Aftermarket Insider Issue 77 - (Page 15)

impaCt information MARKET iNTElligENCE Key Issues Impact Survey RANKING BY SURVEY DATE QuestiOn Average age of vehicles Longer lasting vehicles are extending the vehicle repair window General health of the economy Unemployment and household budgets Consumers opting to maintain their vehicles as opposed to buying new vehicles Increasing vehicle complexity emphasizes the need for professional technician's expertise Consumer debt Changing volume of new vehicle sales Telematics that could exclude small repair shops Aging Baby Boomers' preference for professional technician's expertise The decrease in the total number of new car dealers Fewer new light truck sales Changes in DIFM service events Increased efficiencies and productivity of service bays Telematics that currently connect vehicles to primary, new car dealers Telematics that level the playing field by connecting vehicles to repair shops Consumers seeking alternative forms of transportation Virtual office/telecommuting JUNE ‘12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 DEC. ‘11 1 6 4 5 2 3 9 8 7 11 10 12 16 14 13 15 18 17 SEPT. ‘11 1 6 4 2 3 5 8 7 9 10 12 13 11 14 15 16 17 18 JUNE ‘11 4 1 3 5 2 6 7 9 8 13 11 16 10 14 12 15 17 18 MAR. ‘11 2 4 5 1 3 6 10 8 7 11 9 16 13 14 12 15 17 18 The purpose of AAIA’s Key Issues Impact Survey is to gain a better understanding of AAIA member opinions on 18 key issues impacting their business as related to the economy, the consumer, technology and repair outlets. Members are asked each quarter to rate these issues on a scale from one to five, with one having the least impact and five having greatest impact. Current readings are compared to previous readings so that shifts in the relative position of each issue can be monitored and reported at the end of each quarter. The results of this most recent survey completed in June, compared with results from the previous four surveys, are presented in the table above. The most striking observation about these 18 key issues is that they continue to break along three distinct divisions of six each. While the individual rankings within each grouping will vary from survey to survey, the six issues within each group are well defined and consistent. Within the group of top six issues, the June survey continued to amplify the most impactful forces driving our industry today: The “average age of vehicles” retained the number one position for the third consecutive survey period stretching back to September of 2011. Moving from position six to two was “longer lasting vehicles are extending the vehicle repair window” and “general health of the economy” moved from position four to position three. For more information about the “Average Age of Vehicles” and supporting detail on “The Age Mix of Vehicles,” please refer to the recently released Digital Factbook 2013, page 61 for more information, or call 301-654-6664. AFTERMARKET INSIDER | VOLUME 77 | 15 http://www.aftermarket.org/Publications.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aftermarket Insider Issue 77

Aftermarket Insider Issue 77
Contents
President’s Message
Technology Update
Massachusetts: A State of Repair
Meet Your Future Customers and Employees: Y Should We Care ?
Member Profile
Toolbox
Market Intelligence
AAPEX News
Market Intelligence

Aftermarket Insider Issue 77