Tips for Buying Local After the Death of Australian Car Manufacturing

From nearly the dawn of car manufacturing to the present day, Australia has been a hub for car markers. However, the amount of manufacturing happening in Australia has dropped over recent years, and by the end of 2017, there will no longer be any cars manufactured in the country.

If you're a consumer who prefers to shop local, you may be wondering what to do when you're car shopping. To help you stay true to your ideals as you shop, here are some tips to consider.

1. Buy a Used Car

The most effective way to get a car that was manufactured in Australia is to buy a used car. Through the decades, the most iconic Australian-manufactured cars have included the following makes and models:

• Holden Commodore, a number one best seller for 15 years

• Ford Falcon, an Australian mainstay from 1960 to 2016

• Toyota Camry, Avalon, Aurion, and other models built in Australia from 1963 to 2017

• Mitsubishi Magna, made in Australia from 1985 to the 2000s, as well as other Mitsubishi models

• Chrysler AP5 Valiant, a classic 1963 Australian manufactured vehicle

• Nissan Skyline, Pintara, and Pulsar, first manufactured in Australia in the 1980s

2. Look for a Local Presence

It's important to remember that manufacturing is not the only component when it comes to vehicles. Although you can no longer buy a car that is manufactured in Australia, you can find opt to buy a car that creates some jobs in the local economy.

For example, as of 2017, Ford will continue to employ over 1,500 people in Australia. Approximately 1,000 of these employees work in car design and development. When you buy that brand, you help to support these local jobs, even if the car is manufactured elsewhere. Similarly, Holden has stopped manufacturing in Australia, and the company is even selling its proving ground in Victoria. However, General Motors, Holden's parent company will continue to keep its global design studio in Australia.

Most car makers have information on their websites about their presence in various areas. A bit of research can easily help you find a company that you feel comfortable patronizing.

3. Consider Trade Balances

If you're buying a car manufactured in another country, you may want to look at Australia's trade relationship with that country. This measurement has no bearing on the company's presence in Australia. However, it can help you analyse the relationship between the consumers in that country and Australia.

If there is a negative trade balance, that means Australia's consumers are buying more from that country than its consumers are buying from Australia. However, if there's a roughly even balance, your economies are working hard to support each other in mutually beneficial ways. If you want to support your local economy, it may make sense to buy a vehicle manufactured in a country that buys a lot of Australian exports.

4. Check Out Local Availability for Parts

Finally, when deciding what type of car you want to buy, you may want to look into the availability of parts. Can you buy parts through local retailers or Australian-based wholesalers? If not, you may have to import those parts.

If you prefer to shop local, you may want to make sure that you can get parts locally before you buy your car. In Australia, as of 2016, a quarter of a million people work with retailing and wholesaling parts as well as with auto repairs. Anytime you repair your vehicle or buy a new part, you help to boost this sector of the local economy.

Sometimes buying local is just not a possibility. Luckily, whether you're shopping for cars or anything else, there are a lot of other strategies you can explore. To learn more about your options for buying a car, check out an auto dealer like Rebel Ford.