What you should know!

Aftermarket

Aftermarket is generally considered as that market which derives from repair and maintenance of investment and consumer goods. Thus, the aftermarket in the automotive industry includes all services after the sale of the vehicle, from maintenance to repair. A distinction must be made here between the share of the captive market (vehicle manufacturers) and the free market (independent parts manufacturers). This is also known as independent aftermarket. In general, the
warranty determines the limit. As soon as this warranty has expired, the free market starts competing for the vehicle.

Block Exemption Regulation

Block exemption regulations ensure the free competition within in European Union.
They make sure that certain countries are protected against illegally colluding in the market and restrictions of free competition, For the vehicle aftermarket, there is a new block exemption regulation 461/2010. It replaces the previous version from 2002 (1400/2002). The revised version determined by the EU Comission at the end of May 2010 is the result of a Euope-wide and perennial evaluation and discussion process. You will learn more about the Block Exemption Regulation in part 2.

Comission Regulation

Comission Regulations provide a free competition inside de European Union. They ensure that certain markets are protected from cartel agreements and restrictions in the free market are prevented. Since June 01st 2011, the new Comission Regulation “GVO 461/2010” has been in effect for the vehicle aftermarket. It replaces its predecessor (1400/2002) from 2002. This rewording, endorsed by the EU Comission at the end of May 2002, is the result of a multiannual and Europe-wide evaluation and discussion process. You will leran more about the guidelines of the Comission Regulation in part 2.

Comission Regulation Part 2

1. The authorized workshops are allowed to sell parts to independent workshops if the purchased product is needed for repair or inspection. The vehicle manufacturers have no possibility to enjoin them from this buisness.
2. Suppliers have the right to supply the whole aftermanrket with their articles. Vehicle manufacturers cannot prohibit this business. This regulation does not extend when the production of parts by the supplier depends on the direct cooperation with the manufacturer.
3. Double branding contiunues to be permitted. Suppliers continue to be able their trademarks on parts of the original equipment. This shall ensure greater transparency for the end consumer.

First National Registration

The date of the first national registration of a vehicle is obtained from the vehicle documentation, the general vehicle type approval or from the vehicle title.
Thus, the date of the first national registration is not identical to the manufacturing year or month.

Geo-Coding

Geo-Coding, also known as geo-referencing or adress localisation, is the positioning of of one or more points by assigning to geographical coordinates. In the prcess of geo-coding, one can assign an area code (district, street, street section) and a geographical x-y-coordinate.

Geocoder

A geocoder is helpful when the coordination of addresses in Germany or another country are needed for a project. On the basis of a determined address, it finds the referring data with the help of geop-coding.

Geographical Coordinates

The coordinate grid system is a thought coordinate system system on the earth surface with meridian and parallel arcs which intersect rectangularly. They are used to the geographical determination of places. Parallels are counted from the equator northward and southward and meridians from an arbitrary prime meridian east and westward up to 180 degrees. The determination of angels does not agree with the Sphere coordinate system used in mathematics and physics. Untill the beginning of the 20th century, country-specific prime meridians were used. Nowadays, it has been agreed internationally to use the meridian of Greenwich (observatory in London).

Geomarketing

The term ‘geomarketing’ describes the marketing planning by taking into consideration geographical criteria, which means, taking account of area-specific influential factors. Among demographical data, the analysis of sector-specific data is important. For the vehicle sector, particularly the vehicle stock is well suited. The structure stock can be very different with regard to the referring region and is therefore well suited for the usage as an analysing basis for strategy and sales of a company in this sector.

KTyp

The term “KTyp” is the classification, used by TecDoc to categorize vehicles. A KTyp is clearly defined by seven technical criteria: model, vehicle capacity, performance, body (limousine, estate), number of drive axles, fuel, year of manufacture.

NUTS

NUTS is a classification system which represents the European territorial units. It is generally based on the instituational territorial units of the member states and is seperated in three levels. Small regions and towns are level 3. In Germany, these are self-governing cities and districts.

TecDoc

TecDoc a standard, originally initiated by the parts industry, which categorizes vehicle parts and matching vehicles. More than 200 companies, parts manufacturers and even dealers have connected. The basis for the categorization is the classification of vehicles, the so-called TecDoc ‘Ktypes’. The articles of the manufacturers’ range are matched to these Ktypes. Users, for example workshops, do not have to browse through a lot of catalogues in order to find the matching part but receive them directly from TecDoc with the possibility to compare.