Summer Academy 2025 at AUTOHAUS: "Abundance Over Scarcity"

The 34th AUTOHAUS Summer Academy is set to take place at the Grand Tirolia Hotel Kitzbühel from September 3-5, 2025, bringing together top representatives from trade and industry to discuss the future of mobility and the automotive trade.

The conference kicked off with a panel discussion on the future orientation of the after-sales business, moderated by Imelda Labbé, President of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (VDIK). The panel featured industry veterans such as Roman Havlasek, Head of Group After Sales at Volkswagen AG, Ulf Tore Hekneby, CEO of the Norwegian Møller Group, Stefan Artz, Head of Damage Claims at Allianz AG, Denis Gortema, CEO of the D'Iteren Group, Michael Rappl (Häusler Automobile), and Frans Ditmer (fixico).

Renault Germany AG CEO Florian Kraft focused on meeting customer demands in trade, emphasizing the need for comprehensive market coverage and improving direct exchange between car dealerships and customers. Havlasek, on the other hand, spoke about the service area from a manufacturer's point of view and highlighted the importance of customer loyalty, cost optimization, productivity increase, dealer network optimization, and adapting offers to different customer groups.

Stefan Artz, from Allianz AG, discussed the after-sales sector from an insurance perspective and emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the trade and insurers to fully exploit potential on both sides. Ulf Tore Hekneby brought a new perspective to the after-sales business, discussing the decline in the service business in Norway due to improving EV technology and measures taken to counter this, including increasing customer loyalty.

Jürgen Stackmann, Director of the Future Mobility Lab at the University of St. Gallen, highlighted the strategic challenges and levers manufacturers are facing. Among the challenges, Stackmann mentioned the lack of a strategic plan for the European industrial location, the establishment of new successful business models, and the numerous new Chinese players on the market.

Achim Schaible, Chairman and Spokesman of the Management Board of Volkswagen Germany, presented the omnichannel sales approach as a crucial factor in their current sales policy. The used car business has experienced a boom since Corona, and some households will no longer be able to afford new cars in the future. Schaible also highlighted the need for a reduction in running costs to ensure the future success of the trade.

The AUTOHAUS Summer Academy 2025 was led by Imelda Labbé, Jürgen Stackmann, and AUTOHAUS editor-in-chief Ralph Meunzel, and was supported by APP Auto Care Partner, Autosecure, Bezahl.de, Dataforce, Faaren, Meneks, and Porsche Consulting.

Imelda Labbé also presented key performance indicators (KPIs) for the after-sales business: revenue per service visit, service contacts per vehicle in stock, and workshop efficiency. Erik Meems, owner and managing director of Century Autogroep, provided insights into the Dutch vehicle market and the development of his trading group.

The search results do not provide specific information about which companies will be represented at the AUTOHAUS Summer Academy 2025 at the Grand Tirolia Hotel in Kitzbühel. However, attendees can look forward to a stimulating and insightful discussion on the future of the automotive industry.