Community, innovation and entrepreneurship were celebrated at the 3rd annual NEXUS Business Forum, which saw leaders from the global automotive aftermarket gather to discuss key issues facing the industry. The three-day summit, hosted in Montreux, Switzerland, by the global alliance NEXUS Automotive International (N!), attracted 350 participants from 62 countries.
In addition to hearing from 15 experts who are leaders in their field, including manufacturers and e-commerce entrepreneurs, attendees took part in 4,360 speed business meetings between N! members and approved suppliers.
Welcoming delegates from as far as Brazil, the United States, China and Japan, NEXUS CEO Gael Escribe revealed the consolidated turnover of the N! membership had hit €12.8 billion ($13.6 billion) – a significant increase over the €7.2 billion ($7.6 billion) announced in 2016.
However, while Escribe says NEXUS will continue to grow, he says the organization also will further develop its role as “an independent aftermarket activist” built around its core values of community, innovation and entrepreneurship. Escribe says this initiative had already begun with the evolution of the business forum into a “think tank” event, as well as providing fantastic opportunities for participants to cement relationships and do business.
Escribe commented, “The automotive aftermarket is ever-changing and the only certain thing is there will be more consolidation.
“But we are not going to be passive observers. As a dynamic organization, N! moves quickly, developing value-creating propositions for our members and suppliers but also responding to the fast-evolving market.”
Describing the N! community of members and suppliers as “a platinum asset,” he pledged to continue to increase year-on-year the amount of business contracted between them.
The achievements of high performers within the NEXUS community also were recognized. VIACAR, an auto parts distributor from Greece, was named N! Member of the Year for achieving 38 percent growth in the past year. The trophy was presented by Escribe and N! board member Fergus Reid to Kostas Daskarolis, vice president of VIACAR.
Continental was named the N! Supplier of the Year for its innovative five-year guarantee on aftermarket drive products. The award was presented by N! Chairman Akram Shahrour to Christian Pfiz, general manager, Export Sales Automotive Aftermarket for ContiTech.
