Fiat Auto Parts & Services a protagonist at EquipAuto 2005

The 30th edition of EquipAuto, one of the most important appointments for the automotive parts market sector, will be open from 13 to 18 October. The venue is the Parc d'exposition de Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre in Paris and Fiat Auto Parts & Services will be present at this international event.

The stand has been designed to recreate a typical dealer environment and includes a novel display showing Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo accessories and gift items. In part of the stand area visitors will be able to admire the new Grande Punto, dressed up for the occasion with some decidedly sporty accessories: for instance, sideskirts, 17" alloy wheels, aluminium pedal caps and leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shift. Here, visitors will be able to watch Fiat Auto Parts & Services experts simulate an in-depth test using the Smart Examiner, one of the most advanced diagnosis tools on the market. Lastly, the French event is just the right occasion to highlight the importance of Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo Original Spares, now presented in completely new packaging, while there will also be a specific focus on Reconditioned Spares.

Also on the stand will be an Alfa 159, in this case used as the 'target' for a demonstration of Rapid Service. This service is specific to the Alfa Romeo brand and offers a series of guaranteed checks completed in a very short time. The car will be tested on a mechanical bridge surrounded by diagnosis equipment, while the area behind has been organised as the pleasantest of waiting rooms. There will also be an information desk and display for the sale of parts.

At the EquipAuto 2005 Show, a number of Fiat Auto Parts & Services experts will be on hand to give information about training and tools for diagnosis (Examiner), in addition to illustrating all the software tools prepared for service points. For instance, eService, the real heart of the entire official workshop: from booking appointments right through to customer follow-up. In fact the system gathers all the information necessary to service a car. A system that includes eTech, the search engine for technical documentation; Learn, the routine dedicated to service documentation; Tempario, that identifies tasks and times, service manuals, campaigns, etc.; ePer, the catalogue for identifying Original spares; eSIGI++, for managing warranty issues and on-line checks of validity. As can be seen, eService enables total management of a workshop using one single software tool.

Lastly, Fiat Auto Parts & Services will present an important new initiative in Paris: in future the Technical Information site will be open to the public, mainly independent workshops that will be able to consult the technical documentation required to service cars from the Group's brands (repair manuals, time scheduling and parts catalogues are the same tools available in eService). It should be emphasised that the system has been designed to respond to various needs, with different connection options: '1 hour', for those who need to carry out simple tasks; '1 day', ideal for those who have to tackle more complex jobs or are less well acquainted with the Group's cars; '1 month or 1 year', designed specifically for those who have a continuous, constant stream of cars to service.
Furthermore, access is guaranteed by adopting the same 'engine' that has been in use for some time now for CD-based documentation and a test period lasting more than two months.

The site can be accessed at the following addresses:
• http://www.technicalinformation.fiat.com (Technical Information Fiat);
• http://www.technicalinformation.lancia.com (Technical Information Lancia)
• http://www.technicalinformation.alfaromeo.com (Technical Information Alfa Romeo)

By opening the Technical Information site to the public Fiat Auto Parts & Services continues to expand its e-commerce system, which already exists for accessory sales, and simultaneously an experimental service developed with other partners will be launched for multi-brand parts sales, a service today available in certain areas of Italy.

Turin, 13 October 2005

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