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Ready with a Solution Even Before the Need

Viridiana Elías - Grupo Elías Motors
Director General

STORY INLINE POST

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 13:13

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Q: How has Grupo Elías Motors developed in its distribution activities in the last year?

A: Grupo Elías Motors has enjoyed double-digit growth in both the production and commercialization segments since 2014. In 2015 the company saw 25 percent growth in distribution and sales. Our focus on manufacturing and distributing parts for the heavy vehicle segment should lead to the same growth in 2016. We aim to reach 28-30 percent by the end of the year.

Q: How do you plan to adapt your offering to heavy vehicle clients and to the owner-operator segment dominating the domestic market?

A: We are working closely with the engineering departments of our client companies and getting involved in the design process. Grupo Elías Motors’ goal is to offer integral support, which not only benefits the OEMs but also our own operations.

The owner-operator segment is extremely important in the heavy vehicle sector and it has become a priority for Grupo Elías Motors. Owner-operators use our products and recommend them to potential customers so it is crucial to communicate with them directly. As a result, our strategy includes a strong marketing approach.

Q: What challenges do you expect to face once Grupo Elías Motors begins to commercialize its own products in a consolidated market?

A: We expect to improve our manufacturing and distribution infrastructure for certain products including clamps and pulleys. The biggest hurdles are the price and the quality of a product but we have worked hard to prevent this from becoming an obstacle. We offer fair prices and Grupo Elías Motors’ core values include working with quality to make sure we do not manufacture anything we would not buy ourselves. Our marketing campaign will help us go a long way, coupled with a new e-commerce strategy from the first quarter of 2016.

Q: How has Grupo Elías Motors tackled piracy and lowquality aftermarket products?

A: Our main priority has been the development of effective sales and aftersales services. Neglecting to support a client at all times makes them more likely to change to a different brand. Even before a client identifies a need, we have to be ready to offer a solution to their predicament. We are working on strengthening our distribution network, although our goal is not to operate hundreds of distribution points. Our company wants to manage committed distributors so we train and support all of our partners.

Q: How does Grupo Elías Motors’ plan to expand the company’s presence in the international market?

A: Grupo Elías Motors is a new company, replacing what was previously known as SYDA. This new corporation will manufacture its own products, focusing on rubber products including hoses and cardans, and will gradually grow until we reach optimal capacity. In the short term, our expectations are to market 10-15 percent of our own brand during the initial phase of this project.

Our plans for the near future will include a complete strategy for Central America. Having our own brand will contribute to the successful promotion of our services in a new country. We are not prioritizing the possibility of extending operations to other regions, although we may have to expand our operations in Mexico and coordinate all international business from the capital.

Nationwide, 2016 is expected to be a complicated year for the auto parts segment. However, our vision to continue collaborating closely with our clients has fostered an environment that encourages growth. We want to associate with partners that have the same vision so we can grow together, regardless of market conditions. For the moment, we have to change erroneous ideas about the Mexican market and focus on promoting the growth and development of national manufacturers.

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