eight i-MiEVs attended the opening of the new charge point in the Adelaide Hills in April, with South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Hon. Paul Caica MP, officially launching the charger by plugging in a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. MMAL vice-president corporate strategy, Paul Stevenson, welcomed the addition of another public charging station for i-MiEV users to the South Australian network. “As the i-MiEV gains popularity, the expansion of the charging network in Australia is an important step towards an electric future. i-MiEV owners can now re-charge at a number of locations in Adelaide,

including the free fast charger located at Mitsubishi Motors’ head office in Clovelly Park,” Mr Stevenson said. The EV charging station at The Organic Market and Café, Stirling, was installed by ChargePoint and features Level 1 (15 amps) and Level 2 (32 amps) charging points. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is available from selected Mitsubishi dealers in all capital cities. To find an i-MiEV dealer, or for more information, visit the Mitsubishi website at www. mitsubishi-motors.com.au or call 1300 13 12 11. Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited recommends that the i-MiEV electric vehicle always be charged using renewable or “green” energy.

aged four to 16 years old was conducted by market research company OnePoll on behalf of Continental and the Lower Saxony Road Safety Foundation.   Three-quarters of the respondents declared their parents rant and rave whilst driving, with 54% also shouting and 41% arguing in the presence of their offspring. One fifth of the adults supposedly even hold their mobile phone to their ear while driving. “Our children are the drivers of tomorrow. So parents should also set an example when at the wheel,” says Dr. Ralf Cramer, Continental Executive Board Member and Head of Vehicle Safety Technology in the Chassis & Safety division, whilst commenting on the findings of the study.   Despite criticising their parents, 98% of the children questioned said they were satisfied with their guardians’ driving style. Ninety-four per cent reported feeling safe when travelling, especially when their father was at the wheel.

Although mothers drive their children around to extra-curricular activities more than half the time, only 39% of the children preferred how their mother drove, with 49% choosing their fathers driving style.   And who drives faster? The children confirmed a few cliches here, with 73% stating that their fathers drove faster than their mothers and more aggressively.   More than a third (37%) of the respondents even described their fathers as rude drivers.   “The results of this study should give all parents food for thought,” declares Cornelia Zieseni, Managing Director of the Lower Saxony Road Safety Foundation, with traffic-related patterns of behaviour within the family not only influencing future driving habits of children, but also affecting their risk of having an accident.   “For children of parents with three or more offences, the likelihood of being caught committing a traffic offence is 38% higher than for children of parents with a clean driving licence.”  motor trader queensland

close range), EyeSightTM inhibits the throttle opening, helping minimize or potentially avoid impact. This will also assist in helping to reduce impacts in situations when ‘Drive’ is accidentally selected instead of ‘Reverse.’

industry update

Subaru Eyesight™ Wins Award

ubaru’s EyeSight™ driver assist system has won a prestigious Japanese government science and technology award.

• Adaptive Cruise Control – is designed to maintain a safe distance from the ‘target’ car in front irrespective of the varying speed of that vehicle.

The five Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) engineers who developed EyeSight received the prize for Science and Technology 2012, Development Category, from Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The awards honour those who have made noteworthy contributions either to the research and development of science and technology, or to its public understanding. It is the first time FHI has won the award. EyeSight uses stereo camera technology to provide driver assistance in a variety of conditions. The features include PreCollision Braking that can stop the vehicle if it detects the risk of frontal collision. FHI successfully developed EyeSight to use one sensor which not only controls the driving support system but also measures the distance, the speed difference and the relative positions between the front of the vehicle and another car. Since its introduction in Japan, this user-friendly system has been highly praised for a good balance between its affordable pricing and excellent utility. 18

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• Lane Departure Warning - alerts the driver if the system determines that the car is drifting across clearly marked lanes. • Vehicle Sway Warning alerts the driver if the car starts to sway from one side of the road to another, which may occur with fatigue.

EyeSight uses one sensor which not only controls the driving support system but also measures the distance, the speed difference and the relative positions between the front of the vehicle and another car. Sales of EyeSight models in Japan have accounted for more than 80 per cent of the total of some Subaru model ranges. In Australia, EyeSight is a standard feature in Model Year 2012 Liberty 3.6R Premium and Outback 3.6R Premium.

Eyesight™ Background EyeSight™ uses minute stereo cameras located in a single compact unit near the rear-view mirror, to recognize a variety of potential road hazards and alert the driver. EyeSightTM is a driver assistance system combining active, passive

and preventative safety technologies. The system underlines Subaru’s long-term safety commitment, which includes independent five-star ratings for occupant safety across its entire range, from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). EyeSightTM has been extensively tested locally for the last 12 months by engineers from both Subaru Australia and Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru vehicles. The system includes seven key functions: • Pre-Collision Braking –

applies the brakes when a vehicle ahead is detected slowing or stopping suddenly (and the driver has failed to apply the brakes). • Pre-Collision Brake Assist – if the system determines that a collision is highly likely and the driver applies the brakes, the system can generate 1G maximum deceleration to help reduce impact or damage. • Pre-Collision Throttle Management – if a driver accidentally applies full throttle close to a barrier or large object situated in front of the car (such as a car park wall or vehicle immediately ahead at

• Lead Vehicle Start Alert - when the EyeSightTMequipped vehicle is stopped and the vehicle in front starts to move, the driver receives an audible reminder and information display indicator notifying them that the vehicle in front has moved. EyeSightTM is designed to actively assist drivers in avoiding frontal collisions, lane drifting and low speed impacts.

