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import vehicle community

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. 

  • Committee 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
    • Martin Gold, Gold ‘n Brown, Farmington Hills, MI
    • Julian Hentze, Global Parts Distributors, Macon, GA
    • Vinay Mamidi, CSF Cooling Experts, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
    • 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, 2019 for terms starting Jan. 1, 2020. 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.

    We would like to thank all 2019 Import Vehicle Community Events at AAPEX sponsors.

    If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Angela Chiang at angela.chiang@autocare.org.

    Upcoming Import Vehicle Community Events at AAPEX

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

    LEARN MORE

     

  • 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 Product and Marketing Awards Program is open to all AAPEX exhibitors and provides awards in ten categories. All entries are displayed in our showcases at AAPEX.

    Submit an Entry

     

    + View our 2018 award winners
    • Best Overall Import Aftermarket Product or Product Line 
      KYB Americas Corp., KYB Strut-Plus 

    • Best New Product or Product Line for Import Cars or Trucks 
      BATTSCAN was Developed by QTS, brought to market by FutureTech Auto, and distributed by DC Battery Hub, BATTSCAN 

    • Best Performance Product or Accessory for Import Cars or Trucks 
      CRP Automotive, REIN Aluminum Water Pump Pulley & Belt Kit 

    • Best New Tool for Repairs on Import Cars or Trucks 
      Nissens North America, Compressor Oil Visual Diagnostic Tool 

    • Best Problem-Solver for Import Cars or Trucks 
      Lumileds, Philips X-treme Ultinon LED Headlights 

    • Best Packaging of a Product for Import Cars or Trucks 
      Sensen Shocks & Struts by DMA Sales, LLC, ATLAS LIFT by DMA Offers Modern Sleek "Retail Ready" Packaging 

    • Best Merchandising/Advertising of a Product for Import Cars or Trucks 
      Akebono Brake Corporation, People of Akebono Advertising Campaign 

    • Best Print or Electronic Catalog of a Product Line for Import Cars or Trucks 
      Centric Parts, 2019 Brake Systems Import and Domestic Catalog 

    • Best Electronic Media for Import Cars or Trucks 
      PartsTech Inc.,  www.PartsTech.com 
    • Best Functional Fluid for Import Cars or Trucks 
      AISIN World Corp. of AmericaAISIN ATF-NS3

    AAPEX-2018-Product-Winners

    Import Vehicle Community People Awards

    Each year the Import Vehicle Community Luncheon and Awards Program at AAPEX features the presentation of the Import Vehicle Community People Awards to men and women who have made significant contributions to the import auto care industry.

    Nominations are CLOSED for 2019.

    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 2018 Hall of Fame Winner

    Lifetime Achievement

    The Import Vehicle Community 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 2018 Lifetime Achievement Winners

    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 2018 Person of the Year Winners

    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 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.

    We want to hear from you. Have thoughts on the issues below? Have a trade-related problem affecting your company’s ability to do business?

    Matters of Import

    Oct. 15, 2019 - Import Vehicle Community’s Events at AAPEX
    Sept. 11, 2019 - Ocean Shipping Webinar, Last Call for AAPEX Events Sponsorship
    July 10, 2019 - Section 301 Tariff Updates, People Awards Deadline Approaching
    June 19, 2019 - Recognize Excellence: People and Product Awards!
    May 6, 2019 - “Community Forum” Discussion at Leadership Days, Leadership 2.0 Scholarship
    Feb. 12, 2018 - Welcome to the New Year
    Nov. 20, 2018 - Congratulations to 2018 People and Product Award Winners  

    Please contact Angela Chiang at  angela.chiang@autocare.org with any questions, comments or suggestions for future summary topics.

     

  • 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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