24 October 2011

What a difference a year makes.

Just 12 months ago the RMI was a divided organisation, with political infighting between its constituent bodies and staff under intense pressure as they reacted to both multiple redundancies among their colleagues and apparently random launches of new commercial initiatives.

The situation was perhaps best summed up by the stunned silence that greeted the announcement of the ‘Trust My Garage’ scheme at the Federation’s 2010 annual dinner. As a clear challenge to the OFT-approved Motor Codes programme, TMG was a non-starter from the off – and we said so at the time.

This year, things were very different and, while nobody exactly said so, there was a clear desire at the 2011 Annual Dinner on Thursday night to put plenty of distance between last year’s RMI and the current manifestation.

For a start, the word Federation is back – acknowledging the different needs of the constituent associations while recognising the strength that we have if the whole auto retail sector can work together. There was even an olive branch extended to ‘other associations to work with us’.

Trust My Garage has not been scrapped but is now just a benchmark for the independent sector to work to, if they desire. And Motor Codes is back.

“One industry and one code is the only way forward and the RMI will underpin this message by giving its continued and full support to Motor Codes,” said acting RMI president Colin Parlett in a not-very subtle swipe at previous policy.

Hopefully that message will be heard loud and clear down the road at the new offices of the SMMT. There is nothing to be gained by squabbling over who invented scrappage or who has the best accreditation scheme.

And nothing to be gained from speculating about how, or why, the RMI got itself into such a mess in the first place. This industry has enough troubles as it is, without fighting amongst ourselves.

Rupert Saunders

Tags: Federation, Retail Motor Industry Federation, RMIF, TMG, Trust My Garage