Rights concerning a car’s digital content and the new quality standard for certifying workshops, Godkänd Bilverkstad. These are major talking points for the industry ahead of the 2020 edition of Automässan. But there are revolutionary technical and commercial megatrends just around the corner, and with them, paradigm shifts that are expected to disrupt the entire vehicle sector. It is high time to future-proof your workshop!

Cars and motorised transport are facing major upheavals with new technology: electric cars, autonomous and connected vehicles, and completely new business models. So-called megatrends they may be, but they will not pass the service market unnoticed. Many automotive manufacturers are prioritising IT and electronics fairs ahead of automotive shows, but this is a wake-up call to the services sector.
“The service market will not be left behind; on the contrary it will be at the centre of new technology and especially when new business models such as car sharing services and new forms of ownership appear. We are already seeing this in the way that electric cars and battery technology are discussed from a workshop perspective,” says Gilbert Fransson, FVU.
This is about acquiring the knowledge needed to future-proof his workshop and, not least, his staff, says Fransson. For this reason, as an automotive workshop and service provider, you should already make Automässan in Gothenburg on 15-18 January a date in your diary. As a visitor you will discover new technology and have the opportunity to participate in some very interesting seminars.
Christer Liljenberg of the Swedish Automobile Manufacturers Association, SBF, also wants to raise the issues of free mobility and the requirement for sustainable transport systems, both important topics for the future.
“There are large and revolutionary forces in motion, with vehicle manufacturers and consumers on the one hand, and legislators and new market entrants on the other, redrawing the roadmap of this otherwise mature industry,” he says.
“Electrification and digitalization as well as new forms of ownership. These are the essential components of the megatrends and the paradigm shifts that will drive the future. Automässan is the largest and most important trade show and meeting place for the automotive industry in northern Europe. By visiting the event you will find out the latest news and developments, enabling you to build your future competitiveness,” continues Christer Liljenberg.
“We are talking about a completely different servicing requirement when there are generally fewer mechanical parts in vehicle transmissions. With regard to bodywork, new materials are also being used in ordinary passenger cars. New ownership forms and the new customer requirements that come with them will also affect players in the automotive servicing sector,” Christer Liljenberg concludes. Among other things, Liljenberg is the only Swede on the EU’s future commission for the automotive and mobility sector, GEAR 2030.
“Not only are we facing a technological paradigm shift, but individuals are also affected given that we will need new employees with completely new competencies in electricity, digital and new body materials,” adds Gilbert Fransson. He highlights the industry’s human resources and skills needs, stating that the industry is capable of attracting new employees who want to work with vehicle technology in the future.