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The Import Vehicle Community is accepting applications/nominations for its 2020 People and Import Product and Marketing Awards programs. Learn more about the different options by clicking on "Awards" below

Who We Are
The Import Vehicle Community is a community of the Auto Care Association that is hyper-focused on serving the needs of all businesses engaged in import nameplate products and services. Irrespective of the business' size or share of the business devoted to import nameplate products and services, the Import Vehicle Community’s benefit is unchanged.

What We Do
We develop and deliver opportunities to increase member businesses’ profitability and prospects. Correspondingly, we work to remove obstacles to member businesses’ profitability and prospects. The Import Vehicle segment is a community. We welcome you.

Benefits
Resources available to Import Vehicle Community members of the Auto Care Association include:

  • International trade education and resources.
  • Direct networking opportunities with top U.S. and global executives.
  • Member communications that keep you updated on international trade developments that impact your business.

  • Community Liaison

    Angela Chiang
    Director, International Affairs



    Import Vehicle Community Executive Leadership Council

    Chairman
    John Treece, Direct Market Access, Tabor City, NC

    Vice Chairman
    Steve Hughes, HCS International, Palos Verdes, CA

    Council Members

    • Eric Banas, NSK Americas, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI
    • Nick Bauer, FCP Euro, Milford, CT
    • Stephen Bearden, H.B. International Marketing Services, Holland, MI
    • Thomas Beer, SSF Imported Auto Parts, Inc., San Francisco, CA
    • Jeff Berman, Partslink LLC, Budd Lake, NJ
    • W. Michael Brown, Gold ‘n Brown, Alexandria, VA
    • Jon Douglas, MAHLE Aftermarket, Farmington Hills, MI
    • Dan Duneske, Robert Bosch LLC, Broadview, IL
    • Martin Gold, Gold ‘n Brown, Farmington Hills, MI
    • Julian Hentze, Global Parts Distributors, Macon, GA
    • Vinay Mamidi, CSF Cooling Experts, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
    • Robbie Riefberg, SRS Marketing Company, Inc., Plahttps://www.autocare.org/WorkArea/edit.aspxinview, NY
    • Dan Schildge, CRP Industries Inc., Cranbury, NJ
    • Fred Snow, Hella Automotive Sales, Inc., Peachtree City, GA

    Apply for the Executive Leadership Council

    The Import Vehicle Community is accepting applications for seats on the Executive Leadership Council. Applications for seats are due Aug. 31, 2020 for terms starting Jan. 1, 2021. Additional details, including eligibility and responsibilities, can be found in the application form.

    Please email the completed application to Angela Chiang to be considered for an open seat.

  • Our events are a key benefit to membership in the Import Vehicle Community allowing members to meet new business partners, and expand their automotive knowledge. Import Vehicle Community events at AAPEX continue to draw more import community members and guest participants, including our Fabulous Networking Reception and Luncheon and Awards Program.

    Upcoming Import Vehicle Community Events at AAPEX

    November 5 - 6 | The Venetian | Las Vegas, NV

    LEARN MORE

    2020 Import Vehicle Community Sponsors

    The Import Vehicle Community offers a range of sponsorship opportunities designed to fit your marketing goals and objectives. You are an integral part of our community and your presence is an indication of your commitment and support to making our events a success.

    Have another idea? We invite you to work with us to package a sponsorship opportunity to fit your organization’s needs and engage with this audience. If you would like more details or have questions, please contact Angela Chiang at angela.chiang@autocare.org.

    2020 Sponsorship Opportunities

  • The Import Vehicle Community Awards

    The Import Vehicle Community is the leader in recognizing excellence in people and products.

    The Import Vehicle Community Luncheon and Awards Program at AAPEX features the presentation of Import Vehicle Community's People Awards to men and women who have made significant contributions to the import automotive aftermarket.

    The Import Product and Marketing Awards recognizes innovative products and marketing programs designed to serve the import aftermarket.

    Import Product and Marketing Awards

    The Import Vehicle Community is accepting entries into its 2020 Import Product and Marketing Awards program and showcases at AAPEX.

    The awards program features ten categories and is an opportunitiy for all AAPEX exhibitors to gain visibility and recognition of product and marketing concepts for import nameplate cars or trucks.

    Winners are recognized during an awards presentation during AAPEX on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.

    Submit an Entry


    + View our 2019 award winners
    • Best Overall Import Aftermarket Product or Product Line
      Akebono Brake Corporation, Akebono EURO® Ultra-Premium CeramicDisc Brake Pads

    • Best New Product or Product Line for Import Cars or Trucks
      APC Automotive Technologies, GCX and GCX FC Brake Rotors

    • Best Performance Product or Accessory for Import Cars or Trucks
      ATEQ TPMS Tools, Patented Sync-ID Technology

    • Best New Tool for Repairs on Import Cars or Trucks
      Redline Detection, TotalVac®

    • Best Problem-Solver for Import Cars or Trucks
      Spectra Premium Industries, VWP36A Aluminum Oil Pan with Steel Thread Inserts

    • Best Packaging of a Product for Import Cars or Trucks
      Continental, ClearContact

    • Best Merchandising/Advertising of a Product for Import Cars or Trucks
      Continental, ClearContact

    • Best Print or Electronic Catalog of a Product Line for Import Cars or Trucks
      Standard Motor Products, Intermotor eCatalog

    • Best Electronic Media for Import Cars or Trucks
      Dayco, Dayco Catalog App

    • Best Functional Fluid for Import Cars or Trucks
      CRP Automotive, Pentosin ATF 9 Automatic Transmission Fluid

    AAPEX-2019-Product-Winners

    Import Vehicle Community People Awards

    The Import Vehicle Community is accepting nominations into its 2020 People Awards program. The awards program honors outstanding individuals in the import automotive industry whose accomplishments have significantly contributed to the import industry segment and its overall growth and progress.

