After showcasing its retrofittable Future Hybrid Concept at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show (as reported in SightGlass issue 37, Horse Powertrain has now revealed a global plug-and-play hybrid system for multiple vehicle types. The UK-headquartered joint venture between Renault Group and Geely backed by energy giant Aramco was founded in May 2024, combines Geely subsidiary … Continue reading Horse launches ‘plug-and-play’ hybrid system to help auto-makers cut CO2
By Refrigerants Australia executive director Dr Greg Picker With the start of the transition to R1234yf in significant numbers in new vehicles and the HFC quota likely to impact refrigerant supply and price, the mobile air-conditioning industry is trying to assess what refrigerants they can use in a retrofit situation. The situation seems complicated and … Continue reading Retrofitting refrigerant in automotive applications: What are the current rules?
Although an earlier transition to BEVs would accelerate reductions in transport emissions, BMW head of portfolio management for electrified powertrains Michael Hoffmann considers hybrids a smart and scalable way to cut CO2 in the short term as manufacturers face tightening regulations and uncertainty around charging infrastructure. “If you glanced at September’s European Automobile Manufacturers Association … Continue reading BMW exec spruiks hybrid tech as market resists fast BEV uptake
Queensland has unveiled a pioneering automotive training initiative designed to combat the industry’s critical skills shortage, with a new academy set to provide senior secondary students with direct pathways into automotive careers from 2026. The Automotive Academy, announced on August 12, 2025, represents a collaborative effort between the Heavy Vehicle Industry Association, the Australian Automotive … Continue reading Queensland Automotive Academy to address skills shortage
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the workforce, many young Australians are pivoting away from traditional white-collar careers in favour of skilled trades. This growing trend, coined the “AIxiety Pivot”, is largely driven by concerns over job security, the cost of education and a desire for more control over career paths. According to a Zety report, … Continue reading AI-ronic skills shortage hope
Australia’s automotive sector is receiving unprecedented support through new training programs, funding boosts and innovative apprenticeship models as governments and industry bodies work to address critical skills shortages across the trade sector. The push includes everything from electric vehicle maintenance courses to agricultural machinery training, with significant financial backing aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures while … Continue reading Trade workforce gets expanded support, training and recognition
Australia’s automotive industry has launched a national code of conduct for calibrating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), providing clear guidance for repairers working on critical safety features that will be present in 43 per cent of vehicles by 2030. The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association unveiled the ADAS Industry Code of Conduct at the Autocare 2025 … Continue reading ADAS code of conduct published
Australia’s pioneering Right to Repair law is under formal review three years after implementation, with industry leaders pushing the federal government to strengthen the scheme and unlock its untapped economic potential. Introduced in July 2022, the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme gave independent automotive repairers access to critical manufacturer data so that … Continue reading Right to Repair under review
The automotive service sector’s skills shortage has reached crisis point, with apprenticeship numbers plummeting 25 per cent last year – and it’s affecting everyone from main dealers to independent workshops. Encouragingly, industry leaders are publicly acknowledging that this isn’t a problem any single sector can solve alone. During a panel session at this year’s Autocare … Continue reading Skills crisis hits breaking point: Industry leaders finally talk collaboration
VASA member GB Auto has switched 20 vehicles to electric F-150 Lightnings, the first major deployment of locally converted electric utes in Australia. The fully electric utility vehicles have been remanufactured to right-hand drive by Advanced Manufacturing Queensland (AMQ), part of the Australian-owned Bosscap Group, at its 8000-square-metre facility in Brendale, north of Brisbane. Bosscap … Continue reading GB Auto’s fleet of beaut electric utes
