Automotive Industry News

Budget 2012 for the car owner

Posted: 10/05/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Environmental News

There is no getting away from it; the Gillard government is very unpopular at the moment. The Labor party has a primary vote of 27 precent and things are simply not getting any better. With all of this playing on the minds of the Labor front bench, they have conceivedwhatis called the “battlers budget”. While commentators up and down the country analyse the implications in general terms we have taken a closer look from an... Read More

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Crisis? What crisis? - Is the auto industry back to boom times?

The 4th of December 2007 was a very cold day in Detroit. GM CEO Rick Wagoner woke up, joined the heads of Chrysler and Ford and drove to Washington to beg for the survival of their industry. Something was clearly rotten in the city of Detroit. While big changes and big progress has been made since that dark day the question still remains; Is the auto industry out of crisis yet? Is the crisis over? The short answer is yes, but nothing... Read More

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Kick starting the debate on Lemon Laws

“We pluck the lemons; you get the plums.” Pulled from a VW advert circa 1950 this is possibly one of the first mentions of the term “lemon” to describe a car which doesn’t live up to purchaser expectations. The question of what to do once you find out you have bought a “lemon” has persisted the world over. Add to this the fact that the topic itself has become something of a legal lucky dip... Read More

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Vehicle recalls – The need to know guide

"This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, charring or fire,". Those were the words of BMW on their most recent recall of around 1.3 million vehicles. While this latest recall is not the largest ormost dangerous on record it does give us a chance to discuss the subject. Indeed it's this very subject which gives car designers and fleet managers unending nightmares the world... Read More

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Hybrid or Electric - A new comparison

Switch on the TV, listen to the radio or check-up products online. Over time you will notice the widespread use of one word in particular. That word is “compare” and it can be used or misused to persuade you, as a customer, to part with your cash for any given product or service. This week we take an independent look at the comparison between hybrid and electric vehicles. Focusing on cost, environmental impact and the major... Read More

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The other problems with speeding

“Almost 50 trucks with tampered speed limiters have been netted in three separate operations and NSW police say it's a 'systemic issue' for the industry.” That was the opening paragraph of an article from the Herald Sun on the recent tampered limiters truck fiasco. While it’s uncommon for fleet cars to have speed inhibitors, the story still makes uncomfortable reading for all fleet managers. This week we take a look at... Read More

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Australia’s top ten most fuel efficient vehicles

You’ve been there before, staring at the pumps with the price going higher and higher all the while thinking to yourself; “wasn’t I here just yesterday”? Just this week warnings have rippled all around Australia on the subject of fuel prices. In this environment the statistic of litres per 100km has been getting a lot more air time at the water cooler. With this, and a healthy curiosity towards the subject, we... Read More

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Comments:

Duncan said on 26/Mar/2012 10:36 AM

The main reason that people con't buy these fuel efficient cars is cost. If you work out the price to own / run the car for 3 years (a common time period these days) then you still have not even broken even on overall cost compared to a similar "non-green" car. I'd love to be proven wrong and things may have changed since I worked it all out late last year but extra cost has to be worth while. I am looking forward to it looking better next time we buy a car. Dnx

Craig said on 03/Apr/2012 10:01 AM

Hi, Toyota about to release another prius, called prius c which will start from $23,990. The electric cars should be compared with Oz electricity prices in mind, but if owner has solar cells, this will be cheaper. Some of these cars in list are manual versions, not prefered by some drivers. Oz petrol buyer behaviour is such that we will cross the road/do a u turn to save a few cents at another bowser. The BIG cars in Oz are now $30-40K. I can see why diesel SUVs are popular. My daily commute is shared with mostly single occupant cars. The market is there for an organised car pooling scheme, and buyers wanting new $15-25K cars with low fuel use. I'm seeing more i20s, Mazda2s, Yaris, Fiestas, Polos, etc . Melbourne prices over $1.50/litre this week. Perhaps couples/famillies will adopt the one big & one little car 'policy' or we hire big cars when we need one.......but nothing new in that. I would like to see a complete list of cars less than 7litres/100kms. cheers

Alan said on 05/Apr/2012 2:38 AM

Duncan is on the money. This is little more than a novelty comment. Any fleet manager worth his money would be talking about whole of life cost. If these vehicles have a higher premium cost, higher maintenance cost, excessive downtime because of maintenance issues, and consequently a lower resale cost because of the excessive maintenance and downtime much of the fuel savings are lost and they may in fact be a financial trap. As an example I can recall a particular truck model which used less fuel than its competitors and cost about $5000 less, but required a $15,000 engine build at 80,000 km; the manufacturer had to pull it off the market.

