AALG sets out plans

The Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group (AALG) has presented its new lobbying position on European issues that affect the aftermarket in a post-Brexit Britain.

The event, which took place at Silverstone, began with a speech by the longest standing member of the group, Dave Garratt (GEA), where he announced that, ‘The automotive aftermarket is often overlooked, but it plays a significant role in the UK’s economy. The AALG’s job is to bring our industries associations, societies and institutes together to work for the interests of all businesses associated with the aftermarket.  Furthermore in the event of Brexit, the development of the connected car and the trend towards electric and eventually autonomous vehicles we believe there has never been a more important time to work together.’

The figureheads of each association within the AALG formed a panel to discuss current European issues affecting the aftermarket and how the group plans to lobby them, then opened the floor to questions.

Steve Nash, Institute of the Motor Industry CEO commented, ‘The AALG is a great example of the automotive industry working together for the common good. With such a sophisticated and multi-faceted business as automotive is, it is not surprising that we have a large a diverse mix of representative bodies, all of which have important roles to play in looking after the interests of their respective members.

‘But when there are important issues of mutual interest, such as the proposed changes to the first MOT test, it makes absolute sense to work together to form a larger and more powerful lobbying group with a common goal and a single voice. The AALG was formed to do exactly that.’