The Motor Trade Association of South Australia and the Northern Territory (MTA SA/NT) has appointed Mark McGuire (Zoot Scooters) as its new board chair.
He was previously the deputy chair of the MT SA/NT board. Mark Flynn (Coast Powersports) is the new deputy chair.
The other board members are Frank Agostino (Agostino Group), Peter Roberts (OG Roberts & Co), Clive Polley (Independent Components), John Hitchcock (Dial A Tow), and Mark Papillo (North East Mitsubishi).
McGuire was first elected to the MTA SA/NT Board in 2015 after joining the MTA as a member in 2001.
He brings four decades of experience in the automotive industry, including working for retail dealerships, owning several local businesses, and serving on the MTA Board.
In setting his priorities for the South Australian and Northern Territory automotive industries, McGuire reflected on the challenging environment facing local business owners.
“Operating a business has never been more challenging due to escalating costs and growing compliance requirements. When the conditions for small businesses to excel are met, we all win,” McGuire says
“The MTA has been incredibly effective in advocating for the industry’s needs and interests to all levels of government. As chair, I will ensure this legacy continues.”
He says recent MTA advocacy achievements include shaping the Federal New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, reforms to abandoned vehicle legislation and the nation-leading mandating of the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry Code of Conduct in South Australia.
“The collective approach of the MTA means that members have a genuine say in policy decisions,” McGuire says.
Remarking on his start in the parts department of a Ford dealership as a 16-year-old, he said, “In my time, the role of a parts interpreter didn’t exist, yet it’s thrilling to witness the wide array of career prospects in our sector open to today’s youth.”
McGuire thanked his predecessor, Frank Agostino, for his service as MTA SA/NT’s longest-serving hair,
“Frank has been a stalwart of the MTA and automotive industry for decades,” he said.
“I am thankful for his mentorship and welcome his continued service as an MTA board member.”
McGuire congratulated MTA Board Member Mark Flynn for his election as deputy chair.
Agostino congratulated McGuire and Flynn on their appointments.
“I am excited to see renewal in our leadership. The MTA remains firmly in safe hands,” he says.
McGuire has four decades of experience in the automotive industry. He began his career in the spare parts department at Adrian Brien Ford at 16 in 1980. He spent 21 years with that business, taking on senior parts roles for the Ford, Hyundai, and Honda franchises.
In 2001, McGuire ventured into small business ownership by founding Hotline Car Parts, which specialised in supplying aftermarket panels and lights. For 15 years, this business consistently grew stronger. The market shifted in 2016, and an opportunity to start importing radiator components and selling them online across Australia presented itself. Another company was established, The Parts Man.
In 2018, McGuire began importing scooters under the name Zoot Scooters. In the past six years, this venture has grown with stores in Lonsdale and Unley, a distributor in Western Australia and on the Gold Coast, and plans to open another store in Brisbane.
He joined the MTA SA/NT as a member when he opened his first business in 2001. In 2015, McGuire joined the MTA SA/NT Board as he wanted to give back to the automotive industry and became Deputy Chair in 2022.
McGuire has two daughters and three grandchildren, with a fourth expected soon. He lives in Myponga, where he enjoys spending time away from work.
