Motor Factor Article – Right to Repair Campaign

On 10th May the first meeting of the R2RC UK Strategy Group took place at the SMMT Offices in London.

The Strategy Group is truly representative of the independent aftermarket with it’s Members being: 

Adrian Wilkes the Managing Director of Gosnay’s Engineering representing the Federation of Engine Re-manufacturers, David Russell, the Joint Managing Director of Camberley Auto Factors representing the ADF, Jonas Zambakides the Managing Director of JZMachtech an independent Porshe specialist representing the Retail Motor Industry Federation, Nevelle Marchent Group Managing Director of Crypton Technology representing the Garage Equipment Association, Peter Coombes the Chairman of Sykes-Pickavant, Peter Henry representing the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group of the SMMT and myself.

In attendance at the first meeting were Bob Davis the Head of Aftermarket Service and Tony Young the Head of Finance of the SMMT together with their colleague Mike Owen who has played a key part in raising the profile of the challenges we face as an the industry.

It was decided at this initial meeting to also accept an offer to join the group David White of Kwik-Fit representing the National Tyre Distributors Association. 

The business at hand was to decide roles and responsibilities and give early consideration to the sub-groups and working parties that need to be pulled together.

In addition it was important to agree a process for collecting pledged financial support and the expenditure of funds ensuring openness and accountability.

There are specialist groups now in the process of being formed specialise in Statistics, Lobbying, Marketing and P.R. and the provision of Technical information.

The responsibility for raising funds is the responsibility of every member of the Group. 

It is evident that although this is a European wide initiative orchestrated by Figiefa the UK is positioning itself ahead of the game to ensure that when the European Launch takes place we are in the best possible position to support the campaign.

The fundamental aim of R2RC is to ensure that the consumer has the right to chose his service provider and that the automotive service and repair arena remains competitive. If the activity of the Vehicle Assemblers is allowed to continue unchecked this will not be the case, with the problem affecting not just the automotive market, but CV, bus, motor cycle and agricultural markets also. In fact just about anything that has an engine will be affected.

Although a considerable amount of support has been received in raising a six figure sum (which is already more than half the money that we estimate we will need for the length of the project), there are still significant industry players to commit. Inevitably there will be those who sit on the sidelines contributing nothing but happy to enjoy the success that the project will have and the response from some of our suppliers who have declined the offer to participate or are ignoring requests is testament to that fact.

Our industry can not afford to sit in the sidelines as success will only be achieved by a properly funded, united and uniform stance. 

There will be regular updates and features on R2RC in future editions of Motor Factor and in the Trade Press.

Jim Mazza

11th May 2007