This afternoon’s meeting of the FIA’s Nordic clubs stressed the need for greater unity in developing solutions aimed at meeting the challenges of increased competition in the marketplace.  

“It has been quite stable for Nordic countries over the past year, the clubs are in quite good shape from an economic point of view, so there is a good chance to invest and to learn what to do in the future,” said NOCOF Chairman Pasi Niemenen following the meeting. 

“However, there are challenges for the clubs out there and they will come from websites, on apps, connected cars and mobility in general – transforming from traditional clubs to mobility clubs.

“There is a lot of competition new models and new companies [that] are interested in the members we have at the moment,” he added. “It’s not easy to keep members happy and to serve them in the best way. It’s an issue all clubs are facing. This is more or less a borderless game. All the issues coming up across the internet and in connected cars are challenging all of us, as we generally have a similar mix of services related to assistance etc.” 

He said that clubs across the Nordic area are addressing the issues but with clubs at different stages of the process, collaboration between organisations is hugely important. 

“The good thing for us is that we can compare and share ideas together and everything is open. We are not competing, we are on the line together. “Collaboration is very important,” he added. “It should be done not only in the Nordic countries. It should be done at FIA level, together, as there you can get benefits of scaling. You don’t have to invent the wheel in every country.” 

Mr Niemenen, CEO of Finland’s Autoliito, also said that the club is looking forward to hosting next year’s FIA Region I Spring Meeting and FIA Mobility Conference. 

“It’s the first time we will put together the FIA Region I Spring Meeting and the FIA Mobility Conference. It is a big task for our country but Helsinki is a pearl of the north and everyone will have a good opportunity to see how we are living in Finland and we can promise a warm welcome.”