Car-sharing platform Turo announced a partnership with CrashBay, a digital marketplace for collision and car repair solutions.

This collaboration is designed to enhance the auto claims repair process for Turo hosts across the U.S. and Canada.

Both Turo and CrashBay aim to simplify vehicle ownership and improve the car-sharing experience. CrashBay’s platform will give Turo hosts access to a network of certified repair shops. These repair shops are vetted for quality, reliability and cost-efficiency

“CrashBay has been an invaluable partner to Turo and our hosts, providing an easy way to find a qualified body shop for vehicle repair,” said Jeff Platt, chief insurance officer at Turo. “Hosts are an integral part of the Turo community, and on the rare occasion that a claim needs to be filed, we want to ensure they feel supported with trusted, reliable resources like CrashBay.”

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Tirecraft Ontario announced a new expansion into the Southern Ontario off-the-road tire market.

Chris Potier and Jason Vollick have joined Tirecraft Ontario. Potier is an OTR service technician with more than 20 years of experience. Jason Vollick has more than 10 years of experience as an OTR sales and service technician.

“We are excited that Jason and Chris not only bring a wealth of experience and respect, but also their alignment with our core values,” said Christine McClay, Tirecraft president, added.

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Aisin has acquired the business assets of Leon Import, an aftermarket import and sales company based in the Colon Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) in Panama.

In 2019, the two companies formed a joint venture, establishing Aisin Sales Latin America (ASLA) to consolidate their sales activities. The aim was to create an efficient organization, expand product offerings, and increase business in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. ASLA’s efforts led to the successful launch of a new distribution center, improving delivery times and customer service, which bolstered the automotive aftermarket in Latin America.

“Six years ago, we celebrated the formation of ASLA, and assembled an exceptional team of professionals who helped establish – and later achieve – some aggressive business targets in the Latin America automotive aftermarket,” said Aisin president and CEO Scott Turpin.

“These people helped grow and strengthen the AISIN brand in a market where we’ve done business for more than 25 years, though, previously, we had never quite reached our sales potential.

Current customers and distributors have been notified, ensuring no disruption to business relationships or operations. Turpin noted that the reaction to the acquisition has been very positive, with a small reception held last week to celebrate the new organization.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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Steer, a customer resource management platform for automotive shops, has announced its merger with AutoOps, a provider of intelligent scheduling software for auto repair shops. This merger aims to revolutionize the customer experience for independently owned and multi-location automotive shops by integrating AutoOps’ advanced scheduling capabilities with Steer’s comprehensive CRM platform.

The integration will provide Steer customers with access to AutoOps’ advanced scheduling features at no additional cost. These features include advanced settings, loaner car tracking, unfinished appointment follow-ups and the ability to upsell services. These tools will integrate seamlessly with Steer campaigns and Vehicle Pages without disrupting existing website functionality or features like Reserve with Google scheduling.

“From day one, Steer and AutoOps have been working toward the same goal: To help automotive shops provide the best possible service experience for their customers,” said Parker Swift, CEO of Steer. “With limited time and resources, shop owners are in urgent need of simplified workflows. AutoOps has created the finest scheduling capabilities in the industry – by bringing our functionalities together, we’re providing our shared customers a best-in-class CRM and online scheduler all in one platform. In other words, we’re delivering on our promise to make their lives easier.”

AutoOps users not currently on Steer will now have full access to Steer’s CRM, including customer communication options such as automatic text and email service reminders, review collection, and maintenance alerts, all available at a low-cost bundled rate.

“AutoOps and Steer share a vision of creating best-in-class and easy-to-use tools to help automotive shop owners succeed,” said Steve Fafel, Co-Founder of AutoOps. “Together, we will help automotive businesses increase profits, save time, and give their own customers a consistent and seamless experience. There’s a lot to look forward to as we work together to create the best solutions for our users.”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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The news of Worldpac’s sale to a private equity group was met positively by industry observers and experts, seeing it as a good deal for both Advance Auto Parts and Worldpac.

On Aug. 22, Advance announced a $1.5 billion deal to sell Worldpac, a wholesale distributor of automotive replacement parts, specializing in import vehicle components, to a private equity firm, Carlyle.

“Advance has been struggling with operations and integration and they needed the cash,” observed Kumar Saha, columnist for Jobber News and U.S. vice president and Canadian managing director for Eucon, a global automotive data firm. “Worldpac had remained largely independent in their operations, so the sale was the easiest plug-and-play.”

The sale to private equity was not much of a surprise as many speculated that to be the ultimate path.

Former Worldpac executive and now-retired aftermarket veteran Joe Mercanti figured this was the best result for Worldpac, which was resource-starved as part of Advance and there being a mismatch in business models.

“It just didn’t mix,” he said about the two models. “They tried to mix it, but it just didn’t mix. So I think it’s going to be good.”

“Worldpac had remained largely independent in their operations, so the sale was the easiest plug-and-play.”

Ken Coulter, president of Ontario-based Specialty Sales & Marketing Inc., was encouraged by the sale, expecting it to lead to greater internal investment.

“Since the announcements of a pending sale last year, no doubt many initiatives at Worldpac have probably been slowed down or on hold,” he told Auto Service World. “With a path forward now in place, one can expect to see some investments forthcoming in logistics, human resources, etc.”

However, Saha thought Worldpac could fill the needs of a traditional aftermarket company, given its specialty within the import market.

“I am surprised that a strategic buyer did not target Worldpac, considering its import focus could fill holes for the likes of an AutoZone or Canadian Tire,” he told Auto Service World. “But PEs make the most compelling offers and may have made the most financial sense for Advance.”

Bob Cushing, Worldpac, and Shane O’Kelly, Advance Auto Parts, speak to the media at the 2024 Wordlpac STX event in Nashville

To that point, Coulter figured that other aftermarket networks probably checked in — and maybe even placed a bid.

“On a purchase such as Worldpac, it would have to make sense to an existing network in all aspects — strategic, financial, logistical, etc.,” Coulter observed. “If it fit all categories with an existing network, we would probably be reading a different news brief today.”

Mercanti said he didn’t hear about an aftermarket company being included in the process but figured if one ultimately closed the deal, they’d face the same integration problems Advance had because of the different, and unique, model that Worldpac is.

“You can’t mix the two. It’s two different things,” Mercanti said in an interview. “I think it’s great that it’s an equity company and they’ll see that Worldpac makes money.”

“I think it’s great that it’s an equity company and they’ll see that Worldpac makes money.”

And there doesn’t seem to be much of a concern about a private equity owner — any fears that the company may be slashed to either improve the bottom line or spun off again weren’t there for the experts we spoke to.

Coulter called it a good move. “Carlyle is extremely diverse and not oblivious to our aftermarket historically or currently,” he said, pointing to Axalta as being a market leader.

Carquest was also mentioned at the same time back in November as being for sale but no deal has been announced, neither has an update been provided. Coulter doesn’t believe there’s as much urgency to sell Advance’s Canadian operations.

“Carquest Canada is still a viable entity today with decent corporate store capacities and an extremely loyal associate following,” he pointed out. “There are also different means in which Canada can contribute to the transitions taking place with Advance/Carquest south of the border.  That does not mean to say that if someone came along with a cheque today [that] a sale would not take place.”

But Carquest will be a harder sell, Mercanti predicted.

“It’s going to be hard to separate it from what they have now,” he explained. “I mean, their computer systems are all hooked into Advance and a lot of other things. I think it’s not going to be an easier sale.”

He noted other large groups could be interested in Carquest, like LKQ or NAPA — but they’re so big already that they don’t really need it.

“So who’s going buy? I mean, someone can buy it just get rid of a competitor,” Mercanti said, adding that it could instead be an entry point for an American company to move north.

“Once key elements have been addressed, look for aggressive marketing and sales strategies in an attempt to garner growth and market share in the coming years ahead.”

Now that one of the biggest deals has taken place, what will change in the aftermarket?

“Private equity corporations don’t buy companies to stay the same or hum along as they were,” Coulter explained. “Canada is different, so we will probably see a different approach here, as opposed to the USA.

“Once key elements have been addressed, look for aggressive marketing and sales strategies in an attempt to garner growth and market share in the coming years ahead.”

Mercanti agreed and echoed Coulter’s earlier sentiments about Worldpac now being able to grow with this chapter now closing.

“They’ll put all kinds of resources into it and then grow it,” he predicted. “Because even when I was there, I know we were being starved of growth. I know if they put in 10 more locations, they can double their business.

“Their business model works. That’s the thing. The business model works.”

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Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced it’s committing $575 million to modernize and expand its plant in Napanee, Ontario, a move expected to boost EV tire production.

