FROM THE ROADEuropean Repair Shops Facing Same Service Information Issues FRANKFURT, GERMANY, (Sept. 12, 2006) - Automechanika, what organizers call "the world's leading automotive trade show" opened today with more than 4,650 exhibitors and 160,000 trade visitors. More than 60,000 of those attending came from outside Germany. Automechanika is much more than just products and equipment. As in the United States, Europe wrestled with information availability issues until 2002, when the Group Exemption was taken from car manufacturers and they were forced to supply technical information to independent shops. The Right of Establishment is now in force, which, among other things, will give OE dealers more flexibility in where they locate. Because this affects both the OE and the independent, it is a time of much change. As a result, Automechanika will feature the Aftermarket Forum called, "Profitable Growth in the Automobile Sector" to tackle some of these issues.Motor Age spoke to Hans Eric Destree, commercial director, Mobile Electronics, Visteon. Destree explained that in the '90s, the independent service sector, along with other lobbying groups, fought against the Block (or Group) Exemption. The lobbying efforts prevailed and the exemption was removed. "In some cases," Destree says, "the independent service providers have not taken advantage of the information available. It may be due to cost, or it may be that the shops do not realize the value of the information." Destree says what may happen is that distributors, having perhaps 1,000 shop customers, will consider supplying that technical information. As far as Visteon's electronic products, Destree says, "The key word is connectivity. Consumers want to bring their electronic products from their homes and use them in their cars. The better interface solution you provide, the more successful you will be." Visteon is showcasing their Integrated Audio and Video Interface for iPod and its integrated USB connectivity system for DVD, among others. Automechanika has also been called the world's leading platform for innovations in the workshop equipment market and some of the leading companies in this market are here. They include Beissbarth, Berner, Robert Bosch, Consul Werkstattausr
