Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry 

 

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

Volvo Joins OEConnection's Parts and Service Web Portal

RICHFIELD, Ohio -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC has become the latest automaker to join OEConnection, LLC, the Internet-based original equipment parts and service portal. OEConnection, headquartered in Richfield, Ohio, is the new venture owned and supported by DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Bell & Howell.

By participating, collision centers and eventually independent repair facilities, fleets and other retailers will have online access to Volvo's original equipment parts through OEConnection's suite of e-commerce products. OEConnection's products aim to create a more efficient parts buying experience for wholesale parts customers and their parts-supplying Volvo retailers.

The first such product is CollisionLink(TM), which facilitates the parts specification and ordering process between dealerships and their collision shop customers. CollisionLink(TM) is currently being released nationwide on a region-by-region basis.

"Volvo is driven to deliver innovative solutions to its retailers that improve productivity and strengthen the retailers' relationships with their wholesale parts customers," said Kevin Weidinger, OEConnection Vice President, Sales and National Accounts. "Volvo's participation in this venture further strengthens OEConnection's vision to develop a common original equipment parts application for the retailer and wholesale parts buying community."

To assist its retailers in more efficiently delivering genuine Volvo parts to their wholesale parts customers, Volvo will provide OEConnection with parts, service and related technical information. Volvo's approximately 400 North American retailers can subscribe to the service, and gain opportunities to fulfill wholesale orders using genuine Volvo parts.

Phil Cabot, manager, Volvo Aftersales Business Development, commented, "CollisionLink(TM) acts as a parts highway between Volvo retailer parts departments and their collision shop customers, allowing them to increase sales and efficiency in their operations."

OEConnection was formed in December 2000 with the backing of DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM and technology partner Bell & Howell. In July, Saturn Corporation agreed to participate, adding its vehicles to existing product lines from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Plymouth in the online portal.

Editor's note: There is no new news from the still-ongoing Choiceparts lawsuit.

©2000 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT
All Rights Reserved

FEATURED
LINKS:

INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?