INDUSTRY 05 Two hopes for growth of IAM 17 INSIDE ATR ATR World Sales network expansion Information | Facts | Figures at Wint NEW MOBILITY 42 The future belongs to Big bets placed on hydrogen multi-brand diagnostics in global energy transition Governments and OEMs are pouring immense resources into a decarbonised energy system ISSUE 3 – DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER – 3 ISSUE 02 EDITORIAL ATR World DECEMBER 2020 CONTENT 03 Dear readers 24 14 38 e are happy to present you this year’s last issue of ATR World. We take this opportunity to welcome Henning Kaeß once more who joined ATR as WManaging Director Marketing/Digitisation in September. Kindly browse through pages 08 and 09 for an introductory interview with him. As of January, Warren Espinoza will complete our Management Team. He will be introduced in the next issue. 16 One month ago, ATR held its Annual General Meeting. One highlight was the election of the Supervisory Board. Andrey Soyuznov from Forum-Auto Group was 40 33 elected new member and succeeds Warren Espinoza. A brief summary of the meeting and the profile of Andrey Soyuznov can be found on page 06. Our ATR Continental: New brand, proven quality LatAm team organised a web conference. For more details, kindly look at page 07. INDUSTRY 26 04 Two beacons of light for growth in the automotive 27 DENSO: Technical training – are you top of the league? Independent Aftermarket (IAM) 28 Elring’s gasket program for US cars In the Industry chapter, you can find an update on COVID-19 and the IAM. We would 29 Exide: Did you know that most electric vehicles are like to conclude this issue with the subject of hydrogen-powered fuel cells in equipped with lead-acid batteries? transportation in the Trends section. INSIDE ATR 30 Gates introduces innovative off-road belt to better 06 Annual General Meeting of ATR International AG meet demands of today’s powersports vehicles in Stuttgart Last but not least, we want to take this 31 GKN Automotive: Only spare parts from series suppliers New member of the ATR Supervisory Board opportunity to thank you all for the guarantee unchanged handling 07 ATR LatAm web conference fruitful collaboration during this year 32 HELLA: There’s a good mood in the workshop Relocation of ATR Headquarters / and we hope to meet you again soon in 33 KYB collaborates on next generation modular Change of registered office person. We wish you all a happy festive EV platform 08 Challenges as opportunities for the IAM season and a good start to 2021. 34 MAHLE: Alternative powertrain technologies are an 10 Create Business is investing strongly in the opportunity for workshops and trade development of its own brand 35 NGK SPARK PLUG: Moving boldly into the future 11 Inter Cars: Tools of the future 36 NRF: Accelerate in corona times and reinvent yourself 12 KGK and Autoexperten establish partnership with 37 Schaeffler: Evolution instead of revolution Henning Kaeß and Wolfgang Menges Motorbranschcollege 38 New generation of Philips halogen car Kaha: KGK Finland’s subsidiary, KL-Parts, expands 13 headlight bulbs its operation 39 Sogefi filters for the best-selling light commercial Phaeton: Crisis 2020: the endurance race 14 vehicle in Europe 16 Martaş Automotive’s transformation in supply chain 40 Valeo: Greener, healthier, and digital solutions 17 SAG Wint: Sales network expansion at Wint 41 ZF Aftermarket: Semi compound brake discs by TRW 18 Tokić Ltd takes over Bartog – the leading Slovenian now available for popular Mercedes-Benz models retail chain of tyres and car parts 20 UNIX Auto Ltd.: From a garage to the top NEW MOBILITY 22 Reydi turns 30 42 The future belongs to multi-brand diagnostics SUPPLIERS TRENDS Engine trend – Spark plug size reduction 24 Bosch: 43 Big bets placed on hydrogen in global energy transition 25 Coping with COVID-19, the Clarios way 04 INSIDE ATR ATR World DECEMBER 2020 INDUSTRY 05 Two beacons of light for growth in the automotive Independent Aftermarket (IAM) Amid a short-term demand contraction, digitalisation and the aging car parc will keep the Aftermarket less impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. KEY FACTS his year has been incredibly difficult virus contamination fears at workshops for many people and businesses where contactless options may not exist. The automotive Independent Aftermarket Taround the world. The COVID-19 Additionally, IAM workshops are generally (IAM) is expected to recover better and be pandemic battered some industries more far away from being ready digitally com- less impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, than others and many experts feared how pared to OEM workshops, which can, in with digitalisation and the aging car parc the automotive industry would fare. turn, be seen as an opportunity for future working in its favour. Within the automotive Independent Af- growth. Here, challenges for the IAM termarket (IAM) specifically, market workshop network tend to be the resis- growth projections have been