Jump to content

  • Welcome to Auto Parts Forum

    Whether you are a veteran automotive parts guru or just someone looking for some quick auto parts advice, register today and start a new topic in our forum. Registration is free and you can even sign up with social network platforms such as Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. 

     

Mapping Out the Future of the Global Aftermarket

Counterman
 Share

Recommended Posts

Counterman Contributor

Counterman

Posted
Posted

Founded in 2014, NEXUS Automotive International SA, based in Geneva, Switzerland, describes itself as a “growth accelerator for progressive companies in the automotive light vehicle and heavy-duty industry.”

The allure of this mission has created a strong pull, as the organization now boasts approximately 161 members in 139 countries. This encompasses nearly 20 regional divisions that include: Adriatic, Algeria, Argentina, Asia Pacific, Brazil, Bulgaria, Central Europe, Eurasia, France, Germany, Italy, Nordic Baltic, North America, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Among these players in NEXUS’ international membership are 2,043 warehouse distributors, 9,023 retail stores, 90 suppliers (76 of which are global) and 75 heavy-duty suppliers, responsible for $37 billion in purchasing power.

Talk about strength in numbers.

The North American division of NEXUS Automotive – N! N. America for short – was formed just a year later in 2015. Founding shareholders of NEXUS Automotive North America include The Network/Parts Plus, now under the umbrella of the Automotive Parts Services Group (also known as “The Group,” comprised of the Pronto Network and Federated Auto Parts), Automotive Parts Associates (APA) and VIPAR Heavy Duty. In addition to the founding members, members of NEXUS in North America today also include Refacciones Originales Automotrices (Mexico), Uni-Select (Canada) and Advance Auto Parts (U.S.).

According to Gael Escribe, CEO and founder of NEXUS Automotive International SA, one of the strengths of the North American Division is its broad range of players.

“The NEXUS North America members are made up of a diverse group – ranging from traditional distributor to retail to light vehicle and heavy-duty. So, there is a lot to learn from each other, through best practices and collaboration,” Escribe said. “There is also an appreciation and a next level of loyalty consideration for those global supplier partners who work with our members at the local North America level and with NEXUS from a worldwide perspective,” he added. “They see long-term viability in suppliers who are engaged at both levels.”

This strategy makes a lot of sense, particularly with international issues such as economic recession, supply chain challenges, labor issues and more creating great waves of change across the automotive aftermarket landscape.

Escribe added that supplier partners are provided with instant credibility when soliciting business with NEXUS members from other parts of the world. This eliminates what can often be a major hurdle when trying to establish business partnerships in a new country.

The benefits of joining NEXUS Automotive are many, Escribe said. In addition to greater global collaboration and international credibility, they include exposure to a broader base of suppliers who can provide coverage range needs, an OE pedigree, a premium brand and quality alternative, availability (especially during these challenging times in the supply chain), competitive price; training and education enhancements through the NEXUS Academy; and awareness of global automotive, mobility and general economic trends.

Added Value for North American Distributors

As Robert Roos, president of The Pronto Network Cooperative, who also serves as president of NEXUS North America and a board member of NEXUS Automotive International, explained it, being involved in NEXUS adds value well beyond what the typical North American program group could offer. 

“For us, NEXUS becomes really that add-on to what we do as a program group. It allows us to now partner with some of those folks in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, learn from them and collaborate with them. Really, through The Group we’re still negotiating our programs for our members, yet we like to add value with NEXUS and collaborate with them where we can. We were very intrigued with some of the projects that they were involved in, which really weren’t about putting a traditional marketing program together, or let’s negotiate a discount or a rebate on a product line,” said Roos.

“It’s really more about companies they’re investing in, the sustainability projects they have, and Marketparts.com, which is an avenue for trading inventory across the globe. They are really doing some out-of-the-box thinking and they’re looking much farther down the road than we might have an ability to do on our own. That’s what really drew us to NEXUS because we’re so busy with some of these other things, we just don’t have the resources, we don’t have the time to get it done. Being able to partner with all these organizations across the globe, now all of a sudden, we’ve got the structure and have the ability to do some of this stuff, which we think long-term is going to give us just a huge leap forward,” Roos added.

