Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are to be the subject of an industry survey conducted by the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI).
The organization’s Market Research Study will address both TPMS “and specific questions on the growing trend of the OEMs to equip vehicles with telematics,” says marketing manager Jessie Korosec.
“This survey is designed to collect data to provide our industry with information that is valuable for the repair of vehicles on the road today,” she explains.
“We will be surveying automotive repair facilities in an effort to find out more about their familiarity with TPMS and telematics,” Korosec continues. “ETI will use this research to help all segments of the automotive industry provide aftermarket shops with better tool and equipment solutions.”
“There are a number of different TPMS solutions provided by domestic and foreign OEMs. These different systems are sometimes difficult to identify,” she points out.
“Regardless of the system type, they have several in-common issues the automotive technician must be aware of to include proper sensor positioning and procedures when changing tires, TPMS scan-type tools for diagnostics and reprogramming, and TPMS sensor replacement procedures,” says Korosec.
“Telematics has been called ‘the biggest threat’ as well as ‘the greatest opportunity’ for the future of the automotive aftermarket repair industry. Telematics vehicle monitoring technologies have been growing in popularity for years,” she says.
“The technology allows the OE to continually market their services to the customer with regular maintenance reminders and alerts emailed to the car owner. The OE has the opportunity to leverage their entire dealership network to assist the customer wherever they may be traveling.”
Repairers interested in participating in ETI’s online-only survey can visit www.a-i-m.com/tools.
Other marketing research projects are to come. The specifics of each survey will be organized to correspond with ETI’s equipment focus groups, which are:
• Collision Repair Equipment
• Under Hood Equipment
• Under Car Equipment
• Software and Information products
Founded in 1947, ETI is a trade association of auto tool and equipment manufacturers and technical information providers. Its mission “is to advance the vehicle service industry by providing technical data and open dialog between the manufacturers of transportation products, government regulators and the providers of tools, equipment and service information.”
For additional details, visit www.etools.org.
