Renault has beaten Fiat and Volvo to win the Institute of Transport Management’s Best OE Parts Supplier 2006 award.

It was the Renaultparts website that swung the award for the French manufacturer. Jean Paul Gennerat, manager of parts and services marketing, believes the resources invested in the product were worthwhile.

“It’s not just an online shopping basket. Customers can actually see the part they are buying, whereas before they had to describe it over the phone, which could cause confusion. That sets Renaultparts apart and makes it a strong product,” says Gennerat.

Looking to the future, Gennerat told AM that Renault would continue to focus on making the website as user-friendly as possible as well as making it more versatile.

“The next major development could be the introduction of accessories to the site,” he says. In 2005, Renaultparts produced a turnover of more than £17m, and it is hoped this figure will increase by 20% this year.