As Roos mentioned, all members of NEXUS Automotive across the globe have first-hand access to Marketparts.com, a B2B website to sell or buy inventory globally, as well as other global sourcing opportunities through the DRIVE+ private label program. This however just scratches the surface of the multi-faceted resources NEXUS provides its members. Resources are organized around three main areas: growth, transformation and sustainability.

Sustainability that Goes Beyond Being “Green”

In terms of sustainability efforts, NEXUS Automotive International offers support that is becoming increasingly critical to doing business today — both domestically and internationally. Inteliam is a sustainability/ESG rating company that was incubated by NEXUS, and provides members, non-members, installers and suppliers with guidance and direction on sustainability rating efforts that are becoming a prerequisite to many financial transactions in business today.

Steve Tucker, president of Automotive Parts Associates – a founding member of N! N. America – shared that this is particularly helpful for a lot of APA members involved in government bid business today. 

“They’re having to provide proof that they are working toward establishing a sustainability index or state their sustainability score. Most of these guys are smaller businesses, some are larger, but they don’t have the wherewithal or even know where to begin [with this process],” said Tucker. “NEXUS has provided a blueprint and they actually have a sustainability person on staff who can help write it up or help explain what they need to do. It’s more than just being responsible to the environment. Obviously, that’s important, but it can also impact your ability to borrow money from the banks. It can impact who you can sell parts to and actually who will sell your parts.”

Tucker added that in some cases today suppliers are looking at customers from a sustainability perspective because it impacts what that supplier can do financially, as well. “You can go back and say, ‘Hey, 80% of my customers are recycling cardboard or pallets or are utilizing electric vehicles as part of the delivery fleet.’ All those things play into it,” he added.

Roos confirmed his members are seeing the same changes in business today. “We had one of our large members that did a sustainability program, presented it to their lender, and got a better loan rate,” Roos said. Becoming educated and aligned with these sorts of efforts through NEXUS Automotive International is a win-win, not only helping global environmental efforts, but helping aftermarket businesses stay competitive in a challenging time.

Creating a “Spark” Through Innovation

Joe Stephan, a longtime aftermarket executive, joined NEXUS in February 2021 as vice president, sales & business development – North America, NEXUS Automotive. In this role, Stephan works with NEXUS North America supplier partners to strengthen the value proposition of the regional entity and introduce the different N! services and concepts to members. As such, he is well-versed on the innovative growth opportunities NEXUS has developed, including Inteliam and an aftermarket-specific startup incubator called SPARKER.

“The SPARKER idea came about because of suppliers talking to NEXUS about either products or services that they would like to look at to bring to the automotive community,” he said. Stephan explained that as NEXUS looked deeper into this, they realized there are thousands of mobility and automotive startups around the world that could be consolidated into a portfolio to both assist the startups with things such as HR, sales & marketing, strategy development, etc., and also offer suppliers and distributors the ability to review startup opportunities they could potentially help bring to market.

“This created an opportunity for suppliers or distributors to have a peak into the portal to take a look at either at a very high level – or a detailed level and pay an annual subscription – to be able to look in at these 2,500 to 5,000 startups that are in there,” Stephan said. 

“In addition, we are all learning from technologies like the NEXUS funded Ki Mobility Solutions in India where an automotive ecosystem has been created,” said Stephan. “Distributors, suppliers and vehicle owners are participating in this digital platform automotive aftermarket community providing parts and service solutions in the form of aftermarket alternatives.”

Better Together

Like Roos and Tucker, on the heavy-duty side, Chris Baer, AAP, president & CEO of the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies, sees strength and value in the global partnership. VIPAR not only is a founding member of N! N. America, but also the founding heavy-duty member.

“Some of the core reasons why we joined [initially] are still very valid today,” said Baer. “NEXUS has done a very good job over the years to add to their value proposition. They’re very innovative, and they’re very quick at executing. VIPAR’s strength over the years has been local and regional and you could say maybe national. Our distributors are local or regional. But as you start to look at the rest of the world, things have changed so much in the last five years. The timing was really good for us to join NEXUS because they’ve got this whole global game down. … There’s a whole portfolio of tools available and they keep bringing out more,” Baer added. 

While N! N. America members certainly see competitive advantage to their involvement in NEXUS, the North American members have something to offer as well – particularly in heavy-duty, Baer said. 

