Driving a car in Sweden is a clean affair. There is a boom in so-called clean-fuel cars, which operate using the alternative fuel E85. This consists of 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol and limits CO2 emissions to a maximum of 120 g CO2per kilometre travelled. In addition, the Swedes are encouraged by their government with a grant of 10,000 crowns to purchase clean-fuel cars and then avoid paying parking charges and city tolls. Nevertheless, Sweden has the fifth oldest motor vehicle stock in Western Europe. Almost 38% of the total of 4.38 million registered vehicles are older than 10 years. Ideal conditions for motor vehicle maintenance and repair? MAHLE Aftermarket news was speaking with Marcus Larsson, responsible for market and logistics at Mekonomen. The leading chain for motor vehicle spare parts in Scandinavia comprises a number of wholesale dealers, 200 retail businesses as well as more than 1,100 affiliated workshop businesses.
 | Successful customer orientation put into practise: Marcus Larsson, Director Market & Supply Chain of the Swedish workshop chain Mekonomen. |
MAHLE Aftermarket news: Mr. Larsson, what is the current situation in the Swedish motor vehicle components market?
Marcus Larsson: The strong sales phase in the past combined with the effects of the worldwide crisis have also here led to stagnation in the market. However, the development of Mekonomen defies the current situation: in the first half-year of 2009, we could increase the sales revenue by 17 % compared to the previous year.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: What do you do differently from other businesses?
Marcus Larsson: Our name stands for innovation, expert knowledge, complete solutions, top quality and an outstanding priceperformance ratio – and it is our aim to become the contact partner of first choice.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: Your maxim is to make life easier for the motorist. What does this mean specifically?
Marcus Larsson: For instance, we have set completely new standards in customer services – with 60 Medium/Mega shops in the meantime. The shops are located in areas that are easily accessible – and they are open into the late hours of the evening, the affiliated workshops are even open at weekends. And with Mekonomen Direkt, the customers have access via telephone to a multitude of services and for instance, can book an inspection for a car, buy a roof box and lots of other things – open 24 hours, 7 days a week. This concept is so successful that we are extending it currently to other Scandinavian countries.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: This sounds like top performance in logistics.
Marcus Larsson: Well, in our central warehouse in Strängnäs, 65,000 articles for more than 5,000 vehicle models can be accessed. Thanks to cooperation arrangements with contract suppliers, who deliver directly to the affiliated shops, we have access to another 400,000 products. Meanwhile, we work in two shifts from early morning into the late night. This allows us to concentrate on customer orders during the day and to restock the warehouse and ship goods during the night. The enormous inflow and outflow of goods does, of course, require that we can absolutely rely on our suppliers. This is also one of the reasons for our intense cooperation with MAHLE.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: Mekonomen also serves business customers.
Marcus Larsson: For about one and a half years, Mekonomen has been offering a fleet concept with uniform pricing regardless of location and with central invoicing – and of course, our always ready and easily accessible workshops. This has allowed us to gain a strong position in a market that was more or less controlled by franchised dealers: thanks to 26 fleet contracts, we look after a total of 62,000 vehicles.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: And what is your position with regard to franchised dealers?
Marcus Larsson: The brand Mekonomen has a customer awareness rate of 99% in Sweden. This fact, in connection with a convincing concept, has made it possible for us to cooperate with all vehicle brands that are represented in Sweden. Due to the financial crisis, many branded car dealers have extended their services to include other car marques – most of them under the brand Mekonomen in the meantime. Incidentally, one of our new partners is Svenska Bil – the worldwide largest reseller for Saab. He has decided in favour of the Mekonomen Mega concept – and has closed the majority of the Svenska Bil branches in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: In other words, Mekonomen stands for expertise in the motor vehicle components business throughout all trade levels. Where can you still see development potentials?
Marcus Larsson: Well, thanks to our own product line and in connection with our outstanding reputation for excellent original spare parts from leading manufacturers – as for instance MAHLE – Mekonomen is now prepared to win an even larger market share in Scandinavia.
MAHLE Aftermarket news: We wish you the best of success with your business – and thank you for the conversation.