OREANDA-NEWS.  In Moscow, on 15-16 April 2015, the Third Convention of Russian car dealers was held. The main industry forum of dealers attracted a record number of participants - more than 650 people, including car dealers, car makers, government representatives, suppliers of equipment and materials, banks, insurance companies, and journalists. The Convention included more than 20 events.

In the opening session of the Convention we head speeches made by Alexander Morozov (Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation), Bo Andersson (AvtoVAZ), Vladimir Mozhenkov (President of ROAD), Joerg Schreiber (AEB), Albert Gallegos (Association of Automobile Dealers USA), Alexander Truhan (Neft - Lubricants) . The main focus of the General Session was given by speakers to the current moment of the market and its prospects. In particular, a representative of Ministry of Industry and Trade announced forecast for 2015. Under the pessimistic scenario, by the end of the year in Russia it will be sold 1.3 million cars, according to the optimistic, which is based on measures of state support - 1,980 million cars.

Forecasts of leading industry research agencies were represented at the round table "Analyst battle”. According to forecasts of PwC, it will be sold in Russia from 1,520 million to 1 million 750 thousand units (Data presentation by Sergey Litvinenko). Sergey Tselikov (the agency "AUTOSTAT") believes that in case of the best scenario the market will come in 2015 to 1,640 million mark and the shock scenario involves the sale of 1,170 million units. Forecast of EY, presented by Andrew Tomyshev - at least 1.5 million cars, maximum - 2 million.

Great interest was aroused by delegates at panel discussion with representatives of federal and regional holdings. Vladimir Mozhenkov ("AvtoSpetsTsentr"), Tatiana Lukovetskaya ("Rolf"), Andrey Blokhin (Genser), Vyacheslav Zubarev ("TransTechService"), Natalia Zhdanov ("CLA Motors"), Oleg Moseev ("Block Roscoe") shared the current position of affairs in their companies and the most acute problems, which include an overall negative economic background and financial instability, inability to even medium-term planning, a strict policy of individual automakers on a number of issues, the growth of the tax burden. In the current environment Vladimir Mozhenkov called on all parties of the Convention to more unite around ROAD. "We have to live with the slogan - one for all and all for one!" - said the head of the Association.

It is in line with the idea of consolidation of dealers around ROAD we must consider two held Round Tables under the Convention - Round table of dealers SsangYong and roundtable of dealers GM, to which there were invited Russian and foreign law companies. Dealers of brands discussed joint action plans and identified priorities for communication policy with the offices. These two roundtables were attended by representatives of more than 60 dealerships - from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Association ROAD assumed the role of coordinator and protector of dealers of Korean and American concerns.

Under the Convention, there were announced the results of the joint research of ROAD and the magazine "AutoBusinessReview." Presentation reflected the main trends of auto retail, key economic indicators dealers at the end of 2014, the dynamics of dealer networks in Russia. Many of the indicators were presented to the public for the first time. In particular, according to a study, the volume of dealership investments, made over the last three years, exceeded 60 billion Rubles, and payback of projects is more than 10 years today. Specific sales at the rate per one dealership declined by 23% - from 735 vehicles in 2012 to 564 - in 2014. About 400 dealerships are at risk and may be closed or redeveloped for other brands.

Close to the sensations there were the results of the 11th survey of dealers’ satisfaction with automakers (DSI) - the joint project of ROAD and EY. For the first time in the history of the rankings (it was held since 2007), its leaders have become two companies - GAZ and Mitsubishi. Second place was taken by the company Skoda, Lexus closes the top three. The survey involved 435 dealerships of 37 brands. It is worth noting that the heads of the two offices came personally to receive diplomas of winners DSI - the head of the Skoda brand in Russia Lubomir Najman and President of Mitsubishi Motors Rus, Takaya Naoya. Voting results were announced by Andrew Tomyshev (EY), and diplomas were awarded to the winners by Vladimir Mozhenkov.

Within the framework of convention it was held seminars of ROAD Academy for different groups of staff dealerships. Tutorial program of convention included seminars Vladimir Mozhenkov ("AvtoSpetsTsentr"), a business coach, Eugene Goryansky, Olga Belsky (RTDService), Eugene Shakirova (Avtomarketolog.ru), Oleg Moseev ("Block Roscoe"), Boris Dmitriev and Alexander Smirnov (Caroperator) , Ilya Kuznetsov (Academy Business Car). Partner of ROAD - UniCredit Bank has prepared a seminar devoted on cost optimization of dealer with banking services.

Two special round tables on car insurance and car leasing were held, respectively, by the magazine "Modern insurance technologies" and "United Leasing Association."

An important component of the Convention has become an industry exhibition. Among its members there are four automakers (AvtoVAZ, GAZ, Lifan, Chery), as well as companies whose products and services are focused on dealer company. At the stand of the Academy ROAD there were held meetings with partners of ROAD on learning projects and preview upcoming courses.

The program of the Third Convention was finished by the General Meeting of the Association, the main issue on the agenda of which was the election of the Board of ROAD for the next two years. The general meeting of the Council has grown to 16 people. Until April of 2017, the Council of ROAD includes Yulia Babanova ("TTC"), Andrey Blokhin ("Genser"), Dmitry Gulin ("Autoworld"), Vyacheslav Zhigalov (Audi Center Petersburg), Oleg Landin (AAA Motors), Alexey Leshchenko (Modus), Tatiana Lukovetskaya ("Rolf"), Alexander Mikhailik ("SIM"), Oleg Moseev ("Block Roscoe"), Andrei Petrenko (RTDService), Ilya Pimenov ("Business Car"), Alex Podschekoldin ("BN-Motors "), Vladislav sob ("TerraAvto "), Nicholas Saloshin ("Auto Import"), Anton Soldunov ("Peter"), Steve Chernysch (" BCR-Motors "). At the next meeting of the Council each of its members will be assigned for activities or supervision.

The informal part of the Convention included a solemn reception of President ROAD, Vladimir Mozhenkov for owners of dealers. The guest of honor was Vladislav Tretiak, the triple Olympic champion, ten times world champion, the president of the Russian Hockey Federation, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The next major event of ROAD will be the seventh professional conference "Rosautodealer-2015", which is scheduled for October of 2015.