Automotive Aftermarket in the Western Balkans: Opportunities for the Region and the European Automotive Industry

In this chapter, we address the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the Western Balkans’ automotive industry and its aftermarket sector. Based on desktop analysis and anecdotal evidence from interviews with business, cluster and support environment representatives, we first discuss the similarities in the region and how they are reflected in the development of the automotive industry and its aftermarket. We then address the specifics of individual Western Balkan countries in this respect. We conclude the chapter with policy recommendations, whereby we particularly stress the importance of (1) the modernisation of the scientific higher education system and investments in employee development in accordance with the global trends in the industry, (2) facilitation of partnerships between governance and business, (3) promotion of inter-business networking and (4) acceleration of internationalisation— especially in the form of inward foreign direct investment that promotes knowledge sharing and development as well as investments in infrastructure in the region (especially in terms of digitalisation, automation and technology upgrades).