The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) is the peak body representing the interests of automotive employers in the retail, service and repair sectors of Queensland’s automotive industry. MTA Queensland has been performing its vital representative role for the automotive industry since 1929. MTA Queensland comprises of 11 separate divisions, each representing a specific industry sector.

MTA Group is the parent body of MTA Queensland. The MTA Group compromises of three entities:

• MTA Queensland, the peak automotive industry body of Queensland;
• MTA Institute, the largest private provider of automotive apprenticeships and training in Queensland; and
• MTAiQ, Australia’s first automotive innovation hub in Australia.

As the peak automotive industry body in Queensland, as well as the state’s leading automotive training provider, MTA Group has a responsibility to ensure they are leading the way in providing solutions to the technological disruptions seen in the automotive and mobility industry, whilst collaborating to identify solutions to create new business opportunities. In response to the need for an automotive innovation hub, MTA Queensland launched MTAiQ, Australia’s first automotive innovation hub.

Through MTA Queensland, the MTAiQ Innovation Hub operates successfully through bringing together mentors, investors, coaches, commercial partners and industry experts to collaborate on digital disruption and emerging technologies in the mobility industry. MTAiQ is a pillar of support through this period of technological advancement and opportunity and the innovation hub is designed to benefit businesses within the automotive industry.

The principle factors that determine the organisations success within the automotive industry is due to the ongoing need for a peak automotive industry body that represents employers and businesses within the motor trades providing solutions for the fast-paced technological changes seen within the automotive industry. The MTAiQ Innovation Hub gains its success through capitalising on opportunities for start-ups and new business models involving:

• New mobility options;
• Virtual Reality (VR);
• Artificial Intelligence (AI);
• Intellectual Property (IP) law;
• Data management;
• New Apps;
• Privacy;
• Hybrid/electric vehicles (HEV);
• Battery storage and charging;
• Autonomous vehicles and their transitioning; and
• Software connecting people, infrastructure and vehicles.

Originally launched in 2017, MTAiQ has already had a successful two years of providing MTA Queensland member businesses opportunities to capitalise on innovative technology designed to improve their business, as well as boosting their innovative footprint and profile through the Carmageddon symposiums – a forum that brings together experts from Industry, government and academia to contemplate new and emerging technologies that will ensure the longevity of existing business and the creation of new businesses.

MTA Group’s brand equity, operational, financial and/or marketplace performance has substantially increased due to MTAiQ. MTA Queensland’s vision is ‘to be Queensland’s most trusted, influential and engaged peak body’ and this encapsulates its forward-thinking and leadership approach to innovation and its importance to the future of the industry.

For more information on MTAiQ go to mtaiq.com.au