Suzuki aficionado first to buy Swift Sport

back and explained that’s how they come.

artin Howe from Wynnum was the first person in Queensland and possibly Australia to purchase the new Suzuki Swift Sport.

“They asked about the sports exhaust – I told them that’s part of the package as well – they just couldn’t believe it.

“I read the media reports about its launch here and called up the dealership – that was on the Monday; I paid for it on the Tuesday and collected it on the Wednesday,” said Mr. Howe. “I was at the dealership signing the paperwork as the first Sport was being delivered to them on the truck - I would have taken it right there and then, but obviously it needed the pre-delivery work done. “At the time I owned a 2009 Swift and before that, a Swift Cino that covered 287,000 km with just regular servicing and two Mighty Boys before that,” he added. “I’ve had so many comments about it – one group even asked me if I had built the car up myself, but I just showed them the Sport badge on the

“They asked about the smokey coloured headlight covers – I said that’s standard.

“That’s the thing - Suzuki is on a real winner again. “They are just so good – I think Suzuki is the most under-rated car going. The way they are engineered, the way they go forever, the things that they put into them for the price.” “It looks a mean, tough little car, like it has come straight off the track,” he added. “I had a Blaze Red Swift before this one. That was good colour, but this

“I read the media reports about its launch here and called up the dealership – that was on the Monday; I paid for it on the Tuesday and collected it on the Wednesday,

Champion Yellow is straight from the track – it draws people in to have a closer look,” Mr. Howe concluded.

New Sales GM at Audi Audi Australia Pty Ltd has appointed Mark Kebblewhite to the position of General Manager Sales, effective Monday 30 April 2012. Mr Kebblewhite joins Audi from Hyundai Motor Corporation Australia, where he spent 7 years, most recently in the position of Regional Manager Sales (2007 to April 2012). During his tenure, Mark led the NSW sales operation of Hyundai through a period of significant growth. Prior to joining Hyundai, Mark spent 11 years in the automotive retail sector, including the position of Brand Manager for Volkswagen at Denlo Group, Parramatta. Mark has 17 years of sales experience in the automotive industry, and his brand experience also extends to Volvo, Jaguar and Mazda. In his role as General Manager Sales for Audi, Mark will be responsible for further developing the Audi brand in the Australian premium market.

It can ‘lock on’ to vehicles directly in front and, when used together with adaptive cruise control, can slow, stop and accelerate to maintain a safe distance. EyeSightTM can also recognize pedestrians, motorcycles and cyclists within its field of vision. Depending on conditions, EyeSightTM can use precrash braking helping to minimize any impact and damage. If the speed is less than 30 km/h, the car may be brought to a complete stop prior to impact. motor trader queensland

industry update

Sales on the up for SUVs

ports utility vehicles streamed out of showrooms in March, helping to push vehicle sales to the highest monthly total in almost two years, with more than 97,000 buyers. The figure, driven by demand for SUVs of all sizes, was 3.9 per cent higher than the same month last year and the best result since June 2010. It capped a positive first quarter for the industry with sales up nearly 5 per cent for the year, representing almost 1000 additional vehicles leaving showrooms every week. Releasing the figures yesterday, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said small cars were the other factor in the strong result. “SUVs continue to dominate Australian car sales,” FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said. “Combined with small passenger cars and light passenger cars, these three

segments make up 64.6 per cent of new cars sold this year.”

Ford slipping down the sales charts to fifth, behind Mazda and Hyundai.

The SUV boom compensated for a decline in demand for light commercial vehicles despite a rebound for Toyota’s Hilux best seller, which was hit by supply problems in the wake of last year’s Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Imports captured 87 per cent of sales, with the Japanese-made Mazda 3, a small hatchback, again the nation’s favourite vehicle with 3818 buyers. Strong sales of its new compact SUV, the CX-5, and BT-50 pick-up helped Mazda to record its best month ever.

It helped Toyota lead the sales race along with its Camry, which found 43 per cent more buyers than last March on the strength of the new locally built model. Other local makers Ford and Holden had a more mixed result, with large car sales down 30 per cent for the month affecting both the Falcon and Commodore. The Holden sedan found 1000 fewer buyers than in March last year while a poor result for the Falcon, with 1275 sales, was one factor in

The figure, driven by demand for SUVs of all sizes, was 3.9 per cent higher than the same month last year and the best result since June 2010.

Kia Motors Australia partners with SUNA Traffic

ia Motors Australia has partnered with Intelematics Australia to provide SUNA Live Traffic Updates as a standard feature in its Platinum grade Optima, Sorento and Sportage models. Kia’s first satellite navigation systems featuring SUNA will also be available as an option in the SLi Sorento and Sportage. SUNA Traffic Channel is Australia’s first digital traffic information service that broadcasts detailed information about traffic congestion and other road conditions directly to compatible in-car satellite navigation devices. “We are