“What we bring is what the guys on the automotive side are all trying to peek over the fence at, which is how do we get in this heavy-duty business. So, there’s a whole bunch of collaboration opportunities that we’ve done fairly well with, some technology stuff and collaborating on national account programs where the customer has vehicles on both sides of the road. Technology’s making that easier and easier to execute. So, there’s a NEXUS North America influence that we have on the heavy-duty side because we’re the exclusive player,” he added.

The Future of NEXUS Automotive 

Looking ahead to 2023, Escribe shared several goals for the international organization, including revenue growth for supplier partners; launching the NEXUS Academy training program for the North American market; introducing additional key N! N. America suppliers to the rest of the world; and finding new innovative ways to add value to members and supplier partners — supporting mutually beneficial growth all over the world.

To learn more about a supplier partnership, membership or access to some of the innovative projects that NEXUS Automotive International has introduced to the market, visit its website at

link hidden, please login to view
. 

The post

link hidden, please login to view
appeared first on
link hidden, please login to view
.

link hidden, please login to view

Sell your car with CarBrain

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Similar Topics

    • Counterman
      Used Car Sales Upswing Brings Promise to the Aftermarket  
      By Counterman
      Research by Carfax shows the used car market surging in both value and volume. The automotive aftermarket is positioned to benefit significantly—and among those who understand it best is
      link hidden, please login to view, president of link hidden, please login to view (APA). In an industry where profitability is boosted by the number of repairable vehicles on the road, the recent upswing in used car sales is providing tailwinds that aftermarket businesses are ready to ride.  “An increase in used car sales as well as an increased valuation of those cars both have huge benefits for our business,” Tucker explains. “With more vehicles on the road in that sweet spot of being 4-12 years old, our opportunity for selling parts increases exponentially.” 
      That “sweet spot” Tucker refers to is the prime range for aftermarket demand. These vehicles are typically out of warranty, increasingly in need of maintenance and repair, and owned by drivers more likely to invest in keeping them roadworthy—especially when used car values are holding strong. It’s a powerful combination that leads to increased part sales, especially in high-failure-rate categories. 
      Data is the Differentiator 
      According to Tucker, the key to capitalizing on this growing opportunity lies in one word: data. 
      “Keeping track of what we need to have on the shelf to service this aging car parc is the number one driver in capitalizing on servicing these vehicles,” he says. “Also understanding how the types of repairs change as the vehicle ages is important. Here again, data is the driver to success.” 
      From stocking the right parts for the right model years to understanding when customers shift from premium to value-tier products, every decision aftermarket businesses make should be rooted in understanding vehicle age trends and consumer vehicle repair behavior. “Understanding the brands and price points that change as the vehicle ages also must be top of mind,” he adds. 
      Growth For Established Players 
      With used car sales rising sharply, some might foresee a flood of new players entering the aftermarket to capitalize on that replacement parts demand. But Tucker doesn’t see it playing out that way. 
      “Having an aging car parc also means expanding your inventory in order to cover those additional model years adequately,” he says. “Having inventory dollars invested in the right places is not something that happens overnight, and so new entrants into this space are few and far between.” 
      Instead, he anticipates new investments going into existing aftermarket businesses. The industry’s resilience—especially during economic uncertainty—continues to attract capital. “I won’t ever say we are recession-proof as an industry, but we are recession-resistant,” Tucker notes. “Our space has proven to be an attractive one for investors and I don’t see that changing.” 
      Vehicle Categories for Strong Sales  
      While aging vehicles generally mean more part sales overall, Tucker is quick to point out that those sales fluctuate based on a variety of factors: vehicle miles driven, car parc composition and failure rates. 
      “When you take all of those into account, we see categories such as brakes, ride control and chassis all having exponential growth,” he says. “Anything the vehicle must have to start, run and stop effectively are all areas of strong growth.” 
      And as used car values rise, owners are more inclined to authorize discretionary repairs, reversing a trend often seen in older vehicles. “We will also see more of those discretionary repairs come into play on older vehicles as their value holds strong and steady,” Tucker adds. 

      The post
      link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
      link hidden, please login to view
    • APF
      OEM vs. Aftermarket Parts for Your Car: How to Choose
      By APF
      When selecting parts for a car repair, it pays to know the differences between original and aftermarket parts. Whenever possible, get estimates for both.

