ABMARC
ABMARC is an independent Australian transport engineering consultancy, specialising in services such as real-world testing for vehicle emissions, fuel consumption, electric vehicle range and driver safety assist systems.
Need
As the business expanded internationally, many clients began shifting to payment on completion, often 30–90 days after delivery. At the same time, ABMARC needed to invest in new driver safety assist testing protocols and equipment, creating added pressure on working capital during a critical growth stage.
Solution
We provided a working capital facility aligned to ABMARC’s long payment cycles, which helped the business invest in new testing capabilities and maintain seamless delivery of complex programs for global clients.
ABMARC plays a critical role in the global automotive testing ecosystem, delivering advanced engineering services from Australia. Its work supports the development of safer, more efficient and lower-emission vehicles worldwide, and we were pleased to be a part of ABMARC’s journey as it expanded its global footprint and capability.
In 2011, experienced automotive engineers Natalie Roberts and Andrea Winkelmann identified a gap in professional automotive testing services, sparking the launch of ABMARC.
ABMARC operates in a distinct segment of the automotive industry, delivering services such as real-world emissions, fuel consumption, electric vehicle and driver safety assist testing. These are capabilities that are rare in Australia and limited globally.
As the only provider of vehicle emissions and real-world testing for vehicle range and fuel consumption in Australia, and one of only two local providers of driver safety assist testing, ABMARC was well positioned to expand internationally. Its competitive edge lies in the speed and flexibility of its testing. The team can deliver programs in about half the time of international competitors, which is critical for manufacturers working to tight development timelines.
I found the process very smooth… I really appreciated the effort made by the Export Finance Australia team to come to our site and look at what we’re doing. And I think that really helped to enable a great relationship between ABMARC and Export Finance Australia. This support has been exceptionally important and has enabled us to grow our business significantly.
Natalie Roberts
Managing Director, ABMARC
Since 2024, ABMARC has had a strong focus to build its international client base and today serves Australian clients alongside automotive manufacturers across China, Japan, Korea and North America.
Navigating international payment terms
As ABMARC expanded into the global automotive market, its new clients began requesting payment terms 100% on completion, often 30–90 days after delivery. At the same time, the business needed to invest in meeting a new testing protocol in driver safety assist testing.
The combination of delayed payments and significant upfront costs for equipment, staff, training, protocol updates and track upgrades created cash flow pressures that traditional bank finance was not well suited to support.
It was at this critical point that we were able to step in.
“Export Finance Australia was really able to step in and support us to ensure that we remain cash flow positive, so that we can confidently continue to make our investments and deliver the projects well for our clients,” explained Natalie Roberts, Managing Director of ABMARC.
Working closely with ABMARC to understand the technical and operational realities of the business, we provided an Export Line of Credit, a flexible working capital facility. The solution provided gave ABMARC the flexibility to invest in new capability while continuing to deliver programs without disruption.
Natalie said the support was exceptionally important and that the difference in our approach was the effort to understand how the business operated.
“Our invoicing process, the process to sign up clients, the contracts – with some companies using formal contracts and others issuing purchase orders – is not mainstream. The ability for Export Finance Australia to understand how our business works was extremely helpful in the process.”
Growing globally with confidence
With upgraded capability and strong international demand, ABMARC is well positioned for continued growth.
“The support from Export Finance Australia has been really great because it gives us that sense of security that we can work confidently, deliver the projects and make sure the company stays in a really strong financial position,” Natalie said. “It was very good process and it’s a great option for businesses across all industries. Some of our export opportunities wouldn’t have been secured without it.”
