What does Inter Cars deal in, where you are the President?
Robert Kierzek: Probably most of citizens of Nowy Sącz associate Inter Cars SA. with the local branch. This results from our policy - customer first - and that we want to be the closest possible to him. That is why not many people realize that Inter Cars is the biggest distributor of automotive spare parts, not only in Poland, but also in Central and Eastern Europe. The size of the company shows it the best, as we are number 5 in Europe and number 10 in the world. Currently we have 172 branches in Poland and almost double abroad. Inter Cars operates in such countries as: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine. We are among those few companies which managed to win success also abroad. This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishment. We will be celebrating it between 18 and 20 September at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Our product range includes parts for passenger cars commercial vehicles and trucks, as well as garage equipment and parts for motorcycles and tuning. Inter Cars offers the widest range of automotive parts in Poland..
Is this the full scope of activity of Inter Cars?
We are operating comprehensively and we are trying to make our activities meet all the needs of our customers. That is why, besides spare parts distribution, which is the core business of the Company, Inter Cars SA is also an exclusive distributor of legendary motorcycle brands Triumph and Ducati and Piaggio, Vespa and Gilera scooters in Poland (via motorcycle distribution network, called Inter Motors) and distributor of spare parts and accessories for other motorcycle brands. Inter Cars SA is also the owner of two manufacturing subsidiaries, i.e. Lauber sp. z o.o - dealing in spare parts remanufacturing, and also Feber Sp. z o.o - manufacturing trailers and semi-trailers. Constantly taking care of the quality of service in repair garages of our Customers, we are offering a wide range of trainings for mechanics and garage owners. Additionally Inter Cars SA. is also the owner of nationwide garage chains: Perfect Service, Q-Service, Q-Service Truck, Q-Service Premium, Q-Service Moto. All together the chains associate about 1,000 garages.
Interesting project, which might draw attention of customers is Motointegrator.pl. Could you say someting more about it?
Motointegrator.pl is an innovative internet platform, having no equivalent on Polish market, which allows making an appointment to repair a car in a chosen garage. E.g. customer wants to change tyres, or check his vehicle, so he orders spare parts at www.motointegrator.pl and chooses a garage, which suits him best. He can do it during a lunch brake at work, or late at night, making an on-line application. It is a very convenient solution, we all know, that everyone has less and less time and wants to deal with everything by just one click or phone call. On the other hand, driver may not know any good repair garages, can be discouraged by their previous experiences. They need some advice, someone to show them competent professionals. The driver can be sure to receive top quality service by choosing the garage at www.motointegrator.pl. Besides, the whole process will take him just a few minutes. All the rest is dealt for him by Motointegrator.pl consultants.
Mr President, you have graduated “automotive school” in Nowy Sącz. Do you have good memories of time at school?
The time of learning at the school I remember as the best time in the whole process of my education. This year it is 30 years from my matriculation exam, and I can still remember a lot of facts, as if it all happened yesterday. Friendships from technical school turned out to be really durable and they last till today. The school delivered a sound basis, which I later used during my studies at engineering school in Kraków. Great teachers, atmosphere, perfect friends - this is how it was 30 years ago, and I hope it still is now.
Does the school today look like the school in the past?
At first glance not a lot has changed. The same corridors, the same classrooms, only the teachers are mostly different - well, one cannot stop the time. But looking inside the classrooms one can see that the school is changing. There are noticeable changes in equipment, though they are still too slow. 30 years is a hell of a time, and in the automotive industry it is almost an era. Its fast development needs the teaching programme and equipment to follow the changes. And this is the biggest problem, it is hard to pass on knowledge about modern cars when you base on schemes and models older than a decade. But we can see that school is doing its best to keep up with the changes. Exactly for such schools we have created the “Young HR” programme. I hope that this will allow the schools and students meet the challenges which are brought by development of automotive industry.
Since you mentioned the programme... Your contact with the school did not end when you graduated - for several years Inter Cars has been realizing the Young HR programme with the school. How does it work?
The school in Nowy Sącz joined the programme in 2012. Young HR is a unique programme which brings together two worlds, i.e. education and business. The main objective of the programme is spreading automotive knowledge among young people studying in automotive schools, and providing easier start in the labour market. This way Inter Cars SA., in cooperation with its business partners, wants to create the automotive market and set new trends, by flow of knowledge among partners of the programme, trainings, trainer programs and internships. The programme has influence on all companies participating in it: schools, pupils, garages, manufacturers and suppliers of spare parts and garage equipment. "Young HR" project is prepared for students of automotive profile schools. Participation is realized in the form of extra classes, which allow students gain knowledge about modern motorization, confirmed with tests and a certificate.
What does school gain and what the company?
School gains most importantly access to modern equipment and knowledge, without which the students will not be able to find themselves on the market. Partners of the campaign are spare parts manufacturers, whose services are used by car manufacturers on a daily basis. So they have the knowledge how to repair those cars, as an average car is composed in 80% of the parts manufactured by them. Each school joining the programme receives a package of devices worth PLN 100,000 and a package of trainings worth PLN 30,000. Every activity supporting the automotive aftermarket is favourable for Inter Cars. Well educated graduates will be highly qualified mechanics. In the future they will also be our customers. Spare parts manufacturers, partners of the programme have an unusual chance to share their knowledge with the students, showing technology of service and the specificity of their products. It is a long-term investment which shall benefit in the future, when the students start their career.
Interview by Janusz Boberek
Source: sadeczanin. info
2015-07-12
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