Going green – The next steps to a greener fleet

The 24th of June 2010 was a big day for Australia. Julia Gillard was sworn into office with the help of a handful of independents and, most importantly, the Australian Green Party. Suddenly ambitious green policies become a real prospect. Tax concessions for green fleet managers are currently thin on the ground however in the current political environment this may not remain the case. While the concept of including car drivers in any... Read More

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"Must drive better" - A guide to motivating your fleet drivers

Like any matter of the mind, motivation and its causes is a highly debated and at times confusing subject matter. As a fleet manager motivating drivers and other stakeholders to do the right thing, or avoid the wrong thing can be a real challenge. Providing the carrot can be difficult now that costs are tight and constantly using the stick becomes meaningless once it’s overused. So what are fleet managers to do? Motivate to do... Read More

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The Big Ute Review - Mazda BT-50 4x4 Dual Cab XTR auto

Posted: 23/02/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Mazda | Leasing

Very tall. Very, very tall. That’s the first thing that struck me about the new Mazda BT-50. The second generation BT-50 is Mazda’s latest attempt to capture their own section of the utility market. With very serious existing competition from the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara and others, it’s very unlikely that Mazda’s new offering will turn the market upside down. The real question here is whether this new model... Read More

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Tips for the top – predictions for the top sellers of 2012

2011 was a year of radical change with uprisings, a new country in Africa, financial turmoil and financial miracles. The same, fortunately or unfortunately, could not be said of the Australian top ten selling vehicles. Other than a few re-models and a brief shuffle of the deck very little has changed in the last ten years. In this weeks blogwe give our tips for the top in 2012 and, unless something very big comes along, we're predicting... Read More

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Fleet cars and staff cars - the SME need to know

Posted: 09/02/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Government News | Financial Tips

There are a number of daunting aspects of starting up a new business. Tax, insurance, logistics and recruitment can seem like purpose built mazes designed to trap and punish the uninitiated. Fleet and staff cars have the unfortunate accolade ofcovering all of these confusing and at times infuriating areas. With this in mind we decided to list our top 5 things small business owners need to know about fleet cars and staff cars. 1.... Read More

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The New Toyota Camry 2012

“Same, same but different” those were the words of my colleagues from the corporate sales teamon the all new Toyota Camry. Indeed the new Camry provokes an “I’ve seen this car before” response from the uninitiated while treating the seasoned Camry buyer to subtle yet wide ranging changes. While the changes are comprehensive they cannot be perceived as bold. However, considering the year Toyota has had and... Read More

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A drivers guide to mobile phone use

Everything used to be so simple; a driver would set out on his or her journey and promise to call the office or house for further instructions or updates when they had reached their destination. With the possible exception of worrying about where to find a pay phone, drivers had very little to think about when it came to phones within their vehicles. Oh how things have changed. From the retro car phone to the modern day smart phone, in... Read More

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Collision avoidance systems, a fleet managers new best friend

“The next thing I know my Mercedes had stopped, without hitting the car in front of me.” Those were the words of Google Senior Vice President, Vic Gundotra, who described his experience with collision avoidance technology in this YouTube video. Collision avoidance technology is quickly becoming a very serious selling point for some very forward thinking vehicle manufacturers. With this in mind we turn our attention this week... Read More

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Holiday driving, a non-crash course

Beach parties, Santa hats, work holidays and the highest number of road fatalities for any 5 day period in the entire year, welcome to the Christmas holidays. While most of us enjoy our annual rituals and customs which come with the festive season, our high Christmas road deaths have, in our recent history, become something of an inevitability. The figures have decreased and the messages of caution are slowly but surely being listened... Read More

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Preparing for the worst – Planning for accidents

“I just froze, I had no idea of what to do. In my panic I scanned my thoughts for any piece of advice I had ever received about dealing with a car crash, but I couldn’t think of anything”. Those are the words of a shaken Adelaide resident who was involved in a minor vehicle collision earlier this year. The unfortunate fact is that very few people are in fact prepared for the worst and even fewer have a fool proof... Read More

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Top 10 cars series; Indonesia's top selling cars

Posted: 02/12/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Toyota

“Indonesia has the fourth biggest population on earth? That can’t be right”. That was my initial thought after discovering that Indonesia has a population of over 237 million people which is over 40 million more than its nearest competitor, Brazil. Along with this huge population, Indonesia also boasts very positive economic growth figures and even managed to post positive growth figures during the global financial... Read More

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Volkswagen fight for number 1 spot

It was 11.09am on a hot Perth morning at the VW drive day, my palms were sweaty and my heart was pounding, I was facing my first ever slalom time trial and I was nervous. As it turns out I posted an average speed and my trial went off without incident but that was just an aside. In the time waiting for my run at the course I had learned just how exciting VW and its future really is. VW progress In the past few years VW has been... Read More

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Top 10 cars series; Brazil's top selling cars

Posted: 18/11/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Volkswagen

7.49% is a curious number, it doesn’t look significant, it doesn’t sound significant, but it is……very significant. 7.49% is the economic growth rate for Brazil in 2010. Considering that in 2010 the rest of the world virtually cried itself to sleep over their respective economic figures, 7.49% growth is nothing short of an economic miracle. It’s thanks to the confidence this brings that Brazils vehicle... Read More

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Top 10 cars series; China's top selling cars.

Posted: 03/11/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Toyota | Novated Lease

If India is a small car nation it must be then said that China truly is a nation obsessed with the sedan. Amazingly 9 out of the top 10 are what I would class as “medium” (bigger than a large hatch but no bigger than a Holden Commodore). Admittedly the top ten only represent some 2 million of a total of 18 million cars sold in 2010 however if anyone is in any doubt as to whether or not the other 16 or so million follows the... Read More

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Top 10 cars series; India’s top selling cars.

