Latest News

ATTENDEES to Autocare 2018 Convention will learn about worldwide efforts to support consumer choice and fair competition in the automotive aftermarket, and be provided with some tactics for dealing with anti-competitive behaviour. The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association’s government relations manager, Lesley Yates, will be joined by United States Autocare Association senior vice-president of regulatory and … Continue reading Video: Sneak preview of Autocare Sydney 2018

AUDI has finally shed light on the R744 situation for Australia, confirming it will not bring its A8 flagship limousine Down Under fitted with air-conditioning systems using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. The company’s spokesman for government affairs and emissions Bernd Bante told SightGlass eNews in a statement that for the Australian market “there are … Continue reading R744 Audis not coming to Australia

THE skills of VASA members are high on the hit-list for Carrier Transicold, which contacted the association asking for assistance in finding suitable technicians and businesses to help expand its Australian service operation. Although previous transport refrigeration service experience plus experience of both workshop environments and on-site servicing will help the case of applicants, Carrier … Continue reading Transport refrigeration opportunity

COMPRESSOR manufacturers Sanden International and Unicla International have forged a strategic alliance under which Unicla’s heavy-duty compressors in 200cc-675cc range will be co-branded with Sanden, which will use its comprehensive distribution network to meet the expected high demand for more powerful compressors from the rapidly expanding public road transport sector as well as other heavy-duty … Continue reading Sanden and Unicla join forces

THE mobile air-conditioning industry across Asia has been saddened by the death of prominent Singapore manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket air conditioning equipment, Mr Henry Sia. Mr Sia was a long-standing distributor of the Unicla and Sanden brands of equipment, including compressors, evaporators and systems. An entrepreneur and pioneer in his own right, he ventured … Continue reading Vale Henry Sia

THE Department of the Environment and Energy has extended its series of free HFC phase-down information sessions with two scheduled for Tasmania in March. These sessions will discuss what the HFC phase-down will mean for HFC users including equipment owners and technicians, and other changes to the program to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. There … Continue reading More free government-run HFC phase-down info sessions scheduled

THE Department of Environment and Energy has fined a New South Wales-based importer $12,600 for the unlicensed import of vehicles with air-conditioning systems containing a controlled refrigerant. Other costs caused to the importer as a result of this infringement were “significant warehousing costs and business delays”, according to the Department. SightGlass eNews understands the vehicles … Continue reading Business fined for unlicensed import of vehicles containing refrigerant

A TOTAL of 1,189,116 cars were sold in Australia in 2017, an increase of 0.9 per cent over 2016’s performance. It also marked the fourth record-breaking result in five years, with figures buoyed by growing SUV sales. The market’s ongoing expansion hasn’t ceased, either; a total of 88,551 cars were sold in January 2018, representing … Continue reading Automotive sales, spending continue to climb

THIS well put-together advert aimed at the Netherlands market caught our eye, not only because it shares VASA’s tag-line of “welcome home” but because it encourages owners of beaten-up old wrecks to use Motorcraft workshops that are located at many European Ford dealerships. Motorcraft is Ford of Europe’s answer to big fast-fit chains and independent … Continue reading Video: Dutch Ford advert entices owners of ageing cars into dealership workshops

THE Northern Hemisphere winter has well and truly set in, so MACS has themed its latest Service Report around the evolving technologies used to heat and cool the cabins of electrified vehicles. If you have been reading your SightGlass News, you will be well aware of the developments in automotive heat pump technology, which is … Continue reading December MACS bulletin is all about the technology of warming electrified vehicles