A COOPERATION signed in February between the Motor Trades Association of Queensland and the peak automotive dealer body, the AADA, has now extended to Victoria, Tasmania and WA with a memorandum aimed at strengthening relationships between franchised dealers.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC), the Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (TACC) and the Motor Trade Association of Western Australia (MTA WA), have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian Automotive Dealer Association  (AADA).

It will build on the model established earlier this year between the MTA of Queensland (MTAQ) and AADA, committing the organisations to closer collaboration and resource sharing for the benefit of their dealer members. 

AADA CEO James Voortman said: “This is a major step forward for dealers in the signatory states who now will benefit from one consistent voice at both the state and national level.”

AADA CEO James Voortman

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in Victoria, WA, Queensland and Tasmania to ensure franchised new car and truck dealers have the best possible representation.”

VACC CEO Peter Jones said: “This agreement strengthens our ability to advocate effectively for new car and truck dealers across Victoria and Tasmania. 

“By working in closer coordination with AADA, we ensure our members benefit from strong representation at both state and national levels. This unified approach will deliver better outcomes for automotive retailers while maintaining our focus on the specific needs of our Victorian and Tasmanian members.”

VACC CEO Peter Jones

MTAQ CEO Rod Camm said the agreement represented “a pivotal moment for our industry.”

“By formalising collaboration between state and national bodies, we are strengthening our ability to advocate effectively and consistently on behalf of dealers.

MTAQ CEO Rod Camm

“At a time when the automotive sector is facing rapid change, unity and coordination are more important than ever. 

“MTA Queensland is proud to have helped pioneer this approach and fully supports this expanded national alignment.”

MTA WA Group CEO Stephen Moir

MTA WA Group CEO Stephen Moir said that politicians respond best when they hear one clear and strong voice.

“While the MTA WA has had a long working relationship with AADA, this MoU provides a great outcome for franchise dealers across Australia,” he said.

Mr Moir said it was a great move as “90 per cent of our work is at state level.”

“James is perfectly set up in Canberra to handle the national issues and has an excellent set of resources,” he said.

“Issues ahead are NVES, franchising and managing transitions to new technologies, not limited to battery-electric vehicles. That will be important for dealers to work with in the longer term.

“Successful business partnerships come from good relationships. Representations to the government will assist hugely in all these areas and more. Politicians will now receive one clear consistent message which should lead to better outcomes for our members.”

The MoU acknowledges MTAQ, MTA WA, VACC, and TACC as the peak bodies representing new car and truck dealers in their respective states and the AADA as the national peak industry body when dealing with issues of national significance. 

Together, they commit to coordinating policy positions, submissions, media communications, and committee representation to better serve dealers and ensure they are represented by one voice at both the state and national levels with regards to franchised new car and truck dealer issues. 

The motor trade associations in NSW and South Australia are not signatories to the MoU.