Automotive Talent

Automotive Talent Sourcing high achievers for the leading automotive organisations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the USA, and Canada.

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Volkswagen has confirmed more than 28,000 "employee departures" — with the total potentially reaching 50,000 in Germany ...
19/06/2026

Volkswagen has confirmed more than 28,000 "employee departures" — with the total potentially reaching 50,000 in Germany by 2030.

Europe's largest automaker is under serious pressure: falling global demand, intensifying Chinese competition, a slower-than-expected EV transition, and a 3.3% operating margin in Q1 2026.

→ 28,000+ departures confirmed, up from 25,000 disclosed late last year
→ Production capacity being cut from 12 million to 9 million units globally
→ €6 billion in annual savings targeted by 2030 — €1 billion already delivered
→ Revenue down 2%, operating profit down 14% in Q1 2026

For anyone in the OEM or supply chain space, the scale of this restructuring is significant. The question isn't whether the industry is changing — it's how fast, and who's positioning well for it.

https://www.goauto.com.au/news/volkswagen/volkswagen-to-axe-28-000-european-jobs/2026-06-17/99543.html

The Chery ute has a name — and it's a ripper: meet the Stockman.Chosen from more than 20,000 submissions and 12,000 vote...
19/06/2026

The Chery ute has a name — and it's a ripper: meet the Stockman.

Chosen from more than 20,000 submissions and 12,000 votes, "Stockman" beat out names like Orca, Ironbark, and — brilliantly — "Mate." The winner, Steve Kodikara from Victoria, gets the first one off the production line.

→ First diesel PHEV ute in Australia — a genuine segment first
→ 1000kg payload, 3500kg towing, locking front/centre/rear diffs — spec'd to work hard
→ Chery aims to be a top-5 brand by 2027 — the ute is a critical piece of that puzzle
→ The crowd-sourced name is a smart move — Australians will embrace it because they chose it

The ute market is fiercely competitive. But a diesel PHEV at a competitive price point with genuine off-road credentials is a serious play.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/2027-chery-stockman-new-chinese-diesel-phev-ute-gets-a-very-aussie-name

BYD wants to be the world's biggest automaker by 2031. Bold? Absolutely. Impossible? Less so than it sounds.Chairman Wan...
18/06/2026

BYD wants to be the world's biggest automaker by 2031. Bold? Absolutely. Impossible? Less so than it sounds.

Chairman Wang Chuanfu told shareholders the company aims to surpass Toyota within five years. Right now, BYD delivered around 4.6 million vehicles in 2025 — Toyota shifted 11.3 million. That's a significant gap to close.

→ BYD would need to add 1+ million sales every year to get there
→ Domestic China sales are down 20%+ year-on-year — competition from rival Chinese brands is biting
→ Exports are the growth engine — up 65%, with Australia, Brazil and the UK leading
→ In Australia, BYD is sitting 3rd year-to-date with sales up 120%

Whether they reach number one or not, the direction of travel for Chinese EVs in global markets — including ours — is only one way.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/byd-targets-overtaking-toyota-as-worlds-biggest-automaker-in-five-years

Mario Lourenco steps in as the new CEO of BMW Group Financial Services ANZ from 1 August.He brings 25+ years in finance ...
18/06/2026

Mario Lourenco steps in as the new CEO of BMW Group Financial Services ANZ from 1 August.

He brings 25+ years in finance with senior roles across Portugal, Brazil, Spain, China, and most recently Mexico — a genuinely global career that's landed in our backyard.

Outgoing CEO May Wong heads to BMW Financial Services UK as CFO — a strong exit after delivering record new business volume and finance pe*******on locally.

→ Succession from within the BMW ecosystem — continuity matters in a complex finance operation
→ Wong's move reflects BMW's global talent pipeline shifting proven performers to bigger markets
→ Leadership changes at the OEM finance level often signal strategic shifts for dealer F&I partnerships

Worth watching.

https://autotalk.com.au/industry-news/bmw-financial-services-names-new-anz-boss

Ford NZ had a strong 2025 on paper — until tax came knocking.Pre-tax profit jumped to $20.5m (up from $11.3m in 2024), r...
17/06/2026

Ford NZ had a strong 2025 on paper — until tax came knocking.

Pre-tax profit jumped to $20.5m (up from $11.3m in 2024), revenue cleared $957m, and the Ranger held its crown as NZ's top-selling mid-size ute for the 11th straight year. Solid numbers across the board.