delighted to be partnering with Kia Motors Australia, one of the fastest growing mainstream automotive brands in Australia which is committed to offering its customers the best in design, engineering and technology. The inclusion of SUNA in Kia’s highly popular range reaffirms our dominance as the leading traffic provider for in-car navigation systems,” said Adam Game, Chief Executive Officer, Intelematics Australia. Kia Motors Australia is the ninth vehicle manufacturer to provide SUNA Traffic Live Traffic Updates through its in-car satellite navigation systems. The inclusion of SUNA Traffic via in-car embedded navigation grew enormously in 2011, and it is predicted sales of vehicles fitted with SUNA Traffic embedded within in-car navigation systems is expected to exceed over 110,000 units during FY11-12. Speaking about the new partnership Tony Barlow, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Australia said “The SUNA live traffic system gives a new relevance to satellite navigation for daily commuters who will obviously know their way to and from their regular destinations but now have the added peace of mind that there will be no unexpected surprises on the way.” SUNA Traffic Channel analyses more than three hundred million instantaneous speed measurements each month, combining a range of traffic data including GPS trackers on probe vehicles, traffic light data, traffic camera data and analysis of historical traffic information. Motorists can find out more information on SUNA by visiting: www.sunatraffic. com.au

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Does your super fund tick all the right boxes? Low fees No commissions Run only to benefit members

MTAA Super is the Industry SuperFund for the Motor Industry and anyone can join. For more information visit www.mtaasuper.com.au Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238 718) is the Trustee of MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). You should consider whether or not MTAA Super is appropriate for you. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) can be obtained by calling us on 1300 362 415. You should consider the PDS in making a decision.

MIT news

health Dealing with chronic pain

Students of the Month

Get an Endorphin Boost: Exercise

Blake Boreman April’s Student of The Month is 21-year-old Blake Boreham of Oldmac Mazda. The 3rd year apprentice is undertaking a Cert III in Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreting).

It’s a Catch-22: You’re hurting, so you don’t exercise; but without exercise, you may lose muscle tone and strength, making pain worse. Fortunately, even mild exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good brain chemicals that lift mood and block pain. Ask your GP if aerobic, strengthening, or stretching exercises can give your body the boost -- and relief -- it needs.

MIT Technical Trainer Doug Fleming said that from the first contact that he had with Blake, it was obvious that he was committed to his job and to the completion of his workbook. “Blake had no prior experience in automotive and previous to this he worked at McDonalds,” said Mr. Fleming.

Breathing, Meditation, and Biofeedback It sounds so obvious, but few of us actually take the time to stop what we’re doing and calm our minds. Deep breathing, biofeedback, and meditation are all stress management techniques that relax your body, which helps ease pain. Talk to your GP to learn more, but in the meantime, slow down, close your eyes…breathe in… breathe out.

Avoid Alcohol Before Bedtime You need a good night’s sleep to help soothe the stresses pain puts on your body. Although alcohol can help you fall asleep, as it metabolizes, it promotes shallow sleep, reduces important REM sleep, and may even wake you. The result: A less restful night.

Cut Pain: Quit Smoking Some people find temporary relief from stress and pain with a quick smoke. The irony is that smoking may actually contribute to pain in the long run. It slows healing, worsens 22

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(l to r) Blake Boreham, Andrew Bremner, Doug Fleming

circulation, and increases the risk of degenerative disc problems, a cause of low back pain. If you need an incentive to quit, pain relief just may be it. Ask your GP about programs and medicines to kick the habit.

Give Your Body a Boost: Eat Better If you’re living with chronic pain, you want to do everything you can to help your body, not hinder it. One way to keep your body strong is to eat a well-balanced diet. Eating right improves blood sugar, helps maintain weight, reduces heart disease risk, and aids digestion. Aim for a diet rich in whole grains, fresh produce, and low-fat proteins.

Journal: Help Your GP Help You Keeping a pain journal can be a great way to help your GP understand and more effectively treat your chronic pain. At the end of each day,

record a “pain score” between 1 and 10. Then note what you did that day, and how these activities made you feel. The next time you see the doctor, bring the journal and discuss your findings.

Schedule Relaxation, Set Limits By taking care of your emotional and physical health, you can better manage your pain. That may mean saying no to events like parties if you need the rest. Or it may mean scheduling regular massages or setting an unbreakable dinner date with good friends to boost your spirits. How you care for you is unique to you -- and it’s also up to you.

Distract Yourself You already know that focusing on pain can just make it worse. That’s why one potent prescription for relief is to keep busy with activities that take your mind off the pain. Even if you can’t control

the pain, you can control the rest of your life. Get started!

Know Your Medicines Understand the medicines you’re taking, what they can do for you, and their side effects. Then educate yourself about other treatment options. Your goal is to have a normal mood and activity level -- if you don’t, then a different medicine might be better for you. Your job is to be proactive, to ask questions, and look for answers.

You’re Not Alone As many as one person in every three is dealing with chronic pain, so you’re far from alone. Reaching out is the most important habit you can develop to help you deal with chronic pain. Tell friends and family what you’re feeling because they won’t know otherwise. Ask for help. Learn more about your condition. Then share what you know with others.

“After my second visit I enrolled him and told his manager, Andrew Bremner, ‘don’t lose this kid’, as he was that good. “Blake is intelligent and he responds well to training and suggestions and whenever he felt unsure of what was required, he would contact me & discuss it with me so that he could answer questions correctly. “He’s a good kid with a great personality and has done a remarkable job at picking up interpreting – he’s the first student I’ve nominated in six years. “He progressed to the trade phone order room last year whilst still in the late first year of his training. Since being in that area, he has become a person who trades people ask for as he has proven to them that his interpreting skills are first class & he responds in a positive manner at all times. From a personal point of view, I would consider Blake to have

(l to r) Manager Mark Calder with Daniel McCulloch

a big future in the business. “He has very high standards in personal presentation & always presents a courteous approach with a smile to all who meet with him. “His work skills are far above what could be expected for a person of his experience of only 18 months. “His attitude to his work, studies and the theoretical application is not compromised at any level.