In a joint announcement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Goodyear revealed plans to upgrade its facility, focusing on energy-efficient manufacturing processes and increased output, particularly for electric vehicle and all-terrain tires. The expansion is projected to generate 200 new manufacturing jobs by 2027 while securing more than 1,000 existing positions at the plant.

A key aspect of the project is Goodyear’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions at the Napanee plant by 2040, aligning with Canada’s national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The federal government will support the project with up to $44.3 million in funding from the Strategic Innovation Fund, while the Ontario government will contribute $20 million through Invest Ontario. These funds will assist in the implementation of new technologies and training programs.

This investment is part of a broader trend in Ontario’s growing electric vehicle sector, the announcement said. The modernization of Goodyear’s plant is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy and the province’s role in the global EV market.

Trudeau described the project as a positive development for Canada’s manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry.

“Goodyear’s modernization of its Napanee plant will create manufacturing jobs and support the growth of our EV industry,” he said.

Ford highlighted the broader economic benefits for Ontario, noting that the province’s transportation infrastructure and skilled workforce continue to attract major investments in the EV sector.

“Goodyear Canada’s investment builds on the billions already invested in Ontario’s EV supply chain,” Ford said.

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Family-run auto repair shop R&S Auto has expanded into the auto glass and repair replacement service business by joining the Fix Network.

The shop has been serving the Greater Toronto Area for more than 30 years and will be offering comprehensive automotive solutions under the Novus Glass repair and replacement brand.

General manager Dilraj Sekhon has led R&S Auto in providing mechanical and collision repair services, pointing to a commitment to excellence.

“Witnessing my family’s strong work ethic growing up inspired me to join this field,” he said in an announcement.

He pointed to his grandfather who emphasized honesty, integrity and exceptional customer service as foundational principles guiding every aspect of their operations.

R&S Auto decided to incorporate auto glass repair and replacement into their offerings, having previously outsourced the service.

“With traditional service offerings evolving due to the rise of electric vehicles, adding automotive glass repair services is a smart business move,” said Zakari Krieger, VP of Prime CarCare Group, which includes the Fix Network banners Speedy Auto Service and NOVUS Glass. “It ensures that R&S Auto remains at the forefront of the industry, providing comprehensive solutions to their customers.”

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In a move that will expand its business in the European market, Standard Motor Products, Inc. announced it had acquired Nissens.

The deal is valued at US$388 million and will be an all-cash transaction, facilitated through a definitive agreement with Nordic private equity firm Axcel and the Nissen family.

“We are delighted to announce this acquisition, which will make our combined business the aftermarket leader in North America and Europe in thermal management products,” Eric Sills, SMP’s chairman and CEO said in the announcement. “It will also expand SMP’s portfolio of powertrain-neutral product categories.”

Nissens, founded in 1921, will continue running as a stand-alone business. However, Sills noted that they will look to leverage the combined strengths of the companies to find cost and revenue synergies.

Nissens is a European manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket engine cooling and air conditioning products, with annual revenues of about $260 million. The announcement noted that CEO Klavs Pedersen has led the company through resilience and growth, gaining deep market knowledge and customer relationships across Europe.

“We believe the combination with SMP is a powerful one. Both companies have a similar go-to-market strategy of supplying full-line professional-grade product offerings and enjoy complementary product portfolios,” Sills said. “Together, we can accelerate growth through cross-selling our product offerings, realize cost reduction through combined resources, and achieve enhanced operational excellence through collaboration and best practices.”

Pedersen expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, saying he has watched SMP from a distance and sees similarities in the way both operate.

“I have personally known the SMP management team for several years, and I believe there is a very strong cultural fit that will support and accelerate the positive development of both companies,” he said.

The deal is set to be completed in the second half of 2024, pending certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

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EV charging company FLO has partnered with Metro to install fast-charging stations at more than 130 grocery stores across Quebec and Ontario.

At least 500 fast-charging ports will be installed at Metro, Super C, Food Basics and Marché Adonis locations starting in August for drivers to charge while they shop.

“This partnership is about integrating the best EV charging experience into daily life and making it as routine as grocery shopping,” Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of FLO, said. He further emphasized that making public charging widely available is crucial for Canada to achieve its environmental goals and transition to an emission-free transportation sector.

“Metro is committed to adopting short-term, science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for its direct and indirect emissions,” said Michel Avigliano, vice president of real estate and engineering at Metro. “Through this partnership, we are taking action to reduce our indirect emissions linked to the transport of our customers while contributing to the collective effort of transitioning towards a more low-carbon economy.”

A significant portion of these new installations is backed by FLO’s partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which has committed $235 million to FLO. This investment aims to bring more than 1,900 public fast-charging ports online across Canada by 2027.

The new charging stations will feature the dual port FLO Ultra fast charger, which offers up to 320 kW of power. This allows most new EVs to charge up to 80% in just 15 minutes.

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From left to right: Ann Turcotte, Purchasing Senior Director at Point S Canada, Leif Ellefsen, Executive V.P., Growth and Strategic Partnerships at Point S Canada, Olivier Gauthier, President of TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc., Clemence Lesur, Business Developer at TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc.

TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc. and Point S Canada have announced a new commercial partnership.

TotalEnergies will offer its full range of high-performance lubricants, including the Quartz line of engine oils through the Point S retail network, which includes its affiliate banners and a full-service tire retailer.

“We are delighted about this partnership with Point S Canada, a company that we share so many values with,” said Pascal Tran, sales director of TotalEnergies. “Point S’s extensive retail network allows us to offer our customers quality services, which will now be paired with TotalEnergies’ range of premium lubricants.”

This brings the two companies together on a more local scale after the pair previously agreed to a partnership on a global scale. All 6,185 Point S service outlets in 51 countries on five continents are involved. Thanks to its 42 production sites, TotalEnergies Lubricants can supply Point S locations efficiently throughout the world.

“As a proud member of the Point S International family, Point S Canada is pleased to be able to rely on this partnership with a major player such as TotalEnergies,” said Maxime-Olivier Gauthier, vice president of marketing and communications at Point S Canada. “This partnership will allow our members to benefit from a complete and relevant product portfolio. We are confident that this agreement will support our growth efforts.”

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Atlantic Canada’s Coast Tire & Auto Service and Andy’s Tire Group announced they will merge next month.

The joint operation will bring Coast Tire’s 26 commercial and consumer tire and auto retail locations, a commercial retreading plant and wheel refinishing facility together with Andy Tire’s 20 stores, three distribution centres and two retreading plants in the Maritimes, effective March 1.

Andy’s Tire Group operates under the banners of Andy’s Tire Shop, Scotia Tire Service, A-1 Tires, Miller Tirecraft and Fleet Retreading.

In an announcement posted to LinkedIn, the new group — which didn’t note a combined name for the entity — noted the importance of both companies remaining locally owned and operated while expanding each other’s reach.

“We are thrilled to bring together these storied companies. This merger is more than a business decision; it’s a strategic move to create the best commercial tire and automotive service network across Atlantic Canada,” said Andrew Pye, CEO of the new business. “Our combined resources, expertise, and commitment to the Atlantic community will allow us to serve our customers even better.”

The announcement went on to note that the process of bringing together the two sides “will be measured and deliberate, ensuring that the integration of the two companies is as seamless and effective as possible.”

The goal throughout the process is to maintain and enhance service delivery and support for their customers without interruption.

There was no mention made of executive changes. Pye served as president of Andy’s Tire. Terms of the deal were also not disclosed.

According to Modern Tire Dealer, Coast became fully independent in February 2022 after acquiring 49 per cent of its shares from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Coast has been in business for more than 30 years while Andy’s Tire was established more than 70 years ago.

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A new partnership aims to boost job opportunities in Canada’s automotive aftermarket.

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada announced an exclusive recruitment and human resources services partnership with Auto-jobs.ca. The deal will look to increase accessibility in connecting with qualified automotive talent to fill open positions in the industry.

AIA Canada president and CEO J.F. Champagne noted the need to take action on the aftermarket’s labour issues.

“We aim to elevate the recruitment process in the auto care sector, making it more accessible, efficient, and beneficial for both employers and job seekers,” he said in the announcement.

AIA Canada members in good standing can now take advantage of benefits from this partnership, which includes volume posting discounts, discounts on Atman tests and discounted assisted recruitment services package, which includes job reference, driver’s license validation, and criminal record assessment.

By visiting their membership benefits website, AIA Canada members can find more details and access to the offerings.

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The group representing OE and aftermarket suppliers announced a partnership to enhance purchasing power with ocean shippers.

MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association has collaborated with Gemini Shippers Association to provide top-tier international transportation procurement services to the automotive OEM and aftermarket supplier industries. This alliance, MEMA said, will offer exclusive benefits to the members of both associations.

Members of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers and MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers will gain complimentary access to join Gemini Shippers Association under this partnership. This opportunity allows members to augment their purchasing power with ocean shippers.

“This is an exceptional chance for our supplier members to strengthen their competitive position in ocean shipping,” said Ben Brucato, vice president of membership at engagement at MEMA. “The synergy between MEMA and Gemini Shippers members will amplify our collective bargaining power, which is a key benefit of our association.”

By pooling its members Gemini Shippers Association can secure better and more favorable pricing per container for the shipping needs of its members. The announcement noted that this arrangement offers suppliers a range of pricing options without any initial commitment and includes access to real-time tracking and tracing information for ocean and rail shipments, thus enhancing visibility into their supply chains.

“This partnership represents a significant milestone in our joint efforts,” said Ken O’Brien, president and CEO of Gemini Shippers Association. “With Gemini’s established leadership in ocean transportation, we are thrilled to engage with MEMA’s distinguished membership and their robust presence in the automotive sector.”

The partnership also includes Gemini Shippers Association’s sponsorship of the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Supply Chain & Operations (SCO) Forum. This forum serves as a platform for members to learn about and discuss various challenges, including procurement of raw materials and components, logistics, labour, packaging, warehousing robotics and more.

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After a flurry of activity in 2023, what other deals could be in store for 2024 in the Canadian automotive aftermarket?

Canada saw a pair of distributor giants announce their sales in 2023 with LKQ’s acquisition of Uni-Select and O’Reilly Automotive announcing in December that it plans to close its deal with the parent company of Vast-Auto this month.

Elsewhere, Auto Parts Central and Central Canada Industries joined Uni-Select. The parent company of Worldpac and Carquest is looking into selling both those companies.

What should we expect in 2024? While discussing the Vast-O’Reilly deal, the question was put to three aftermarket experts.

They pointed to a variety of possibilities. Joe Mercanti, retired industry veteran, initially thought that Carquest would be a natural target for O’Reilly before hearing about its acquisition of Vast-Auto.

However, he noted, O’Reilly may eye the other Auto Value members as part of a nationwide expansion. Vast-Auto was part of the Auto Value buying group under the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Alliance.

Meanwhile, an industry source who was granted anonymity in order to speak freely, urged people to keep an eye on LKQ.

“I suspect it will be decision time at some point specific to their automotive group, as they focus in on the [paint, body and equipment] sectors, which is their strength,” the anonymous source said. “Cracks starting to show now with their independent membership.”

“With Advance and NAPA and now O’Reilly, all the big three have some footprint over here. So, who knows, maybe next up is AutoZone.”

A natural thought might be AutoZone moving into the Canadian market next now that its competitors have moved north of the border, even as Advance looks to sell Carquest, observed Kumar Saha, U.S. vice president and Canadian managing director of global automotive data firm Eucon.

“So who remains? AutoZone, who doesn’t really have any kind of a presence in the market,” he said in an interview. “With Advance and NAPA and now O’Reilly, all the big three have some footprint over here. So, who knows, maybe next up is AutoZone.

As you look across the Canadian aftermarket landscape, keep an eye on distributors that have aging ownership — what are their plans and with which companies do they fit best, the source wondered.

Furthermore, he noted, look for NAPA, Modern Sales, Monaco Gorup and Bestbuy to pick up members that don’t fit within the O’Reilly platform. They will be the winners.

And what of Worldpac? The folks we talked to were divided.

“I also believe Advance will have a tough time selling Worldpac, as they are up for all of North America, not just Canada,” the source told Auto Service World.

Mercanti, on the other hand, told Auto Service World that he believes Worldpac will be picked up quickly and from a non-industry player. He was a national sales manager with the distributor until his retirement in 2021.

“In a year, it will be bought, and it will be bought by an equity firm. This is my opinion. And the reason being because it makes money,” Mercanti said. “It’ll surprise me if a competitor buys them but I don’t think so. I think that no competitor has the deep pockets as you’re going to need to do that.”

On the cost to acquire, the anonymous source agrees.

“Other network groups probably cannot afford Worldpac, except LKQ,” they said. “Which, if that happened, could solidify their position in parts; as opposed to PBE and crash parts.”

“They’re going to get the best bang for the buck from Worldpac and bring in a lot of cash. That’s what Advance needs.”

Mercanti and the source agreed that Carquest will be a separate transaction from Worldpac.

“And, for a long shot, don’t count [Canadian Tire] out of the Carquest purchase,” the source said. “Their auto repair sector has been sliding for years now (except for tires and batteries) for a number of reasons, and PartSource is stagnant. I suspect they are also noodling their aftermarket strategy these days.”

Or, perhaps as Mercanti observed, its parent company, Advance Auto Parts, may decide to hang on to Carquest.

“They might even keep it,” he said. “They’re going to get the best bang for the buck from Worldpac and bring in a lot of cash. That’s what Advance needs.”

Nevertheless, expect more moves. “It’s kind of hard to say what the future holds,” Saha said, “But I think we will start to see more consolidation.”

And with more consolidation, the pressure goes up on suppliers, Saha noted.

“When consolidation happens in the market, I think the biggest challenges faced by suppliers because they feel pressure to keep their costs low and there’s more bargaining power,” Saha observed. “I think within Canada, there was slightly more bargaining power in the market for suppliers. But if consolidation starts to keep pace at this way, then that could be an issue for some suppliers down the road.”

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2023 finished off with some major news: O’Reilly Automotive announced it had acquired Groupe Del Vasto, which operates Vast-Auto Distribution.

We spoke to a few industry experts about the implications of the deal. One of them was Kumar Saha, a columnist with Jobber News and the U.S. vice president and Canadian managing director of global automotive data firm Eucon. He’s also a frequent commentator for the automotive aftermarket, speaking at conferences about the state of the industry.

Saha took some time to chat about what this deal means for the industry in Canada, how O’Reilly’s split retail-wholesale structure would mesh with Vast, the loss of Canadian-owned aftermarket companies, M&A landscape going forward and more.

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Epico announced it has acquired Elite Extra, a cloud-based last-mile delivery solutions provider.

The deal, it said in an announcement, expands its ability to help customers across the make, move and sell industries simplify last-mile logistics and compete in a hyper-competitive market more effectively.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition will complement and strengthen Epicor’s ability to optimize last mile logistics and solve supply chain challenges for customers across Epicor’s vertical industries.

“Getting the right parts and products to the right place at the right time is essential in today’s marketplace. More and more, it’s all about make, move, sell and deliver,” said Epicor’s CEO Steve Murphy. “We are thrilled to welcome Elite EXTRA as part of the Epicor team, adding advanced last-mile delivery capabilities to help our customers simplify, streamline, and strengthen their logistics operations.”

With Elite Extra, Epicor’s automotive aftermarket customers will gain deeper real-time visibility to make more informed routing, dispatch, and inventory decisions. This will help distributors, independent service shops, and dealers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver a superior customer experience that builds loyalty and creates a competitive advantage.

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From left, Jimmy Lea, Cecil Bullard, Michael Herzburg Smith and Kent Bullard

The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence announced a merger Herzberg Smith & Co.

Michael Herzburg Smith will join, Jimmy Lea as part of the institute leadership’s team as the chief strategy officer. He will spearhead the company’s expansion programs, fostering client high performance, facilitating strategic growth and orchestrating succession plans.

Herzburg Smith has built numerous businesses and supported clients for 42 years across more than 40 different industry verticals. The announcement explained that he “was asked to bring his extensive knowledge base first to advise a leading automotive service company seven years ago, and his team has since focused exclusively on accelerating top independent auto service companies.”

“We are excited to welcome Michael to our team and believe his expertise will be instrumental in our mission to elevate the automotive industry,” said Cecil Bullard, president and CEO of the institute. “His appointment underscores our commitment to providing our members with the highest level of support and strategic guidance as they strive for excellence in this rapidly evolving world of ours.”

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Advance Auto Parts announced it is beginning the process of looking into spinning off its Worldpac division and its Canadian business under the Carquest banner.

The announcement came as the company has decided to focus on a “blended box business model” as it also looks into a new cost reduction program. In its third-quarter financial report, it said the move the company could see at least $150 million in savings annually through the plan.

Shane O’Kelly, who took the reins as president and CEO from Tom Greco two months ago, said he’s been working with the board and management in reviewing the business.

Advance has started a sale process that could lead to the company parting with Worldpac and Carquest, under which Advance’s goes to market in Canada.