      Choosing between original and aftermarket car parts — and even used parts of either type — is all about squaring your priorities with your budget.
      You’ll have different options depending on the part and the shop. And the best choice will depend on whether you’re trying to keep repairs cheap, restore your car’s appearance after a wreck or soup up your ride.
      » SIGN UP:  link hidden, please login to view
      Before we get into that, here are the key differences:
      Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts match those that came with your car, and are of the same quality as its original parts. They’re also the most expensive. Aftermarket parts are cheaper, and made by other manufacturers — often several, giving you more options. Used parts may have a bit of wear and tear, but should be inspected or rebuilt to ensure they’ll work. These are the cheapest option. Choosing between aftermarket and OEM parts
      Your decision will depend on the type of repair and the quality and price of the parts. Always look for parts that come with a warranty, even if they’re OEM, so you’ll be protected in case they fail.
      Auto body repairs
      Some aftermarket parts may be OK for 
      link hidden, please login to view, but others won’t be as good, says Michael Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. “There’s a lot of variation in quality.” For example, he says, aftermarket parts often don’t have the same level of rustproofing as original parts, fit and finish don’t match, or panels don’t align properly. If OEM parts are used in auto body repair, the car should look and work exactly as it did before the damage, because everything will match up. OEM parts are also crash-tested, unlike many aftermarket parts.
      Aftermarket parts come at varying price points and levels of quality, but because they are cheaper, insurance companies often prefer them. If you want OEM parts but are dealing with an insurer that wants the shop to use aftermarket parts, ask to pay the difference.
      “There’s also the option of used parts, depending on the age of the vehicle,” Calkins says. “It may be cheaper than an aftermarket part but still have all of the original quality.”
      Mechanical repairs
      A used part, whether it’s OEM or aftermarket, can really save money on repairs under the hood, so long as it’s inspected first and warrantied. And some aftermarket companies reverse-engineer their products to be even better than OEM versions.
      For example, many car buffs will tell you that you can get heavy-duty shocks and struts or brake pads that are made of stronger materials. Scan some reviews online, or talk with your mechanic if you’re not sure whether an aftermarket part could be an upgrade.
      Adding some extras
      If you’d like to modify your ride by adding something like a backup camera or back-seat TV screen, you’ll probably be looking for aftermarket parts. Certain aftermarket upgrades could increase 
      link hidden, please login to view. This is especially true for improvements like a better sound system or alloy wheels, rather than mechanical repairs. Who provides OEM or aftermarket parts?
      The options you’ll have for parts depends on the nature of the repairs and what type of shop you take your car to:
      Dealership repair shops will offer only OEM parts — they have no reason to offer a cheaper product from a competitor link hidden, please login to view may be able to offer you a choice between OEM and aftermarket parts Independent garages that specialize in your type of vehicle will likely have both, but with quicker access to OEM parts, including used OEM parts, which can really save you Auto body shops can offer both, but if your collision repair is part of an insurance claim, the insurer will likely prefer aftermarket parts to save money Depending on the job, the cost of OEM versus aftermarket parts varies. Whenever you’re given the choice, ask to see estimates for both so you can weigh your options.
      Source: 
      link hidden, please login to view
    • Counterman
      PRT Releases 18 New Aftermarket Products
      By Counterman
      PRT announced the latest additions of new aftermarket products to its portfolio of complete strut assemblies and shock absorbers. PRT said the 18 products represent more than 10 million vehicles in new coverage.
      The company added several significant models to its portfolio. These include the Toyota Yaris, Ford Escape and Volkswagen Touareg. PRT also introduced products for new applications like the 2023 Hyundai Kona. Pickup truck coverage includes the GMC Sierra and Honda Ridgeline.
      Models Include Passenger Cars, SUVs and Trucks
      The expanded coverage targets a wide range of popular vehicles. These include sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks.
      link hidden, please login to view said the updates help meet ongoing demand in the market. New Aftermarket Products Now Available in the U.S.
      “These continuous product launches aim to broaden our application range across the North American aftermarket,” said Bruno Bello, director of global marketing at PRT. “The new items are available in the U.S. and ready for shipment!”
      In March, PRT announced the latest additions to its portfolio of complete strut assemblies and shock absorbers in the North American Aftermarket. The 27 new products represent more than seven million vehicles in new coverage.