“On a daily basis, he is an excellent contributor to the parts operation at Oldmac Mazda,” Mr. Fleming concluded.

“When I first met Daniel, I was asked by the owner John Calder to fast track him, as Daniel had been working there since March 2002,” said Mr. Shiels.

Daniel McCulloch

“I could see straight away that Daniel had a lot of experience with LandRover but seemed a bit hesitant to try anything new; however, since then, the change has been dramatic in that now there is nothing he won’t have a go at and put in

Daniel McCulloch of British Off Road was named February’s Student of the Month after MIT Technical Trainer Darryl Shiels nominated him for the remarkable change he saw in Daniel after having worked with him since the end of 2010.

continued on page 24

motor trader queensland

Megatrends ahead

MIT news 110% effort – from working on the floor, to parts, to running the workshop for a week when the others were away. “In addition to all of this, I have asked a lot from Daniel with workbooks and tasks that he has completed on time,” he added.

Megatrends for the decade ahead: Dealerships must learn to use the increased transparency

Tiffany Mitchell

brought by social media to their advantage

Jax Quickfit Yeerongpilly’s Tiffany Mitchell was named MIT’s March Student of the Month after having been nominated by MIT Technical Trainer, Richard Pope. “Tiffany has worked very hard towards her training and she is a valuable employee,” said Mr. Pope. “Her positive attitude towards her duties is a credit to not only herself, but to the entire team,” he added. Employer Barry Fields said that Tiffany has “enthusiastic work ethics and commitment to top quality workmanship”.

New motor industry training

ueensland will lead the way in motor industry training when a unique program designed to upgrade skills for vehicle loss assessors is delivered for the first time later this year. The Motor Trades Association of Queensland’s Institute of Technology (MIT) and Suncorp have combined to develop a program specifically for Motor Vehicle Loss Assessors. The program is a first for the Australian automotive industry and Suncorp loss assessors from around the 24

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I Tiffany Mitchell

The unique program will complement the assessors’ existing knowledge base and provide a formal, nationally recognised qualification. country will make up the initial intake in May this year. About 250 of Suncorp’s assessors will complete the Certificate IV Vehicle Loss Assessing qualification, to be delivered through the MIT. The qualification was formalised by Auto Skills Australia (ASA) in response to significant industry demand to support training of new entrants, as well as providing a best practice qualification for existing workers.

MIT’s Managing Director, Brett Dale, said the new program was another step forward for the automotive industry to ensure world-class outcomes for consumers. “The course is designed to be delivered over 24 months but it will recognise prior learning to enable some participants to complete the qualification sooner. “Working with Suncorp, we’ll be delivering workplace training to every Suncorp Assessor in every capital city and some regional centres – in line with MIT’s policy of flexible delivery to suit the needs of industry.” Head of Motor Claims at Suncorp, Sean Dempsey, said the benefits would

be wide ranging - for the insurance industry, the vehicle repair industry and motorists. “The vast majority of our assessors are from smash repair backgrounds, but with technology changing so rapidly it’s vital that they keep up to date with the latest advancements,” he said. “This will ensure our assessors can make comprehensive, accurate judgments about necessary repair work and will also help them to liaise better with our aligned repairers.”

n the current age of Generation Y and the accessibility of the Web, being on the internet now means more than having a dealership website. Social media and social networking sites are immensely popular and many business leaders have recognised that their application extends beyond Generation Y to be a genuine way of connecting and communicating with customers. The near ubiquitous adoption of social media platforms in just a few years – Facebook was only launched in 2004, while Twitter followed two years later – has already had a multi-tiered effect on

business. According to a BDO Global research report – Service 2020: Megatrends for the decade ahead - social media is changing the way consumers select products and services, based on real time views of others. The influence of social media will develop and expand in the coming decade, as it replaces the media as the primary consumer watchdog. In turn, this is making organisations more transparent than ever before. This trend is reflected in the Service 2020 research report findings, with just over a quarter (28 per cent) of

survey respondents claiming social media has improved customer relations (Refer Chart 1). In today’s social media environment, if something goes wrong, it could end up in the online arena very quickly. One high-profile example of this is Qantas, who was ridiculed recently after offering a prize of first class pyjamas by tweeting “To enter tell us what is your dream luxury in flight experience? (Be creative!) Answer must include #Qantas Luxury”. The hash tag was hijacked by people having a joke at the airline’s expense, following the grounding of its fleet, with tweets such as “Alan Joyce now seeking an injunction to ground twitter due to Qantas Luxury fiasco”. Qantas responded, tweeting “At this rate our #Qantas Luxury competition is going to take years to judge”. Quite simply, every customer now has an instant, global and searchable means of broadcasting their feedback, good or bad. In addition, customers are also more willing than ever to complain about bad service. All this is accelerating the move away from the mainstream media acting as a consumer watchdog towards a more crowd-sourced

approach. Accordingly, 43 per cent of organisations polled already actively monitor social media for comments on their service, with just over a third (34 per cent) proactively using social media to enhance their customer relationships. Despite this, only 24 per cent say they integrate social media feedback into conventional input. It is also no longer denying that social media is also here to stay - more than 40 per cent of respondents indicated they did not think it is a fad (Refer Chart 1). Service 2020: Megatrends for the decade ahead is an Economist Intelligence Unit report, commissioned and sponsored by BDO. The report, which presents findings covering eight megatrends, explores how successful organisations have built and subsequently sustained excellent client service and, most importantly, provides a blueprint for the prioritisation of service development opportunities. For a copy of the full report please visit bdo.com. au/service2020 or email service2020@bdo.com.au. To find out more about BDO’s automotive services please contact Mark Ward, Partner or Randall Bryson, Associate Director on (07) 3237 5999.

