Carwood Deputy Managing Director, Simon Quantrell, explains why you can have it all, with a mix of OE brands and its own OE-approved solutions, all from one supplier, as a result of its strategy rethink.
Carwood and remanufacturing go hand-in-hand. We have been returning used parts to VMs’ original specifications for over 50 years – long before it became the growth industry that it is today. Given the demand for increasingly affordable and sustainable parts, it will continue to do so; remanufacturing will always be the mainstay of Carwood’s business.
Over the past 12 months and after a strategy rethink, however, we have taken on the distribution for a growing list of OE brands too: Bosch fuel systems, Garrett and Mitsubishi turbochargers, on top of our existing relationship with BorgWarner and Carbon Zapp diagnostic and test equipment – but why the shift in strategy?
Changing market dynamics and consumer preferences
The aftermarket is in a period of unprecedented change: emerging vehicle technologies, ever stricter regulations and a proliferation of new vehicle models are transforming the industry – and quickly. At the same time, there has been an accelerated shift to more cost and eco-conscious solutions, brought on by a global pandemic, war and a cost-of-living and climate crisis. In isolation these are big changes. Together, they are massive. The aftermarket, Carwood included, needs to respond.
And we have! To ensure customers have access to the products and services they need to support both an increasingly diverse, complex and ageing vehicle parc, and more discerning consumers, we have had to rethink our strategy. Whilst remanufacturing will remain our core business, we have also introduced a full range of solutions for fuel pumps, injectors and turbochargers from OE brands.
With OE new and exchange units, OE spare parts for local repair, plus our own OE-approved reman range, you can offer your customers a choice of competitively priced solutions, without compromising on the quality of the product or the service either party offers – and it’s all available from one supplier.
Now more than ever, aftermarket companies need access to a broad range of high-tech parts, for an even broader range of vehicles, new and old. We also recognise that the owner of that vehicle may have different service and repair needs, based on their individual circumstances, and the type, age and value of the vehicle. Take the manager of a fleet of hybrid delivery vehicles, or a farmer mid-harvest, they’ll have very different requirements to the owner of a high-performance car with a 3.5l twin-turbo V6 engine to that of a 13-year old vehicle, nearing the end of its lifetime. So, it’s important that you’re able to offer more than one kind of solution too. This is what drove our decision making during the strategy rethink.
For new vehicles, for example, under our revised strategy we now offer a full range of new Bosch diesel and petrol fuel pumps and injectors and Garrett, BorgWarner and Mitsubishi turbochargers. With 100% coverage from start of vehicle production – often the only solution during warranty – you can access the parts sooner!
Within two or three years of vehicle launch, a remanufactured unit will likely be a more viable solution. Whether it’s an OE exchange, or one of our own OE-approved remanufactured units, by reusing the core, it is a much more cost and environmentally-friendly option. Typically, Carwood units are at least 25% cheaper than new OE.
For a more economical repair for older diesel vehicles, where maintenance costs are often disproportionately high compared to their value, we also offer a range of Bosch OE spare parts for local repair. By only replacing components which are out of specification, this is often the most economical solution, but is subject to a lead-time.
Most recently we have been appointed as the distributor for Carbon Zapp. With a full portfolio of test and diagnostic equipment for all makes of petrol and diesel systems, workshops can quickly and accurately diagnose, test and repair current and future fuel systems, helping to save time and money, whilst still delivering a quality repair.
