Financial pressures, industry restructuring, changing consumer preferences, fluctuating fuel prices and the growing demand for more 'eco friendly' vehicles are transforming the world's automotive industry. In Australia, the industry remains a key driver of the domestic economy despite considerable contraction in the sales and profitability of locally produced vehicles in recent years as Australian manufacturers compete with cheaper imports and a proliferation of brands.
Government intervention is a salient feature of the local industry and remains critical as the automotive sector navigates through a period of unprecedented turmoil and transformation.
To prosper — indeed, just to survive — in such a demanding environment, industry participants are being forced to develop more flexible business models and embrace new management tools and skill sets.
