RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC --

The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) announced this week that it has created a new reporting program focusing on the under the hood segment of the vehicle service equipment industry. The Underhood Technologies Statistical Reporting Program, which will focus on tools and equipment that service the area under the hood, includes the growing arena of scan tools.

A statistical reporting program is a valuable tool many companies use to gauge the general marketplace, track industry trends and forecast sales in a particular market segment. This new reporting program is open to all interested industry companies for one year at no charge, regardless of membership in ETI. The report tracks the total sales for ten different categories such as dynamometers, A/C service equipment, battery chargers, scan tools and more. Each category is broken down further in the report.

The Underhood Technologies Statistical Report is derived from sales figures that are complied in both unit numbers and net dollars. Participating companies send their sales numbers to a neutral third party, in this case, National Data, and they compile the report.

“There are a few key elements of this report that potential participants need to keep in mind,” said Brian Irish, marketing manager for ETI. “First, and foremost, is that the data and figures used are kept confidential, ETI never sees them. Once they are added to the report by National Data, they are destroyed. Second is that in each category there must be at least three companies reporting, or that data is withheld so the numbers are kept confidential. Third is that the final report is ONLY available to those who participate.”

Statistical reporting is not new to ETI. The Under Car Group (UTG) has had a statistical report for several years. It too is open to industry participation at no charge for the first year.

Companies interested in participating in either report can find examples of the detailed report and the fill-in form on ETI’s Web site www.etools.org under the Public Files tab. If interested in joining either program, companies are encouraged to contact ETI headquarters at 919-406-8823 or via e-mail to Brian Irish, marketing manager at birish@etools.org.

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