MEMA Co-Founds Industry Coalition Promoting A 'New Vision of Transportation'

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MEMA Co-Founds Industry Coalition Promoting A ‘New Vision of Transportation’

The formation of the coalition and its mission was announced last week in letters to all members of Congress and also through the first of a series of advertisements in Washington.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has joined with other automotive, high-tech and intelligent transportation industry associations in founding the “Smart Transportation Innovation Coalition” to raise awareness of a new vision of transportation.

The formation of the coalition and its mission was announced last week in letters to all members of Congress and also through the first of a series of advertisements in Washington. (Click here to see the ad.)

The groups plan to work with elected officials and regulators in Washington to ensure the nation invests in transportation research, technology and innovation in order to stay competitive in today’s global economy.

“We are asking Congress to join us as we work together to build a safer, smarter, more efficient and sustainable transportation future,” said Steve Handschuh, president and CEO of MEMA, and co-signer of the letter to Congress. “The past decade has ushered in a new era of transportation innovation, and this Congress has a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the deployment of existing and next-generation technologies.”

The “Smart Transportation Innovation Coalition” will promote the development of future technologies such as:

•Rear-end collision avoidance: The most common crash could dramatically decline with more vehicles enabled with automatic braking, helping to mitigate injuries on our roads.

•Blind-spot monitoring: More vehicles equipped with blind-spot monitoring and other driver assists could help reduce crashes and save commuters’ time spent in rush-hour congestion.

•Road-side transmitters: These transmitters could alert cars to icy conditions ahead, helping to avoid crashes and save lives.

•Internet connectivity: Connected cars can route drivers around emerging traffic jams, helping to reduce greenhouse gases and save fuel.

•More consumer repair options: Through over the air software updates and new diagnostic technology, consumers have more options for repairing their vehicles that save time and money.

•Smart cities: Drivers can find parking places from information in their cars, reducing traffic and fuel spent searching for an open spot.

•Intelligent transportation systems: Used at busy intersections, these technologies can help to reduce pedestrian injuries.

•Vehicles with self-driving functions: These vehicles will help the elderly to keep mobile – and safe.

•New forms of transportation: After seeing safer, cleaner, more efficient travel of motor vehicles, engineers and researchers from a range of industries can engage in developing innovative new technologies for transportation.

The other industry groups joining with MEMA in “Smart Transportation Innovation Coalition” are: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Association of Global Automakers, Information Technology Industry Council, Intelligent Car Coalition, Intelligent Transportation Society America and National Automobile Dealers Association.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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