Industry needs to raise its game, says Mazza

Jim Mazza has challenged the aftermarket to raise its game for the future.

The Groupauto Managing Director says the industry needs to react to the conditions it is currently facing.

Mazza says that the growing threat from VMs and franchises, rather than galvanizing businesses into action, seems to have dulled the wits of the independent sector: “Although it’s clear that the vehicle manufacturers are no longer content to sell cars and accept that they’ll lose the aftersales business to the independent aftermarket, but are intent on ensuring that they keep a large slice of the business for themselves, how is the independent sector responding?”

The GAU leader also pointed to research showing that many factors are pointing workshops to franchised dealers for parts that are freely available to the independent sector.

Mazza says that when ten factors were contacted with a list of parts, all suggested that three or four of the items on the list were only available from a dealer.

“Although this may not be a totally new phenomenon and the products weren’t the most everyday of items, it is at best foolish to suggest that a potential customer source their products from a competitor, but when that competitor is intent in putting you out of business, this attitude is simply suicidal,” he said.

Mazza ended by saying that whether a factor is a member of Groupauto or not, the entire industry needs to raise its game to survive the current climate.