Posted: 31/10/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Fleet Management

“Oh wow, it really does look like a bumper car” those were the words of one of my esteemed colleagues on first viewing the Tata Nano (its one of the cheapest and arguably one of the ugliest cars the world has ever seen). Produced and created in India the Nano is the perfect car to show how the Indian car market is completely enamoured with the small car. Top 10 makeup With almost all of their top ten being made up of small... Read More

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Fleet Manager Series - 6 surprising facts about road accidents

Misplaced focus is a dangerous thing, from not concentrating on the road to focusing too much on one aspect of cost control, it’s generally only in retrospect when you realise the error of your ways. Cost control in fleet management can be a classic example of this, while some fleet managers fixate on cutting the fuel costs a single collision can wipe out all these savings with the push of a pedal. With this in mind I reveal some... Read More

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Better things to do - Everything you need to know about driver distraction

Posted: 29/09/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordintor
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips

“Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers.” Those are the words of the most up to date driver awareness advertising campaign beaming its way into our living rooms. As factually correct as this statement may be, it can be argued that statements like this, along with shocking images of crashes etc, may not be enough to equip drivers with the tools they need to avoid in-car distraction. This week I explore the subject of driver... Read More

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The all new Holden Barina - Top ten material?

Walking into the Melbourne docklands warehouse that hosted the Holden Barina launch I was immediately confronted with two vehicles. One was Holdens first attempt at the Barina, its boxy awkward frame reminded me of my mothers old 1980’s Ford Fiesta which would break down at the most inopportune of times (once on the beach as the tide was coming in). The other was the all new Holden Barina, which despite its less aesthetically... Read More

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Top selling cars of 2011

Click here for the year end update Jan 2012From cars, to computer games, to holiday destinations and everything in between, top ten lists are a favourite of hobbyists and enthusiasts the world over. From the fickle (the bar stool top ten) to the rigorous (top tens based on massive amounts of results and research), they reveal more and more about how we relate to the world around us and how we prioritise belongings, experiences and... Read More

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Vehicle life expectancy – What does it mean in 2011?

Enacted in October 1960 the United States Trade Embargo on Cuba has had many impacts on the people of Cuba. The most interesting development from a car enthusiast’s point of view is the sheer levels of old cars clunking their ways around the islands road network. How is it that these old jalopy's are still succeeding in bringing locals from A to B after decades of continual use? This week I examine which cars last the longest and... Read More

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The Perth Motor Show 2011; A review

The Perth Motor Show returned to the Perth Convention Centre after a 3 year break to mixed reviews, tentative expectations and guarded optimism. The show was engaging and enjoyable but cost cautiousness on behalf of the organisers (and car manufacturers) was evident as some more fun motor show elements were absent. Highs and lows While the motor show was largely a successful venture with their event managers reporting the attendance... Read More

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The Electric Car - Where to now?

"With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015". Those were the words of US president Barack Obama during his state of the Union speech in January of this year (2011). But is this a modest or ambitious goal? This week I set out to find out more about electric vehicles; their past, their present and their future... Read More

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Speed Cameras: A change in the game?

Posted: 11/08/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Occupational Health & Safety

Some things demand to be talked about and a large camera on a pole which punishes you for going too fast is most definitely one of those things. Speed cameras have a chequered history in Australia and have been accused of everything from a vast Big Brother conspiracy to money making reverse ATM’s. In the past month something very big happened, the New South Wales government gave speed cameras and their impact a luke warm review;... Read More

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Hybrid vs Diesel - a new auto competition

Like everyone who stares blankly at listings on car sales websites, I too am overcome with the sheer level of choice. From hatchback to convertible, manual to automatic and all the other choice criteria the number of options for the car seeker can become very confusing. While most of these options are fairly self explanatory there are a few which always confuse in terms of a definite winner. The choice of diesel versus hybrid is, for... Read More

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What will the Carbon Tax mean for fleet?

Posted: 15/07/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Government News | Environmental News

Big news events don't usually fall on Sundays. Normally our news anchors, politicians and journalists have the good grace to leave us all more or less alone on our traditional day of rest, however like it or not Sunday’s event was anything but normal. Placing a price on carbon emissions (if the measure passes in parliament) is possibly one of the most fundamental changes in Australian government policy in decades and has the... Read More

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What makes a good mine vehicle?

When we think of mine vehicles, images of super dump trucks, diggers and equipment hauling mega machines come to mind. However there is another vehicle strutting its stuff all over mines in Australia; the mine ready four wheel drive (4WD). For obvious reasons a conventional vehicle will simply not suffice in the tough, rugged, dangerous and changeable environment of a living mine. So what makes a long living, sturdy and reliable mine... Read More

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Japan; The need to know parts and deliveries update

This year’s natural disasters in Japanhave caused some of the largest devastation the world has ever seen. With these disasters came loss of life, loss of property and, for many of the survivors, loss of livelihoods. While we all come to terms with the tragedy it is important not to forget the progress which is being made by the resilient Japanese car makers. The table below gives us some understanding of the obstacles which must,... Read More

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Depreciation; Do you know how much it's costing you?