Centreview Partners is working with Advance on the sale process. No timetable was given nor was a deadline for any potential sale. Advance also doesn’t intend to comment or give any updates on the possible sale unless they reach a conclusion or further updates are warranted.

Earlier this year, Worlpac and Carquest opened up a shared distribution centre north of Toronto. The 580,000-square-foot facility can house 350,000 automotive parts.

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Auto Parts Central won the Jobber of the Year Award in 2008

An award-winning network of central Canadian jobbers plus its supplier parent company have been acquired by Uni-Select.

Auto Parts Central and Central Canada Industries, both owned by Wayne Maunula with presence in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, are now part of the Uni-Select fold.

Maunula won the Jobber News Jobber of the Year Award in 2008.

The company called the acquisition “a strategic transaction aimed at expanding the company’s footprint” across the three provinces.

Central Canada Industries opened its doors 32 years ago. Its core products included hydraulic hose and couplings, lifting and rigging, traction chain, pneumatics, fleet oil and greases. Two years later, it launched Auto Parts Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

“Wayne’s partner, Marvin Maunula, thought auto parts would be a good idea to add to our mix so we joined the Uni-Select buying group,” the Auto Parts Central website says.

The jobber has 14 locations stretching from Thunder Bay to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. “Our customer relationships are what separates us from competitors,” the company says. “We are a locally operated auto parts distributor that prides itself on the relationships we’ve built with the most trusted automotive service providers and DIY technicians in every city we’re located in.”

In winning the Jobber of the Year Award, Maunula said, “I run this a little different from many traditional businesses,” while crediting the hard work of his staff.

“Our staff is really the people who make the business work. I have only been in the automotive business for 15 years, and never worked on the counter or as a driver or in sales,” he said in 2008.

Being so spread out geographically requires effective teams.

“I think that goes back to having our managers deal with their local markets and their customers,” Maunula said. “And, if there is a positive impression of our business, it is because of their attitude and work. It’s not just Wayne in Thunder Bay.”

Auto Parts Central and Central Canada Industries “has consistently demonstrated growth, a testament to the business’ quality of customer service and active community engagement,” Uni-Select’s announcement said.

“We are truly honoured to carry forward the Maunula family’s legacy, driven by our commitment to delivering excellence in both products and service to support the growth and performance of our customers.” Emilie Gaudet, president and chief operating officer of Uni-Select said in a statement.

Central Canada Industries started off in the forestry and the pulp mill industry and now also works in the mining and construction industry.

“The Uni-Select leadership has been supportive throughout our collaboration,” Maunula said in the announcement. “Our relationship has been built on mutual respect and cooperation, making me confident that joining the corporate store group is the logical step for our future.’’

This is Uni-Select’s first announced acquisition since it was bought by LKQ.

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I-CAR Canada announced a partnership with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB Group) to increase welding training opportunities across the country.

The partnership will see CWB lend its training facilities in Milton, Ontario, and Nisku, Alberta, as well as instructors nationwide for training to I-CAR Canada.

I-CAR Canada is a is a training and recognition program run by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada.

CWB Group will grow in the collision industry and expand its network under the partnership while sharing its expertise.

The deal will ensure that welding training from I-CAR Canada is accessible to all Canadians in a timely manner. Instructors will travel across Canada to train technicians in-shop, ensuring more collision shops in rural and urban areas of the country will be able to offer safe, quality and timely vehicle repairs.

“This is an incredible opportunity to provide I-CAR welding training to rural, sometimes inaccessible, areas of Canada,” said Stuart Klein, vice president of collision programs at AIA Canada. “Working with the CWB Group at these facilities and through their travelling instructors will ensure that all Canadian collision sector businesses, regardless of their location, will have access to the training they need to safely repair vehicles.”

“At CWB Group, we’re committed to enhancing the skills of Canada’s welding community. Partnering with I-CAR Canada allows us to combine our robust training infrastructure with their specialized curriculum, ensuring a brighter, safer future for the collision industry. Together, we’re reaching every corner of Canada,” said Bill Gwynne, vice president of industry solutions at the CWB Group.

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TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc. inked a commercial partnership with Paquet & Fils for the marketing of its lubricants for the Quebec market.

Paquet & Fils specializes in distributing petroleum products and equipment for Quebec.

This move will see TotalEnergies consolidate its distribution network in a strategic area, aiming to offer a better level of service.

“We are excited to unveil our long-term partnership with Paquet & Fils. Our natural complementarity and our joint ambitions align perfectly with our desire for growth, highlighting our vast selection of solutions in the field of lubricants. This collaboration will make it possible to broaden access to our specialized products approved by the main European manufacturers, as well as to our range of organic products and fats, in order to make them accessible to the greatest number of customers” declares Olivier Gauthier, President of TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc.

“With the addition of the TotalEnergies product range to ours, we will be able to offer our customers and partners superior quality lubricants. Paquet et fils has always been able, over its 121 years of existence, to capitalize on actions and decisions that have moved the company forward and thus offer exceptional service and products to its customers. It’s in the DNA of Paquet et fils and that’s what we’re still doing with this news,” says Michel Paquet, General Manager of Paquet & Fils.

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Two companies are teaming up to develop needs for automotive shops.

SKF and Hazet announced the technical partnership for the independent automotive aftermarket where they will co-develop solutions.

Hazet is a manufacturer of hand tools and workshop equipment. SKF offers customized bearings, seals, related products and services.

The agreement will see an exchange of technical expertise aimed at providing premium quality tools and solutions for the replacement of the full SKF aftermarket assortment. Both companies will also take part in a co-communication strategy to strengthen brand presence and industry recognition

“This partnership allows us to offer our customers real added value — premium spare parts always go hand in hand with premium tools,” said Philipp Herlein, head of global vehicle aftermarket at SKF, in a statement. “It is important for us to provide our customers with a full service around our products, which of course also includes the right tool solution. With Hazet, we have a partner in the field of tooling that meets our requirements in terms of quality and technical know-how.”

Hazet managing partner Matthias Hoffmann said he’s delighted to emphasize the importance of the new cooperation.

“We already have a strong market presence in the automotive hand tool and workshop equipment industry,” he said in the announcement. “The newly formed partnership with SKF offers us a valuable opportunity to consolidate and further expand our already strong market position.”

Both noted that their companies are well-recognized in the automotive aftermarket. This agreement, the announcement said, will bring together parts of their activities to a global scale, creating innovation and enhancing global reach.

“Growing the independent aftermarket is a core element of SKF’s automotive strategy and through the partnership with HAZET we set another prerequisite for successful execution of that direction,” said Kerstin Enochsson, president of automotive at SKF.

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It’s now official: Quebec-based Uni-Select has been acquired by Chicago-based LKQ Corporation.

News of the deal first sprouted in late February. After getting regulatory and shareholder clearance, as well as LKQ waiving some conditions, the deal was completed under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Québec).

As outlined from the start, LKQ will buy all of Uni-Select’s issued and outstanding shares for $48 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at about CAN$2.8 billion.

Former shareholders will be paid out “as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof” or after other steps are completed, in the case of registered shareholders.

LKQ provides alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize vehicles. Uni-Select distributes automotive aftermarket parts and automotive refinishing products in Canada under the Bumper to Bumper, Auto Parts Plus and FinishMaster banners.

In the U.K., Uni-Select, distributes automotive parts through GSF Car Parts, though LKQ has stated it will sell off the division.

The deal was looking at delays following the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority’s request for a remedy (known as “undertakings in lieu of reference”). The regulator made the request to address concerns it has identified about the impact on markets in the United Kingdom.

Just before the weekend, Uni-Select announced that LKQ was formally waiving the closing condition relating to gaining merger clearance in the U.K. That being the final hurdle, all closing conditions were either satisfied or waived, opening the door to officially closing the deal.

Shareholders gave the deal the go-ahead in May.

Now that the deal is complete, Uni-Select will be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange and Uni-Select has applied to cease to be a reporting issuer in all Canadian provinces.

“We look forward to welcoming Uni-Select’s employees to the LKQ team,” said LKQ president and CEO Dominick Zarcone when the deal was first announced. “Importantly, we believe that our combined efforts will create tremendous long-term value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders as we continue to focus on our operational excellence initiatives.”

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The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority is requiring a remedy (known as “undertakings in lieu of reference”) in the LKQ Corporation deal for Uni-Select following its fast-track Phase 1 review process.

The competition regulator made the request to address concerns it has identified about the impact on markets in the United Kingdom.

A statement put out by Uni-Select said the two parties are reviewing the decision “and will promptly engage to formally submit a remedy proposal.” It further noted the commitment of both companies to divest of Uni‑Select’s GSF Car Parts business in the U.K. so that the deal gets clearance from the regulator.

