A MAJOR national survey of the automotive industry is underway to alert the state and federal governments to issues within the industry and to plan for policies and funding in the future.

The Automotive Industry National Survey 2020-21 is being conducted by the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) and its state and territory associations, and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).

It aims to collect information on the condition of the automotive industry and cover issues including the impact of COVID-19 on the business; business expectations; apprentices and training; and skill shortages.

The results of the survey will be tabled in a report to federal and state governments as well as key industry stakeholders. The report will constitute a major tool for industry lobbying on behalf of MTAA and its constituents.

The organisers of the survey say that it is critical that all members take the time to complete the questions so that their experiences and views can be put across at the highest levels of governments.

The MTAA and VACC said the automotive industry has not been immune to the impacts of COVID-19 and other pressures, and for the most part both federal and state governments are unaware as to the overall condition of the automotive industry.

“This lack of awareness can limit an effective policy response from the government, particularly where there are many competing industries all vying for government attention,” the MTAA and VACC said.

No individual or company details will be collected in the survey. All responses remain private and confidential, and only aggregated results will be released at national and state levels.

The survey link is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Automotive_Industry_National_Survey_2020-21

Respondents are requested to complete the survey by Thursday August 27.

By Neil Dowling