Posted: 10/06/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Financial Tips

Intricate financial modelling is not the first thing to spring to mind when you consider buying a new car……but it really should be. Choosing the wrong vehicle can cost thousands of dollars and leave many burnt fingers. The inconvenient truth is that the lifetime cost of a vehicle does not take centre stage in most vehicle purchase decisions; immediate cost, styling and other considerations usually take precedence. What... Read More

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What makes a popular fleet car?

Car popularity has always been an issue of debate and popularity amongst fleet cars is a similarly contentious subject. Does popularity really mean quality and reliability, or does it mean something altogether less reassuring? For most, any given car's popularity is a combination of factors, some emotional and some practical, but is it possible to separate the two contributors? Without segmenting the fleet industry too much (the... Read More

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How will the Carbon Tax affect pump prices?

The art of negotiation has a long and distinguished history. While in a political sense it gathers most attention during coalition formation talks, it does have the capacity to crop up at any time or place in most societies. The current negotiations and wrangling over the terms and conditions of a proposed carbon tax may (and most likely will) create a new chapter in Australian negotiation history. Fleet Managers will be well advised to... Read More

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FBT (Fringe Benefit Tax) Changes Budget 2011

This year’s budget change relating to Novated Lease FBT rates on company vehicles has been much talked about since the release of the budget information last week.On our blog this week we wanted tooutline these changes for our readers whilst addressing the most common questions relating to the new system. The overhaul will, over a four year time frame, end the lower rates of FBT liability for those who drive in excess of 24,999... Read More

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Comments:

Peter Bignell said on 23/May/2011 1:27 PM

Hi Rory, the last 3 rows of your table should probably not say "Contracts commenced from..." because this gives the impression that contracts entered into before that date will stay at the previous rate - this is not correct from my understanding, ie. existing (low) rate contracts will be subject to an increase in FBT rate each year till they reach 20%. Regards, Peter.

Rory Deegan said on 24/May/2011 8:58 AM

Thanks for the comment Peter. According to the Chartered Accountants Review of the FBT change, lease holders liability will indeed depend upon the date lease holders commence their lease (correctly outlined in the table above). We do however understand that there is some confusion over the change and, with this in mind we look forward to more finite details which have been sought by the AFLA (Australian Fleet Lessors Association) who are currently liaising with the Treasury Department. These details primarily revolve around the definition of the term “contracts entered into”. We will update any details as we receive them. For others reading this; please rest assured that if you do have a novated lease which you entered into prior to the FBT changes you will not be impacted by these altered rates and thresholds.

LM said on 31/May/2011 5:35 PM

This clarifies the situation somewhat. No impact on existing contracts, and for those that have signed an order but not yet received delivery, they will also fall under the old FBT regime. http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Industry-Topics/Tax/Current-issues/Tax-news/Regulatory-and-government-updates/24-05-11-Fringe-benefits-tax-reform-of-the-car-fringe-benefits-rules

Chris said on 09/Jun/2011 2:21 PM

Rory, do you know if it will be possible for existing lease holders to elect to move to the new strucuture if you're already doing low km's to avoid the paperwork burden?

Richard Gunn said on 16/Aug/2011 6:35 PM

Taking into account the above article its fairly evident there will be a massive impetus on many more drivers to switch to the logbook method if maximisation of claims is to be achieved. If it is obvious that you can better the 20% flat rate more drivers will keep a logbook for a continuous 12 week period, after all its valid for five years on the same vehicle if its is indicative of the normal use of the cae. It is even easier now to keep logbooks - you can buy a fully tax deductible Australian made iphone app for less than the headache of keeping a written logbook (and then having to perform all the manual calculations to get your percentage business use). One such app is VehicleLog available on the Apple App Store.

Kurross said on 12/Oct/2011 9:50 AM

Rory, I am changing the company who manage my lease, but not the finance company. should I continue on the old rate?

Rory Deegan said on 14/Oct/2011 10:22 AM

@Kurross we will need to look into your details for this one. I have mailed you my details.

Ray M said on 10/Dec/2011 10:26 AM

As I see it a sales person who has to take out a loan so their company can conduct business now is going to be penalised for visiting a lot of customers and would be better off staying in the office? e.g Someone doing 35,000km a year mainly for work will be slugged 20% instead of 11% - so effectively the EMPLOYEE is fined for buying an asset, taking the risk of that asset depreciating, reducing that employees ability to borrow funds for their personal benefit, and now is lured into travelling LESS at the expense of good customer service??? And the people who drive their cars less (typically the executive are rewarded because they get an FBT cut?

GPS and Fleet Management

Since the American military released its first satellites in the “Block 1” launches back in 1979 the world of navigation has been forever altered. Long ago drivers relied on maps, intuition and local knowledge to get to customers and deliveries. Today when we peer into a police car or taxi we will see an entire dashboard of navigation and communication devices. Global positioning systems have changed the way we navigate,... Read More

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2011, the year of the SUV?

