Aegean Automotive Association (EGOD) held the last Board meeting of the year, with the previous term presidents, Bornova Mayor Dr. Mustafa İduğ and one of the Founders of EGOD, Deputy Mayor of Bornova Hüseyin Ünal. At the meeting held at Boğaziçi Restaurant hosted by Board Member Ertuğ Akkalay, the work of 2022 was evaluated and the future of the automotive industry was discussed. At the end of the meeting, while the New Year's cake was cut, the members shared their good wishes for the New Year with each other. At the meeting, EDUKAS İzmir Office Manager Ece Akkalay made a short presentation to the members about university education opportunities in England and Ireland.
Jetsons era
Expressing that they both informed about the activities of their associations and talked about the situation and future of the sector at the last board meeting of 2022, EGOD Chairman of the Board Mehmet Torun stated that the sector is developing very rapidly and said, “The period in the automotive industry in the jet family cartoon we watched in our childhood is coming. A rapid change awaits us. Unfortunately, those who cannot transform themselves in this process do not have a chance to survive.”
Spare parts and service should keep up with the times
Stating that the automotive industry has a history of 120 years, but with the rapid development in recent years, Torun said, “This year, compared to last year, electric vehicles that go in the air, can take off vertically, can take off vertically, driverless and talk to each other will enter our lives soon. Vehicle sales tripled. Within the framework of the EU Green Deal, a zero carbon target by 3 has been set. Generation Z brought the concept of shared vehicles to the agenda. Instead of paying a car loan for years, it is moving towards a period where the car can be accessed at any time. 2045 percent of the models in 2033 do not have a steering wheel and a driver's cockpit. Electric vehicles will not need service. Cars will be sold online instead of dealers. Mercedes has decided to close its dealers in Turkey in 79. While there are 2023 thousand parts in current vehicles, this number drops to 12 thousand in electric vehicles. There will be no need for services other than the brake system and lighting system. For this reason, companies in the sector regarding spare parts and service need to keep up with the times. Otherwise, they have no chance of surviving,” he said.
“We have to transform ourselves”
Bornova Mayor Dr. Mustafa İduğ, on the other hand, emphasized that in the last 1 year, items such as energy, fuel, personnel and rental expenses have increased by 5 times, but the revenues have not increased at the same level, and emphasized that the competition in every sector is getting tougher. Pointing out that there is a period of snow compression, İduğ said, “It is not possible to save after this. Everyone needs to use their money properly. Business people should increase company assets by adding capital to their companies and increase the rate of collateral in banks. After that, capital increase and company mergers are inevitable. In 2005, when I was the EGOD President, I said that the investment in automobile plazas and luxury gas stations was wrong. At this point, the rapid change has shown that they are not needed and investments have become idle. Only the brake system, suspension and lighting products can be changed in new types of vehicles. All sector companies have to transform themselves according to this change, otherwise we may all have to invest in another sector.”
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