Stellantis-owned Eurorepar Automotive Service’s (ERCS) new head of community Neil Gibbs desires to assist bridge the divide between franchised sellers and the impartial aftersales sector.
Gibbs stated the ERCS meesage is “it needn’t be OEMs and franchises versus independents, however that we are able to all work collectively”.
He stated: “That is the purpose of ERCS and Distrigo, however the sector remains to be a good distance from adopting this mindset, which is crucial to the long run.”
Gibbs brings a deep understanding of each OEM operations and the impartial aftermarket panorama at a crucial time as workshops navigate electrification challenges.
Stellantis launched Eurorepar within the UK in June 2023 to create an all-makes storage community that provides impartial garages with the sources wanted for visibility and development, from advertising recommendation, to incentivised entry to Stellantis Group’s elements distribution model, Distrigo.
Gibbs stated impartial garages face a brand new panorama the place, for survival, many want to satisfy the identical service requirements, advertising presence, {and professional} look as predominant sellers.
“Coaching and sources are key to impartial survival,” Gibbs defined.
“However it’s robust for impartial storage house owners to take day out of the enterprise. Because of this the community is the way to make issues like our coaching programmes extra accessible for the calls for of independents.”
Gibbs additionally recognises the rising significance of information within the trendy automotive panorama.
“Entry to crucial automobile and market knowledge is changing into important to the operations of impartial companies.
“ERCS recognises the importance of this shift and is dedicated to exploring methods to assist the community in leveraging this info successfully.
“We wish to deliver the community nearer collectively as a neighborhood – connecting our members with their supplying Distrigo hubs and Stellantis as an organisation by means of social media, working teams, vendor councils and constructing real rapport.
“There ought to be actual delight in being a part of this community.”
Beneath Gibbs’ management, ERCS will leverage enhanced OEM connections to supply members with technical assist and extra versatile coaching options.
His major mission is to reinstate the worth of the community to members whereas making certain they will compete successfully with out compromising their impartial standing.
The appointment displays ERCS’ dedication to supporting impartial workshops by means of business transitions whereas making certain they’ve entry to OEM-quality sources and experience.
Gibbs will work intently with the present community crew to implement new initiatives designed to boost member competitiveness and profitability.
