Testimonial
I1 - Michel Vilatte, Chairman FEDA
1 - Please give a short presentation of your organisation
Since 1904, and in its present form and organisation since 1976, the FEDA (Federation of Automotive dealership organisations) has brought together and federated:
- 1,000 firms working in independent specialist distribution of supplies for cars, HGVs, industry, civil engineering, agriculture and the navy.
- 2,100 sales outlets selling spare parts, tooling and garage equipment throughout France (mainland France and overseas territories).
- 800 hi-tech workshops (including workshops for engines) and 8,000 affiliated repair workers (mechanics, body repairs, for light vehicles and HGVs).
- 1,800 autocentres and rapid repair workshops.
In all, the FEDA represents nearly 38,000 employees in France (27,000 in wholesale and 10,500 in autocentres and rapid repair workshops) in the automotive aftermarket, with total turnover of all members standing at 14 billion euros.
Via its members, the FEDA represents all the main groups and groupings of firms (AGRA, AURILIS-FLAURAUD, AUTODISTRIBUTION FRANCE, AUTOLIA, BARRAULT, CENTAURE, CENTRALE DISTRIBUTION AUTO, DOYEN AUTO FRANCE, GEFA, GROUPAUTO UNION FRANCE, LAURENT, PARTNER’S, SAFA, STAREXCEL, TEMOT France and GROUPE TVI), autocentres (AUTOBACS, FEU VERT, MAXAUTO and NORAUTO), and rapid repair workshops (MIDAS and SPEEDY).
2 - What are the most important issues today for the professionals your organisation represents?
The core issues for us are summed up in the slogan from the European campaign “RIGHT TO REPAIR (R2RC)” including:
- free access to information, electronic codes, training for all types of vehicles (LV – LUV – IV – motorised two-wheelers)
- free access to all products without restrictions (end to the monopoly on body parts in France for example)
- free and loyal competition to benefit consumers (no restrictions for motorists when choosing their service provider because of manufacturer guarantees)
- promotion of Eco-Entretien® for LVs and LUVs.
3 - How are you adapting your business given these issues and especially given the current economic climate in the automotive industry?
We are adapting to economic restraints (drop in market volume and net prices – more difficult to borrow money – more restrictive regulations) with tighter management, aiming not to degrade services for repair professionals and consumers.
We are thus trying to boost sales with offers that are better tailored to our clients’ capacity and ever better services (for example no waiting time means you stay on the road). We have also had to reduce our working capital needs to adapt to cash-flow in companies that bear in mind the new legislation in France.
Lastly, we are adjusting employment (working hours/staff) when absolutely necessary and vital for the firm.
4 - In what way does your presence at Equip Auto 2009 reflect your desire to serve and accompany the market?
The independent spare parts industry is a major player to implement free competition to the benefit of professionals and mobility at a fair price for motorists. Given the current situation, we absolutely need to exhibit at Equip Auto. We will be able to meet many clients there as well as our many suppliers and partners at national and international levels.
Working yet again in close collaboration with Equip Auto this year, we are organising the FEDA contest which, thanks to our members’ involvement, will be bringing over 10,000 repair professionals together at the show.
We always design our stand as a place in which to discuss and share information, mainly covering these themes this year:
- service offers (product/equipment availability, principle of immediate, community logistics etc.),
- expert technical support for new technologies,
- development of chain store networks and special supports (technical, marketing and communication).
Come and visit the FEDA stand at Equip Auto 2009: Stand 5H50
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I2 - Bruno Vianello, Chairman, TEXA
1. What are the most important issues and changes in economic, technological, social and environmental terms today in your industry?
The future of our industry certainly hinges on the momentous change in the automotive industry, switching to new forms of clean energy, first of all with hybrids then the arrival of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. We are in the thick of an absolute revolution. A great revolution, because it will help the global market take off again, prompting new expectations and investments. Cars will be manufactured according to new processes, driving behaviour will change and so will the way we repair the cars. It’s a great challenge for the automotive industry.
2. How do these changes and issues shape the growth of your businesses?
TEXA wants to remain the leader in the diagnostics sector and to achieve this we have already started investigating into these alternative energies in collaboration with top Italian Universities. Diagnostic equipment will all be adapted to the new engines, as will air-conditioning equipment. There are interesting possibilities on the horizon.
3. What strategy is your business implementing given the changes in the market?
As I said before, we are looking into the changes in store for us. In the short term, our business, comprising eight subsidiaries worldwide, is striving daily to improve coverage of brands and models and to expand into new sectors; recently, we were the first to present a multi-brand product for the farming sector and we will shortly be presenting another for the naval sector, another first.
