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OEConnection and Snap-On Business Solutions Unveil New Automotive Parts Sales Solution

Posted on: Saturday, 24 January 2009, 09:45 CST

RepairLink with MORE(TM) bridges the parts sales gap between franchised dealerships and independent repair facilities

RICHFIELD, Ohio, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap-on Business Solutions Inc. and OEConnection LLC today revealed a collaborative solution designed to help franchised automotive dealerships sell mechanical replacement parts to independent repair facilities. The integrated solutions, RepairLink with MORE, will drastically simplify the process through which independent repair shops find, order, and receive replacement automotive parts from original equipment dealers in the U.S.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030515/OECONNLOGO)

"To say that this solution comes at a critical time for the automotive industry would be an understatement," says Mary Beth Siddons, President of Snap-on Business Solutions. "We at Snap-on and OEConnection are committed to and beyond excited by this opportunity to provide our partners in the automotive dealership space with the innovative, unprecedented tools they need to be able to sell more parts."

RepairLink with MORE (Mechanical Original Replacement Equipment) is a single-source online sales channel through which independent repair facilities will be able to order genuine automotive parts from franchised dealerships for every vehicle they service. No such unified sales channel for original automotive parts exists today.

Charles Rotuno, President and Chief Executive Officer of OEConnection, says, "The automotive OE replacement parts industry faces increasingly tougher competition with aftermarket parts. The combination of RepairLink with MORE will help auto manufacturers and dealerships grow their parts businesses by dramatically enhancing the customer experience."

Snap-on and OEConnection are uniquely positioned to offer this enhanced ordering capability, with tremendously complementary products, customers, and technologies. In the U.S., OEConnection and Snap-on Business Solutions serve a combined footprint of over 15,000 franchised automotive dealerships. In addition, Snap-on enjoys exceptional brand recognition in the independent repair community, and provides nearly half of the independent repair shops in the U.S. with service estimate and business management solutions through its Mitchell 1 business unit.

RepairLink with MORE addresses some of the key factors that drive independent shops' decisions about where they source parts. The solution gives independent shops immediate access to current part pricing and availability through a robust, convenient e-commerce storefront. This service provides OEM quality parts data, including VIN filtering and technical illustrations, for every part they service. It also automates the ordering process and provides instant delivery updates.

By addressing the key factors of pricing, availability, ease of ordering, and delivery, RepairLink with MORE will immediately increase the capability of dealers to compete with aftermarket parts suppliers in the independent repair segment.

"RepairLink with MORE will make it much easier for independent shops to buy quality original parts," says Ken Satz, Product Manager for Snap-on Business Solutions. "Right now, those shops only get about 20 percent of their parts from original equipment dealers. By eliminating the hassle of ordering by phone and by putting part availability right at the fingertips of independent shops, both they and their customers are certain to benefit."

Mark Tomasetti, OEConnection's Vice President and General Manager for Collision and Mechanical Solutions added, "RepairLink with MORE is the kind of solution that can only come about when specific technological specializations are merged together. Integrating our own online electronic parts commerce technologies with the unique data reach and catalog creation expertise of our partners at Snap-on creates an unparalleled opportunity for automotive dealerships to sell more OE parts, streamline processes, increase profits, and improve customer service even in these challenging economic climates."

NADA 2009 marks the public revealing of RepairLink with MORE by Snap-on and OEConnection. Plans are in place to begin rolling the service out in select markets in May 2009.

About OEConnection LLC

OEConnection is the leading Online Parts and Service Exchange (OPSX) in the automotive industry, serving over 17,000 dealerships, collision repair shops, fleets, tire distributors and automakers. Customers use OEConnection products nearly 5 million times each month to market, manage and purchase original equipment parts, facilitating an estimated $12 billion in annual replacement parts trade. Headquartered in the greater Cleveland area, OEConnection is a joint venture created by Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Snap-on Business Solutions.

About Snap-on Business Solutions

Snap-on Business Solutions, a division of Snap-on Incorporated based in Richfield, Ohio, is primarily engaged in the delivery of market-specific warranty solutions and comprehensive parts, accessories, and service information -- in electronic form -- to the automotive, power equipment, and powersports manufacturing markets. Its CD and Internet based products transform complex technical data, like parts and accessories catalogs and service manuals, warranty claims and registrations into easily accessed electronic information. Snap-on's innovative approach to integrated solutions helps to increase productivity and drive sales for original equipment manufacturers, their suppliers and their dealership networks.

About Snap-on

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostics, equipment, software and service solutions for professional users. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as customers in industry, government, agriculture, aviation and natural resources. Products and services are sold through the company's franchisee, company- direct, distributor and Internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2.8 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

SOURCE OEConnection LLC; Snap-on Business Solutions Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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