VIA working ‘flat out’ to save industry
The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) is keen to reassure all its stakeholders that it is working frantically during the Covid-19 lockdown to ensure the long-term health of the industry.
Chief executive David Vinsen told Autofile Online that VIA and representatives from all parts of the supply chain – from source country to consumer – are in regular talks to tackle problems caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
“We’ve been working flat out on this since it started to rear its head,” he says. “We’ve got storage problems, cash-flow problems, customs problems and many others. But I want to reassure people that we’re working on solutions for all these things and more.
“As far as possible, we’ve got this. I have never seen government departments working so co-operatively and collaboratively, and competitors and various sectors of the supply chain are all working together. The whole-of-government approach has streamlined the response to the situation and decisions being taken are being put into effect very quickly.”
A VIA Council meeting on April 1 was attended by more than 20 representatives from different parts of the vehicle industry, while the association also has meetings lined up with NZTA, Biosecurity NZ and other government departments to address the fast-changing situation.
“The industry is in good hands and we met with senior stakeholders covering every industry sector yesterday and, unanimously, they said keep doing what you’re doing,” he explains.
“We are used to often thinking of dealers at the end of the line, but actually they are the first link in the chain because as we come out of this difficult period nothing will happen until we sell something. We understand that and are trying to smooth things out across the supply chain.”
Among VIA’s most pressing tasks has been working with Biosecurity NZ to set up verification procedures in this country after the Ministry for Primary Industries withdrew its staff from Japan in March.
Vinsen, pictured, says while the treatment and inspection of vehicles by border-inspection companies continues to take place in Japan, verification of vehicle shipments will take place at New Zealand ports. The first vessel with unverified stock is due to arrive here on April 8 or 9.
“There are no purchases happening in Japan and not many more vehicles will be shipped for some time. But ships are on the way now with vehicles on them, some of which have been Biosecurity NZ cleared and some that haven’t. For those that haven’t been verified, we’re preparing for that with transport companies and inspection companies.
“It’s been deemed those vessels coming our way are providing an essential service because they have got vehicles that are essential goods, such as emergency vehicles, and irrigation and agricultural machinery. As a result, they have to discharge the whole vessel and clear the wharf, which means we can get cars off those vessels and into storage. We know how many cars are coming and how we’re going to deal with it.”
While the industry battles with a range of matters as the nation is at Covid-19 alert level four, Vinsen acknowledges there will also be plenty to do once businesses can start operating again.
“With the number of vehicles already in the fleet with WOFs [warrants of fitness] about to expire means when we come out of lockdown tens of thousands of vehicles will need WOFs and there will be trucks that need certificates of fitness. The situation we’re in has led to a constipation of a whole lot of things across the supply chain.
“Everybody is doing the best they can in very difficult circumstances. There’s a fantastic reservoir of goodwill from everybody I’ve been dealing with even with the incredible pressures we all face.”
Vinsen adds that besides trying to help fix things for the industry, he has set some personal goals too. “Firstly, to physically survive this – I want to come out of this alive. Secondly, to remain healthy. After that I want to retain my sense of equanimity and humour. I want to maintain relationships with friends and colleagues in these difficult times. I want to maintain my personal business and hoping to retain my assets.
“This is a difficult time. We all want to get through it emotionally, physically, financially and socially, while also acknowledging that it’s difficult for everybody. None of us have ever seen something like this before.”
