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Cyber Smart Dealers: Business Email Compromise Fraud – Safeguard Your Dealership

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

In the fast lane of business, cyber threats are accelerating, and your dealership is a prized target. Our webinar is your GPS to navigate the treacherous waters of Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud.

Title: Business Email Compromise Fraud – Safeguard Your Dealership

Date: Thursday 8 February 2024

Time: 2:00pm AEDT (Sydney time)

Presented by: Brian Hay from Cultural Cyber Security

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding BEC Fraud: Look into the tactics used by cyber criminals to compromise communications between dealerships and customers.
  • Spotting Red Flags: Learn how to identify suspicious emails and prevent falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
  • Dealer Specific Threats: tailored insights for new car Dealers to fortify against industry specific attacks.
  • Practical Defence Strategies: Arm yourself with effective countermeasures to shield your dealership and customer data.

Real-world Case Studies: Delve into real-life circumstances where dealerships faced incidents of BEC fraud, the consequences they dealt with, and the changes they implemented to combat the issue.

Q&A Session: Engage with our speaker, share your concerns, and get your questions answered.

Webinars are open to all Dealers and their staff, so register now to secure your spot!

REGISTER NOW

Holiday Period Sees Used Car Sales Soften in December Automotive Insights Report

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

The December edition of the Automotive Insights Report (AIR) has been released today.

AIR shows that used car trading softened in December compared to the previous month, most likely due to seasonal factors. The average time it takes to sell a used car is increasing over time, while the retained values of used cars is edging down. 

“In December used car sales and cars listed for sale contracted from the previous month as Australians fell into the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” said AADA CEO Mr James Voortman.

“Petrol and diesel cars dominate the used car market making up around 95 percent of cars sold and cars for sale. The market for used electric vehicles is immature but is expected to grow as new EV sales make their way onto the used market,” said Mr Voortman.

“Despite a reduction in days to sell from the previous month, we are still seeing a trend of used vehicles taking longer to sell with December being the second month in a row that average days to sell is over 50,” he said.

“The retained value of cars continues to reduce, indicating an improving supply situation which should bode well for consumers,” he said.

The Automotive Insights Report shows that in December:

  • Across Australia 276,268 vehicles were listed for sale and in that period 169,312 were sold.
  • The data shows that the overwhelming majority of used cars being bought and sold have petrol or diesel engines.
  • The used market for electric vehicles remains very immature with battery electric vehicles making up 0.7% of total cars sold and plug-in hybrid vehicles making up less than 0.2%.
  • The average time to sell a used car is 50.9 days which is a slight reduction from the previous month, but the trend shows days to sell increasing.
  • Retained values continue to decline after the record highs of recent years.
  • Some popular used cars are worth more on average today than when they were sold new – examples include the Suzuki Jimny, Toyota Yaris/Yaris Cross, Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Rav4 and Honda Jazz for vehicles aged between two and four years.
  • The list of top selling cars in the used market closely reflects preferences in the new car market, with the Ford Ranger taking out top spot ahead of the Toyota Hilux.

The 2023 Annual Report rounding up the full calendar year of used car sales will be released to the public in the coming weeks.

VIEW DECEMBER AIR

2023 New Car Sales Results Released

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

VFACTS for December 2023 and the full calendar year were released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. It was a record-breaking year for new car deliveries, with 1,216,780 vehicles delivered, beating the previous sales record set in 2017. It represents a 12.5 per cent increase on 2022.

The record VFACTS figure is testament to manufacturers and Dealer’s ability to deliver vehicles to customers from strong order banks, along with demand remaining high for most of the year. With high interest rates and cost of living pressures it is anticipated the record year won’t be repeated in 2024.

Toyota continued to dominate, despite a slight drop in their numbers compared with 2022. They held a 17.7 per cent market share and were the top selling manufacturer for the 21st year in a row with 215,240 cars sold. The top five was rounded out by Mazda (100,008), Ford (87,800), Kia (76,120) and Hyundai (75,183).

Brands that didn’t fare as well include Honda, with the brand posting their lowest sales figures on record for the second year in a row, Mercedes-Benz, whose sales figures decreased by 9.3 per cent, and Suzuki saw a 20.9 per cent decrease for 2023.