Posted: 14/04/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Novated Lease | Leasing

The main trend With new hybrid and electric models being trooped out by almost every major car manufacturer you would be forgiven for believing that the public was, en masse, moving away from large, noisy and relatively high emissions vehicles. This, however, is not the case according to last months FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) vehicle sales report. Sports utility vehicles now make up 24.5% of all new vehicles... Read More

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Holden on for a new Cruze

Posted: 07/04/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Fleet Management | Holden

Since an emotional launch in Adelaide back in late February Australians have waited to hear the assessment of the new series 2 Holden Cruze. Would this second model build on the relative sales success of the first, or would it remind us of the disappointing Vectra range which Holden and GM would prefer to forget?The changesApart from a new grill, new bumpers and new wheels there isn’t much to distinguish the new Cruze from the one... Read More

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Pump prices pack a punch

Posted: 01/04/2011 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (3)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Government News

Who would have thought 5 years ago that we would be paying $1.50 per litre at the petrol station? I certainly wouldn’t have. Gone are the days that a station was selling fuel for $0.98/L. How I wish those prices would come back! But times have changed, and so have prices. Now the average national petrol price is at $1.43 per litre, and it doesn’t look to be decreasing any time soon. We all rely on fuel in one way or another.... Read More

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Australian auto industry faces some speed bumps

Posted: 18/03/2011 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Government News

As the devastating news of an earthquake and subsequent tsunami hitting Japan came across TV screens all over the world, so too did the images of the damage and catastrophe it had left behind. One of the scenes saw the new cars that were at the dock ready to be shipped overseas instead being dragged away by a strong and powerful wave. It soon became obvious that these terrible events weren’t just restricted to this one country,... Read More

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Does green really = clean?

Posted: 10/03/2011 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Technology | Environmental News

Over the last few years we’ve seen the introduction of the ‘green’ car by the majority of large car manufacturers. The new way to show that you are doing your bit for the environment has been to get yourself one of these machines. Not only are you cutting your CO2 emissions, but you’re also getting more km’s out of your tank. Now really, who doesn’t like that?When you need to get somewhere... Read More

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Hyundai i40 Targets Fleet Market

Posted: 04/03/2011 By: John Hutchison
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review

The new Hyundai i40 has made its world public debut in Geneva this week. In a recent news release from the BBC, Hyundai is looking to venture into the European fleet market with its new i40 series eco-friendly vehicle.FeaturesThe i40 model and has been developed specifically for the European market and maintains the signature features from the i-range. In terms of performance Hyundai has placed a 140 HP 1.6L GDI engine for the entry... Read More

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Can your business save money with fuel cards?

Posted: 17/02/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Financial Tips

With the cost of living constantly going up, who wants to spend extra money on rising fuel costs? I certainly don’t. And I imagine most business owners would agree, especially those who own fleets of vehicles. If you think about it, when you add up how much is spent on fuel each month, the savings from discounted fuelcouldbe significant. A popular solution amongst fleet owners for reducing monthly fuel expenses is fuel cards. How... Read More

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The rise of in-car technology

Posted: 11/02/2011 By: Cliona Kenneally - Marketing & Brand Manager
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Technology | Range Rover | Holden

In 1929, American Paul Galvin, the head of Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, invented the first car radio. Customers were required to purchase the radio separately with the car as the first car radios were not available from car makers. Imagine how many people would cause a riot if they were told today that their car radioshave to be purchased independently! Its hard to believe just how far we've come since then.Here at the Fleet Beat... Read More

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Driverless Cars - the future of automobiles?

Posted: 03/02/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Technology | Fleet Management

Old movies like Back to the Future or TV series Knight Rider presented futuristic scenarios featuring flying or even talking cars. Whileoutside of the movies we may notbequite there yet,we are however taking a hugeleap in the automobile industry with our latest breakthrough sensation – the robo-car. Yes, the robo-car. They are the vehicles built with their very own ‘brain’. However, unlike our organically compounded... Read More

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Toyota to stay on top

Posted: 27/01/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (2)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Government News | Toyota | Occupational Health & Safety

There was a time when Toyota was an automotive leader in the global car industry by a country mile. No other company was able to compare to the staggering sales records, quality reputation, and loyal consumers Toyota had accumulated through-out its years of operation. However, given the year of recalls they had in 2010, what comes to mind now when you think of Toyota? Throughout 2010 as the news of the various worldwide Toyota recalls... Read More

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Comments:

Danial said on 01/Feb/2011 4:22 PM

I bought a Toyota last year, it had nothing to do with marketing, It just happened to be the best car in its class by a long shot

LaoK said on 06/Jul/2011 12:13 PM

in 2003 the wife bought a 2001 Toyota Avalon. This is a re-badged American Camry. I was cynical about the woeful turning circle and likened it to a truck and always told people that you had to go around the block to turn the vehicle around. An exaggeration. The poor turning circle was a big issue for us and in 2005 we bought a Holden Commodore which had a tight turning circle (even tighter on the new models). Over the years I slowly fell in love with the Avalon and even though I am a Holden man the Avalon was the car of choice if we went anywhere together. My Holden is six years old and still has not done 40,000Km. That is because I preferred to drive the slower, smoother, more comfortable Avalon. Now she owns a Prado 4WD and that is my vehicle of choice - the Holden still gets relegated to the car port if we both go somewhere together. The 2.5 tonne Prado is easier to drive than the Holden albeit it noisier (diesel). Other manufacturers have recalls but the press has given Toyota a hammering with excessive negative publicity. I consider it to be unfair. Besides, it is not Toyota but the parts manufacturer. Usually a vehicle manufacturer will source parts from at least two different manufacturers in case of employee strikes, supply problems, etcetera. That is why only certain vehicles get recalled and not all of the same model. Having aid all of this, the point I am making is that i still consider Toyota to be one of the most reliable vehicles on the market and no amount of recalls will sway me away. I have been through recalls with Holden (two just for my side air bags which could accidentally activate and kung-fu you as you alighted) and recalls with Ford. What worries me is when a vehicle manufacturer is not brave enough to announce a recall because of reputation/cost. Toyota have an issue with their Service Centres and poor customer service and they should be looking at this. You can buy a $130,000 Land Cruiser Sahara and get treated no differently than someone who bought a used Yaris.