In the U.K., Uni-Select distributes automotive parts through GSF Car Parts and has more than 175 company-operated stores.

Should all conditions be met or waived, a Q3 closing of the deal is expected.

It was announced at the end of February that a deal had been reached for LKQ to acquire Uni-Select in a deal valued at $2.8 billion. Uni-Select shareholders approved the deal in May.

In Canada, Uni-Select distributes automotive aftermarket parts and automotive refinishing products under the Bumper to Bumper, Auto Parts Plus and FinishMaster banners. In the United States, Uni-Select’s subsidiary FinishMaster has more than 145 automotive refinish company-operated stores.

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Tire distributor Groupe Touchette announced it has acquired Fastco Canada, which designs, manufactures and distributes alloy wheels.

In an announcement, Groupe Touchette said the deal will allow it to expand its customer service offering and give Fastco greater access to new markets.

The acquisition, the company said, is in line with its growth plan and it has joined forces with an innovative company at the forefront of technology and driven by values of excellence. The two companies will remain independent.

“Our collaboration opens new avenues for both companies and allows us to expand our product offering as part of our strategic plan,” said Nicolas Touchette, co-owner and chief executive officer of Groupe Touchette. “Groupe Touchette and Fastco Canada have cultivated common values of excellence that motivate our respective employees. While remaining independent, both companies will continue to operate with common objectives to provide our customers with the best experience in the tire and wheel categories.”

Fastco’s Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, and Airdrie, Alberta, locations will continue as usual. The agreement allows Fastco to maintain its brands and management team.

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Epicor and SiriusXM have partnered to give automotive repair shops using Epicor Service CRM to offer eligible customers complimentary three-month SiriusXM Platinum Plan trial subscriptions.

Those using Epicor Service CRM can now join “SiriusXM for Shop Customers” at no charge. These qualified businesses can then give a three-month SiriusXM Platinum Plan subscription to eligible customers who have vehicles with factory installed SiriusXM as an added incentive for relying on their shop’s services.

“We are pleased to work with Epicor to help vehicle service businesses differentiate themselves in a highly competitive industry by providing the benefit of SiriusXM and making their customer experience more positive and memorable,” said Gail Berger, senior vice president and general manager of automotive partnerships for SiriusXM.

Epicor said it will provide platform users with attractive point-of-sale materials and email marketing tools to help promote this new benefit.

“By taking advantage of this free offer, our users can establish another positive connection with customers who are looking for one trusted provider to handle all of their service needs,” said Tim Hardin, Epicor’s senior vice president of global automotive, data and extend services.

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Lordco Auto Parts has partnered with another Canadian Football League team.

Shortly after announcing a similar deal with the Edmonton Elks, Lordco announced it has also partnered with the Elks’ provincial rivals, the Calgary Stampeders.

Lordco recently expanded into Alberta and has been growing its presence in the province ever since. They have two stores in each of Calgary and Edmonton.

“With two more stores opening in Alberta this year, we are thrilled to expand our reach and offer football fans across the province an unparalleled customer experience at every location,” said Sarah Durant, vice president of marketing at Lordco Auto Parts.

Its partnership with the Stampeders “was just another step in furthering this commitment and supporting a team that brings so much to its fan base, on and off the field,” she added.

Jay McNeil, vice president of business operations with the Stampeders welcomed the deal.

“The Stampeders are extremely excited to partner with a family-owned, Canadian company like Lordco Auto Parts,” he said in the announcement. “Similar to the values of the Calgary Stampeders, Lordco is active in the communities where they do business and we’re proud to team up both on and off the field.”

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Having expanded into Alberta, Lordco Auto Parts is looking to deepen its commitment in the province with a new partnership with the Edmonton Elks.

The three-year partnership with the Canadian Football League team signals Lordco’s expansion into Canadian sports, the B.C.-based automotive parts distributor said in an announcement.

“Since our expansion into Alberta in 2019 we’ve worked hard to earn the trust of our customers and are committed to being a contributor to the community,” said Sarah Durant, Lordco’s vice president of Marketing. “With two stores in the city already, partnering with the Edmonton Elks was just another step in furthering this commitment and supporting a team that brings so much to its fan base, on and off the field.”

She added that the company will be adding two more stores in the province this year.

The announcement further outlined that the partnership with the Elks “reflects shared values of excellence, passion, and commitment to the local communities they serve. As a proudly Canadian company with deep roots in Western Canada, Lordco recognizes the power of sports to inspire youth and unite people of all backgrounds.”

Victor Cui, president and CEO of the Edmonton Elks welcomed the partnership.

“As a community-owned team, our values align with Lordco’s commitment to giving back, and we can’t wait to help showcase and grow Lordco’s brand as they strengthen their presence in the Alberta market,” he said.

The Elks played their first game of their 73rd season last week, a 17-13 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as the CFL season kicked off.

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A new strategic partnership between JNPSoft OptiCat and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers will offer value-added benefits

MEMA will offer unique incentives on JNPSoft OptiCat licensed products, access to resources and trade information for new members of its aftermarket suppliers group.

“MEMA is excited to provide exclusive benefits for new members,” said Collin Shaw, chief commercial vehicle officer at MEMA, which represents vehicle suppliers in the aftermarket and original equipment segments. “As part of the value proposition new members will have access to industry-leading products and consulting services of JNPSoft OptiCat at a discounted price. ”

Both MEMA and JNPSoft OptiCat noted in the announcement that they aim to improve the flow of information available and provide effective solutions to the heavy-duty industry.

JNPSoft OptiCat will provide discounts on subscription products and consulting services to commercial vehicle suppliers as an immediate benefit.

“MEMA Aftermarket combines the access, legislative and networking support required to be successful in this industry,” said Blake Barson, director of data service and national sales at OptiCat. “We look forward to welcoming new members and helping them sell more parts.”

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A Mustang Mach-E at at Tesla charging station. Photo courtesy of Ford

Ford and Tesla have agreed on a partnership that will see the Detroit-based automaker adopt Tesla chargers on its electric vehicles, making them accessible to Tesla’s network.

It’s a move that surprised many industry analysts who have noted Tesla’s preference to operate in its own bubble and ignore attempts to standardize the industry in areas such as chargers.

CEOs from both companies announced that future Ford EVs — such as the Mach-E and Lightning — will incorporate the Tesla connector from 2025. Current Ford EV owners in Canada and the U.S. will be able to access 12,000 Superchargers starting in the spring of next year via a CCS-to-Tesla connector.

The move gives Ford access to Tesla’s own network of charging infrastructure, giving it a market advantage over other automakers that are only able to rely on public infrastructure.

In return, Tesla will keep a large portion of revenue from the charging stations.

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Uni-Select recently announced that its shareholders gave the thumbs up to the sale of the company to LKQ Corporation.

A special meeting of shareholders saw the resolution approved by nearly 99 per cent of votes cast by shareholders present virtually or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.

The deal was announced at the end of February and will see Chicago-based LKQ will buy all of Boucherville, Quebec-based Uni-Select’s issued and outstanding shares for $48 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at about CAN$2.8 billion.

The agreement also includes Uni-Select’s U.K. auto parts distribution business GSF Car Parts with more than 175 company-operated stores. LKQ has noted it will look to part with the business following its acquisition.

The arrangement is expected to close in the second half of this year. It remains subject to certain closing conditions, including the issuance of a final order by the Superior Court of Québec and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, consisting of approval under the Canadian Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act, approval under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and clearance by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority.

First quarter results

Uni-Select reported nearly 10 per cent growth in its consolidated sales in the first quarter of 2023 when compared to the same time last year. If it weren’t for unfavourable fluctuation from the Canadian dollar and British pound, the company said it would have seen growth of 15 per cent.

Within the Canadian Automotive Group, sales were up 19 per cent when excluding unfavourable fluctuations of the Canadian dollar compared to the first quarter of 2022. Growth, Uni-Select noted, was driven by acquisitions over the last year, representing 9.5 per cent with organic growth of 8.4 per cent, plus a favourable variance in the number of billing days.

Organic growth was driven by price increases, it noted.

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Lukas / Pexels

Repairify announced an exclusive long-term agreement with Autel U.S. to deliver its patented global OEM remote solutions for diagnostics, calibrations, and programming through Autel’s remote-capable products across North America.

Under the agreement, Repairify will integrate its solutions as a new service offering into a revised version of Autel’s Remote Expert platform. Repairify and Autel will jointly manage the platform that will now offer customers the choice of using the certified and warrantied OEM remote solutions from Repairify, along with the independent Remote Experts (vetted for their experience) who are already serving the platform.