SUVs and light commercial vehicles remained extremely popular, accounting for 15 of the top 20 models sold in 2023. They represented just over 78 per cent of vehicles sold for the calendar year.

Battery electric vehicles continued to increase in popularity with 87,217 vehicles sold for the year, representing 7.2 per cent of sales. 16.2 per cent of vehicles sold in 2023 were low emissions vehicles including hybrids, BEVs and PHEVs.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

We would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have personally appreciated your support and hard work throughout this busy but successful year and look forward to working with you all again in 2024.

Our offices will be closed from Saturday, 23 December 2023 and will reopen on Monday, 8 January 2024.

AADA staff will of course be on stand-by throughout this time should an urgent matter arise.

Kind regards,
James Voortman and the team at AADA

AADA and AutoGrab Release First Automotive Insights Report

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

The first edition of the Automotive Insights Report (AIR) is live today. AIR is a joint initiative from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) and AutoGrab which will provide data on Australia’s used car market every month.

“Prior to the release of AIR there has been no reliable and regular dataset for the used car market, even though more than 65 per cent of all cars purchased in Australia are used cars,” said AADA CEO Mr James Voortman.

“AADA has partnered with the used car market data specialists, AutoGrab, to provide regular market data which will serve as a valuable resource for Dealers, consumers, and enthusiasts interested in the used car market,” he said.

“The first edition of AIR shows that after a number of years of tight supply, Australia’s used car market is seeing increased levels of stock with increases in the time it takes to sell a car and a gradual decline in retained values,” said James.

“AutoGrab is thrilled to partner with the AADA to bring greater transparency to the used car market. For the first time, consumers can navigate the market with confidence, armed with valuable insights into vehicle values and market trends, said Daniel Werzberger, Founder and CEO of AutoGrab.

“In an increasingly challenging landscape for car dealerships, with average days to sell on the rise and retained values experiencing a downward trend across the board, our priority is to revolutionise the way people navigate the used car landscape. This report marks a significant step forward in our mission to make car buying a transparent, informed, and value-driven experience for all,” he said.

The inaugural report shows that in November:

  • Across Australia 303,732 vehicles were listed for sale and in that period 206,417 were sold.
  • The data also shows that the overwhelming majority of used cars being bought and sold have petrol or diesel engines.
  • The used market for battery electric vehicles remains very immature with these vehicles making up only 1.25% of total vehicles for sale and only 0.6% of total cars sold for the month.
  • The average time to sell a used car is 52 days which is the highest it has been over the past 12 months.
  • Retained values are gradually declining after the record highs of recent years, but there are still several makes and models which are holding their value very well and, in some instances, exceeding their new market value.
  • The list of top selling cars in the used market closely reflects preferences in the new car market, with the Ford Ranger taking out top spot ahead of the Toyota Hilux.

These statistics will now be released each month, with next month’s release offering full calendar year data for the used car market.

DOWNLOAD NOVEMBER AIR

Cyber Smart Dealers: December Webinar

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

Join us for our next webinar, this time featuring our first guest presenter from respected law firm Macpherson Kelley! The webinar will consider cyber security issues particularly from the legal perspective, e.g:

  • Motor Dealers’ data protection obligations under the Privacy Act,
  • The impact of cyber events on motor Dealers’ data breach reporting obligations,
  • The growing use of AI in cyber events, and
  • Comments about cyber insurance.

Title: Privacy – when, how and what if?

Date: Wednesday 6 December 2023

Time: 11:00am AEDT

Presented by: Kelly Dickson from Macpherson Kelley

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding of the privacy landscape and the data protection obligations on motor Dealers
  • Practical tips to help your business guard against cyber events
  • Practical guidance for what to do when things go wrong

Q&A Session: Engage with our speaker, share your concerns, and get your questions answered. Pre-submitted questions are also accepted and encouraged.

Register now to secure your spot!

REGISTER NOW

Cyber Smart Dealers: November Webinar

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

Join us for this enlightening webinar as we dive into the unique cybersecurity challenges faced by automotive dealerships and provide a roadmap to establish a solid security foundation.

