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Apollo Vredestein: Harald Kilzer in an interview
With the step into original equipment, Apollo Vredestein is setting a milestone. Austria CEO HARALD KILZER explains the measure in the KFZ Wirtschaft-Talk.
Apollo Vredestein: Harald Kilzer in an interview
Harald Kilzer has been Managing Director of Apollo Vredestein Austria since May 1, 2017. It is important to Kilzer that the internal structures are optimized, that the team is optimally positioned and that the salespeople are more active with customers again. That's why two key account managers, Nikica Majic and Bernhard Schmolz, are now acting as sales managers, succeeding Harald Kilzer. In total, Kilzer has been with the company for 16 years. Most recently, he was responsible for sales management in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.
VW, SEAT AND FORD
According to Kilzer, the most important channel for “making volume” is the step into original equipment. Until now, Apollo Vredestein was known for design-oriented ultra-high-performance tires and only as a pure replacement market supplier. Now the big step into original equipment is taking place. The result: “This means we are present in the car dealership, fleet and leasing segments,” explains Kilzer. It starts with the VW Polo, the Seat Ibiza and the Ford EcoSport. The automobile manufacturers' commitment to Apollo Vredestein is proof of the high quality and exquisite design of the products, says Kilzer. The Indian parent company Apollo was already active in original equipment and will remain the global OE brand. According to Kilzer, it is now a matter of positioning both brands at the right level for them.
CURRENT MARKET SITUATION
The summer tire business was mixed due to the raw material price increases and the associated price adjustments, reports Harald Kilzer. The sell-out from the dealers did not work optimally and inventories are now relatively high. Basically, Kilzer stands up for the tire retailer: “It's about offering something that the Internet can't do,” is his argument in favor of better and more personal advice. Customer service will always remain an important factor. He also recommends that tire retailers not only concentrate on purchasing, but also, above all, on sales. As far as the tire business in general is concerned, Harald Kilzer expects that around 25 percent will come from the online sector in the next ten years. This segment is currently still in the single digits. Nevertheless, tire retailers definitely have a future if they concentrate on their competencies and sell their know-how and services sensibly.
AUTOZUM 2019
This year the impressive Apollo Vredestein stand at the AutoZum in Salzburg caused a stir. Kilzer is already announcing that Apollo Vredestein will be there again at the next AutoZum 2019: "And again in this form. All or nothing is our motto."