This does not mean the vehicles will be
in any way inferior, but global platform
standardised production always opens the
door to aftermarket component based safety,
performance, comfort or fuel economy
improvements. This will always be the
case for as long as automotive aftermarket
companies continue to innovate, which has
been the hallmark of their global success for
decades.
When it comes to the Australian automotive
industry, the recent Federal Budget
announcement of $100 million of funding
directed towards manufacturing also helps
as we head toward the future. Some of this
funding is earmarked for the development
of an Innovation Lab for the automotive
aftermarket industry. This is testament to the
universal belief that there is an exciting future
that lies ahead for the automotive industry.
You and all of Capricorn’s Members, along
with the rest of the automotive sales, repair
and servicing industry will take up the reigns
of an innovative and exciting Australian and
New Zealand automotive industry that is well
and truly far from dead.
Yes, we won’t be building cars anymore. But
we will be making them more responsive,
safer, stronger, economical and reliable. All
the hype about autonomous vehicles only
means that the car will come to you for a
service or trade-in without a driver. Recent
futuristic press articles even talk of flying
cars just like those foreseen on The Jetsons
cartoons of decades past. They will need to
be maintained as well.
CAPRICORN IGNITION AUGUST 2017 13