In 2009 we also introduced the OBD Log, a small yet revolutionary product making it possible for a repair mechanic to record things that go wrong sporadically on a customer’s car over several days. Not forgetting the ongoing changes to our distance diagnostic system, a TEXA exclusivity.
4. How does a show like Equip Auto help you to keep informed, gain better insight into these changes and react better to them?
Naturally a show is a an important time when we can get together with others in the same line of business and check out for ourselves the state of progress, the general mood and to strike up new business relations, especially on the French market, which is of great importance to us.
We have long been working on the French market as suppliers to major national brands. Around two years ago, we opened a subsidiary and started to market our TEXA brand products ourselves. The aim is to raise our profile and open possibilities for as many repair mechanics as possible to test our instruments for themselves, so they realise why we have won top international awards and how the system we have developed with Google works.
The message we want to put across is that we are not manufacturers of spare parts alongside diagnostic instruments among other things, but that TEXA, which employs 400 staff, designs and produces instruments for diagnosis, gas analysis, recycling and air conditioning recharge stations, always with cutting-edge solutions.
See TEXA at EQUIP AUTO 2009: Stand 4 M 60
I3 - Interview with Jiri Kyncl of the Automotive Industry Association (the Czech Republic) for Equip Auto
1 - Could you say something about participation of the Automotive Industry Association and the Czech Republic in Equip Auto 2009?Both the Automotive Industry Association (AIA) and the Czech Republic are regular exhibitors at the Equip Auto. We have been participating in the fair for many years and the European crisis cannot delete us from the exhibitor list. On the contrary – we think it is necessary to be presented at the Equip Auto especially in the crisis time. We consider the Equip Auto as the most important European automotive branch fair. That is why we are here again even though with a rather simpler booth corresponding to present economical conditions. 2 - What is situation of the automotive industry in the Czech Republic? In what condition car makers are? How Czech suppliers are doing now? In spite of the first signs of the economy crisis in the 2nd half of 2008 historically record-braking number of 970,782 road vehicles was produced in the Czech Republic. The most of them – 934,046 – consisted of passenger cars made by Skoda Auto, TPCA (Toyota, Peugeot, Citroën) and Hyundai. Bus and big trailer manufacture rose too.
Manufacture of Road Vehicles in the Czech Republic (units / year)
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Vehicle Category |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
Passenger cars M1 |
442,812 |
596,774 |
848,799 |
925,060 |
934,046 |
|
Light commercial vehicles N1 |
1,122 |
1,220 |
1,077 |
6,238 |
6,288 |
|
Commercial vehicles N2 a N3 |
2,200 |
2,050 |
1,993 |
3,168 |
2,737 |
|
Buses M2 a M3 |
1,972 |
2,198 |
2,948 |
3,182 |
3,496 |
|
Motorcycles and mopeds L |
1,785 |
1,607 |
1,015 |
2,140 |
1,561 |
|
Heavy trailers O3 a O4 |
2,589 |
2,445 |
1,993 |
2,330 |
2,424 |
|
Light trailers O1 a O2 |
12,410 |
13,210 |
17,319 |
20,763 |
20,230 |
|
TOTAL: |
464,890 |
619,504 |
875,144 |
962,881 |
970,782 |
However some other results of the Czech automotive industry (that exports 76% of its production - 84 % of it into the EU countries) were influenced by the economy recession negatively. Total 2008 sales revenues reached EUR 23.2 billion (2007: EUR 24.7 billion), which meant 5.73% drop. Export dropped by 7.57%. While export reached EUR 19.2 billion in 2007, the 2008 export was EUR 17.7 billion. Despite it the automotive industry kept 19% share in Czech Republic industrial production as well as export. Supplier share reached 56% share in sales revenues and 50% in export of the total automotive industry figures.
This year beginning was also rather critical but e.g. due to scrapping schemes implemented in several EU countries our car makers started up again and their situation is much better now. The advantage of the Czech car manufacturers consists of production of mini, small and medium cars (e.g. Citroën C1, Peugeot 106, Skoda Fabia, Skoda Octavia etc.), for which demand is still relatively high. It helps their suppliers too. Scrapping scheme introduced in the Czech Republic will begin its positive influence toward the end of 2009. In spite of that this year will be weaker compared to 2008.
3 - Could you say several words about the AIA?
The AIA celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. It works for interests of the Czech and European automotive industry. Its membership consists of 157 most important Czech car, bus, motorcycle, trailer manufacturers and suppliers. The AIA is a member of many organizations. Abroad it enforces its member interests in OICA, ACEA, ACEM, ODETTE and other global and European organizations.
Jiri Kyncl, Public Relations Manager, Automotive Industry Association, 1st July, 2009
Please find the AIA on the EQUIP AUTO 2009: Stand n° 6H38
