Expansion of sales channels from the petroleum retail industry to the automotive industry as a whole

「新車マーケットの伸び (前年同月比53.8％増) によるもので、いよいよアフターマーケットと均衡する数字まで増えてきました。」

「The new-car market, centered on new-car dealers, increased 29.4% year on year, with its share of sales rising from 30.3% in the previous fiscal year to 34.2%. The number of vehicles treated increased significantly, led by Subaru, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, which have adopted EX KeePer as an original-equipment product.」

「Sales in the new-car market, centered on new-car dealers, increased 27.9% year on year, while its share rose from 27.7% in the previous fiscal year to 33.5%.」

「The new-car market, centered on new-car dealers, grew significantly, with sales up 32.1% year on year. Its share of sales in the products-related business also increased from 23.8% in the previous fiscal year to 27.7%.」

「In the new-vehicle market, centered on new-vehicle dealers, sales jumped 78.4% year on year, and the market's share of sales in the products and related business increased from 18.1% in the previous fiscal year to 25.3%.」

「At Toyota, 2 and a half years have passed since Toyota Mobility Parts adopted the products as original equipment, and the number of vehicles treated began to grow this fiscal year. Challenges include order suspensions and long delivery times, which delay the conversion of KeePer adoption into actual treatment results. However, the proportion remains small compared with the total number of Toyota vehicles treated, leaving substantial room for growth, and we are strongly encouraged by the response.」

「Two years have passed since Toyota Mobility Parts adopted the products as original equipment, and the number of vehicles treated has finally begun to grow this fiscal year. However, this remains small compared with the total number of Toyota vehicles treated, and further significant growth is expected. Three years have passed since Subaru adopted the products as original equipment, and the number of vehicles treated has recently increased further, partly because higher-priced new models such as the Legacy Outback and Levorg Layback have been launched.」

「In the new-car market, centered on new-car dealerships, sales surged to 71.3% of the year-earlier level, while the segment mix rose to 22.5%, just below the full-year plan of 23.3%. This was driven largely by the increase in the number of vehicles treated at Honda and Toyota, while the initial performance of Mitsubishi Motors, which adopted the product as a genuine offering in July, also exceeded expectations.」

「In September 2023, we launched the KeePer Official EC Site, where products such as shampoo, insect-removal products and car-washing equipment are listed and sold.」

「Development has also begun on consumer products for wet areas such as bathrooms and sinks, and further expansion of KeePer in this field is expected.」

「For services outside the automotive sector, motorcycle coating services have begun at Bike-O stores operated by Bike O & Company, in addition to 2 Rinkan. Bicycle coating services have also begun at GIANT stores operated by Giant Manufacturing, in addition to TREK.」

「In services outside the automotive sector, following smartphone coatings and the motorcycle industry, we have also entered the bicycle industry. We have begun expanding into ceramic manufacturers, home-appliance retailing, ships and the sign industry, steadily advancing the expansion of distribution channels for KeePer products.」

「As of the end of June 2022, sales had begun or actual adoption had been confirmed at 69 of the 253 Toyota-related sales companies. Accordingly, during fiscal 2023, we will aim to increase the adoption share to approximately 50%, or 120 companies, while thoroughly implementing field-based technical sales to help adopting stores succeed, one of KeePer's core strengths.」

「The current adoption status among the 253 Toyota-related sales companies nationwide, down from 274 following the consolidation of sales companies, is as follows: ・As of 30 April, contact had been established with 247 sales companies. ・Of these, 144 sales companies had entered negotiations toward adoption. ・Of these, 144 sales companies had begun considering adoption using actual vehicles, including performance testing. ・Of these, 39 sales companies had decided to adopt the products and established an actual implementation schedule. ・Of these, sales had already begun and product deliveries had started at 25 sales companies.」

「For Toyota dealers, Subaru's rollout from last November was conducted almost nationwide at once. In Toyota's case, beginning this September, the 274 sales companies nationwide are being developed one by one through proper sales efforts. We have come to understand that this requires considerable time and effort. Although the initial pace is slowing, development is steadily progressing company by company, and it can be said that the significant long-term potential is becoming even clearer.」

「In addition to sales in the automotive aftermarket, including the traditional gasoline-station industry, we are strengthening sales activities with the aim of generating sales in the new-car market, including automakers and car dealers, on the same scale as the current aftermarket in 2 years. To this end, we substantially revised our structure and expanded the specialized sales team into a 30-person New-Car Sales Department.」

「In the new-car market, including car dealers, we continue to promote adoption centered on EX KeePer, launched as KeePer's first coating for new cars. At the same time, we are actively marketing KeePer coatings and car-washing products to automakers.」

「Testing has also begun on coatings for applications such as signs and bathtubs, and activities to expand services in the future are under way.」

「KeePer coatings for motorcycles have been adopted at 2 Rinkan, a chain specializing in motorcycle equipment, and Bike-kan SOX, a chain selling new and used motorcycles.」

「In addition to sales in the automotive aftermarket, including the traditional gasoline-station industry, the KeePer products business aims to generate sales in the new-car market, including automakers and car dealers, on a similar scale and approximately double the current sales of the KeePer products-related business in 3 years. As a specific measure, we are mobilizing the company's full resources to promote adoption centered on EX KeePer, launched as KeePer's first coating for new cars. To this end, we newly established a specialized sales unit, the Special Sales Department, with a select team of 12, and are actively pursuing these activities. As a result, sales to the automotive industry made significant progress, increasing 179% year on year to ¥121 million in the fourth quarter.」

「Our capital and business alliance with VT Holdings has led to steady adoption of KeePer by its dealer subsidiaries. At the same time, distribution channels are beginning to expand beyond the automotive industry into used cars, room cleaning, construction and telecommunications.」

「Our capital and business alliance with VT Holdings has accelerated our entry into the automotive industry, and the number of car dealers adopting KeePer has been steadily increasing, with tangible results beginning to emerge from the third quarter onward.」

「We are also advancing adoption by automakers as an original-equipment offering and by car dealers through in-house application of KeePer coatings. As previously announced, our capital and business alliance with VT Holdings has accelerated our full-scale entry into the automotive industry. We aim to begin activities in the second quarter and generate tangible results in the third quarter.」

「KeePer PROSHOPs are beginning to expand beyond the petroleum retail industry into the automotive industry as a whole, including repair shops and automotive stores, and KeePer is beginning to attract attention across the automotive industry.」