BULLETIN 20 April 2018

Visitors: 

 

Name of Visitor & Organisation	Guest of
Barry Fredheim	Antoon Moonen
Mike Farmer - MD Farmer Motor Group Ltd	Speaker

Anna is starting a fundraising campaign to buy an ambulance for Tauranga. A more detailed proposal will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. Her new mobile number is 027 444 0436.

 

Pat and Anna have suggested members have a fellowship get together tonight at Brooklyn on The Strand from 5pm.

 

Bill urged members to read the itinerary for the next Sunrise Rotary trip to Japan in April 2019. This will be at the time of the Cherry Blossom Festival, costs about $5000, and only has 12 places available. Book now!

 

Wayne The District Assembly is being held on Saturday 5 May in Taupo. A couple of seats are available in his car going down so please contact him if you would like to attend. You will need to register yourself online. 

 

Ian The K Valley Planting Day is also on Saturday 5 May, from 10am-12pm. Assemble at Marshalls Ave, and bring gloves, gumboots and a spade.

 

Dan thanked all members for their donations to the family in need. A garage sale and Trademe sales would generate funding support for them.

 

Stuart recommended members go to ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ at Tauranga Musical Theatre before it closes on 28 April.

The CEO of Farmer Autovillage, Mike Farmer demonstrated his business acumen by starting his presentation with an offer to assist Anna with her ambulance proposal!

 

Farmer's Motor Group opened in 1991 with 12 staff on Elizabeth Street. In 2008 at the start of the GFC Farmer Autovillage was opened on Hewletts Rd and grew to have a turnover of $150m pa. They now employ 120 staff and sell 250 vehicles per month. The business has 45% of the local new car market and has won many awards.

 

Mike described the Autovillage concept ranging from many brands under one roof, shared resources, risk mitigation, cost efficiencies, central management and add-on services.

 

Electric vehicles were the next topic and it is likely many more vehicles will be available in the next 18-24 months. Currently, the media hype is ahead of manufacturer’s ability to supply. Pricing will settle as manufacturing and marketing investment improves.  The tipping point for customers is 400km on a single charge. Nissan Leafs (the most popular EV) which currently have a range of up to 170km will in three years be able to swop old batteries and be able to travel 400km.

 

Mike explained the challenges that need to be overcome which were; the technology behind quick charging needs to improve to 150 amps; compliance issues in the electrical industry, public acceptance of soundless vehicles and change.

 

Autonomous vehicles were the next subject and Mike believes these are 30 years away. Not because of the technology but rather insurance and liability issues not being able to be resolved.

 

Mike finished off with the sobering statistic that New Zealand had the oldest car fleet in the southern hemisphere, and that meant the road toll could be halved if most vehicles had been purchased after 2011, due to modern safety features.