5 vehicle checks to complete post flooding

Posted: 13/01/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Government News

As the flood waters in Queensland slowly fall, Australia is left with the devastating aftermath. The unexpected flooding savaged people’s livelihoods from communities and created ghost towns in its place. For the people affected by this natural disaster, all of us at Fleetcare have you in our thoughts and prayers. If you managed to salvage your vehicle in the immediate aftermath there is still bound to be flood damage. However,... Read More

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To lease or to buy?

Posted: 06/01/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (3)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Financial Tips | Leasing

As a new year descends upon us, you may decide to evaluate your fleet and look at upgrading some vehicles. Maybe that old clunker of a truck that keeps blowing off steam every chance it gets, or perhaps ‘Dusty’ the trusty little delivery van isnt being so trusty anymore? Either way, a successful company who depends on the efficient running of their fleet requires vehicles which are reliable and safe – which some older... Read More

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VW Polo - Car of the year 2010

Posted: 02/12/2010 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (2)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Volkswagen

With a vast array of contenders vying for the title of Car of the Year, the winner which superseded all other competitors is none other than the little German powerhouse, the Volkswagen Polo. Firstly it won Drive’s Best City Car and went onto win the over accolade from both Drive and Carsguide. Nonetheless, this isn’t the first time Volkswagen has tasted victory. But it looks like the bub of the family decided it wanted its... Read More

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Worlds Apart: Australian vs European car market

Posted: 18/11/2010 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Government News

Europe. The continent many Australians consider the epitome of exuberance. With the delectable cuisine, the breath-taking views, and the ancient historical attractions how could anyone say otherwise? However, its no secret the struggles that the European economy has faced in recent times. With record car sales just been announced on this side of the globe I decided to look further into how their car market is faring. While Australia... Read More

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Driver education or ISA device?

Posted: 29/10/2010 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management | Occupational Health & Safety

Over the past 6 months, the RTA has been trialling an Intelligent Speed Adaption (ISA) device that warns people when they are driving over the speed limit by beeping until they decrease their speed. According to the RTA, this device could help prevent 35 deaths and around 1500 injuries, although it is not going to be made a compulsory installation. The majority of the time, people know they are speeding. It’s hard to be 20km/h... Read More

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Sydney Motor Show Stoppers

Posted: 22/10/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Co-ordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review

In a day full of elegance champagne and super models these rough edged rouges showed that the Sydney Motor Show isn’t just for super car prototypes. These exciting previews signal 2011 as a year for a shake up in the Utility and Jeep categories. Ford Ranger The new “one world, one ford” branding is doing great things across all categories and the utility is no exception. With bulky F150 styling and a payload of over... Read More

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Is Accelerated Wear and Tear Testing Good Enough?

Posted: 04/10/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Co-ordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Occupational Health & Safety

When people say "Your Ferrari 458 Italia is smoking" you normally think they’re talking about the Victoria Secret model in the passenger seat, not the back wheel thats combusted and is burning your body work like newspaper. This tragedy has been effecting millionaires across the globe (I know heart breaking for the poor little fella’s) with a fault in the glue connecting the wheel arch. Apparently it catches on fire after... Read More

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The Real Price of Safety

An article caught my eye this week - ”Safety expert: don’t buyCamry Hybrid” (drive.com.au). The reason? It’s only a 4 star safety rating. I don’t know about you, but for a car around $41,000 for the basic model, I’d probably expect 5 stars. When I mentioned this to someone in the office they said, “Most cars are actually 4 star safety – you always have to pay extra to get 5.” This... Read More

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Has Toyota Caused a Rukus?

Posted: 05/08/2010 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (2)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Toyota

The Toyota Rukus- a car created to revive Toyota’s presence with the younger market, particularly with Gen Y. But has it succeeded as of yet?With approximately 150 of these vehicles selling each month, around 55% of the buyers have been between 20-40 years old, an age group which usually makes up less than 50% of Toyota’s customers. However, a point that is interesting to note is that when the figures are broken down, more... Read More

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Is Speeding in Moderation OK?

