[European Atlas] Overview of Poland

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Booming economically, Poland has been ranked 25th in the world since last August, gaining the status of a developed country, according to the FTSE Russell index. And with a turnover of €35 billion in 2017, the automotive industry represents 8% of GDP. This includes manufacturers’ factories (Fiat, GM and Volkswagen) and two-thirds of the thirty largest equipment manufacturers in the world. Their turnover reached €18 billion in 2016, with an export rate of 72%.In addition, the Polish car parc continues to grow. In 2017, 486,400 new cars were registered – up 16.9% over the previous year. Note, however, that company fleets account for 70% of purchases. On the second-hand market Poland is also a major player, with 1.038 million cars imported in 2016. Some are only passing through to third countries, but many remain there. This allows aftermarket players to focus on market growth. Starting with the leader Inter Cars. Groupauto is also present, while AD International has returned after a one-year absence (see article below). Proof that Poland is a land of conquest for aftersales.Nicolas Girault

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The number one Polish retailer is expanding its e-commerce tools. Already the owner of the Motointegrator online sales site, the company is investing in a platform for its distribution network. SAP Hybris Commerce Cloud combines commercial and technical offerings. It is a development lever for the company that has conquered Eastern Europe by setting up a central platform for each country and franchising its distributors. Inter Cars now has 243 sales points in Poland and 270 in 16 other countries, where it generates 40% of its turnover. The company owns some 30 subsidiaries, workshop networks and the Perfect Service, Q-Service, Feber, Intermeko and Lauber brands.

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Polish distributor Gordon has changed brands. It has left Groupauto to join AD International, under the name of AD Polska. The new AD has a central platform in Zamostva and five regional warehouses. Its 1,500 employees return a turnover of €200 million, supplying 156 sales points. In joining the group, it plans to benefit not only from its product range, but also from the technical training and network concept (AD Garage). It is therefore a return to Poland for the group following its departure in 2017 after the sale of AD Poland by Autodis to Rhiag / LKQ. Note that Gordon generates a business almost double that of the former AD Poland.