We are excited to enter into this collaboration with Repairify,” said Autel U.S. CEO Chloe Hung. “Autel developed the Remote Expert platform to provide our users remote access to specialized and experienced module programmers and diagnosticians. We are very proud that its success drew the attention of a company of such quality and industry success as Repairify. We are confident that this partnership will benefit both companies and, most importantly, be of immense value to our users.”

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Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard is buying some European gas stations belonging to TotalEnergies in a multi-billion dollar deal.

Valued at €3.1 billion (CAN$4.5 billion), Couche-Tard said it plans to turn the stations into food and services hubs. The deal comes two years after Couche-Tard’s last attempt to expand its presence in the European market when it tried to acquire French grocer Carrefour, a deal that was thwarted by the French government that opposed the deal.

The deal will see the operator own all of TotalEnergies’ stations in Germany and the Netherlands while also taking a 60 per cent stake in stations in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The company operates the Couche-Tard and Circle K convenience store banners in the United States as well as convenience stores and road transportation fuel retailers in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics and Ireland.

The acquisition will be paid in cash, Couche-Tard said, and is expected to close by the end of the year. The deal affects 2,200 service stations in Western Europe.

“Service stations must expand from just selling fuel to become full-fledged service hubs,” TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said in an announcement. “For this reason, TotalEnergies has decided to partner with Couche-Tard and tap into its recognized expertise in operating convenience stores in service stations.”

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An agreement has been reached for LKQ Corporation to acquire Uni-Select Inc. in an all-cash deal.

LKQ will buy all of Uni-Select’s issued and outstanding shares for $48 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at about CAN$2.8 billion. It is expected to close later this year.

Chicaco-based LKQ is a provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize vehicles. Uni-Select distributes automotive aftermarket parts and automotive refinishing products in Canada under the Bumper to Bumper, Auto Parts Plus and FinishMaster banners. It supports more than 16,000 automotive repair and collision repair shops and more than 4,000 shops through its automotive repair/installer shop banners and automotive refinish banners. Its network has more than 1,000 independent customer locations with nearly 100 company-operated stores.

In the United States, Uni-Select’s subsidiary FinishMaster has more than 145 automotive refinish company-operated stores, supporting more than 30,000 customers annually. In the U.K., Uni-Select, distributes automotive parts through GSF Car Parts and has more than 175 company-operated stores. However, LKQ has noted it will look to part with the division.

The announcement highlighted the deal as a “compelling strategic fit” with LKQ president and CEO Dominick Zarcone calling it complimentary to the company’s existing offerings and enhancing its offerings.

“We look forward to welcoming Uni-Select’s employees to the LKQ team. Importantly, we believe that our combined efforts will create tremendous long-term value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders as we continue to focus on our operational excellence initiatives,” he said.

Zarcon added that the deal will allow LKQ to boost its presence in Quebec as Uni-Select’s head office is in Boucherville.

Brian McManus, executive chair and CEO of Uni-Select, said the deal will bring more opportunities to customers, suppliers, employees and brands as the two companies combine their strengths.

“The transaction offers compelling value and liquidity to our shareholders and is the culmination of the efforts by our dedicated team to improve our operations and drive efficiencies with a focus on excellent customer service,” he said in the announcement.

Finer details

The deal is valued at $2.8 billion, including debt. . The $48 per share deal is about a 21 per cent premium over Uni-Select’s average trading price the last three weeks. The announcement highlighted that the transaction will find about US$55 million in cost synergies by the third year after closing, on top of other margin and revenue opportunities.

Uni-Select’s board of directors has unanimously approved the deal and recommends shareholders vote in favour.

It is expected to close in the second half of this year. Clearances will be needed in Canada, the U.S. and U.K., on top of shareholder and court approvals.

For the deal to go through, approval will be needed from two-thirds of votes cast during a special meeting of Uni-Select shareholders and a majority of the votes cast on the Transaction at such meeting.

Upon closing of the deal, LKQ will look to sell the U.K. segment, GSF Car Parts.

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A new partnership between the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business will give AARO members free membership to the CFIB.

Members will have access to CFIB offerings, such as business support, savings programs and independent business advocacy.

Specifically, members will get access to things like complimentary and unlimited access to CFIB’s bilingual business counsellors to assist the shop owner or staff with almost any business-related issue, such as human resources, compliance, regulation, employment standards, labour laws and more.

Business owners will also be able to attend CFIB webinars for free. CFIB also has savings programs such as payment processing, payroll processing, worldwide courier/shipping, banking discounts and others that can save members more than $5,000 per year.

Members with questions, please contact Patty Kettles, AARO’s manager of events and programs at 1-800-268-5400 ext. 3, 613-558-5821 or patty.kettles@aaro.ca.

Members are being asked to watch their inboxes for more details from CFIB. A welcome email from CFIB with your individual membership number is on the way with all necessary information to access membership services.

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In Motion Brands announced a strategic partnership with CrashBay.com.

The company will deliver a state-of-the-art digital showroom for both tire and wheel e-commerce, along with a national service network of automotive service providers facilitating the procurement and installation of tire and wheel packages for CrashBay’s fleet clients.

In Motion Brands helps automotive aftermarket businesses improve performance. CrashBay offers a digital marketplace for vehicle and fleet owners to fine approved auto care services such as collision repair, detailing, vehicle service and more.

“The team at IMB has been able to facilitate immediate scale by aligning us with a marketplace of automotive service providers from coast to coast while also providing best-in-class software that aligns with our technology stack,” said John Harvey, CrashBay’s founder and CEO.

The strategic partnership has brought more than 100 automotive service locations into the CrashBay digital marketplace. “Expansion of this offering will continue across Canada and the USA in the coming months,” Harvey added.

The CrashBay team is an example of an ideal partnership for In Motion Brands, said James Channer, COO. “CrashBay is a perfect example of marrying the physical elements of the business to a strong digital strategy. Getting ‘phygital’ is a must,” he said.

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Crowds check out the Ideal Supply Show in Barrie, Ont., in 2018

Wyebridge Machine Limited, run by the MacLennan family in Midland, Ontario, has sold its NAPA franchise to Ideal Supply.

The deal closed on Nov. 4. Ideal Supply announced the acquisition on Nov. 18. Ideal is NAPA’s largest network of franchise stores in Canada, with more than 30 branches throughout southcentral and southwestern Ontario. Its head office is in Listowel.

Wyebridge opened its doors in 1962 with John and Mary MacLennan running operations. The shop stayed in the family with siblings Robert, Ronald, Barry and Anne overseeing the business.

In an announcement from Howie Pruden, Ideal’s vice president and general manager, he noted that “the siblings are quick to credit the success of the business to the great staff they have at the store now and have had over the years.”

He also said the company owes many thanks to its customers who have been loyal to Wyebridge. “Without your business, Wyebridge could not have operated over the years, and they express their pleasure at having been able to serve you,” Pruden said. “We wish them the very best as they transition to the next phase in their lives.”

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Money and reduced physical barriers are the combinations that will see continued merger and acquisition activity, according to a long-time automotive aftermarket leader.

The number of independent suppliers has dwindled in recent years with many brands now falling under one major company. But these days, it’ll be even easier to put deals together thanks to increased electronic communication, said John Washbish, president and chief executive officer of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

Virtual meetings are fairly normal these days, boosted by the necessity to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Company headquarters are less important than they used to be with many employers opting for hybrid and more remote working options for staff.

“So it’s much easier to put companies together than it was before,” he said during an episode of Curbside Chat, the video podcast series from the Automotive Industries Association of Canada.

The second reason is there’s a lot of money sitting on the sidelines. Companies and investors are itching to put it to use. They see the strong financial results of the automotive aftermarket and they want in.

“So you’re going to continue to see aftermarket consolidation happen, just because there’s a lot of money, and there’s a lot of old people, and the money ready to buy out the old people,” Washbish told Bob Jaworski, past chair of AIA Canada, who hosted the episode. “That’s going to happen.”

Even on the automaker side, Washbish predicted plenty of consolidation as electric vehicles take hold even if they’re many years away from making a dent in the overall car parc.

He still sees another decade or two where those in the internal combustion engine space will still be busy.

“But I see a lot of people saying. ‘I’m scared of that. I want to get out of that,’” Washbish said. “I can see you get rolled up by some of the big companies that are smart enough to know there’s got to be a lot of money to be made on ICE engines over the next 15-20 years on the OE side.”

But there’s also the other side of the equation that’s going after the EV business who are lining themselves up for the new opportunities.

“So the consolidation in the aftermarket is definitely going to continue on those manufacturing companies. On the OE side, look for the ICE engine consolidation, and then look for those people that are interested in going after the electric,” Washbish said.