Posted: 14/07/2010 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (4)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Government News | Occupational Health & Safety

Speeding is bad. That is what we have all been taught from a young age. “Don’t ride your bike too fast, you will fall off” and “don’t run around the pool, you will slip” are words most mothers have used at least once, warning their children of the consequences of speed, no matter what the mode of transport is. It seems counter intuitive that the Queensland Government is now looking at introducing new... Read More

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Comments:

MisterQuality said on 19/Jul/2010 2:46 PM

Every accident is speed related because you can't crash standing still. Speed has been the scapegoat for far too long. The biggest killers on our road are fear (for the meek) over confidence (for the extroverts) and poor awareness (a product of the education regime aimed at road rules rather than vehicle control). Queensland Government have got it right. Although seemingly going against precedent, what would you prefer? A p plater concentrating on the road or the speedo? BOTH!, I hear you cry. Well stop being greedy. You can't have both. Inexperienced drivers are already nervous on the roads, and I would much prefer them to be looking out for pedestrians, other road users and traffic lights (which are about as far from the speedo as you can get), rather than fixated on the speedo which only prevents financial punishment, rather than manslaughter. Eventually, they will be able to determine the ability that all of us experienced road users supposedly have: to maintain a rudimentary digital velocity in a series are variable analogue circumstances.

Laura Taylor - Marketing Assisant said on 20/Jul/2010 9:50 AM

Now that they are looking at taking the leeway for speeding fines down to 4km/h over the limit, I think you are right and that a lot of people will be watching their speedo because it will be the fines that they are more worried about, and not the accident side of it. This is most likely to apply to all types of drivers, and not just the learners and p-platers.

Sue said on 03/Aug/2010 12:11 PM

It will then be ok to do 10km over the speed limit... and then it will be 15km over the speed limit. They have put road rules in place, they have dropped the speed limit in built up areas and around schools so does that mean in a school zone you can do 45kph? in a built up zone you can now do 55kph? Keep the limits as they are!

Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant said on 03/Aug/2010 12:48 PM

Thanks for the comment Sue. You make a very good point about the school zones- the speed limit there has been changed for a reason and usually there are heavy penatlies for speeding in those areas. Will these new laws apply to school zones? If so, it could be very dangerous and isn't sending the right message.

June 2010 New Car Sales: movers & shakers

Posted: 09/07/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Co-ordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News

This time last year it was all doom and gloom for the automotive industry, but unprecedented growth has brought us from an all time low to possibly setting an all time high with 1.1million sales forecasted this year.The impacts of the GFC have caused big shifts in consumer trends. Here are some of the movers & shakers of the auto industry over the past year & the reasons they have succeeded where others have failed. Movers... Read More

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Suzuki Left off 'The First Car List'

Posted: 24/06/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (3)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Government News

Despite being under $15000, having 6 airbags, ESP & an ANCAP rating of 4 stars the Suzuki Alto was excluded from ‘The First Car List’, a government initiative aimed at getting young drivers in safer cars. Rather confusing considering a 1989 Peugeot 404 made it on the list. Nothing against Peugeot’s but which car would you feel safer in? The reason for leaving the Alto off the list is that only second hand cars... Read More

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Comments:

MisterQuality said on 01/Jul/2010 1:08 PM

That list is rather simplistic. What is so good about a Volvo 900 series from 1984 that makes it worthy? And yes, the Peugot is equally ridiculous, but I find many of the european recommendations rather foolish. What this list completely ignores is (primarily) ongoing maintenance cost. Anything eurpoean (especially from the 80s and 90s) usually have a lot of tech for the money which also means intermittement failures and expensive repairs. If a first car owner spends all their (limited) money chasing gremlins, then usually more important expenditures suffer. Tyres and brakes for example. The main purpose of maintenance is to ensure that an asset performs its primary function first. The primary function of a car is to control movement from one place to another. If you have good tyres, good brakes and good control, 999 times out of 1000, you are going to make it. And, that 1 time out of 1000 when you need good occupant protection, I think you will find that 4 stars in 1984 is equivalent to about 1 star now. The Alto (and a raft of other entry level vehicles) should have made it to the list, or, keep the list to vehicles under $10,000. Excluding new cars is ridiculous. I'm sure most parents would prefer that their child in a new car than an old one..... unless it's a Chery.

kwizikle said on 06/Jul/2010 1:22 PM

I agree, plenty of new cars that are very cheap to run. I know having owned plenty of new and old european cars, they are considerably more expensive in maintenance than local and asian products to maintain. Sounds like a very mixed message from the transport accident commission. I think they need to get their facts straight... or maybe they are all trying to sell old volvos and peugeots...

Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Coordinator said on 20/Jul/2010 10:28 AM

Another interesting point to note is that in 1984 the Volvo 700 Series didn’t even have an airbag! Only in 1987 was a driver side airbag introduced to the Volvo 700 Series. So this first car list is promoting a car with zero airbags instead of one with 6! The only reason I can find that it is on the First Car List is because it ticks the criteria of being under $15,000.

Toyota Ruckus: Trendy or Tacky?

Posted: 04/06/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek - Marketing Co-ordinator (Gen-Y)
Comments: (3)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Toyota

We all have that ‘trendy mate’. They are the ones whohad an i-Phone before you evenhad an i-Pod. They were twittering before you had even heard ofFacebook and they're always up with the latest fashion (to the point of irritation). In marketing terms they're called ‘innovators’. A small but powerful crowd that have been proven invaluable for influencing the general public & starting new trends. Why are we... Read More

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Ford Step Ahead, Posting a $A2.2b Profit for Q1 2010

Posted: 29/04/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News

Ford step ahead, posting a $A2.2b profit for Q1 2010 The A$2.2billion profit for Q1 represents a full year out of the red for Ford, quite an achievement compared to the Detroit based companies neighbours GM & Chrysler.No doubt the solid financials are the effects of their competition being flawed for most of 2009, with GM & Chrysler needing government bailouts & Toyota being snowed under by a mountain of negative press. As... Read More

