Media Releases



  • Expert doubts Australian vehicle assembly can survive

    Expert doubts Australian vehicle assembly can survive

    The closure of Ford’s Victorian engine plant is probably the beginning of the end for Australian car assembly, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson believes that Ford, Holden and Mitsubishi will all eventually stop manufacturing in Australia.

    “Both Ford & General Motors are in serious trouble globally, while Mitsubishi Motors Australia is haemorrhaging money. Therefore, it seems inevitable that their Australian car assembly operations will be phased out.”

  • Expert doubts Australian vehicle assembly can survive

    The closure of Ford’s Victorian engine plant is probably the beginning of the end for Australian car assembly, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson believes that Ford, Holden and Mitsubishi will all eventually stop manufacturing in Australia.

    “Both Ford & General Motors are in serious trouble globally, while Mitsubishi Motors Australia is haemorrhaging money. Therefore, it seems inevitable that their Australian car assembly operations will be phased out.”

  • Holden should recall Vectra

    Holden should recall their recent Vectra model because the handbrake may fail without warning, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “There is clear evidence of a serious problem with these cars and Holden needs to take action now, before someone is killed or injured.”

  • Holden should recall Vectra

    Holden should recall their recent Vectra model because the handbrake may fail without warning, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “There is clear evidence of a serious problem with these cars and Holden needs to take action now, before someone is killed or injured.”

  • Time to get real over alcohol

    A call by the police to lower the legal blood alcohol limit will not work unless it's part of a package of measures to limit the promotion of alcohol, according to a leading road safety expert.

    Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyer's Dog & Lemon Guide, said today:

    "Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that we lock up P dealers but give brewers knighthoods?

  • Fines do not reduce offending

    Fines have little effect on curbing bad driver behaviour, and the government crackdown on unpaid fines will simply make a bad situation worse, according to the Dog & Lemon Guide. The largest study of fines (as a deterrent) ever conducted in Australia has shown that higher fines do not reduce the risk of re-offending.

  • Fines do not reduce offending

    Fines have little effect on curbing bad driver behaviour, and the government crackdown on unpaid fines will simply make a bad situation worse, according to the Dog & Lemon Guide. The largest study of fines (as a deterrent) ever conducted in Australia has shown that higher fines do not reduce the risk of re-offending.

  • Parents warned over old Suzuki four-wheel drives

    Suzuki four-wheel drives made before 1998 pose a serious risk to younger drivers, according to road safety experts.

    The Dog & Lemon Guide issued the warning after 15 year old Auckland student Richelle Murphy died when she was partially thrown from a Suzuki Escudo four-wheel drive which rolled over.

    Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “Virtually the entire range of Suzuki offroaders before 1998 has been linked to frequent deaths, often due to rollovers.”

  • Parents warned over old Suzuki four-wheel drives

    Suzuki four-wheel drives made before 1998 pose a serious risk to younger drivers, according to road safety experts.

    The Dog & Lemon Guide issued the warning after 15 year old Auckland student Richelle Murphy died when she was partially thrown from a Suzuki Escudo four-wheel drive which rolled over.

    Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “Virtually the entire range of Suzuki offroaders before 1998 has been linked to frequent deaths, often due to rollovers.”

  • Time to end our addiction to oil

    New Zealand must reduce the number of cars coming into the country as a first step to easing our addiction to fossil fuels, says a leading car expert.Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide, says: “Oil prices are hitting record highs and yet New Zealand is busy importing cars and building roads. That’s a bit like trying to put out a fire with petrol.”

    “Two of the biggest drains on the national purse are cars and oil, yet current Treasury strategies are certain to increase our addiction to oil, not ease it.”

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