VN 53 | JANUARY – MARCH 2019 3
THE PARADIGM SHIFT
As the automotive industry gears up for a paradigm shift, VITAL NEWS does a quick
overview on the various murmurings to see how it affects the aftermarket.
With the evolution of eCommerce, urban
mobility, emergence of extended vehicles, and
of course the rise of extended vehicles (EVs),
questions are being raised about what is in
store for the automotive industry.
Thrown in the mix of all this, is the politico-
economic uncertainty brought forth by Brexit
negotiations. This in itself is a kettle of fish
which needs to run its course with definitive
outcomes in order for businesses to identify
their future strategies.
mobile streaming capabilities of 5G mobile
networks would particularly benefit connected
vehicles as they will be able to seamlessly
transfer live data between the car and the
cloud. This will inherently provide vehicle
manufacturers with live information about the
condition of the car and prescribe any services
needed, and this is just the beginning.
TECHNOLOGY RULES
There is no question that technology is
advancing at a relentless pace and is evolving
business practices everywhere. With
compelling and growing reports of the demise
of the high street due to growing reliance on
eCommerce, businesses seem to sink or swim
in this new dawn.
Public vehicle charging points are becoming more common
With Volkswagen Audi Group announcing
that they will be introducing the last of
their combustion engine vehicles in 2026,
it becomes more apparent that the future
is now. As other vehicle manufacturers are
revving their engines on the electric race (pun
very intended), infrastructure planners are
working hard to reconcile energy supply with
burgeoning power demand.
In terms of connectivity, the world is gearing
up for the introduction of 5 th Generation
(5G) mobile technology. The super-fast
Some may see the emergence of EVs as a
threat to the livelihoods of players within the
sector. However, this threat is not manifested
by the rise of technology. The threat comes
with the lack of training and expertise –
something that can be easily remedied by
upskilling the workforce.
As expertise is still lacking in the independent
aftermarket, fortune is likely to favour the
bold and early. Being early adopters to EV
servicing, technicians have the opportunity to
build their pioneering reputation.
THE POWER STRUGGLE
The modern “connected” dashboard
has fair access to the information from VMs.
This provides motorists with the freedom of
choice in choosing the appropriate services to
suit their needs.
HOW THIS AFFECTS THE AFTERMARKET
As vehicles become more connected,
organisations like the IAAF and FIGIEFA are
fighting hard to ensure that the aftermarket
OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT WHEN
SOUGHT
On FPS’ capacity, the company continues to
study emerging trends within the industry
and foster close relationships with suppliers
and customers alike, to offer what the market
needs, when they need it.
With some 30 million vehicles across the UK,
the aftermarket is indeed bustling. Whilst
the EVs are not likely to take over the market
overnight, it is impending. It is up to the
industry to make use of this time window
wisely in planning and preparation.