As 2021 nears a close, we recap over the last two years and look to the future. What can we expect from 2022?

Welcome to new MTA President Bob Boniface, who was elected to the Board in 2012 and has served as Vice President from 2018 until now.

Selling tractors is getting trickier. TransAg Centre in Palmerston North are ordering millions of dollars worth of stock to support farmers while lending a hand in other ways too.

Whangamatā on the Coromandel Peninsula is known for its annual Beach Hop, seaside sun, fun, fishing, and surfing. However staff at the Whangamatā Service Centre miss much of the action.

Two major auto aftermarket parts distribution networks reckon they’re ready to surf the Omicron wave, which is expected to wash through New Zealand over the coming weeks.

Independent economist Tony Alexander gives us a rundown of what to expect in 2022, looking at consumer spending patterns and the purchasing of durable goods such as couches and cars.

From rebuilding a classic car to engineering a commercial kitchen - it's all in a day's work for Douglas Automotive & Engineering.

International automotive business coaches Dan Gilley and Cecil Bullard ask the question, 'how much do you want to earn as the business owner?' which they say is critical to running a profitable business.

The 12 years that MTA President Dave Harris has served on the Board have been a period of transformation with a renewed focus on members’ needs and organisational sustainability.

Eastern Truck & Marine, on the outskirts of Napier, has spent the last 12 months consciously re-energising and refreshing the team.

The pressure is on for car dealers to provide affordable electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles now that the Government has introduced its feebate incentive – the Clean Car Discount.

As the world’s pandemic lockdowns ease, New Zealand and other economies are counting the cost and preparing for a period of rising prices and inflation.

Long-time mechanic and workshop manager Peter Morgan has just celebrated 50 years in the trade.

MTA and others in the auto sector are lobbying the Government for tweaks to its Clean Car Standard regime that would lessen the anomalies and make its goals more attainable.

Kiwis will see the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell EV freight trucks on the road early next year, fuelled by New Zealand-made hydrogen.

Six of the previous 19 independent Honda dealers have withdrawn from the brand after the company completed months of in-person consultation on a new national agency model network.

Amber Kay decided to take it upon herself to get qualified.

There is growing concern in the collision repair sector about the impacts that insurance-owned panel shops are having on their businesses

The MTA Board welcomed two additional directors to the table last month, Grant Woolford and Tom Ruddenklau.

Business is booming for Towbar Express as thousands of Kiwis buy new cars, boats, caravans, ebikes, trailers and motorhomes with the money they’ve saved on international travel.

As New Zealand, and the world, grow their electric vehicle fleets, there’s also a push on to find effective and sustainable ways to manage the lithium-ion batteries.

At the end of January, the Climate Change Commission issued its draft advice to the Government, setting out an ambitious range of action New Zealand must take to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

Ongoing disruption to overseas manufactured parts and other goods is expected for the rest of the year as outbreaks of Covid-19 impact factories and shipping snarl-ups continue.

The advantage of running a mechanical repair business in an inner-city car parking building is you have a big pool of potential customers right at your roller door.

Valued MTA Christchurch member Martin Brooks of Aceomatic Transmission Services has spent almost three decades doing his best to pass on his specialist knowledge to others in the industry.

The motor trade continues to do reasonably well under Covid-19 conditions. Peter Morton of Herbert Morton Chartered Accountants specialises in services for the motor trade and says most of his clients are managing well.

There’s a world of automobile history planted in the paddocks around Horopito Motors, just waiting to be picked over.

Ever since Cameron Spooner was a child he loved diggers and trucks. At just 22, he bought Ohakune Automotive.

There was a lot to catch up on when around 30 former Hamilton MTA members and their partners met for a reunion recently.

An online cloud-based system - HSE Connect can help small businesses manage Health and Safety, plus it's been designed specifically for workshops, dealerships and service stations.

Economist Tony Alexander shares some knowledge on the economic impact of the Covid-19 lockdown

Nicholson United Autos, with its sites in Whakatane, Morrinsville and Rotorua, is celebrating 40 years of Nicholson family ownership

Princess Diana, comedic actor Rowan Atkinson and a 95-year-old Dennis fire engine all have direct connections to Opunake MTA member Nigel Fraser

IAG’s East Tamaki Repairhub has repaired over 2,000 vehicles since it opened in November last year. It concentrates on non-structural repairs which are completed, on average, within three days.

Happers Honda has a new building, but the site still marks three generations of family history and their passion for motorbikes.

At Methven Motors there’s a ‘work hard, play hard’ atmosphere. Pet projects and passions are supported and the staff and business are an active part of the small rural community.

South Auckland repairer Milan Motors recently joined MTA and its owners are keen to merge the benefits of the brand with their own community ethos.

Moving high-end cars around Auckland discreetly and safely is the specialty service provided by Exotic Towing.

A strange thing happened after lockdown – sales of new and imported used motorcycles rocketed.