downgrad- tance to an expensive digital transforma- ed and reverberations are expected to be tion and the lack of an empowered and 9.5 years, 17.1 years, and 13.4 years re- felt through 2021; however, after a short- centralised steering entity to set stan- spectively. All of this is likely to mean term drop in demand, the IAM is expected dards and drive change4. IAM players higher investments in repair and mainte- to be less impacted than the automotive have a host of options to drive digitalisa- nance of the existing car parc, surely to industry overall1. tion efforts, from marketing and sales to benefit IAM players7. new products/business models and oper- Though a decrease in passenger vehicle ational processes, but success requires An increase in mileage and transporta- mileage in March of this year has impact- the support of an agile organisation5. It’s tion preferences: despite a drop in aver- ed demand for fast-moving parts catego- no doubt that digitalisation initiatives are age mileage for passenger vehicles in ries including tires, brake parts, lubri- critical to ensure the long-term relevance March of this year, mileage has since in- cants, accessories and more, there are of industry players. creased for both business and personal two bright lights that may help determine travel8. This is good news for the IAM; in positive overall recovery – wide-spread THE CURRENT CAR PARC CAN line with general economic growth and digitalisation and the aging car parc2. SPUR RECOVERY easing restrictions, people are driving Despite the negativities surrounding more. As an example, the average mileage COVID-19 and its impacts on our liveli- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the for passenger vehicles (km per calendar hoods and global economic performance, way in which we live our lives, and that week) in Germany increased by 78% be- several research bodies have indicated includes our driving habits. Driver willing- tween week 15 (week of 6 April) and week that these two factors will help demand in ness and ability to spend and preferences 22 (the last week in May) this year9. the IAM bounce back after the more im- for private transportation will both posi- Additionally, people are choosing private mediate effects of the pandemic wear off. tively impact recovery for the IAM. vehicles over shared and public modes of transportation10. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH Repair what you have: with more people THROUGH DIGITALISATION working from home, increased financial The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt by burdens, and a decrease in personal trav- people around the globe. For the IAM in The digitalisation of parts and services el, it is more likely that consumers will particular, it is encouraging to already see retail across the industry is a trend that postpone new car purchases in this cur- signs of recovery and less impact than in will accelerate recovery in the rent climate. Instead, it is expected that other industries. There are many roads to Aftermarket; it is estimated that the drivers are likely to continue using their long-term success in the IAM, but agility, adoption of such digital channels for cus- existing vehicles6. In the US, the average tactfulness, and a forward-thinking men- tomer sales will expand by 17% in 20203. car parc age is about 11.8 years, whereas tality will surely benefit those within our This is in part due to social distancing and in Germany, Poland and Russia, it is about industry. 1The Automotive Independent Aftermarket (IAM) – COVID-19, the new normal and digital business models, European perspective. Roland Berger. 23 June 2020. 2Digitization and Aging Vehicle Parc to Help Keep Global Automotive Market Afloat Amid Demand Contraction. Frost & Sullivan. 15 June 2020 - https://ww2.frost.com/frost-perspectives/digitization-and-aging-vehicle-parc-to- help-keep-global-automotive-market-afloat-amid-demand-contraction/ 3Ibid. 4The Automotive Independent Aftermarket (IAM) – COVID-19, the new normal and digital business models, European perspective. Roland Berger. 23 June 2020. 5Ibid. 6Digitization and Aging Vehicle Parc to Help Keep Global Automotive Market Afloat Amid Demand Contraction. Frost & Sullivan. 15 June 2020 - https://ww2.frost.com/frost-perspectives/digitization-and-aging-vehicle-parc-to-help-keep-global-automotive-market-afloat-amid-demand-contraction/ 7Ibid. 8The Automotive Independent Aftermarket (IAM) – COVID-19, the new normal and digital business models, European perspective. Roland Berger. 23 June 2020. 9Ibid. 10Ibid. 06 INSIDE ATR ATR World DECEMBER 2020 INSIDE ATR 07 Annual General Meeting of ATR LatAm web conference ATR International AG in Stuttgart New challenges and business recovery strategies for the IAM. ue to the corona pandemic, the report on the past business year. Two page 07 for more information about the ing under ATR global guidelines but exe- 30th Shareholders’ Meeting of new shareholders joined ATR: Mannheim web conference.