– November 4, 2014 AASA MEDIA BRIEFING
Transcription
– November 4, 2014 AASA MEDIA BRIEFING
AASA MEDIA BRIEFING – November 4, 2014 Good morning and welcome to the 2014 AASA Media & Member Briefing at AAPEX. As is our tradition, I will address the some of the key influences impacting the automotive aftermarket today and discuss AASA’s initiatives to help suppliers address these trends and fulfill AASA’s mission to advance the business interests of automotive aftermarket suppliers. As a reminder, the automotive aftermarket suppliers association is the light vehicle aftermarket division of MEMA, the motor and equipment manufacturers association, who is celebrating its 110th anniversary in serving the needs of its members. AASA is one of four divisions within MEMA, the others include MERA, the motor and equipment remanufacturers association, HDMA, the heavy duty manufacturers association and OESA, the original equipment suppliers association. I’d like to recognize, Steve Handschuh, President and CEO of MEMA, John Chalifoux, President and coo of MERA, Tim Kraus, president and coo of HDMA and also Tim Corcoran, managing director ZF services, North America and chairman of AASA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me begin with a brief overview of AAPEX. At the close of last year’s show there seemed to be a heightened energy level and a very positive feeling about the quality of educational and business meetings, the number of genuine new-business leads, and that AAPEX was a valuable if not vital catalyst to help attendees and exhibitors alike in growing their business. Again this year, AAPEX is a sell-out, with 2,338 exhibitors and an increase in total buyers: 63,845, up 1,640 from last year. Both domestic and international buyer registration is up. As the industry evolves, the AAPEX co-owners – MEMA and the Auto Care Association – have added several new features and enhancements designed to truly make AAPEX the place to grow your business. Recognizing the increasing need (and benefit) of education and technical training within our industry, AAPEX has expended the number of educational seminars to over 50 with a wide array of topics available to industry participants. In addition, several suppliers will offer service professionals “in-booth” demonstrations on the latest product, services and repair techniques. The result is more than 5,100 service professionals are registered for the 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week 2014 (AAPEX and SEMA combined), an increase of nearly 12.37% over 2013. 1 You have already heard about the AAPEX’s first General Session featuring Steve Forbes. The new General Session allows all AAPEX attendees to come together and participate in the dialogue…and a portion of the proceeds will go to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation and its Scholarship program. We look forward to Mr. Forbes’ remarks about the Global economy which are timely as the aftermarket continues to grow around the world. When talking about our industry, the term automotive renaissance comes to mind. The word Renaissance is defined as a renewal of vigor and life. It’s also defined as the time marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world. It could be said that the automotive industry in also experiencing an automotive renaissance, with renewed life and vigor. Signs of this can be seen in a number of areas. In AASA’s quarterly Supplier Barometer, suppliers have reported strong sales performance in 2014, although the last quarters has not been as robust of the first two. Supplier confidence about sales in the coming quarter has also been high when compared to prior years…with over 85% anticipating medium to strong sales growth. Underlying aftermarket business drivers are also showing positive signs: Our industry is growing again, miles-driven has increased, and gas prices are at a four year low as well as average vehicle age. We may someday look back on this time as marking the transition from the medieval automotive world to the modern world. New technologies are rapidly transforming the industry, making it clearly apparent that the industry we live in IS a high-tech, not lowtech industry. It is also true that vehicle suppliers have been the driving force behind the leaps in innovations and safety, many of whom are the same full-service companies providing quality products and solutions to the aftermarket. With transformation and change come both opportunity and uncertainty. - Some of the uncertainty exists in the dynamics impacting the DIFM market...a market where a large percentage of aftermarket parts are consumed. Higher quality, longer-lasting parts are creating longer intervals between maintenance and repairs, impacting service provider margins. Also impacting service provider margins is the pricing transparency on parts created by e-tailing. Millenials, too, are showing buying behaviors that are different than those of baby-boomers. AASA has commissioned Strategy&, a division of PwC, formerly known as Booz & Co, to initiate a new landmark study that will look at the long-term outlook of the independent service provider and OE Service sector. This new study will help provide valuable insights and assist suppliers and the industry in charting the proper strategic course for their business. - There also continues to be uncertainty and risk to our industry regarding the practice of extended terms, the level of which is unique to our industry…as reported in the study prepared for AASA by the accounting firm KPMG. The report notes, no other industry can be found that uses extended terms as long as the automotive aftermarket. The uncertainty and risk come, not only in the form of future increasing interest rates, but also in the amount of excess inventory that 2 now exists in the system…created in-part, through extended terms and reverse factoring which, in some cases, covers more than 100% of the ratio of inventory to payables. It is