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There’s plenty of money on the sidelines and everyone from banks to private equity firms don’t want to sit on it. So some of that money could be used to fund acquisitions, suggested an expert.

Furthermore, interest rates are low — for now, anyway. This presents an opportunity for businesses to get their balances sheets straightened out and make a splash if one comes available, said Sig Huber, senior managing director at Riveron, a business advisory firm.

“The banks don’t want to be sitting on piles of cash, but they are right now. They want to deploy the cash into the right situations,” he said. “There’s still a lot of money available, and potentially an interesting play to go and get your refinancing now, even if your loans aren’t due, because we know the rates are going to be going up in the future. So we have several clients that have been very successful in getting new loans in place now, even though their expiration dates weren’t for 12 months out or even 18 months out.”

For private equity firms, they are very much interested in the automotive sector, especially as electrification and advanced driver-assistance systems gain in prominence. But they’re not deploying their cash just yet.

As a recent example, Tenneco entered into a deal to be acquired by an investment management firm. It is valued at more than US$7 billion.

“However, that money is on the sidelines for two reasons,” Huber explained. “Number 1, they’re waiting for enterprise values to drop as distress increases. And Number 2, they’re waiting for the supply chain issues to work themselves out because there’s still uncertainty as to how long the supply chain issues are going to be lingering through the industry.”

Of course, the best time to put money to work is strategically in moments of distress on the side of the other company. And some are in that position now.

“So we think there’s going to be an increase in M&A activity,” Huber predicted. “And something to consider for some of you in this room that are doing well financially: Are there any strategic companies out there that you may want to look at, say this coming year, as potential acquisition targets?”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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A deal between two of Ontario’s biggest fuel and lubricant distributors has closed.

McDougall Energy acquired Dowler-Karn in a deal announced just before Halloween 2021 and closed Feb. 28.

Both are family-owned companies. Dowler-Karn was a third-generation business that manages the petroleum business in Canada. It is a distributor of fuel, propane and lubricants. It services more than 18,000 residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial customers from eight fuel, propane, and lubricant plants and nine 24-hour fuel access centres across Southwestern Ontario.

The company will operate under its family name and management as a division of McDougall.

“The acquisition of Dowler-Karn brings two 70-plus-year-old family businesses together,” said Darren McDougall, President of McDougall Energy Inc. “This unique opportunity allows us to acquire one of the best family-owned and managed petroleum businesses in Canada and will add significant scale to our business in Southwestern Ontario.”

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based McDougall Energy, meanwhile, is also a third-generation family-owned business, operating since 1949. It, too, is a fuel and lubricant marketer and distributor in Canada. It has offices across Ontario and team members in Western Canada.

“Deciding to sell Dowler-Karn was a very difficult decision, but choosing to sell it to McDougall Energy was not,” says David Karn, President of Dowler-Karn Limited. “After all, they are a third-generation family-owned and operated business, built on similar values as Dowler-Karn, which makes this a perfect fit. The talents and strengths of our teams will position our combined organization in a trajectory of continued success for years to come.”

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An investment management firm is set to be the new owner of automotive products giant Tenneco.

Tenneco and Apollo Global Management entered into a US$7.1-billion deal Feb. 23. As part of the deal, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, Tenneco will become a private company. It will continue to operate under the Tenneco name.

Dennis Letham, chairman of the board of Tenneco, highlighted the purchase price as a main benefit to company shareholders. Apollo is paying a 100.4 per cent premium of Tenneco’s share price — $20 per share, compared to Tenneco’s closing price of $9.98 on Feb. 22.

“The Board’s decision follows careful evaluation of the transaction and thoughtful and comprehensive review of value creation opportunities for Tenneco,” Letham said in a news release. “We believe this transaction is the right path forward and achieves our goal of maximizing value for Tenneco shareholders, and will benefit our team members, customers and business partners around the world.”

For Brian Kesseler, Tenneco’s chief executive officer, he noted the transaction as a milestone that signals Tenneco’s successful transformation.

“In Apollo, we have a partner that recognizes the strength of our product portfolio and our ability to serve leading OEM and aftermarket blue-chip customers globally,” he added. “Specifically, this partnership will allow us to continue to invest in and grow Tenneco’s multiple segments and global footprint. This transaction is also a testament to the achievements of our global team, whose commitment and focus during these extraordinary times have enabled our success.”

It was almost four years ago that Tenneco acquired Federal-Mogul in a US$5.4-billion deal.

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Photo courtesy of Bosch

Cariad, the software subsidiary of Volkswagen, and Bosch are working together to develop automated vehicle software for use in the automaker’s vehicles.

The two companies made the joint announcement Jan. 25.

“The companies want to make partially and highly automated driving suitable for volume production, and thus available to the broad mass of consumers,” the announcement said.

Bosch and VW’s goal is to reach Level 2 autonomy, meaning hands-free systems for urban and freeway driving, and reach Level 3 where the systems take over all driving functions on the highway.

The companies outlined that they expect to have the first of these functions installed in 2023.

The company will be feeding data gathered in real traffic conditions into the development process in real-time. With each kilometre of data gathered, the companies said, the bigger the pool of data to make automated driving safe and reliable.

“The best proving ground for the development of automated driving is road traffic,” says Dr. Mathias Pillin, president of Bosch Cross-Domain Computing Solutions, in a statement. “With the help of one of the world’s biggest connected vehicle fleets, we will gain access to a huge database. This will allow us to take automated driving systems to a new level. All our customers will be able to benefit from this.”

Bosch and VW also agreed to look into reaching Level 4 autonomy, which is considered fully autonomous but still one step below Level 5.

For partially and highly automated driving, Bosch and VW will develop a state-of-the-art standardized software platform for VW vehicles. They noted it may be possible to integrate all component parts in vehicles and ecosystems developed by other automakers.

It’s expected 1,000 experts between the two companies will be working on the project, with recruitment for roles already underway.

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Months after a flurry of activity, BBB Industries announced it is expanding further into Europe with its latest deal.

The company acquired MAPCO Autotechnik in Germany. It’s the fifth company BBB has acquired since 2019. And the latest announcement comes just months after announcing a series of other deals.

This is BBB’s first foray into German. MAPCO specializes in the design and distribution of nondiscretionary spare parts and accessories across five product segments: steering/suspension parts, brakes, drive train/bearings, engine environment/filters, and electric/accessories.

It has nine regional centers across the country, serving a car parc of over 50 million vehicles. MAPCO, founded in 1977, also has offices in the U.K. and France to service the continent.

“MAPCO is a lauded brand throughout Europe with the reputation of offering quality-certified automotive replacement parts to its customers,” said Duncan Gillis, BBB’s CEO. “With this acquisition, we add approximately 30,000 part numbers into our existing product portfolio. The combination is unparalleled. We are tremendously excited to be in Germany working alongside MAPCO’s management team to bring remarkable value to our existing and new customer relationships with superior products and service.”

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Lukas / Pexels

Toronto-based JMO Business Systems has been acquired by Epicor.

The deal was announced last week. Financial terms were not disclosed.

JMO is a software company that provides warehouse management systems (WHS), enterprise mobility solutions and related services for automotive aftermarket and original equipment parts distributors. It was headquartered in Toronto’s Scarborough neighbourhood.

The deal, Epicor said in an announcement, expands Epicor’s portfolio of business growth solutions to just about every functional area of the automotive parts and service industry, ranging from parts manufacturers to jobbers to service chains to independent repair facilities.

“Automotive is a core business for Epicor, and JMO indago is the gold standard in WMS technology for parts businesses, whether they’re serving the aftermarket or OE service channel,” said Epicor’s CEO Steve Murphy. “This acquisition is a perfect fit for our automotive solution set and for the customers who depend on Epicor to help drive growth, efficiency and profitability.”

JMO was founded in 1988, starting off as a software consultancy. The company wrote its first WMS in 1996 as a custom project for a large automotive parts distributor. It was such a success that it developed indago WMS, which quickly became a top choice of aftermarket distributors throughout the U.S. and Canada

The company also offers an array of rugged, lightweight mobile scanners, wearable voice and data mobile computers, and mobile and desktop printers — all engineered to increase productivity and accuracy of warehouse employees.

“We are thrilled to join a company that has the vision, commitment and resources to contribute to the long-term success of businesses at every level of the parts and service industry,” said John Oliveira, JMO’s CEO. “JMO indago is a perfect complement to Epicor’s impressive automotive portfolio, and together we can provide even greater value to growth-focused parts distribution businesses.”

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Automotive aftermarket filtration supplier Premium Guard Inc. has closed its acquisition of competitor IPC Global Solutions.

