The case for genuine parts

When it comes to using genuine parts in vehicle repairs, it’s hard to find a greater champion than Volvo Network Development Manager Jason Johnston.

“We have a simple catchphrase at Volvo Cars: We want our customers to keep their Volvo 100% Volvo,” he says.

“When Volvo genuine parts and accessories are fitted to our customers’ vehicles, their Volvo will always work as intended from the factory,” Johnston says. “When a customer gets a vehicle back from a repair, it should feel like it did the day they drove it out of the new-car showroom.”

For manufacturers and dealer partners, use of genuine parts in a vehicle repair situation preserves the integrity of the vehicle as it was sold. For customers, it adds enormously to their experience of the brand they have chosen to buy from.

Genuine parts and accessories are designed and constructed to satisfy the safety and reliability requirements of the customer’s specific vehicle brand, Volvo or otherwise. They also meet Australian Design Rules specifications, meaning they have the build quality to withstand harsh Australian driving conditions.

Customers are encouraged to consult their car insurance PDS to ensure genuine parts are an inclusion when taking out a manufacturer-branded insurance policy.

Allianz underwrites Volvo car Premier Insurance policies and gives Volvo customers access to Genuine Parts where locally available as a standard feature of the policy wording ¹. In addition, the cover offers customers the ability to choose their repairer ².

Being able to choose an expert Volvo repairer can help give customers an assurance that:

• their repairer will use genuine parts
• repairers have access to the specific equipment and tools needed to carry out the repair

Volvo has recently taken steps to set up an Approved Repairer Network to provide Volvo-approved repairs to its customers. Volvo currently has a network of 30 approved repairers and has plans to increase that number to approximately 35 to have one in every major retail area in Australia.

Offering a choice of repairer as a key feature in their insurance program has become an essential part of the Volvo customer brand experience. “A lot of insurance companies don’t offer choice of repairer as one of their standard product features,” Johnston explains.

Joining the Volvo Approved Repairer Network isn’t a straightforward affair. Volvo has rigorous quality assurance protocols in place to ensure approved repairers maintain the highest standards. Staff at every repairer are required to undergo a Volvo training program.

The program offers approved repairer staff the opportunity to hear about:

• correct repair procedures
• what the Volvo brand stands for
• Volvo’s vision for the future

Volvo intends to become a fully electric car company in Australia by 2026 and climate neutral across Volvo’s entire global business by 2040. Their transition to a fully electric vehicle (EV) company presents an even stronger case for the use of genuine parts and accessories.

“As we move towards electrification, we are also bringing our repairs process on the journey with us,” Johnston says. “It’s important to ensure that the integrity of our vehicles is preserved. And it’s important to ensure that technicians are well equipped and kept safe while they’re doing repairs.”

Allianz has been instrumental in assisting Volvo set up their Volvo Approved Repairer Network. Johnston says Allianz has worked closely with Volvo to align reputable, best-practice repairers. Plus, Allianz has been actively talking to business managers in every retailer, helping them understand the benefits of offering Volvo car insurance to Volvo customers.

Allianz will continue to play a critical role in helping prepare its automotive partners for greater take-up of electric vehicles. From genuine parts (where locally available) to instilling new standards of training for repair work on EVs, Allianz is committed to ensuring owners have their vehicle returned to them looking and feeling like it did when they first drove it.

“It’s a good partnership that Volvo Cars in Australia has with Allianz,” Johnston says. “After all, we want to give Volvo owners an exceptional customer experience that Volvo is renowned for.”