SUPPLIER ASSOCIATION RESTRUCTURES, REBRANDS

THE MOTOR & EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION announced a new structure and brand that will see three groups come together as one to focus on aftermarket priorities together.

What was formerly the Automotive Aftermarket

Suppliers Association (AASA) has merged with its sister groups under MEMA — Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) and Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association — to form MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.

A second group has also been formed to align with the original equipment industry — MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, which will be made up of Original Equipment Suppliers Association and OE members of the HDMA.

What this will see is rather than four membership associations under the MEMA umbrella, there will now be two. Those with similar interests, such as the aftermarket, will work together under one name.

“The future clearly will look differently and MEMA must embrace that change much as most of our members have gone through this similar transformation to position their businesses for the future,” said Bill Long, president and CEO of MEMA.

A number of shared challenges among members pushed the organization to find a way to simply, he added, such as black swan events, “unprecedented” uncertainty, the advancement of new vehicle technology, sustainability, talent shortages, regulatory and legislative landscapes, electric vehicles and supply chain disruption.

Under the aftermarket group, Paul McCarthy will serve as president and chief executive officer.

“The biggest change may be the simplification,” McCarthy said during a press conference announcing MEMA’s new brand and structure. “It’s now easier and simpler to access all of the value created by MEMA.”