MIT has worked closely with Suncorp to develop a tailored program to meet the needs of its vehicle loss assessors. The first batch of students will commence the course in May.

The unique program will complement the assessors’ existing knowledge base and provide a formal, nationally recognised qualification. motor trader queensland

sport

members Automotive Obsession wins top award

Impressive Debut for Private Mégane

TA Queensland member Automotive Obsession in Bohle, Queensland, took out the prestigious Repco Authorised Service Best New Member Award for 2011.

easoned Targa Tasmania competitor Gavin James and long-time co-driver Tim Kulhanek have achieved an impressive debut in their privately owned Mégane R.S. 250.

This fiercely contested award recognises the best new member for 2011 within the proudly independent Repco Authorised Service (RAS) network, with previous winners continuing to achieve outstanding levels of excellence across all facets of their business. Mr Mark Billingsley, RAS Regional Manager who nominated the team at Automotive Obsession for this award said that Mark and Karen Lythgo had decided to go into their own business and knew the value that the strong support that Repco Authorised Service could deliver to a new business. “Mark has worked for another RAS member in the past and had liked the professional approach to business and the systems which enhance the day today operations,” Mr Billingsley added. “In addition, the team at Automotive Obsession is quick to adopt progressive marketing and promote the business at every opportunity.

Member wins BBQ in Commonwealth Bank promotion Paul Crosley of Newman Tyre & Mechanical in Coorparoo won they BBQ draw whereby eligible entrants signed up for a Commonwealth Bank product between 1 November and 31 January. A corporate partner to MTA Queensland, the Commonwealth Bank assisted Mr. Crosley with eftpos setup, then refinanced his business loan and and Mark are elated with the progress that has come with their strong commitment to the RAS program,” he said. Mr Peter Webb, National Manager of Repco Authorised Service said that it was a hard decision to pick a winner, as it is every year.

“Even though their building sustained damage in cyclone Yasi, the business has pressed on with their commitment to raising standards.

“The quality of business people that the Repco Authorised Service program attracts is outstanding,” he said.

“Having now been in business for 17 months both Karen

“One of the reasons that automotive workshops are

motor trader queensland

subsequently provided a home loan. “The Commonwealth Bank has been very helpful,” said Mr. Crosley. “I’ve got one contact for everything and he is always on to it.

“Everything is always followed up on, I’ve been very pleased with the bank,” he added. Mr. Crosley chose his BBQ and accessories at Mitre Ten Mt Gravatt.

“First I did the eftpos deal, then refinanced my business loan and after that came the home loan.

“The BBQ is a great addition to the

drawn to the RAS program is the sophisticated range of systems and support that we have in place for independent businesses to utilise to strengthen their businesses in the face of persistent competition for the manufacturer’s dealerships.

“They are a credit not only to the RAS network, but also to independent automotive businesses in Australia. If Mark, Karen and their team are any indication, the future of the industry looks bright indeed,” he added.

“The team at Automotive Obsession has embraced the essence of what it is to be a RAS member, constant innovation, a willingness to adapt and learn new business techniques and the vision to invest in their business’s future.

new house, what with the pool out the back,” he said.

Automotive Obsession is located in Bohle, QLD and has been a member of the Repco Authorised Service network since 2010. Repco Authorised Service is a nationwide network of independently owned and operated mechanical workshops backed by Repco.

Competing in the two-wheeldrive showroom category for the first time since the 1980s, James comfortably held his own against the favourites. As the event unfolded the Renault was trading stage wins with the seasoned competitors. In fact, in leg 5 TS26 the Mégane R.S. 250 finished first in two-wheel-drive showroom and was equal tenth fastest outright. James competed for the privately owned Milwaukee Tools Renault Rally team who purchased the Mégane R.S. 250 in 2011.

“Showroom production cars are notoriously fickle when driven hard in tough conditions. The Renault RS 250 continually performed beyond my expectations and we can’t wait to campaign the Milwaukee Tools Renault in this year’s Australian Tarmac Championship.”

The notoriously testing Tasmanian conditions took their toll on the leg 4 when the Mégane R.S. 250 came off second best in an altercation with an inconveniently located lamp post, forcing James to retire.

Justin Hocevar, Managing Director of Renault Australia, said: “I would like to congratulate Gavin and Tim on a brilliant Targa event. It was wonderful to see the Renault right at the pointy end of the field in its first year.

Commenting on his accomplishments over the past week, James said: “The Renault RS was on the pace from day one winning the 2WD Showroom Category in the Prologue at Georgetown. The RS has so many technical advancements in its chassis and electronics package it answered every challenge as we placed the RS under enormous stress.

