Terry Fortner, vice president of industry relations and marketing development at LKQ Corp., recently fielded a series of questions about the issue and what the industry can expect going forward.
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What do you anticipate in terms of availability of Suzuki collision repair parts (especially body components) in the wake of Suzuki no longer selling new vehicles in the U.S.?
LKQ plans to increase our inventory of Suzuki parts, in anticipation of a likely increase in demand for aftermarket and salvage parts. We have done this before when other manufacturers, such as Daewoo and Saab, have pulled out of the US market.
What do you anticipate in terms of availability of Suzuki mechanical repair parts?
LKQ’s salvage businesses have always carried an inventory of Suzuki mechanical parts, and will continue to do so going forward. Similar to crash parts, we plan to increase our inventory of Suzuki mechanical parts.
Will parts continue to be shipped in from Japan? Or perhaps Canada?
Perhaps, but very minimal.
Or are most of your Suzuki parts aftermarket rather OEM? If that's the case, do you anticipate that your suppliers will continue to produce these?
Actually both exist, aftermarket and recycled OE. For any Suzuki item currently being produced, our manufactures will continue production until demand no longer exists.
Some dealerships will be shutting down, while others will shift to parts and repair centers only; will this create shifts in parts distribution to aftermarket shops?
It is likely that demand for aftermarket and salvage parts will be increasing, and LKQ plans to be ready to meet the needs of the marketplace.
Will there be any changes in LKQ's distribution chain for Suzuki parts?
We do not anticipate any significant changes.
For more information, visit www.lkqcorp.com.
