The Chinese aftermarket's rapid expansion has led to a collaboration between the China Aftermarket Forum (CAF) of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and TecDoc, a European electronic parts cataloging provider. The partnership, which began in early 2007, will result in the development of an electronic parts cataloging system for China's aftermarket. "The Chinese Aftermarket is one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world — for most repair categories there is a forecast of an annual growth of 18-20 percent," says Chris Gardner, AASA's vice president and group executive of the CAF. "In the near future, service professionals will have to repair a tremendous number of new and technically more advanced cars. The catalog will be an invaluable service to CAF members and their customers." Alex Ashmore, director, aftermarket Asia Pacific, TRW, and CAF member, adds: "The TecDoc China DVD will play a decisive role in the rapidly growing Chinese aftermarket to establish structures, from which all market participants will profit. It offers the ideal information platform to cater to the ever growing vehicle diversity and complexity and the ever increasing repair standard."/p> TecDoc has built a base for an electronic parts catalog for the Asian and Pacific region by integrating standardized vehicle tables with the most relevant Asian vehicles, especially Chinese vehicle models. Automotive parts manufacturers now can link their repair parts to Chinese vehicle models. The electronic car parts catalog is available in Chinese and will be updated quarterly. The first data entry training was held in Shanghai and was attended by TRW, Hella, Tenneco, SKF and Federal Mogul. TecDoc and CAF have agreed to use members' routes to market and distribute the catalog to trade and garages. TecDoc has established a base of operations in Shanghai headed by Dirk Hillebrand, and currently is building its technical support capabilities. Established in 2005, the AASA China Aftermarket Forum provides AASA members who manage China aftermarket operations opportunities to meet and discuss industry issues and solutions, share best practices and network among peers. For more information about the forum, visit AASA's Web site.
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