The Road Ahead - On Your Behalf - March 2023

Welcome to the new MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers quarterly newsletter, The Road Ahead. This publication will provide timely and relevant content on MEMA Aftermarket insights, programming and industry updates.

Among many interesting insights and opportunities for our members, I’d be remiss if I didn’t lead with our most important initiative: passing federal legislation to ensure consumers right to choose where and with what parts their vehicle is serviced. We took a big step forward on February 10 with the bipartisan reintroduction of the REPAIR Act (H.R. 906).

My colleague Ann Wilson said it best during a press conference at AAPEX: “Now is our best chance [to get this legislation passed.” The experts are telling us that 2023 and 2024 are the window of opportunity to secure Right to Repair for the aftermarket. So, we need to act now, and act strongly, to ride the wave of support and affirmation for consumer choice and the future of the aftermarket.

I urge you to support our industry-wide efforts. Here are three ways to start:

• Send a form letter to your representative urging them to co-sponsor the REPAIR Act
• Host a member of Congress at your facility.

Work with us to activate an awareness campaign with your employees. We will continue to keep you informed on progress and milestones in the fight for consumer choice and a free market.

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Earlier this year, we unveiled MEMA’s new membership strategy and modernized brand. Previously, to access all the aftermarket value offered by MEMA, you had to join three times: AASA, MERA and HDMA. Now, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers unites all of us suppliers who keep vehicles running safely across the vehicle lifecycle. There is a separate group — MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers — for suppliers to vehicle assembly lines.

So, what does this mean for us in the aftermarket supplier community? First, we have been representing the aftermarket and aftermarket suppliers for 119 years and we are proud to continue and enhance this tradition. Second, this simplification means that you can more easily access all our aftermarket content across the automotive, heavy duty, and remanufacturing aftermarket in just one membership. This also gives us an even more powerful supplier voice to advocate and fight for what matters for aftermarket suppliers.

As part of the new MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, members have access to more programming and industry thought leadership and insights, including powerful content focused on the remanufacturing and heavy-duty commercial vehicle aftermarket. It also allows us to focus more resources on common challenges that suppliers must address such as EVs, vehicle automation, and connectivity — and for that matter, issues like workforce, DEI, and sustainability, where the challenges, the education, and the advocacy are increasingly common across manufacturers in the aftermarket. This strategy opens up a new world of resources and networking, in addition to the benefits you already have from your membership.

MEMA Chairman and Gold Eagle CEO Marc Blackman may have said it best during the press conference announcing these changes last month:

"Gold Eagle was really focused on the automotive aftermarket side at AASA. We now have the exposure and understanding of all the different issues that are coming about with the heavy-duty side, with the remanufacturing side, and all those communities."

Enjoy the video below to learn more about how MEMA supports the vehicle supplier industry.  We are sure you will enjoy enhanced member ROI from MEMA Aftermarket’s simplified structure, which gives you access to more value, more easily.

As always, please contact me directly if I can be of assistance as we build for the future and the road ahead.

Sincerely,

Paul McCarthy
President & CEO
MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers