Executive
Summary
Mace Hartley
Executive Director
AfMA was again delighted to host so many of you
at our recent 2019 Australasian Fleet Conference
and Exhibition last month. In particular we’d like to
extend a special thank you to those who joined us
in Melbourne this year for the very first time.
Our premier marquee event presented many
opportunities for fleet managers and others
within the automotive industry both in the formal
and informal settings across the 3 days. Our
Safety Field Day out at Sandown Raceway in
partnership with Pedders Suspension and Brakes
presented key opportunities for attendees to
actively test the latest active safety features on
new age vehicles, and the collaboration between
manufacturers allowed access to test drive
a variety of new passenger and commercial
electric/hybrid vehicles.
Alongside the variety of educational sessions
and speakers, this year’s gathering incorporated
the Fleet Awards into our annual Networking
Dinner as we paused to recognise achievement
in the field of safety, environment and overall fleet
practice. Inside this issue are features from all 3
of our award winners – including statistics and
tips that you can implement into your own fleet
and management operations.
As our industry bolts towards an unprecedented
rate of change, AfMA continues to be the voice
to help push governments, manufacturers and
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suppliers into action on key issues such as low
emissions vehicles. A common theme during
this year’s conference was considering how
fleets might be able to future proof themselves
and their vehicles for the rise of the EV into our
fleets. Central to this is understanding of how
much vehicles will cost over their life span and
doing the sums to produce real cost savings
for your business. The upcoming release of
AfMA’s Whole of Life Cost Calculator is set to
provide organisations with an easy side by side
comparison of up to 4 vehicles and a host of
other benefits and is a complimentary tool for all
active members.
We enter the next 3 years with a re-elected
Coalition national government following the
May election, and as an association we want
to encourage action by providing drivers with
incentives to take up newer, safer and more
environmentally friendly vehicles. As it stands
Australia continues to lag behind many other
countries and without further initiative, we will
continue to fall further behind the 8-ball. In
spite of this it is encouraging to see so many
manufacturers continue their efforts in shaking
up the EV market – with Hyundai, Jaguar, Tesla,
Nissan, Renault, Toyota, and KIA all impressing
with recent modal upgrades. Meanwhile
Mitsubishi and Toyota are working towards
equally admirable efforts with their low emissions
hybrids and alternative fuel-cell technologies.