      The launches include models like the Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Challenger and Suzuki SX4, in addition to brand new applications including the Chrysler Voyager and Pacifica 2023, as well as the Ford Transit 250 and 350 HD 2023, among others.
      Contact PRT or Visit Online for Details
      For more information, call 1-770-238-1611, visit
      link hidden, please login to view, or follow @prtautoparts. The post
      link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
      link hidden, please login to view
    • Counterman
      SmartParts Launches North American Aftermarket Expansion
      By Counterman
      SmartParts has announced the launch of DR!VE+ in North America at the 2025 NEXUS Business Forum in Abu Dhabi. This marks a major step in its global expansion. The launch follows strong growth in 2024 for the exclusive global aftermarket brand for NEXUS members worldwide. The first phase of the North American aftermaket expansion will introduce a 13,700-part Chassis range, with additional product lines to follow. DR!VE+ will serve as the unified brand for NEXUS North America members. SmartParts also introduces a new DR!VE+ battery range, reinforcing its commitment to a comprehensive aftermarket offering.
      NEXUS Accelerates North American Aftermarket Expansion
      To capitalize on growing market opportunities, NEXUS said it decided 18 months ago to speed up the deployment of the DR!VE+ brand. The aging car parc and transformation of the aftermarket are driving demand. The first phase of the North American aftermarket expansion will focus on the Chassis range, offering 13,700 part numbers. A roadmap will introduce multiple additional product lines over the next 18 months.
      “This joint initiative marks a key milestone in the history of NEXUS North America,” said Robert Roos, president of APSG and NEXUS North America.
      2024 Growth and 2025 Plans for SmartParts
      SmartParts welcomed over 20 new
      link hidden, please login to viewmembers and increased revenue by 50% in 2024. This success expands its reach to more than 80 members and customers in 50 countries, the company said. SmartParts aims to further increase its turnover in 2025. The company added it will fast-track expansion into North America, India and Asia. New DR!VE+ Battery Range to Meet Market Demand
      SmartParts is unveiling its all-new DR!VE+ battery range at the NEXUS Business Forum. The lineup targets both light vehicles and heavy-duty applications. It is segmented into four categories—DR!VE+ Platinum (AGM), DR!VE+ Performance (EFB), DR!VE+ Essential (SLI), and DR!VE+ Access (Commercial Vehicles only). This range includes 61 part numbers, covering 99% of market demand and catering to older vehicles, hybrid models and commercial applications.
      Future Growth and Global Expansion
      The
      link hidden, please login to view portfolio expanded by more than 1,100 part numbers in 2024. This brings the total to over 11,000 part numbers. SmartParts will continue expanding the range in 2025. The company remains committed to strengthening its position as the global aftermarket brand exclusive to link hidden, please login to viewmembers. “2024 has been an exceptional year for SmartParts,” said Pascal Popis, CEO of SmartParts. “With sales more than doubling compared to last year, this growth reflects the strong commitment of NEXUS members, the power of the DR!VE+ brand and the dedication of our team.”
      The post
      link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
      link hidden, please login to view
    • Counterman
      Litens Expands Aftermarket Belt Drive Portfolio
      By Counterman
      link hidden, please login to view N.A announced the expansion of its aftermarket portfolio with 13 new belt drive SKUs that offer application coverage for over 5.2 million vehicles in operation (VIO).  A news release from
      link hidden, please login to view said the latest product expansion “brings innovative solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of modern vehicles and repair technicians. The upgraded components enhance efficiency, simplify installation and reduce inventory complexity for distributors and shops.” The company’s new product lineup features:
      Three pulleys covering over 2.1 million VIO. Seven overrunning alternator decouplers (OAD) spanning over 860,000 VIO. Three belt tensioners covering over 2.2 million VIO, now featuring advanced engineering upgrades for improved performance and ease of use. “It is essential that shops have access to reliable, OE-equivalent aftermarket parts as vehicles become more advanced. With 11 of the 13 new SKUs being first-to-market and OE-engineered, we’re giving technicians access to solutions that weren’t previously available,” said Ana Maria Lopez, product application manager at Litens Aftermarket N.A. “This is about staying ahead of industry complexity and ensuring shops have the right parts when they need them.”
      All new SKUs are available now through
      link hidden, please login to view distribution network, with additional product expansions planned throughout 2025, the company said.
      The post
      link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
      link hidden, please login to view

×
×
  • Create New...