Auto organisations join forces to agree industry pathway to EVs

Ten organisations across Australia's automotive industry have reached a historic agreement about how the country can best transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles.

The five national bodies – the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) and National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) – attended a summit this week, as well as the MTAA's five member groups.

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The organisations represent thousands of businesses that; make, sell, distribute, provide novated leasing, service, repair, supply aftermarket parts, components, and accessories, dismantle, recycle, and train tens of thousands of automotive professionals.

Together they agreed: to back the mandating of CO2 emissions targets, rather than those aimed just at electric vehicles specifically, to support the Federal Government in developing an EV strategy, and opposed the introduction of bans that limit consumer choice and remove options for meeting car owners' needs.

Hot topics also included EV infrastructure, upgrades to the grid, incentives/penalties, hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, improvements in fuel quality, and upskilling the workforce to adapt to new kinds of vehicles.

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Other items on the table were; considering the entire registered vehicle fleet and the needs and requirements of Australians who own and operate them, maintaining the safety, security, service, repair, and internal combustion engine vehicles, and lobbying for emissions targets and milestones to be nationally rather than state-based.

"This is a rare moment because the industry associations cover a lot of issues, but rarely agree on anything, but here is a unique circumstance. And I think it sends a powerful message to Government that it needs to get this right. Because the dangers of getting this wrong are enormous," Tony Weber, Chief Executive of the FCAI, told Wheels.

"I've been in with the FCAI for 10 years. Never in that 10 years have I had such a useful session with those other industry associations where we all came and agreed about things. It gives a confidence that the automotive industry is going in the right direction here and the importance of actually educating Government and bringing it along for the betterment of the broader community."