Welcome back to PSA and welcome to Allianz Vers. AG

We are very pleased to welcome these two new members and hope to be able to introduce them to you at one of our forthcoming meetings.

ICDP Spring Meeting, Frankfurt, 12th-13th March
Preparing for 2010 and beyond

Seventy delegates from across the industry met recently in Frankfurt for the ICDP Spring Meeting. With the theme of 'Preparing for 2010 and beyond', the forthcoming DG-Competition review of the Block Exemption 1400/02 was a major focus of attention; ICDP gave its predictions as to the likely contents of the study, guest speaker Josef Frank, Aftermarket Director of CLEPA gave the perspective of the original equipment parts producers, and delegates were able to discuss the implications of the thinking emerging from Brussels on the future shape of franchise networks. Separate presentations looked at the development of dealer groups in Russia, at comparisons between the car industry and distribution in the pharmaceutical sector, and at the results of ICDP's recent focus group research looking at consumer expectations of franchised and independent service and repair. During the evening before the main session, we also held two round table workshops, giving delegates the opportunity to explore and debate issues surrounding crash repair and related spare parts issues, and also different approaches to developing and maintaining franchise networks.