But a tax dispute between Inland Revenue and the US IRS — covering Ford's income from 2017–2021 — landed a $25.1m tax charge in one hit, flipping a tidy profit into a net loss of $4.6m.

MD Annaliese Atina credited aftersales as a standout performer, with the Everest and Mustang both posting year-on-year growth. Ford NZ is also gearing up to launch a single-turbo Ranger variant and the Ranger Super Duty.

The fundamentals look healthy — this tax hit is a one-off, not a sign of underlying weakness.

https://autotalk.co.nz/ford-nz-profit-surge-offset-by-tax-hit/

Has BMW jumped the shark — or just raised the bar?The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse dropped at Le Mans this week, and it's b...
17/06/2026

Has BMW jumped the shark — or just raised the bar?

The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse dropped at Le Mans this week, and it's being pitched as a near production-ready preview of the upcoming electric M3. Quad motors, 800-volt architecture, 100kWh+ battery, and reportedly around 746kW of combined output when it hits showrooms in early 2027.

→ GT racing-inspired design: yellow-tinted lights, trimaran front apron, ducktail spoiler, centre-lock wheels
→ Full track-day cabin: four bucket seats, five-point harnesses, M hexagonal backlighting
→ A petrol M3 sibling is still coming, priced similarly

We reckon it's one seriously sexy EV. But will the production car keep the magic — or lose it?

What do you think — has BMW nailed it, or gone too far?

https://www.goauto.com.au/future-models/bmw/m3/electric/electric-m3-shapes-up-at-le-mans/2026-06-15/99523.html

17/06/2026

The Automotive Industry's Best Kept Secret

Most people don't realise how many careers exist inside the automotive industry.
Andrew Hillcoat explains why getting through the door is often the hardest part. Once you're in, the opportunities are endless.

🎙️ Watch or listen to the full episode — link in bio

Honda just put a price tag on its EV retreat: $22.3 billion AUD.The carmaker booked a $3.7 billion loss for the last fin...
16/06/2026

Honda just put a price tag on its EV retreat: $22.3 billion AUD.

The carmaker booked a $3.7 billion loss for the last financial year after scrapping its electric vehicle push – including the Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 Saloon and Acura RSX. It's Honda's first annual operating loss since 1957.

→ The 2040 "fully electric" pledge has quietly been shelved
→ Hybrids are now the centre of the strategy, not just the bridge
→ Tens of billions in EV R&D and tooling investment written off
→ Honda is forecasting record operating profit by 2029 off the back of this pivot

For the Australian market, this tracks with what we're seeing on dealer lots already – hybrids selling strongly while EV demand plateaus outside a few segments. Honda's reversal suggests other manufacturers may quietly recalibrate their EV timelines too.

Worth watching how this plays out across the rest of the industry.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/honda-reveals-ev-reversal-cost-tens-of-billions/

16/06/2026

From apprentice technician to international automotive executive and dealership advisor, Andrew Hillcoat's career has spanned more than four decades of industry transformation.

We discuss aftersales profitability, leadership under pressure, the role of AI in modern dealerships, customer retention, operational efficiency, and the habits that separate great dealership operators from the rest.

A fascinating conversation on leadership, business performance, innovation, and where the biggest opportunities in automotive retail still exist today.

Full episode out out: https://youtu.be/1KCPeGtstME

Chery says it's now a top five automaker in Australia – with an asterisk.The catch: it's combined sales across Chery and...
16/06/2026

Chery says it's now a top five automaker in Australia – with an asterisk.

The catch: it's combined sales across Chery and sister brand Omoda Jaecoo that gets them there, not the Chery brand alone.

"We believe the best is still ahead for us" – Chery Group Australia CEO Lewis Lu

→ May sales: 6,971 combined (4,401 Chery + 2,570 Omoda Jaecoo), trailing only Ford, BYD, Hyundai Motor Group and Toyota
→ Chery brand alone sits 9th on its own – just behind GWM, ahead of MG and Mitsubishi
→ 23rd straight month of growth for the Group
→ YTD the combined Group sits 6th with 26,726 units and 5.4% market share

The goal is for Chery (the brand) to crack the top five solo by 2027, with Omoda Jaecoo targeting a top 10 spot. More Chery Group brands are coming – iCaur, Lepas, Freelander and Jetour – which could fuel that push, or spread sales thinner across an increasingly crowded portfolio.

Worth watching as Chinese brands keep reshaping our market.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/chery-says-its-now-a-top-five-automaker-in-australia-with-a-catch

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