Industry updated on new Code at Melbourne 4×4 Show

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and the implications for modification, service, and repair dominated discussions at the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) 4WD Industry Council Breakfast, held during the recent National 4×4 Outdoors Show at Melbourne Showgrounds.
Opening the session, 4WD Industry Council Chair Emma Laukens emphasised the council’s focus on strengthening its brand identity and ensuring consumers recognise its logo as a mark of quality and compliance across the aftermarket sector.
She encouraged member businesses to actively display the logo in their marketing, reinforcing consumer confidence in the independent 4WD industry.
AAAA Director of Government Relations, Lesley Yates, provided an important update on the Association’s work on the new ADAS Codes of Practice.
The Service and Repair Code, released in June, offers much-needed practical guidance on when and how ADAS calibration is required after common workshop activities such as windscreen replacement, collision repair, or wheel alignment. A companion Modification Code is now in its final draft stage.
“These codes weren’t available overseas – Australia is leading the way,” Lesley said.
“Our members needed real-world guidance on when calibrations are necessary, what training is essential, and how workshops should explain the process to customers.
Without industry-developed standards, governments would inevitably impose their own.”
While ADAS technologies deliver significant safety benefits, Lesley cautioned that they also raise new challenges for industry.
These include blurred boundaries between mechanical and collision repair, inconsistent insurance coverage for calibration work, and the rise of unsafe practices such as mobile operators attempting calibrations in car parks without the right facilities or equipment.
Guest panellist Matt Douglass of CoolDrive, who participated in the ADAS Technical Working Group, acknowledged that building consensus was not straightforward.
“The hardest part was agreeing on when calibrations are necessary,” Matt said.
“For example, many vehicles require calibration after a wheel alignment – a fact that came as a shock to some in the tyre industry.”
Matt underscored the importance of licensed diagnostic equipment and up-to-date training.
“Workshops don’t need to fear ADAS,” Matt said.
“With the right knowledge and tools, they can adapt. Start small, invest where it counts, and work collaboratively – sometimes that means partnering with other workshops if the cost of equipment is prohibitive.”
Looking ahead, Lesley confirmed that AAAA will review the Service and Repair Code in six months, continue consultation on the Modification Code, and increase engagement with regulators.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that the aftermarket can manage high-tech vehicles safely and responsibly,” Lesley said.
The breakfast concluded with a lively Q&A from an engaged audience. Attendees asked detailed questions on insurance obligations, training pathways, and how the Codes intersect with existing safety regulations.
The strong participation reflected the industry’s determination to stay ahead of regulatory change, maintain consumer trust, and reinforce the aftermarket’s reputation for professionalism and innovation.

For more from the 4WD Industry Council, visit www.4wdcouncil.com.au