    The People Awards will be presented at the Import Vehicle Community Luncheon and Awards Program during AAPEX on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020.

    Nominations are due Aug. 31, 2020.

    Submit a Nomination


    Hall of Fame

    The Import Vehicle Community Hall of Fame award is intended to honor outstanding individuals in the import automotive industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the import industry segment and its overall growth and progres. See full list of winners here.

    + View 2019 Hall of Fame Winner

    Bill Guinard Lifetime Achievement

    The Import Vehicle Community Bill Guinard Lifetime Industry Achievement award honors individuals whose outstanding performance, integrity, dignity and conscientious approach to business affairs are demonstrated as a matter of routine. Not intended to honor principals of high visibility or popularity, the Lifetime Industry Achievement award has been referenced as a means by which the “worker bees” or “people in the trenches” are credited and properly recognized. See full list of winners here.

    + View 2019 Bill Guinard Lifetime Achievement Winner

    Person of the Year

    The Person of the Year award honors an individual for his or her outstanding contributions to the industry and to the Import Vehicle Community during the past 12-month period preceding the selection of the current year’s award recipient. There shall be no more than one individual per year honored as the Person of the Year. See full list of winners here.

    + View 2019 Person of the Year Winner

    Young Executive of the Year

    The Import Vehicle Community honors this outstanding young executive in the import automotive industry for his/her dedication, enthusiasm and accomplishments. This award recognizes leadership and integrity for those executives under 40 years of age. See full list of winners here.

    + View 2019 Young Executive of the Year
  • News

    The Import Vehicle Community is the leading source for news devoted to the import aftermarket. Interested in import? Get the latest updates on Import Vehicle Community's programs and services as well as key regulatory developments, market trends and member news – all devoted to serving every segment of the import aftermarket channel.

    Matters of Import Newsletter

    June 30, 2020 - People and Product Awards, Coffee & Conversation
    June 4, 2020 - Import Vehicle Community Announces 2020 People and Product Awards Program
    May 27, 2020 - Import Vehicle Community Offers New Educational Audio Series ‘Coffee and Conversation’
    April 15, 2020 - Executive Leadership Council Discusses COVID-19 Impacts
    Mar. 25, 2020 - A Message to Our Community
    Nov. 7, 2019 - 2019 Import Vehicle Community Product and Marketing Award Winners Announced
    Nov. 6, 2019 - 2019 Import Vehicle Community People Award Winners Announced
    Oct. 15, 2019 - Import Vehicle Community’s Events at AAPEX
    July 10, 2019 - Section 301 Tariffs on Imports from China – Latest Updates
    June 19, 2019 - People and Product Awards, Sponsorship, Recap of 301 Tariffs
    May 6, 2019 - “Community Forum” Discussion at Leadership Days, Leadership 2.0 Scholarship
    Feb. 12, 2019 - Welcome to the New Year

  • Coffee and Conversation is an educational audio series brought to you by the Import Vehicle Community of the Auto Care Association. Our goal is to engage our membership by addressing the issues and challenges facing not only our members but the automotive aftermarket as a whole.

    Coffee and Conversation will feature panelists who provide their unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing our industry and subject matter experts to give an update on broader industry issues such as right to repair and brand protection against counterfeits.

    Upcoming Coffee and Conversations will be posted here and shared via e-alerts, you can subscribe here to receive notifications as soon as they are announced.

    Recordings will be made available within days of going live through the Auto Care Digital Hub:

    Coffee and Conversation 2: Consumers Transforming Aftermarket e-Commerce

    Coffee and Conversation 1: Manufacturing Shutdowns in Mexico

    We look forward to continuing this new series with other interesting and relevant topics facing our industry. If you have a topic you would like to see us address or have other feedback, please feel free to let us know using this survey or contact our community liaison Angela Chiang.

  • Leadership 2.0

    The Import Vehicle Community is awarding a full scholarship for one of its members to attend the University of the Aftermarket's 2019-2020 Leadership 2.0 Program.

    Leadership 2.0 is the industry's cornerstone educational program that fosters the development of a new generation of visionary aftermarket executives. The program is an intense and intellectually challenging two-week executive development and learning experience deeply rooted in the theoretical and practical application of automotive aftermarket leadership principles.

    The program is appropriate for any mid-level professional working in any market segment within the auto care industry.

    Graduates of the program receive 7.0 credits towards their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) designations.

    The dates for the 2019-2020 class are:

      Session I – August 11-16, 2019 (Northwood University, Midland, Mich.)
      Session II – March 15-20, 2020 (Raleigh, N.C.)

    Eligibility:

    • Applicant must be employed at an Auto Care Association and Import Vehicle Community member company in good standing.
    • Applicant must be available to attend both sessions and is responsible for own travel costs to and from both sessions.
    • Applicants are outstanding professionals who have achieved success through hard work and dedication with a minimum of two consecutive years of relevant work experience in the auto care industry.

    2019-2020 Leadership 2.0 Scholarship Recipient

    The Import Vehicle Community awarded the 2019 scholarship to Jonny Dykstra, Auto-Wares, to attend the University of the Aftermarket’s 2019-2020 Leadership 2.0 program. Read more in our press release.
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