AA bucks global trend with stellar year of Membership growth

13 July 2015

AA bucks global trends with stellar year of Membership growth

The AA has enjoyed a stellar year of growth signing up a record 121,007 new personal Members in the 12 months to 30 June 2015.

This breaks the record set during the previous 12 months of 112,276 new personal joins, and runs against a global trend of static or declining motoring club membership.

AA General Manager Membership and Brand Dougal Swift says the Association’s decision to continually add new Member Benefits beyond the traditional and iconic AA Roadservice drives the growth.

“AA Roadservice callout rates remain high with nearly half a million across the country every year and the peace of mind this provides remains a primary reason for joining,” Mr Swift says.

“But we’ve been looking to deliver more value to our Members with a range of new benefits. We added a free eye test at Specsavers, for example, to help Members ensure their vision is safe for driving. Already more than 300,000 AA Members have utilised the free Specsavers eye exam saving them a collective $18 million.

“In addition, our fuel savings programme, AA Smartfuel, has delivered more than $200 million in fuel savings to New Zealand motorists.”

AA Members are also entitled to two free vehicle safety checks a year, an initiative introduced to provide reassurance to motorists when the Warrant of Fitness inspection regime changed from every six months to 12 months in 2014.

Also new learner drivers who are AA Members, or the children or grandchildren of AA Members, are entitled to three free driving lessons valued at up to $225 through the AA Ignition programme.

Members can also receive discounts of up to 40% at EVENT Cinemas, special all-inclusive rates on Thrifty car rentals, discounted accommodation and further savings with AA Insurance, AA Life, AA Auto Centres, AA Battery Service and other AA businesses.

“We’re a Membership-based organisation and delivering value to them is at the heart of everything we do. We try to ensure that the value they receive from their Membership exceeds the cost of their subscription.”

The AA continues to be the motorist’s voice through its advocacy functions working with police, the Ministry of Transport, the Transport Agency and the government to achieve the best outcomes for road users and vehicle owners.

Mr Swift says the Association continues to look to add new Member Benefits and to enhance AA Roadservice which now has a smartphone app that enables motorists to call for help and also pinpoint their location.

At end of June 2015 there were 1,480,920 AA Members representing approximately 44% of all licensed drivers in New Zealand.

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