Title: Building Cybersecurity in a Dealership: Baseline your security posture today
Presented By: Brian Hay from Cultural Cyber Security (CCS)
When: Thursday 16 November 2023
Time: 2:00pm AEDT

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding the Threat Landscape: Grasp the various cyber threats specific to automotive dealerships, from data breaches affecting customer data to risks associated with modern car technologies.
  • Digital Touchpoints at Risk: Learn about the various digital touchpoints in a dealership, such as online sales platforms, digital inventory systems, and connected vehicle technologies, but also consideration of physical risks.
  • Baselining Your Current Security Posture: Discover tools and methodologies to assess and baseline your current cybersecurity maturity, identifying gaps and vulnerabilities.
  • Building a Resilient Security Framework: Acquire actionable strategies to develop a comprehensive and proactive cybersecurity program tailored for dealerships, encompassing technology, processes, and people.

Real-world Case Studies: Delve into real-life incidents where dealerships faced cyber threats, the consequences they dealt with, and the lessons learned.

Q&A Session: Engage with our speaker, share your concerns, and get your questions answered.

Webinars are open to all member staff and industry partners, register now to secure your spot!

Can’t make it on the day? Register anyway, and we’ll send you a recording of the webinar so you can catch up at your convenience.

REGISTER NOW

2024 AADA Convention & Expo Details

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

We are pleased to announce the details for the 2024 AADA Convention & Expo. The event will be hosted at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), located in the heart of Melbourne, on 24-25 July 2024.

The theme of our 2024 Convention & Expo, ‘Growth and Innovation‘, will cast a spotlight on the emerging challenges and opportunities within the dynamic online commercial landscape and the expanding demand for electric vehicles. With an eye on the impending transformative shifts in the franchised new car dealership sector and its pivotal role in car distribution, the 2024 AADA Convention & Expo Program promises to tackle these evolving dynamics proactively. Our commitment is to provide our attendees with thought-provoking discussions and practical solutions to navigate this changing terrain.

AADA CONVENTION & EXPO WEBSITE

2023 AADA Convention & Expo Feature Panel

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

The AADA is pleased to announce “Retail Auto > The Road Ahead”, the Feature Panel of the 2023 AADA Convention & Expo being held on 14 June at ICC Sydney as part of the AADA Cox Automotive Keynote Session!

Featuring some of the top industry executives from various Australian retail automotive industry sectors, the panel includes Toyota Australia CEO & President Matt Callachor, carsales.com.au CEO & Managing Director Cameron McIntyre, 2023 NADA Chairman Geoffrey Pohanka, Cox Australia CEO Stephen Lester, and Servco CEO Nick Pappas. Moderated by James Voortman, AADA CEO.

New car dealerships are the foundation of the automotive ecosystem. The 2023 AADA Convention & Expo will explore the road ahead for retail auto, especially how new car dealerships will lead the way in innovation and consumer interaction.

This significant panel session will provide franchised new car Dealers valuable insights into the future retail auto industry and the necessary adjustments for dealership businesses to stay competitive.

Join us on 14-15 June for the 2023 AADA Convention & Expo in Sydney.

 

REGISTER NOW

Vale Ray Kennedy

Posted on by Ashleigh Sykes

Ray Kennedy, a former communications advisor to the AADA secretariat team, passed away on 9 March.

Early in his career Ray worked as a journalist at The Argus, The Age, The Herald, Australian United Press and the ABC. After compulsory National Service in the Australian Army and a period at Eric White and Associates, he joined Ford Motor Company as Publicity Officer at Ford’s Australian HO in Broadmeadows.

Ray rose rapidly through Ford Public Affairs with stints in Dearborn MI, UK and Europe. He was appointed the inaugural Public Relations Manager for the newly created Ford Asia Pacific region based in Melbourne. This was at a time when Ford was applying significant focus to the rapidly developing Asian markets. This meant that Ray worked closely with senior Ford executives including Henry Ford II, ‘Bunkie’ Knudsen, Lee Iacocca, Philip Caldwell and others.

Ray left Ford to establish his own PR consulting business, which he grew significantly over many years before selling out to his partners and retiring.

After AADA was formed as a separate organisation from the precedent entities, Ray was asked to provide media and communications advice and services to the small fledgling secretariat team. In those early days, Ray’s experience and knowledge provided critical support while the organisation was being built.

On behalf of AADA we extend our deep sympathies to Ray’s wife Jill, his daughters Jane and Carrie, and his entire family.