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Hasta Lavista Hummer

Posted: 22/04/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Hummer

After a March sales figure of 14 it seems the Hummer H3’s place on Australian roads is truly done & dusted. The doom was hanging heavy in the clouds with GM announcing earlier this year that Hummer would wind down production. But why did it never really take off in Australia? It’s fuel economy actually matchs the likes of pajero & patrol, the price is reasonable and by most reports it is a great off-roader. However... Read More

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March New Car Sales Increase by a Record Breaking 25.2%

In December 2009 the car sales figure dubbed ' the magic million' seemed like a far off prospect left back in 2007/08. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry chief Andrew Mckellar predictied 2011 as the year Australia would return to pre-GFC sales levels. However the outstanding March new car sales figure of 94,744 was enough to change Mr Mckellar’s somber tune from last year,“This is an outstanding March result and... Read More

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Ford Say Goodbye to an Old Fleet Favourite the Falcon Wagon

Posted: 31/03/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Fleet Management

Ford recently announced the deletion of the Ford Falcon Wagon by June, a fleet institution for large corporations such as Telstra. With no demand in the consumer market it’s been kept afloat by fleet sales since it’s the BA/BF models where released. Last year it only accounted for 2500 of the 31000 falcons sold in 2009 the majority of which came from business and government fleets.Fleet buyers loved this car because of its... Read More

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Holden, Caltex and the Victorian Government Create Alternative Fuel Consortium to Introduce E85 Fuel Network

Posted: 25/03/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Technology | Government News | Holden

The bio-fuel cars of tomorrow could be closer than we think with the Victorian government recently announcing the formation of a consortium including, Caltex, Holden, & Coskata. The group will investigate the viability of creating an ethanol production plant in Victoria. This plant could produce up to 200 million litres of ethanol annually for cars powered on the ethanol based bio-fuel E85. This alternative fuel consists of 85%... Read More

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Toyota Drifts to the Dark Side. Oh what a feeling….

Posted: 15/02/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Toyota

Every day seems to bring more bad news for the automotive giant Toyota with 4.5 million vehicles recalled internationally, a class action law suit, a congressional hearing starting in America and an award for energy efficiency being stripped in Japan. Their main woes are coming from the US, also Toyota’s region of highest growth. But it seems the US is the source of the underlying problem, and where Toyota began to lose their... Read More

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Geely Enters the Market Low but Aims High

Posted: 29/01/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Environmental News

This year we will see the introduction of the third Chinese Automotive brand to the Australian market. Geely is set to bring 3 models into Australia via John Hughes ‘Chinese Automotive Distributors’ Company. Initially it will be WA that receives the first 1.5 litre MK models, with dealerships in North Perth and Mandurah releasing possibly in May.Hughes is currently recruiting dealerships over east to distribute the new brand... Read More

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Survival of the Fittest: The competitive environment after the GFC

Posted: 25/01/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Environmental News

Darwin’s law of Natural Selection came into play in the Auto industry this year, with the GFC testing all manufacturers flight or fight responses. If a companies value proposition didn’t add up in 2009 then they were subject to the laws of nature, with only a handful posting positive sales.The down turn really showed the underlying demand for brands. Those who where not thriving in 2008 where left behind to be eaten by this... Read More

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Car Production Takes a Dive

Posted: 11/01/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Government News | Environmental News

Australian car production has slumped to a low of 225,713 vehicles produced in 2009, a staggering 100,000 fewer cars than 2008. The high Australian dollar has hindered the already diminished demand from foreign importers in the US and Middle East. On top of this local producers are hurting from the recent tariff cut that has lowered foreign importers costs considerably. These combined factors mean local producers will be relying... Read More

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December 2009 Hits an all Time Record for Car Sales! Pity About the Rest of the Year……

Posted: 07/01/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News

A last minute rush from business owners seeking the investment allowance resulted in a record December, with 88,708 vehicles sold (15.9% up on last December). The main contributors were vans, 4x2 and 4x4, all receiving significant growth in sales. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry (FCAI) forecasted 880’000 vehicles being sold for 2009, however December pushed the auto industry well past the line with 937,328 new cars... Read More

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Tarriff Cuts: Will Mazda zoom ahead in 2010?

Posted: 27/11/2009 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Mazda

January 1st could be bringing more than a champagne induced headache for car companies operating under the current Free Trade Agreement. An importation tariff cut of 5% is being introduced in the New Year. This will further flatten the playing field for those companies that import their entire car line outside of the Free Trade area such as Mazda and Porsche. The tariff reduction is from 10% to 5%, giving importers one of two options,... Read More

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Holden’s Incredible Hulk

Posted: 21/10/2009 By: Bowan Spanbroek
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Car Review | Technology | Holden

This year Edward Norton and Lou Farigno aren’t the only one showing off some green muscle. Holden’s new ‘MY10’ Commodore takes a progressive step away from previous gas guzzling models with a greener, more powerful 210kw engine. Who says that the environmentally friendly driver has to sip chai latte and drive a Hybrid? Holden’s new SIDI technology (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) reduces previous carbon... Read More

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