MEDIA STATEMENT:
AAEN UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Torque Media Group Pty Ltd acquires Auto Elec & Air Conditioning News and Tyre Business & Australian Workshop Manager Magazine, bringing fresh investment and long-term commitment to two trade titles with more than 30 years of combined history.

VICTORIA, JULY 2026. Torque Media Group Pty Ltd has completed the acquisition of two established Australian automotive trade publications: AAEN Autoelec & Aircon News and Tyre Business & Australian Workshop Manager Magazine. Settlement took place on 1 July 2026.

The two publications have served Australia’s auto electrical, automotive air conditioning, tyre retail and independent workshop trades for more than three decades, publishing six issues per year and reaching a loyal trade readership.

The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for both titles, one that will build on their editorial foundations while investing in digital infrastructure, audience development and expanded coverage of the issues reshaping the trade.

A Legacy Worth Building On

Both publications were founded and operated by Tony McMahon, whose commitment to the trade over more than 30 years created something genuinely useful and practical, that served the working professional, not the broader consumer market.

That editorial focus on auto electricians diagnosing a fault, the air conditioning specialist managing refrigerant compliance, the tyre retailer growing their retail offers and the independent workshop owner running a tight operation is exactly what Torque Media Group intends to carry forward.

“These titles have been trusted by the trade for decades. That trust doesn’t transfer automatically, you have to earn it. Our job in year one is to demonstrate that the people reading these publications are better served than ever before.”

— Melanie Cahani, Publisher & Editor, Torque Media Group

Incoming Publisher & Editor: Melanie Cahani

Melanie brings almost two decades of experience in the Australian automotive industry to the role of Publisher. Her background spans senior marketing and media roles Honda Australia, Philips Automotive, ACM Parts and Motorcycling Australia, as well as founding and running 3 Little Birds, a specialist automotive marketing agency. She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Griffith University) and an MBA (Federation University).

Mel has been a contributor to both publications prior to the acquisition and is well-known within the auto electrical and workshop trades. She will lead editorial direction, audience development and marketing for both titles.

“I’ve spent most of my career in this industry. I know the workshops, I know the suppliers, I know the pressures these businesses are under. The opportunity to invest in the trade publications that have served them for so long and to grow them into something even more valuable is one I couldn’t walk away from.”

Co-Director: Aaron Frood

Aaron Frood joins as co-director, bringing financial and operational oversight to Torque Media Group. With two decades in the mining and civil industries as a mechanical driller operating and maintaining complex heavy machinery under demanding field conditions, Aaron understands the mindset of the trade professional better than most, diagnostics over guesswork, maintenance over breakdown, getting the job done with the equipment and knowledge at hand.

That grounding makes him a natural fit for two publications that have always spoken to people who work with their hands and their heads in equal measure. Aaron will oversee the business operations and financial management of Torque Media Group while continuing to manage his existing business interests during the transition period.

What Stays. What’s Coming.

Readers and advertisers can expect continuity in the things that matter most: the trade-focused editorial voice, the bimonthly publication schedule and the commitment to serving working professionals with genuinely useful content.

Over the coming months, Torque Media Group will be investing in:

•       Digital infrastructure, including refreshed websites and an expanded online presence for both titles

•       Editorial development, with deeper coverage of the technologies reshaping both trades including EV and hybrid servicing, ADAS calibration, and the regulatory landscape affecting workshop operators

•       Audience development and subscriber growth, to strengthen the reach and commercial value of both publications

•       Enhanced print production standards as part of a longer-term brand evolution

Both publications remain independently produced trade titles, serving their respective audiences with the specialist focus that has defined them since founding.

The Industry Timing Couldn’t Be Better

The acquisition comes at a pivotal moment for both trades. Australia’s vehicle fleet is electrifying, ADAS systems are becoming standard across new vehicle categories and regulatory attention on EV repair qualifications is intensifying across multiple states.

For auto electricians and air conditioning specialists, this transition represents one of the most significant expansions of their scope of work in a generation. For tyre retailers and independent workshops, the shift is reshaping everything from diagnostic capability to service offerings.

Auto Elec & Air Con Magazine Australia is uniquely positioned to serve as the leading editorial voice for these tradespeople as that transition unfolds. Tyre Business & Workshop Manager Magazine Australia will expand its coverage of the workshop technology and business management topics that independent operators need most.

“The trades we serve are changing faster than at any point in their history. These publications have a real role to play in helping their readers navigate that change and we intend to back that with serious editorial investment.”

About the Publications:

Autoelec & Aircon News is Australia’s specialist trade journal for auto electricians and automotive air conditioning professionals. Published six times per year, it covers technical developments, product news, regulatory updates and business resources for the trade.

Tyre Business and Australian Workshop Manager Magazine serves Australia’s tyre retail and independent mechanical workshop sector. Published six times per year, it covers tyre industry news, workshop management, equipment, and the business and technical topics most relevant to independent operators.

Torque Media Group Pty Ltd is an independent Australian media company specialising in trade publications for the automotive aftermarket. The company was founded by Melanie Cahani and Aaron Frood with the acquisition of both titles in June 2026.

Media enquiries

Melanie Cahani

Publisher & Director, Torque Media Group Pty Ltd

E: melanie@torquemediagroup.com.au  |   P: 0401 727576