A recent Automotive CEO Breakfast event showcased the future of Australia’s Automotive industry

Bremar proudly hosted an enlightening Automotive CEO Breakfast event at its Keysborough premises recently, bringing together key players from across the automotive sector.
This exclusive gathering featured presentations, panel discussions, and round table dialogues which highlighted the dynamic evolution of Australia’s automotive industry.
The event kicked off with a compelling presentation by Bremar’s Managing Director, Brett Longhurst, who showcased Bremar’s advanced automotive engineering, simulation and manufacturing capabilities, including the company’s ability to 3D print metal and carbon fibre reinforced parts.
This was followed by an insightful address from Markforged Chief Executive Officer, Shai Terem, who shared his expertise on the transformative impact of additive manufacturing within the automotive industry and its applications across various sectors globally, with additive manufacturing being recognised and adopted by OEMs as a process now capable of producing production quality end use parts, tooling, jigs and fixtures.
The event also featured a robust panel discussion with prominent industry body representatives including Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Charity; Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gwilym; and Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Lamont.

This engaging panel discussion explored the current landscape and future directions of the automotive industry in Australia.
Following the panel conversation, attendees participated in a round table discussion, addressing both the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
The conversation revealed that the automotive industry in Australia is not only surviving, but thriving, evolving from a traditional model dominated by a few local OEM manufacturers to a diverse ecosystem of innovative businesses.
These companies are now focused on converting, modifying, and customising OE vehicles to meet specific local requirements and applications.
Additionally, the emergence of bespoke manufacturers producing niche vehicles with unprecedented levels of engineering and build quality was highlighted, and also showcased with vehicles on display from Jaunt and Renner Auto.
One of the key topics discussed was financial support from the government and in particular, making government grants and funding more accessible to small businesses in order to drive innovation.
While such support would certainly be beneficial, the consensus was that reducing regulatory red tape and developing consistent national regulations are of greater importance as these measures would boost business confidence and encourage further investment in the industry.
The discussions underscored the necessity of generating industry support at the government policy level and attracting new talent to the sector.
A broader public awareness campaign was also raised as being crucial to dispel the misconception that Australia’s automotive industry has declined due to the absence of local OEM manufacturers.
In reality, the country boasts world-class design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities that remain largely unrecognised by the public.
“The Automotive CEO Breakfast event has reinforced our belief that Australia’s automotive industry is vibrant and full of potential,” Bremar Managing Director, Brett Longhurst, said.
“By fostering innovation, collaboration, and advocating for supportive government policies, we can ensure a bright future for the modern automotive manufacturing industry in Australia.”

For more from Bremar, visit www.bremarauto.com