Polish independent automotive aftermarket went through an incredible development during past years. For sure this can be confirmed by professor Adam Gierek, European Parliament Member involved in operations of a Comission of Industry, Scientific Research and Energy, who on the initiative of Polish Automotive Distributors and Manufacturers Association was looking at the operations of distribution centre of Inter Cars SA in Mysłowice.

The warehouse of the biggest Polish distributor has the area of 17,000 square meters. Daily output of the warehouse is 50,000 references of goods, which reach hundreds of branches of Inter Cars and thousands of garages in Poland and abroad. Professor Adam Gierek could see himself how does a sophisticated and advanced logistic system work in practice, dealing with wide range of goods and tight deadlines.

Inter Cars Group employs around 2,800 people in Poland, whereas the warehouse in Mysłowice is operated by a group of 400 employees. Moving the Silesian distribution centre made it much easier to deliver the goods to foreign markets. From there goods of IC are sent to Czech, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and also to Hungary and Slovakia.

Within the last two decades Polish distributors of spare parts worked out their own know-how and modern logistics solutions. Conveyors, weight control of ordered goods, scanning system, three-shit work in warehouses and perfectly organized warehouse work ensure just in time deliveries to garages which do not have to wait for the parts. Usually they are delivered to the customer on the same day that they are ordered.

European MP, Adam Gierek was accompanied in Mysłowice by Alfred Franke, CEO of Polish Automotive Spare Parts Manufacturers and Distributors Association, who explained to the guest the operations and financial results of the independent automotive aftermarket. It is worth to remind that sales revenues of Polish distributors last year reached the amount of PLN 10b, an increase by 12.1% yoy. - Such a large increase in sales is caused by export of spare parts for passenger cars. In the segment of spare parts for trucks and commercial vehicles sales growth is a bit smaller and reflects the increase of economy –explained Alfred Franke.

MP Gierek proudly heard the information about the role of Polish distribution companies in export. Export in passenger cars segment reached the level of 16.5% and in CV segment 7.1%. Increasing trend is still visible.

Distributors of spare parts serve almost 20 thousand garages in Poland. Discussing domestic market of repair services, Alfred Franke drew attention to the fact that despite a decrease in number of garages, the number of service bays is growing. - Large competition eliminates “weaker servicing garages”. They are substituted with modern repair points, which invest in equipment as well as in competence of their workers. 94 thousand people are employed in car repair garages – said the CEO of the Association, emphasising the fact that wide chain of independent garages ensure the customers with easy access to automotive services.

It is worth knowing that MP Adam Gierek involves in his work in Euro Parliament in implementing advantageous solutions supporting free competition in automotive industry. Many times he also spoke to European Parliament about the matter. According to professor, Repair Clause should refer to the whole automotive market in Europe, as it would be a great chance to build a solid competition on European automotive market. - Also necessary becomes the fact that there is a need of harmonization of technical, ecological and safety standards in Europe – said Adam Gierek.

Also in this respect we need to look at implementation of so called telematic solutions which make it possible to communicate with the vehicles remotely, using wireless technologies. Alfred Franke said that European Commission needs to provide an open and secure access to telematic system for all participants of automotive market, as only such solution can prevent car manufacturers from creating a monopoly.

It would be good if on creating law regulations, the governments kept in mind the independent automotive aftermarket, which numbers 81% of employment in whole motorization and pays taxes in our country.

source: Modern Garage
01-05-2014
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