THE PILLARS OF NAPA’S ELECTRIFICATION STRATEGY

(Article published in L’Automobile Mechanic magazine, February 2024)

By Isabelle Havasy

In the arena of the electric vehicle market, NAPA stands out as a colossus with nimble feet. Its strategy, finely crafted around four pillars, has been meticulously deployed since its launch in May 2022, and its execution has accelerated over the past year.

For 2024, NAPA wants to continue its electric transition, embodied by the NexDrive brand, the first pillar of the strategy. More than just a network of EV repair and maintenance workshops, NexDrive is a leader in this field. Behind the program’s façade lies a commitment to offering the best training in the industry. “We reached an agreement with the Conseil provincial des comités paritaires de l’industrie des services automobiles (CPCPA), by purchasing an EV SKILLS program license to extend our proposition across Canada,” explains John O’Dowd, vice-president of marketing at NAPA.

Striving Towards Excellence

This bold initiative, combined with the brand’s global footprint, fuels NAPA’s ambition to lead the way. In a constant ballet of exchanges with its international peers, the company compares, adjusts and refines its tools and approach. Every EV market, with its own uniqueness, provides food for thought and contributes to perfecting the programs developed. Strategically positioned in major urban centres, there are now 44 certified workshops. Fifty more are in the pipeline for 2024, each of which must meet the brand’s rigorous requirements. In this quest for excellence, NexDrive reserves its colours for NAPA AUTOPRO members, a network of 630 establishments.

The second pillar encompasses the certification of NAPA Auto Parts stores. “The NAPA Haute Tension program, deployed in Québec, has more than fifty certified outlets,” says O’Dowd. “In addition to having trained staff, these stores have the tools, safety equipment and parts required to meet the needs of workshops that service and repair EVs.” They supply not only NexDrive workshops, but also any other garage involved in this booming market.

A Unique Concept

The third pillar is training. NAPA is investing in education by setting up three teaching centres in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. “These technology development centres will provide an ultra-specialized curriculum for EVs.” This revolutionary concept in North America combines expertise and innovation. By the end of 2024, NAPA will offer more than a hundred training courses designed by Yves Racette and his team, in collaboration with Nicolas Piguet, a pioneer in training in Québec.

Partnerships represent the final pillar. “We have developed agreements with a number of emerging automakers,” says O’Dowd. Talks are still underway to further develop this line of business. Thanks to its extensive network, NAPA provides a solution for vehicle maintenance and repair during the warranty period, a plus for certain brands that do not have a well-established dealership network. This innovative strategic approach opens up new horizons for this century-old company, renowned for its aftermarket expertise.