“We know the Mégane R.S.

“Never before have I enjoyed driving such a well balanced and responsive car like the RS.

250 is a brilliant car

and it is fantastic when we are able to see someone test its ability in such a gruelling environment. We wish Gavin all the very best and look forward to continuing to work with him in future events.”

Auto One backs V8 Supercar driver

ustralian automotive retailer Auto One recently announced its new national brand ambassador; upcoming V8 Supercar hot prospect Tim Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard, a leader in the V8 Supercars Development Series, was chosen by the national retail chain to be the new face of the brand, strengthening their longstanding alignment with Australian motorsport.

“I’m very excited to be coming on-board with Auto One in 2012 as part of their involvement in motorsport,” he said. “It’s fantastic as my career grows to be part of a company that is also growing in the automotive industry. “Having driven the Auto One Wildcard Ute last year and experiencing first hand Auto One’s commitment to motorsport, the national brand ambassador role is a perfect fit for me. “I am trying to forge a career in the V8 Supercars, and so I’m excited to have a leading Australian automotive brand like Auto One involved in my development. “I am confident that we can work together to build Auto One’s presence in motorsport. “Throughout 2012 we’ll be providing Auto One customers and members with pit tours of not only the continued on page 28

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sport V8 Ute paddock but also my V8 Supercar area, giving them an insight into what happens behind the garage doors, and interacting with them through Auto One’s social media channels,” added Mr. Blanchard. The 24 year old established his motorsport career as a Formula Ford champion, placing 1st in the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2007 and 2nd in the British Formula Ford Championship before moving up to the V8 Supercar Development Series where he raced in 2010 and 2011. He finished fifth overall in the 2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, gaining a podium finish at the Clipsal 500 and a race win in Townsville. “My ultimate goal at this point is to move into the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2013,” said Mr. Blanchard. “The best opportunity for us this year was to remain in the Development Series. “We’ve moved up to a new FG Falcon with the support of FPR and Matt White Motorsport, so with a newer car we’re planning to be fighting for wins throughout the season,” he added. Peter Henry, CEO of Auto One said that the company was very excited to have such a great up and coming motor racer to share his insight into what’s occurring at the track at any given event with the A1 Club base and clients. “Tim is a great fit for Auto One to continue to grow our motor racing sponsorship with the V8 Ute Series,” said Mr. Henry. “Tim is a young charismatic driver with a great deal of skill, as he demonstrated last year 28

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in Darwin where he performed admirably in the Auto One Wildcard Ute,” he added.

MAN continues as V8’s Official Transporter

ruck manufacturer MAN has confirmed it will continue to support Triple Eight Race Engineering as the ‘Official Transporter’ for the 2012 V8 Supercar season. Fulfilling arguably one of the most important roles within the Brisbane-based team, two MAN TGX prime movers are tasked with ensuring the TeamVodafone and Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden Commodores tour the country safely to and from each event, amassing almost 90,000 kilometres throughout the season. TeamVodafone Team Principal Adrian Burgess is thrilled at the continued association and has full confidence in the two MAN transporters to deliver team’s Holden Commodore V8 Supercars promptly and safely

to each circuit. “Transporting the TeamVodafone race cars around Australia is not a job we take lightly, we would only trust that responsibility to our two MAN TGX trucks,” he says. “Like our race cars, we need power, efficient consumption, reliability, drivability, while also wanting to present ourselves with the best looking equipment in the paddock.” Defending V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup says the relationship with MAN underpins the teams desire to ensure they used high quality products. “Triple Eight Race Engineering is all about innovation and engineering excellence and as a company we like to be surrounded by high quality products which makes MAN the perfect fit for us,” he says. MAN General Manager Marketing Don Hanson feels privileged to work alongside TeamVodafone again and supply the highest quality of transport for their V8 Supercars.

“MAN is proud of the association with Triple Eight Race Engineering. As with Triple Eight, MAN has a long and storied history of exceptional engineering as well as a history of supporting motorsport worldwide,” he says.

The Champion in Touring Car Racing

n August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine AutoDeutschland about a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. The pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile on one prediction. They were convinced that anyone who “wants to be a key player in the A Team needs to be turbocharged under the bonnet”. Not true. The BMW M3 had a naturally aspirated engine. And it became the most successful touring car in

the history of BMW. The M3 project was launched just a few months earlier. Production of the M1 midengine sports car had already been discontinued for some time and BMW CEO Eberhard Kuenheim commissioned a design for a successor. After one of his regular visits to Motorsport GmbH in Munich he suggested there was a need a sporty engine for the 3 Series.” His aspiration was in good hands. Motorsport GmbH with its managing director of technical development Paul Rosche had demonstrated its expertise with the legendary 5 Series saloons driven by M engines as well as developing the Formula 1 turbo engine that powered Brazilian Nelson Piquet to win the World Championship in the Brabham BMW in 1983. Power source: a four-cylinder engine with 2.3 litres displacement and four-valve engineering.  The new 3 Series engine had something in common with this: the crankcase. It originated from volume production and actually formed the basis for the two-litre engine with four cylinders. Four cylinders meant less weight and high

