To explore this further, Roland Berger surveyed over 380 members of FIGIEFA, the European Federation of Independent Automotive Aftermarket Distributors, and conducted in-depth interviews with CEOs from more than two dozen major industry players. Our research uncovered key market trends and provided insights into the evolving role of the IAM, reinforcing the belief that it’s time to reassess the significance of this vital industry.
A force to be reckoned with
The automotive industry is one of the most important sectors of the European economy, generating more than EUR 2 trillion in gross value added each year. Within the automotive industry, the aftermarket plays a vital role in keeping Europe's vehicles on the road, especially the 70 percent that are more than four years old. It is also significant in terms of its economic value: For example, the EU market for automotive spare parts is worth around EUR 118 billion and the multi-brand IAM sells about 62 percent of this, or around EUR 73 billion. Yet, the aftermarket is often seen as something of a second priority after new vehicle production and sales. Unjustly so, as the results of the Roland Berger research show:
