Tasmania’s Automotive Industry Looks Forward with Renewed Purpose
As 2025 draws to a close, the Tasmanian automotive industry can reflect on a year that, frankly, proved we’re made of sterner stuff than the state’s turbulent political landscape might suggest. It’s been a year of genuine progress wrapped up alongside genuine challenges—and somehow, we’ve emerged stronger for it.
When January rolled around, few could have predicted quite how much would shift beneath our wheels. The automotive world had fundamentally changed by the end of 2025 compared to its initial state. New brands arrived on our island roads. Drivetrains evolved in ways that seemed distant twelve months ago. For Tasmanian motorists, the simple act of choosing a new vehicle suddenly meant contemplating options that didn’t exist last year. That’s not just change, that’s opportunity.
Yet alongside the industry’s forward momentum came political headwinds that would have derailed lesser sectors. Tasmania’s political turbulence this year was genuine, and the ripple effects were felt throughout the automotive sector. But here’s the thing about our industry: we kept our foot on the accelerator regardless. We didn’t pause. We didn’t retreat. We adapted, we advocated, and we persisted.
The truth is, working around tight state budgets isn’t new territory for us. Like most sectors, we didn’t secure everything we hoped for in the Budget papers. But we did secure something genuinely transformative: the new Hobart Automotive Training Centre. After years of false starts and disappointed hopes, it’s finally underway. That feels significant. That feels like a win worth celebrating.
This wasn’t luck. It was the direct result of Industry, government departments and registered training organisations all working together to put the training future of Tasmania’s automotive sector first. I would like to thank every TACC member who attended meetings, shared their stories, and put real faces and voices behind industry challenges. Your presence mattered. Your feedback mattered. When government ministers heard directly from our members—from workshop owners navigating changing regulations, to apprentices and technicians worried about their future—it changed the conversation. Without doubt, direct member input doesn’t just disappear into bureaucratic black holes. It shapes policy. It shapes outcomes as we engage with more young Tasmanians who see automotive as a genuine career pathway. More evidence that this sector invests in people.
As the TACC inches towards its 2028 100-year centenary we have an increased determination to ensure more and more of Tasmania’s 1000 automotive businesses that give to the sector enjoy the benefits of automotive fellowship and membership.
Our member events this year reflected that confidence also. October’s gathering in Hobart was our largest yet, and the energy was palpable among all attendees. We’ve got more planned for 2026. These events remind us that we’re not just individual businesses competing in isolation; we’re a genuine community with a purpose.
The automotive industry is going through profound change. The drivetrains are shifting, technology is accelerating, and the regulatory landscape is constantly evolving. That’s real. But sitting here at year’s end, I am convinced Tasmania’s automotive sector is ready for it. We’ve demonstrated this year that we can navigate political uncertainty, work productively with the government despite budget constraints, and achieve tangible wins. We embrace change because we understand what’s at stake, and what’s possible.
2026 awaits. And we’re ready.