Auto Care Association Hosts Business Development Trade Mission and Technology Standards Seminar in Colombia

BETHESDA, Md. – June 19, 2019 – The Auto Care Association hosted a delegation of automotive aftermarket companies on a trade mission to Bogota, Colombia, June 5-6 to develop and expand business opportunities in the market. Through a partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombia (AmCham), the delegation participated in business-to-business meetings with potential clients matched to each company’s products and specific business objectives.

Participants in the trade mission also attended an industry briefing, networking reception and had the opportunity to visit Expopartes, the largest Colombian automotive parts fair organized by Asopartes. The Auto Care Association has hosted several trade missions over the past few years to key Latin American markets as part of its ongoing trade promotion initiative to support companies interested in increasing exports to new and existing international markets.

“The high level of engagement from the Auto Care team and AmCham Colombia before and during the trade mission far surpassed our expectations,” said Luis Perez Morales, senior manager, international sales and operations, Interstate Batteries. “They were able to secure in-person meetings with top-notch customers that will lead to the distribution of our products. It would have taken us multiple phone calls, trips to the country and thousands of dollars to engage with customers, all without having the required inside knowledge that the team brought to the table.”

“The Trade Mission to Colombia was a good opportunity for companies that are new to the market to start an initial market evaluation and developing relationships with prospects,” said Alex Maskalik, vice president, strategy and business development, Rostar Filters. “It was a well-organized event by people that care.”

The Auto Care Association also hosted a technology standards seminar during the trade mission, the second such event in Colombia and fifth in a series of technology seminars throughout Latin America. The seminar addressed the existing trade barrier in these markets by standardizing parts classification and vehicle attributes. The seminar featured a conference attended by local auto care industry executives and Expopartes show attendees.

Evaristo García, Integrate Data Facts (IDF), a strategic partner of the association, presented on standards development with Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES). The association also attended meetings with key industry stakeholders to identify strategic partners for the development and implementation of standards in the Colombian market.

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s international initiatives and activities,  contact Carolina Arregoces at carolina.arregoces@autocare.org.