LAS VEGAS — In its seventh year of exhibiting at AAPEX, Delphi announced yesterday at a press conference several important enhancements to its lines and also took time to introduce several new innovations.
Francisco (Frank) Ordonez, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions, addressed the media on the state of Delphi post-bankruptcy with a look forward to the future of Delphi and its aftermarket operations.
"Delphi has been in the aftermarket worldwide for 10 years and this is only our seventh year of exhibiting at AAPEX," said Ordonez. "Today, we are proud to say the no single customer accounts for more than 15 percent of our total business."
Delphi announced that it is supplying Ford fuel delivery modules and hanger pumps for Ford Original Equipment Service (OES) and it will bring these same parts to the independent aftermarket. Delphi plans to add more than 160 part numbers for Ford fuel modules throughout 2010, which will provide coverage for more than 80 percent of the Ford North American product lineup on 1987 to 2009 models. Also, Delphi stated it plans to introduce more than 30 new part numbers in the aftermarket in 2010 for Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Acura, GMC, Chevy, Cadillac, Pontiac and Saturn applications, including late models.
Ordonez announced enhancements for two current Delphi product lines. First, Delphi is expanding its condenser line to include 40 additional new parts by March 2010. Second, the company plans to unveil a redesigned line of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors with improved flow dynamics that produce higher-accuracy air flow measurements and better performance in extreme temperature ranges.
Delphi showed a little black box with an OBD II connection that could bring telematics to the aftermarket. The unit can connect a driver with a shop via a cellular phone connection. Delphi is currently working on the business model for shops in the aftermarket and plans to launch a pilot with key partners in the fourth quarter of 2009.
"By 2010, approximately 25 to 30 percent of all new vehicles will be equipped with some form of telematics, and the trend that all new vehicles will have a telematics system in the near future is certain," said Ordonez. “As an industry, we have to look ahead with telematics — and the time to make these decisions is now.”
In addition to the diagnostic, service and sales opportunities made available by telematics, independent repair shops could strengthen relationships with their customers to build loyalty and repeat business by knowing exactly what customers need and when they need it. Distributors could simplify inventory management and enhance relationships with their customers, Ordonez said.
Looking forward to the future, Ordonez pointed out that as Delphi continues to grow on the Original Equipment side with more lifetime contracts for new technologies like common rail diesel and hybrid vehicles, it will also help to grow the aftermarket side of the business.
