The Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) has launched the new Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) to cater for the needs of the independent repair sector in the UK.

The new federation has been put together because the IAAF believes "it has become increasingly apparent that there was little effective lobbying being done on behalf of garages"

Parts of the new IAAF will compete for members with the Retail Motor Industry Federation’s Independent Garage Association (IGA) which also represents the independent service and repair sector.

It poses the question whether there will be room for two seperate organisations to represent the interests of the independent service and repair sector.

The IAAF has not revealed how much it will cost to become a member, but did say it would be "very competitive".

The new IAAF is comprised of three sections, covering distribution, lobbying and workshop activities:

• The IAAF-D will continue to carry out the functions of the ADF and represent the interests of the UK’s motor factors and the distribution sector as a whole.
• The IAAF-G is a newly formed division, which will work for and with the UK’s service and repair garages, to offer day-to-day help, as well as to represent their wider interests.
• The IAAF–L has been created specifically as a lobbying body to represent the wider interests of the UK’s independent aftermarket – in all its forms – with Government and other industries, whether in the UK, Europe, or on a global basis.

Tony Sackett IAAF president, said: "The remit of the ADF has been widened considerably over the years.

“As the UK independent aftermarket has developed, the ADF has moved, almost organically, from its roots as the Motor Factor Association, to be much more of an umbrella organisation, encompassing the industry’s major suppliers, the buying groups and campaigning organisations.

“The new IAAF formally recognises these developments and will progress from there. Its structure is designed to allow for expertise to be channelled into the appropriate area to maximum effect and, with the setting up of the Garage service and repair division – IAAF-G – brings the crucial missing element into one independent unified body.”

Sackett believes the IAAF will help unify the independent aftermarket which will then become even better equipped to face the challenges in the years to come.