The Italian Independent aftermarket is currently enjoying good health and closed last year with a positive sign. Apart from last year’s figures though, the whole supply chain is undergoing  a reorganization of relationships and partnerships between trading partners creating a new economic balance. According to the Polytechnic University of Turin and more specifically its research center for the automotive sector, a selection process favoring the most virtuous companies is currently taking place.
 

Starting next year, all newly registered vehicles must be equipped with an on-board  e-Call service device. A system that will significantly improve road safety (a 10% reduction in the number of road accident victims per year is hoped for), and one that aftermarket specialists would do well to become familiar with.

According to Giuseppe Barile, President of ANFIA Components Group, UK's exit from the single market will create some shock waves in the market. For Italian automotive companies this translates into 2.9 billion Euro in exports. "Knowing what will happen is still premature. Certainly, one thing to avoid is a return to the rules of the WTO, where 10% excise duty on cars and 4.5% on single components would be harmful".
 

The fear that a person other than the owner might control a car,  is pushing car manufacturers to invest in cyber security. And not just them, individual companies too, increasingly worried about having their systems “hacked” and the consequence this would have in their business are also moving in the same direction.
 

There are several hybrid systems around, and unlike popular opinions in the past, plug-in hybrid cars are losing ground to full hybrid vehicles which are gaining consistent shares of the market, despite some initial mistrust. However, these new power units are also proving to be more economical and efficient in terms of maintenance and repair.
 

Smart equipment, predictive diagnosis and self-learning software able to act independently. These are just some of the innovations to which mechatronic specialists, body shops and tire dealers will have to pay special attention to in order to capitalize on their full potential and avoid being “scrapped”.
 

Special alloys, compounds, shape-memory polymers and metamaterials. The automotive industry continues on its quest to create more efficient vehicles. Exhaust pipes capable of recovering energy from heat, self-repairing tires and chassis able to switch from rigid to flexible in case of accidents. These are some of the possible applications of new and groundbreaking materials still in the testing phase.
 

Since their appearance in the advertising and marketing fields, augmented reality and virtual reality are becoming increasingly familiar also in the automotive industry, with new applications aimed at enhancing the designing phase as well as sales and service strategies.

From obtaining a ticket and turning it into an e-business card, to travelling arrangements and accommodation as well as taking advantage of the services offered by the new App, and AutopromotecEDU events: here are some useful tips for visitors who are starting to get organized to attend the full five days of the great Bologna Trade Fair.

“Intelligent” tires thanks to cutting-edge sensors placed in the tread. Microchips able to detect the conditions of the road, the surrounding environment and to monitor pressure and temperature in order to adapt the behavior of the vehicle. These are just some of the changes that are already affecting the automotive sector and will soon become everyday reality.
 

Small-size engines favor fuel economy and lower emissions thanks to their reduced power. As the economy begins to recover, the average engine size is increasingly reduced throughout Europe with a positive impact on the overall quality of the air. Here is a list of countries where emissions are lower and the air is cleaner

Sustainability, low cost and reuse, are the pillars underpinning the development of the automotive remanufacturing sector. A market worth 7.4 billion Euro in Europe alone which, according to many analysts, is expected to grow further over the next few years. Nevertheless, a great threat to the whole sector is represented by a well known phenomena, counterfeits! Which translates into a 10 billion Euro loss each year for official EU suppliers of mechanical parts, accessories and electrical devices.