An all-new software system for vehicle workshops has been launched in New Zealand, after two years in development and testing.

Named 'Spanner Planner', the system manages all aspects of running a workshop - from customer and job management, including processing from client and vehicle detail, right through to invoices, payments, purchase orders and return of unused goods to the supplier.  

“Being an online system, we can easily update the software to release new features," says Craig Byrnes, managing director of Spanner Planner. "Currently we are updating the software nearly every day with new features and improvements.  This also means support issues that need development changes can be implemented quickly, unlike the legacy software model.”

Mercedes-Benz Financial has launched an app for Android and iOS users.

Users who download the free app are able to locate the nearest Mercedes-Benz dealer, contact a customer service representative, determine a monthly payment amount on a vehicle of their choice and see current promotions from Mercedes-Benz Financial.

“Designed to help customers in their purchasing processes, our new 'myMBFS' App is a natural extension of our digital presence and a great step into the world of mobile technology,” says Daniel van Treeck, the managing director of MBFS NZ. “myMBFS App is targeted at a large and dynamic segment of the population which is interested in Mercedes-Benz and it brings our vehicles closer to the palm of the user.

Vehicle financier and insurer Dorchester Pacific today posted its full year results for the financial year to March 31, 2013, reporting a net profit after tax of $1.71 million (2012 - $1.60 million loss).

The result is ahead of the earlier profit guidance of $1.60 million.

And the company expects to do even better, forecasting a profit after tax of $6 million for the current financial year, with this increasing to $10 million over the subsequent two years.

Four men were sentenced in Auckland yesterday for their role in the long-running Motor Trade Finance (MTF) fraud case - with prison for the leading offender.

 Mark James Whelan, 40, was sentenced to four years and four months in prison - following his guilty plea to 66 charges of obtaining by deception. The Serious Fraud Office laid the charges against Whelan and his associates.

Whelan was a retail dealer - then franchisee - of MTF, and wrote loans in the names of family, friends and associates on non-existent assets. The loans went into default in 2009.

Bill English’s fifth Budget has been generally well received by businesses in the automotive, heavy transport and equipment industries.

A stable, steadily growing economy - as promised by the government - is seen by most companies as preferable to the economic turmoil evident in many other developed countries.

After five hard years, finance minister English has finally opened the purse strings a little in an effort to create a more productive economy.

Of course we in the dealer business embrace change, so long as someone goes before us!

I take the liberty of reproducing an article recently penned by Steve Findlay of Wards Auto in the US.

In his article Steve canvases the myriad of changes unfolding everyday in the digital marketing space for dealers. I’m sure you will find his opinion informative. 

“Because(we've been operating this way for more than 100 years, change doesn’t always come easy to the franchised auto-dealership system”, says Jared Hamilton, head of DrivingSales.com.

Ford has confirmed pricing for the Fiesta ST sports-hatch - and that it will arrive in July.

Developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford Motor Company’s Global Performance Vehicle group, the Fiesta ST for New Zealand is powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to achieve 0 to 100KM/H in 6.9 seconds and 134kW and 240 Nm of torque (149kW and 290Nm with transient over boost). Top speed for the hot hatch is 220 km/h.

It balances that with a relatively low fuel consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres. The Fiesta is priced at $34,990.

New Zealanders aged between 35 and 64 spend two thirds of their total travel time driving, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has found.

In its latest Driver Travel fact sheet, the ministry says that, on average, men drive just over 12,000 kilometres per driver a year, while women average just over 8000 kilometres per driver a year.

The driver is the sole vehicle occupant in two thirds of trips.

Holden Special Vehicles has announced its 'GEN-F' vehicle range - its take on the updated VF Commodore range - including a 430kw Supercharged model.

The company has touted the model as the most significant range in its 25 year history - somewhat prophetic as it could be the last major revision seen on a rear-wheel-drive Commodore.

Local HSV regional manager Andrew Lamb says the range will begin arriving here in July, with the GTS  arriving in September.

The ANZ Bank's latest consumer confidence survey paints a rosier picture for Kiwi businesses, including vehicle dealerships.

ANZ says the survey shows that:

·  Consumers have more spring in their step.

The ongoing Tyrewise end-of-life program for used tyres has reached its next phase, with the issuing of the results of public consultation sessions.

The Tyrewise project held two public consultation workshops at the end of March to receive feedback following the publication of 'Tyrewise Scoping Report 4 – What might a future scheme look like V7?'

A summary report can be downloaded HERE, or now available for viewing on http://www.tyrewise.co.nz/milestones

Holden New Zealand has carried over the pricing of much of its Commodore range for the launch of the VF model - with some familiar names disappearing as part of the change.

The Executive and Berlina names have disappeared, replaced by a single 'Evoke' model - at the Executive's retail price of $49,990.

The NZ pricing differs from pricing in Australia, where an aggressive strategy from Holden has seen the price of the entry level model fall to AU$39,990 - about NZ$43,000.