estimated that there is some $16 billion in “excess inventory” that could impact suppliers and channel partners in the future. AASA is updating the KPMG study of 2012 and benchmarking the timeline forecasts, assumptions and predictions to what we know today. This updated report will be available in the first quarter of 2015. - The third area of uncertainty is the impact and speed of new and disruptive technologies will have on the aftermarket. These include everything from telematics to autonomous vehicles to 3D printing to e-Tailing and more. This disruption or transformation is also creating new opportunities, not only in products but also opportunities to use technology to drive differentiation and real value through services and increased collaboration throughout the supply chain. AASA’s Technology Council and Marketing Executive Council exist just for that purpose, to help identify opportunities and to serve as a platform for industry dialogue and change. We invite and encourage AASA members to join the conversation through their participation on these important councils. Although there are uncertainties in our industry there too are clear signs of opportunity. - Global production is expected to increase by 21 million vehicles by 2021 and by the same year, China is expected to account for 30% of all light vehicle sales. AASA’s Overseas Automotive Council has been helping aftermarket suppliers expand their international reach since 1923. This year, the Council hosted a trade visit to Dubai, coordinated a reception at the U.S. Consulate General during Automechanika Frankfurt, and will host the international networking event at its annual Global Reception tonight at Dal Toro. OAC has exciting plans for 2015 – more trade missions and more business- - In 2005 AASA created the China Aftermarket Forum, a council for North American suppliers with operations in China serving the local aftermarket, as well as, companies interested in doing so. The council too, serves as a vital platform for networking and dialogue, and meets quarterly in Shanghai. Our upcoming meeting in December will feature an open discussion with members of China’s Transportation Ministry on policies (and benefits) that promote an open aftermarket structure. - And AASA is helping suppliers and the industry in finding opportunities to address preventable warranty…calculated to be $3.9 billion in 2014. AASA started its examination of the preventable warranty issue at its “Supplier Summit” in 2013, culminating in the establishment of the AASA Warranty Task Force at AAPEX last year. As the result of our meeting with service professionals during the CARS/NACE show, Task Force participation has been expanded to include service professionals. In addition to the work we are doing to help suppliers address preventable warranty, AASA continues to stress the value of quality parts backed by full service suppliers through its Know Your Parts campaign. The KYP website receives over 40,000 hits per month by repair professionals, making it one of the most 3 frequently visited websites in the aftermarket. The KYP committee of the MEC has created its latest micro-campaign which is on display at the KYP booth # 34001 here at AAPEX, promoting the importance of rotating electrical diagnostics to service professionals – which prevent “comebacks.” Of all that we have talked about today, some of the most important work we do on behalf of suppliers is in Washington DC. I’d like to recognize Ann Wilson, Sr. Vice President, Government Affairs, who is also with us today. This year, representatives of AASA and MEMA have influenced changes in imported brake friction products containing asbestos, attacked counterfeiting, helped educate China’s government officials promoting policies to foster an open automotive aftermarket, have driven industry collaboration with the EPA to develop an MOU for consistent copper abatement in brake pads and much more. The 2015 MEMA Legislative Summit is slated for April 15th and 16th in Washington – check with AASA and MEMA staff for more details. In closing, and to recap, automotive aftermarket suppliers are being impacted by market shifts, rapid and accelerating technological developments, demographic changes, globalization and more. A “10,000 foot view” is no longer sufficient. In order to develop the near- and long-term strategies to innovate and differentiate in this environment, suppliers need the perspective of a 360° view of what's going on around them. AASA is dedicating its 2015 Vision Conference to a 360° view for suppliers. Key areas addressed will include: A 360° view of technology including, demonstrations of new technology for the aftermarket 360° view of the North American market, featuring a comprehensive review of AASA’s newest groundbreaking study of the industry shift in DIY to DIFM, released first to Vision attendees 360° view of global markets: first-hand accounts of international opportunities, including the growth in China as well as closer to home, in Mexico The 2015 Vision Conference will be held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. Before I open it up for questions, I'd like to invite Carol Perrotta, Chairperson of AASA OAC Council, to the podium to make a special announcement…. I’ve covered many topics this morning, so I’ll take any questions now about of the areas we’ve covered … RESPONSE(S) TO QUESTIONS ABOUT RECALLS ESPECIALLY THE CURRENT AIRBAG RECALLS: Thanks for bringing up that issue. All of the motor vehicle component supplier companies that are members of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association MEMA and its divisions, including AASA’s light vehicle aftermarket suppliers, are devoted to the proper maintenance and safety of all vehicles traveling our nation’s roads 4 and highways. In instances regarding specific incidents or components, MEMA and its divisions defer to the identified manufacturers. 5
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