Mercedes-Benz Australia CEO elected as FCAI president

Horst von Sanden, Mercedes-Benz Australia CEO and managing director – pictured above talking with CarAdvice's Mike Costello – has been elected president of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), replacing Matt Callachor, Toyota Australia president, in the role.

It should come as no surprise to hear what von Sanden will be targeting during his time in charge. Speaking at the FCAI Annual General Meeting in Canberra – with Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, sitting in the audience – he called for clear policies surrounding the rollout of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies.

He also pushed for better fuel quality in Australia, arguing we need mandated high octane and low sulphur in our petrol.

"We need higher quality fuels, as we cannot achieve lower emission outcomes purely on engine management technology, we need fuel of First World Quality to get a First World emissions outcome," he told the crowd.

This isn't the first time, and it certainly won't be the last, the FCAI has pushed hard for better fuel standards.

Speaking with CarAdvice about the report into fuel quality released by the Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions earlier this year, Tony Weber, FCAI chief executive, advocated hard for the most aggressive plan for change, as it "is what is needed to drive engines and today and the future".

"We need certainty around these issues so the best products can be brought to Australia with clarity around what is the policy environment in which they will be sold," he told us.

It'll be interesting to see how von Sanden pushes for better quality fuel Down Under. Stay tuned for all the latest on the issue.

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