BPW acquires majority stake in PE Automotive

At the turn of the year 2015/2016, BPW Bergische Achsen KG, the international mobility and system partner for the transport industry, will acquire the majority of shares in PE Automotive GmbH & Co. KG, one of the leading suppliers in the independent aftermarket.

The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. With this merger, both companies are aiming to pool their expertise in the commercial vehicle aftermarket and thus to realise their respective growth targets more quickly. For the BPW Group, this is the next logical step within the scope of its international mobility partnership strategy, which works towards providing vehicle operators with customised and, above all, current-value solutions for their fleets, covering the entire lifetimes of their vehicles.

The average age of vehicles in commercial vehicle fleets has been steadily increasing for years. Operators have different spare parts requirements for older vehicles than for new ones. PE enables the BPW Group, alongside its own TRAILERLINE product line, to provide vehicle operators and workshops with high-quality current-value and thus economical spare parts solutions for the reliable and safe repair or maintenance of older vehicles.

"The offering and expertise of PE Automotive perfectly complement the BPW Group's own extensive range of products and services as an international mobility partner. This cooperation means that vehicle operators and especially trade partners will benefit from an even more comprehensive spare parts range from a single supplier. Together with PE, we will combine our expertise. In close coordination, we will integrate customer requirements into workshop-optimised product developments which can help to reduce operating costs further," explains BPW managing partner Michael Pfeiffer.

Christian Freitag, managing partner of PE Automotive, adds: "The strategic orientation of the BPW Group provides the ideal framework for PE's growth targets. Together, we are taking a major step forward and will significantly expand our range of products and services for specialised wholesalers worldwide. As owner-managed family companies, we share the same goals and agree in our values as well."

The future cooperation will see PE Automotive taking over the management of the PE and TRAILERLINE brands of the BPW Group, allowing it to optimally apply its experience in product range configuration as well as supplier identification and qualification. As part of this process, the product range of both lines will continue to be completed. At the same time, TL Services will take over the management of spare parts from OEM suppliers and services within the BPW Aftermarket Group, and will thus be able to increase its focus on the requirements of this target group. For both customers of PE Automotive and customers of the trading companies of the BPW Group the established distribution channels for PE and TRAILERLINE products will remain the same.