torque, an ideal platform for a sports engine in the projected displacement class. A comprehensive power boost was called for in order to turn the workhorse into an athletic and sporty power unit. The BMW design engineers increased the displacement to 2.3 litres and applied four-valve engineering. There was also another reason for the decision to opt for a four-cylinder engine and not adopt the six-cylinder engine introduced in the BMW 3 Series. The longer crankshaft in the big engine started to vibrate much earlier than the shorter four-cylinder shaft. The design engineers therefore designed the crankshaft drive of the BMW M3 with sufficient torsional stability to achieve 10,000 revolutions a minute and more. Paul Rosche recalls: “We started work immediately. One advantage was that the big six-cylinder engine originally had the same cylinder gap as the four-cylinder engine. We therefore cut two combustion chambers off the four-cylinder head of the M88 and bolted a panel over the hole on the rear side.” This meant that the new four-cylinder engine had a second forebear. The

six-cylinder engine that had initially created a sensation in the M1 and had meanwhile transformed the M635CSi into one of the fastest coupés in the world. Paul Rosche: “Whether you believe it or not – we had created an outstanding four-cylinder engine for the 3 Series within the space of two weeks. Under the development name S14, this engine was to generate headlines in sport and in volume production over the years to come. Contrary to the situation with the mid-engine sports car, the BMW M3 was not going to be crafted by hand in small batches. This car was to be produced as a massproduction automobile on an assembly line. It was destined to compete in near-production touring car motor sport, or more precisely as a Group A racing car, defined as a “production car”, of which at least 5,000 units have to be built within the space of twelve consecutive months in accordance with Annex J of the international automobile sport regulations. 300 hp for competitive racing.  However, many of them immediately disappeared again into

garages and workshops to be given a new outfit. After all, the M3 had been designed as a racing car, and this was the time to prove that it really could “race”. A World Touring Car Championship was held for the first time in 1987. And that was exactly what the M3 had been built for. But not quite in the guise in which it was seen on the streets. Instead of 200 hp, the 2.3 litre engine delivered up to 300 hp at 8,200 rpm in the racing version. This put it on a par with the BMW M635CSi. BMW didn’t line up on the starting grid with its own team but supported a number of famous racing outfits like Schnitzer, Linder, Zackspeed and Bigazzi. Drivers like Markus Oestreich, Christian Danner, Roberto Ravaglia and Wilfried Vogt took the wheel, and Annette Meeuvissen and Mercedes Stermitz were the first women drivers. Roberto Ravaglia in the M3: first World Touring Car Champion.  The first race for the 1987 World Touring Car Championship started in Monza on 22 March 1987 – and ended with a sensation. All the M3 cars were excluded from the placings. The vehicles were checked under chaotic conditions and disqualified because of sheet-metal thickness that was allegedly contrary to the regulations. BMW appealed but the sports tribunal decided that the appeal had been lodged too late. There was no longer any talk of infringements of the rules. All the brouhaha naturally didn’t have any effect on the result of the championship. At the end of the season, Roberto Ravaglia was standing on the podium as the first World Touring Car Champion. But that was only the pinnacle of the success list. Wilfried Vogt took the title of European Champion. Altfried Heger came in second - both driving a BMW M3. In 1987, the German Touring Car motor trader queensland

automobile news

sport Championship (DTM) also went to the new BMW M3, with Eric van de Poele behind the wheel. Moreover, the most sporty 3 Series car was also winning competitions off the race track. An M3 crossed the finishing line in first place in the Corsica Rally and secured a victory for BMW after a gap of 14 years in a race for the World Rally Championship. In 1988, the BMW M3 continued the success story and took the national titles in France, England and Spain. In the following year came another victory in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), this time with Roberto Ravaglia in the driver’s seat, alongside wins at the national championships in Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, the displacement had been increased to 320 hp and the BMW M3 drove the competition into the ground. Belgian driver Marc Duez battled his way through the Monte Carlo Rally with an M3 and took eighth place as best driver in a car without a four-wheel drive. The sensational one-two victory in the 24-hour classic on the Nürburgring crowned this series of successes in 1989 with the driver combinations Pirro/Ravaglia/Giroix and Heger/Grohs/Manthey. The M3 had a commanding presence on the international touring car racing scene for five years. It became the most successful touring car of all times by winning the two champion’s titles in the European Touring Car Championship and twice in the German Touring Car Championship. Depending on the competition rules, the four-valve engine had to be adapted to national regulations. For example, the capacity for England was limited to 2 litres while 30

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Subaru Liberty Subaru in late April unveiled an exciting new Australia-bound Liberty variant at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. The Model Year 2013 variant features a new grille, front bumpers, sporty sills with chrome-type highlights, exclusive 18-inch wheels and ride height raised 60 mm. Interior detail changes include black metal-type centre panel, centre console and steering switch panel, while the electronic park brake and SI-Drive switches are relocated for easier use. Pricing and release dates will be advised later. for Germany and France it was raised to 2.5 litres. This enabled the four-cylinder to deliver up to 355 hp. In the version with the biggest capacity, the engineers of BMW M GmbH went up against the limits of what was feasible. In order to make full use of the 2.5 litre limit, they not only increased the stroke of the 2.3 litre unit from 84 to 87 millimetres, but also increased the cylinder bore from 94 millimetres to 95.5 millimetres. The engines withstood the stresses and strains of touring-car racing even at maximum output without any problem.  The year 1992 saw the birth of a completely new M3, this time with an advanced sixcylinder engine. Once again, Motorsport GmbH developed a version for competition in record time. In April 1993, the new M3 was due to line up at the start of the first race for the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). But due to discrepancies in the new regulations, BMW changed its strategy and instead set up a BMW M3 GTR in the striking design of a starting flag and entered the Warsteiner ADAC GT Cup organised by the German Automobile Association. The

