Consumer not yet sufficiently informed
Using your things for a long time is sustainable. Nothing better than keeping a car that has already been made running. Although… maintaining or repairing your car with parts that are already there is even more sustainable. So with used parts.
Thierry Köhler is director of Das Autohaus Köhler in Hoofddorp. He likes to position himself as an ambassador of used parts. How far does offering ‘used’ actually go? “We only install new parts such as brake pads, discs and clutches, but most other parts can easily be installed used. Consider, for example, handles, door locks and light units,” says Köhler. He likes to emphasize that these are original used parts. “As a result, there is no doubt about fit, which is not always the case with new, non-original parts.”
Together with the customer
According to Köhler, it is not just the component, but the total approach that is important. “It’s about transparency. Explain to the customer what the benefits are and what the savings are,” he says. He calculates that it could be quite large. “We recently replaced a panoramic sliding/tilting roof. New it costs 2,000 euros, used we had it for 120 euros.”
And no, he is not shooting himself in the foot by supplying such a cheap part. “We charge a healthy workshop rate, so we don’t need the margin on new parts. And our customers are happy to pay the rate.”
Köhler points out another advantage. “Used parts have virtually no delivery time. If the part is available, I will have it delivered the next day,” he says. The warranty is of course also important. “If a part does not work properly, the dismantling company simply sends a comparable copy and my customer always receives a twelve-month warranty on the repair.”
Köhler therefore has complete confidence in his approach. Why does he think that installing used parts is not more obvious? “Dealers and ex-dealers in particular are very dependent on the distribution channels of their brands and do not yet think sufficiently in terms of their own solutions.” This is different for universal car companies. “I know that more than 5,000 independent companies are happy to contribute ideas when it comes to used parts.”
More attention to used
Stefan Cabri, general secretary of the trade association for dismantling companies Stiba, sees it more nuanced. “Dealer companies are bound by contracts with manufacturers and importers. They are also allowed to use only new parts to handle warranty issues for young cars.”
Outside the dealer channel, Cabri sees a growing interest in the goods of dismantling companies. Supply problems in recent years have led to more attention for used original parts. Yes, Cabri also emphasizes that these are original parts. “Our companies really have a lot of great things on offer. This can help the automotive industry to become more circular.”
French law
This desire for a more circular, more sustainable automotive industry has existed for some time, France even enforces it legally. Since 2019, car companies have had to submit a quotation with used parts in addition to the regular quotation. Sounds good, right? Stefan Cabri is less enthusiastic about this. “I think we have to be careful with laws and regulations. We see more in stimulation. We see that only a few percent more used parts are sold in France than before, so the effect is limited.”
The trade organization knows what really makes a difference: more awareness. “We had the GfK agency conduct research and it turned out that consumers are not sufficiently aware of the possibility of having used parts installed,” says Cabri. There is another party that can make a big contribution. “We see a major role for insurers. If they actively focus on used parts during damage repair, you will really see a difference.”
Also via the wholesaler
Wholesalers, suppliers who supply car companies with usually brand new parts, are also moving towards ‘used’. The first example of this is Koskamp, active in the North, Central and East Netherlands. “On the one hand, used parts are a sustainable choice, on the other hand it offers car companies and dealers the opportunity to offer their customers an affordable alternative,” the company said. “Sometimes even the only alternative, because new electronic parts in particular have been scarce recently.”
Search for more sustainable alternatives
Can car companies get used to a wholesaler that supplies used parts? “Our customers are increasingly finding their way to used parts, and this applies to both car dealers and universal car companies,” reports Koskamp. Just like Köhler, Koskamp also stands for quality. “All parts come from a certified dismantling company, with a 12-month warranty.”
Finally, the wholesaler also anticipates increasing demand. “On the one hand, there is pressure from the government to become more sustainable, on the other hand, business parties such as leasing companies are also looking for alternatives,” says Koskamp. And there is more movement in the aftermarket. For example, the parent company of wholesaler Fource recently took over dismantling company Rhenoy. Not yet with visible results, but that could change.
Contact your garage
Adding up all the developments, the used component seems to be on the rise, perhaps one day it will even become the new normal. For the conscious used car driver, this already applies: feel free to discuss the subject with your garage mechanic. He no longer looks at you strangely.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl