Russian auto dealers receive new opportunity to share experiences

November 24, 2008 — At the beginning of October 2008 on the initiative of the Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD), an auto dealer club called the Top 25 was founded to informally unite major companies that sell and repair cars.

The main aim of the Top 25 is to promote regular information exchanges among leading auto dealers, analytical processing of data collected and strategic tracking of market trends, which should encourage increased business efficiency among club members.

Dmitry Gulin, ROAD’s president, said:

“At the first meeting of our Top 25, the major dealers showed high interest in doing this kind of work. Regular information exchange is especially vital today for our industry, which forms a significant part of the Russian economy.”

The club meetings have been attended by top managers of dealer holdings like Rolf, Major Auto, Avtomir, Business Car, Genser, Atlant-M, Inkom-Auto, Nezavisimost, Transtekhservis, SIM, Block Motors, Eurosib Auto, Mega Auto, Modus and others. The Top 25 is open for new members.

An advisor from PricewaterhouseCoopers audit and consulting network of firms will help the club organise the information exchange and carry out analytical data processing.

Stanley Root, partner and Automotive leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers, comments:

“In a rapidly developing Russian auto retail market, CEOs lack the information needed to manage business more efficiently and work out a long-term development strategy. This informal union will help its members achieve a better understanding of the industry’s challenges through the regular exchange of opinions and experience, which will ultimately promote increased market transparency and predictability.”

Information for editor:

1. The Russian Automobile Dealers Association is the only all-Russia professional union of official dealers in passenger and commercial motor vehicles. The association now includes as full members more than 60 dealers from all over Russia. The association has been around for 14 years and has done a lot to make auto retail an independent sector of the Russian economy. ROAD is a member of Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Expert Council under the Moscow Board of Transportation, and is an observing member of the European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs (CECRA).