six-cylinder now generated 325 hp; the car weighed 1300 kilos in accordance with the regulations. A strong BMW team lined up at the start with Johnny Cecotto and Kris Nissen, and Cecotto ended up taking the championship at the end of the season. However, this was the end of the motor-sport chapter for this M3 GTR for the time being. Changes in the regulations meant that the potent 3 Series had no realistic changes of victory any more. BMW only returned to motor sport as a works team with a BMW M3 seven years later. In 2001, the first starting flag came down for the new BMW M3 GTR powered by a 450 hp V8 engine. The most powerful M3 ever set benchmarks in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with its four and raced in a quartet: Team BMW Motorsport entered two cars under the management of Charly Lamm and two other cars were raced by the American BMW Team PTG run by Tom Milner, who hailed originally from Germany. The coupé took seven victories in ten races; six of them were from pole positions. BMW works driver Jörg Müller won the driver’s championship in the

Infiniti EMERG-E Concept

GT Class, BMW Motorsport won the team placings, and BMW became constructors’ champion in the company’s most important export market.

The Infiniti EMERG-E Concept, a highly advanced mid-ship sports car that provides an exciting glimpse into Infiniti’s future, was launched to worldwide acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The car is physical proof of Infiniti’s intention to produce a bold halo model befitting the brand’s promise of Inspired Performance, and also signals an array of exciting new technologies that the brand may adopt in its quest to build dramatic and sustainable high performance cars.

But the advanced BMW M3 GTR also caused a sensation in Europe. Two each of these eight-cylinder racing cars lined up at the start of the 24 Hour Race at SpaFrancorchamps in Belgium and on the Nürburgring in 2004 and 2005.The result: In both years, BWM took a one-two victory on the Nürburgring, and class victory went to BMW in Spain 2004. In 2009, the next generation of the M3 started in the American Le Mans Series. The V8 engine was beefed up to 485 hp and entered the Twelve Hour Race at Sebring for the first time. The successes meant that the M3 was also raced in Europe in the following year. The result: outright victory on the Nürburgring – for the 19th time - and class victory in Spa. And the next winner will soon be on the starting line in 2012. BMW will be back at the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) with three teams and the new BMW M3 DTM.

Hyundai Accent In the U.S., the Hyundai Accent has been included in this year’s “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors” list by the editors of WardsAuto.com. The Accent also recently won a Ward’s 10 Best Engines award for the 1.6-litre Gamma petrol engine. The WardsAuto editorial staff spent two months selecting the 10 winners from a field of 40 vehicles with new or significantly improved interiors. There was no price cap on entries. The Hyundai Accent was also joined on the list by the Hyundai Azera model which is not available in the Australian market. motor trader queensland

Falcon EcoBoost The FG Falcon MkII EcoBoost builds on Ford’s global reputation for vehicle dynamics and excellent road manners. Ford Australia was also able to access critically important engine testing data undertaken in other EcoBoost markets to ensure the engine was capable of handling the demands of Australian drivers while delivering fuel efficiency.

Stationery for the automotive industry

Audi Q5 Sporty, spacious, comfortable and multifunctional – the Audi Q5 has a versatile and successful character. Now the mid-class SUV is even more attractive, efficient and sporty with the addition of many new solutions in design, infotainment, chassis and engines. The Q5 hybrid quattro, the brand’s first production hybrid model, unites the power of a V6 with the fuel economy of a four cylinder. The updated Audi Q5 will arrive in Australia in the summer. Engine line-up, pricing and specification details will be announced closer to launch.

gue o l a t a ct C Produ

Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept Elegant and cheeky, refined and charismatic, sporty and seductive, with Urban Crossover Concept, Peugeot offers a new vision of a compact Crossover that is modern and relaxed, dynamic and seductive. It is the vehicle that marries the elegance and refinement of a saloon, the cheekiness, the mischievousness of an SUV, with the multi-role capability and unusual spaciousness for this market segment. 32

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• General Office Stationery Supplies • Motor Vehicle Sales Stationery • Job/Time Cards • Service Station Supplies • Signage • Approved Inspection Station Signage and Decals • Accessories • MTA Queensland Member Signage • Technical Publications Our Stationery Catalogue is available online at www.mtaq.com.au Telephone: 07 3237 8781 Toll free 1800 177 951

ONLINE PRESENCE INCREASES PROFITABILITY DEALERSHIP PROFITS – NOT JUST ABOUT THE NUMBERS. Latest research confirms that 90% of car buyers use the internet to determine purchase decisions. However, the focus on state of the art facilities has taken priority over online tools which bring the customers to the dealership in the first instance. At BDO we are not just about the numbers – we take a whole of business approach to our advice. Visit bdo.com.au/dealershipprofits for further details regarding the importance of an online presence. Contact one of our Brisbane automotive team members for more information.

Mark Ward Lead Partner, Automotive +61 7 3237 5744

Darren Crothers Partner +61 7 3237 5990

Damian Wright Partner +61 7 3237 5750

Distinctively different – it’s how we see you AUDIT • TAX • ADVISORY

Randall Bryson Associate Director +61 7 3237 5792