The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association has announced the formation of a new automotive aftermarket suppliers group in order to better focus on the aftermarket business needs of its members.

The new group - the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association - will focus on serving and representing the needs of automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers.
Paul Foley, MEMA's vice president of aftermarket services and membership development, will lead this initiative. According to Foley, the direction of the new association will be determined by a board of governors that consists of aftermarket industry leaders.
"AASA will strive to provide solutions to help our members be more profitable, and focus our efforts on issues that impair its members' opportunities to improve their bottom lines - excess inventory, industry image, inefficient returns policies, e-commerce, deteriorating margins and many other key concerns," Foley said.
Foley added that AASA will focus its efforts exclusively on aftermarket parts manufacturers and provide them new and enhanced services and programs including: representation before legislators and regulators, strategic market research, international business support, valuable networking opportunities and the latest industry news and insight.
According to Christopher Bates, MEMA president and CEO, the new automotive aftermarket suppliers group complements MEMA's other market segment organizations - the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Assn.
"Our member companies can now know exactly who to turn to within MEMA for insight and expertise on their given business question," Bates explained. "We've simply segmented our associations to better serve our aftermarket, original equipment and heavy duty parts manufacturer members. We encourage all of our members to experience all MEMA offers and to actively participate in helping shape the future of our industry."
More information about AASA is at www.aftermarketsuppliers.org.
Founded in 1904, MEMA exclusively represents and serves manufacturers of motor vehicle components, tools and equipment, automotive chemicals and related products used in the production, repair, and maintenance of all classes of motor vehicles. For more information, visit www.mema.org.