Aiming to increase the recognition by state policymakers of the major positive economic and consumer benefits generated by automotive aftermarket parts and service industry, the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations announced that its national industry education and awareness program aimed at promoting the importance, quality, value and availability of aftermarket replacement parts and services is well under way and gaining momentum.
The ASAAA Legislator Education and Awareness Program, designed to create a blueprint whereby state associations and industry companies can implement creative industry education tools, messages and innovative resources in their own state capitols, is guided by an advisory team and coordinated by a project manager. ASAAA says the campaign has achieved a number of objectives to date and continues to build on this momentum.
“The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness among policymakers across the country about the benefits of a vibrant and robust aftermarket industry,” says Rodney Pierini, ASAAA committee chair. “Our campaign will be provided to interested state and regional associations and aftermarket companies for their use by the end of 2011.” ASAAA says the campaign is geared to help ensure consistency and fairness in the government affairs process and eliminate the misconception about the value and importance that aftermarket replacement parts and service play in the American economy.
“In state capitols nationwide, industry advocates are faced with the challenge of educating legislative bodies about the value and importance that aftermarket replacement parts and service contribute to the nation’s economy and the motoring public,” says Gary Manke, ASAAA president. “However, when describing aftermarket replacement parts and service, words like ‘imitation,’ ‘inferior’ and ‘not of like kind and quality’ are used by our opposition to confuse policymakers and discredit our industry. ASAAA’s campaign will arm our industry advocates and company executives with information to promote and protect the industry’s interests in the legislative and regulatory processes with a consistent and unified voice.”
The program, launched in January, has received financial support from ASAAA, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, AutoZone, LKQ Corp., General Parts Inc. – Carquest, Genuine Parts Co. – Napa, Advance Auto Parts, Robert Bosch Corp. and Remy Power Products.