The deal was finalized on Dec. 30, 2021, and announced on Jan. 11, 2022. PGI partnered with Dallas-based private equity firm Trive Capital as part of the transaction.

IPC is a major private label filter supplier and the creator of the Ecoguard brand of filtration products.

The two companies have been competing for 26 years, noted Anan Bishara, CEO and president of PGI. That competition allowed both brands to flourish and raise their respective ceilings.

“The merger will capitalize on the combined strengths and synergies,” he added in an announcement. “We will push forward with our core competencies to provide the aftermarket with industry-leading service, complete solutions, best-in-class-quality products, and leading application coverage at compelling prices.”

The new combined company will employ over 600 people and operate approximately one million sq.-ft of warehouse space throughout North America.

In November 2020, PGI acquired Interfil in Mexico. The moves, the company said, expand PGI’s global sourcing platform to deliver a full suite of automotive filtration products and aftermarket solutions.

The two companies will operate separately to ensure no business disruption, Bishara confirmed, “and all of our customers will continue to receive the same high-quality service and products to which they have been accustomed.”

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The largest affiliate of the Automotive Service Association in the U.S. has signed up with a new group and changed its name.

The Automotive Service Association of the Northwest will be changing its name to Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA), joining forces with the Midwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA).

The move came in response to all affiliates having their affiliation agreements revoked by the Automotive Service Association, according to a press release from the MWACA.

“ASA Northwest members deserve to have an association located in this region whose activities are directed and managed by their local board and staff,” the announcement said. “NWACA will continue to serve the independent mechanical/transmission and collision industry as it has for over 50 years.”

The northwest group covers the Washington, Oregon and Idaho territories. ASA Northwest will begin its transition under the name of the NWACA. The changeover will be complete no later than January 1 of next year, according to the release.

“It is with much excitement that I announce a new path for our association,” Bryan Kelley, board chairman of ASA Northwest, said in a statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to serve our members and create value at a much higher level than previously imagined. Our announcement today is that we will be transitioning from ASA Northwest to NWACA (Northwest Auto Care Alliance). Great things are on the horizon for our members.”

The MWACA itself was originally part of the ASA, as the ASA-Midwest Affiliate. It broke away in 2018 to form an independent organization. The NWACA, the announcement said, plans to follow in the footsteps of the MWACA.

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Dorman Products, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dayton Parts for total consideration of $338 million, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, is expected to close in the second half of 2021.

Dayton offers a complete line of undercarriage and other related products for commercial vehicles in the United States and Canada, representing one of the most comprehensive single-source product offerings available in the independent commercial vehicle aftermarket.

Dayton generated $168 million in net sales for the twelve months ended December 2020, and Dorman anticipates the acquisition of Dayton will be immediately accretive to adjusted diluted earnings per share, excluding one-time charges and acquisition-related intangible assets amortization.

The combined company will have best-in-class heavy-duty supplier capabilities, with strengthened fleet and distributor relationships across the United States and Canada. Dayton provides deep product coverage in the high-touch undercarriage component category, complementing Dorman’s current heavy-duty offering by adding approximately 25,000 SKUs and bringing strong brand recognition to Dorman’s light- and heavy-duty businesses, with a 100-year legacy of aftermarket participation and valuable long-term partnerships.

The acquisition is expected to significantly expand Dorman’s heavy-duty manufacturing and distribution platform, providing strategically placed distribution centers closer to wholesale distributors throughout the United States and Canada. This robust distribution network drives industry leading service speed for Dayton in the heavy-duty space, with an average product delivery time of 1 to 2 days across the United States and Canada, which will help Dorman better serve its current heavy-duty customers.

Kevin Olsen, Dorman’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This combination aligns with our previously stated strategy to diversify our customer base and product offering by further penetrating the heavy-duty segment, providing us with a complementary and attractive platform in an industry with strong underlying demand trends. Through the combined company, we will be able to offer our increasingly diverse customer base a more expansive product offering with improved distribution efficiency. We will also be able to leverage Dorman’s strong customer network and robust new product development process to accelerate Dayton’s revenue growth. Dayton is a leading independent provider of heavy-duty undercarriage parts and is a highly regarded brand in the marketplace. We are excited to welcome Dayton to the Dorman family and are excited about the value the combined company will generate for our customers and shareholders.”

Paul Anderson, Dayton’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The combination of Dorman and Dayton is extremely exciting. Our two companies are highly complementary and when you add Dorman’s new product capabilities, the combination gives Dayton a significant opportunity to deliver new solutions to its customers and drive outsized sales growth. We look forward to a successful completion of the transaction and becoming a part of the Dorman family.”

In connection with the transaction, Dorman expects to enter into a new $600 million revolving credit facility, which will replace its existing $100 million revolving credit facility. Borrowings under this new credit facility that are used to complete the transaction will result in net leverage of less than 1.0x. The robust cash flow generation of the combined companies, along with the new revolving credit facility, are expected to provide Dorman with greater flexibility to execute on its strategic priorities.

Until the transaction closes, both companies will operate independently and execute on their respective strategic priorities.

An investor presentation containing additional information regarding the transaction is accessible on Dorman’s website at DormanProducts.com under “Investor Relations.”

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Standard Motor Products, Inc. has joined the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement (CADIA) to continue deploying initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).

Founded in 2017, CADIA is a non-profit organization with the mission of doubling the number of diverse leaders in the automotive industry by 2030.

“Led by automotive industry veterans from diverse backgrounds, CADIA is a well-respected organization in our industry, and we are excited to be a new member. Our continued success as a valued automotive supplier relies on fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce,” said Eric Sills, chief executive officer and president of Standard Motor Products. “We strive to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our policies and practices because we believe an equitable environment of diverse people, working together, aids our success, and we gain the benefit of different ways of looking at our business, which leads to innovation.”

For this reason, SMP recently launched a DE&I taskforce to focus on internal initiatives that will help drive change.

Through workshops, roundtable series, educational academies, events, and more, CADIA drives change and provides its members with best practices and trends on talent system redesign, equity, inclusion, and employee engagement. With members from the automaker, supplier, dealer, association, and economic development communities, CADIA’s members are able to hear from all aspects of the automotive value chain while finding common ground and exploring leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion themes.

“We look forward to working with Standard Motor Products to help them accelerate their DEI journey,” said Cheryl Thompson, founder and CEO of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement. “Companies that work toward creating truly inclusive cultures will naturally experience more employee engagement and will be able pull from a greater talent pool of individuals eager to work for an organization that celebrates their differences and is eager to harness the diversity of thought that this brings. Companies like SMP will benefit – and it benefits the overall industry as well.”

To learn more about SMP’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit smpcorp.com.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Nasdaq: GT) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, finalizing the merger agreement made public on February 22.  The combination unites two leading tire companies with complementary product portfolios, services and capabilities to create a stronger U.S.-based leader in the global tire industry. The combined company will offer more options across the value spectrum making it easier for customers and consumers to choose Goodyear- and Cooper-branded tires.

“We are excited to officially bring Goodyear and Cooper together and unite our shared focus on customers, innovation and high-quality products and solutions. This combination strengthens Goodyear’s ability to serve more consumers globally and provides increased scale to support greater investments in new mobility and fleet solutions,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman, chief executive officer and president.

The acquisition further strengthens Goodyear’s leading position in the U.S., while significantly growing its position in other North American markets. In China, the combination nearly doubles Goodyear’s presence and increases the number of relationships with local automakers, while creating broader distribution for Cooper replacement tires through Goodyear’s network of 2,500 branded retail stores.

The combined company will have the opportunity to leverage the strength of Goodyear original equipment and premium replacement tires, along with the mid-tier power of the Cooper brand, which has particular strength in the light truck and SUV segments.

• As an industry leader in the U.S., the combined company will offer tire products and a broad selection of services through Goodyear’s relationships with traditional and emerging original equipment manufacturers; autonomous driving system developers; new and established fleet operators; and other mobility platforms.

With complementary business models, organizational structures and distribution channels, Goodyear will integrate the best of Goodyear and Cooper in order to benefit its shareholders, customers, consumers and employees.

As a result of the closing, Cooper’s common stock will cease to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Solera Holdings, Inc. has completed its acquisitions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving.

Omnitracs is a leading fleet management platform, DealerSocket is a best-in-class SaaS provider to the automotive industry and eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner for many of the world’s largest commercial fleets.

Solera’s expansion through these transactions is transformative for both customers and the industry. Customers around the world will benefit from lower complexity and reduced friction at all touchpoints in the vehicle lifecycle with fully-integrated, intelligent technology platforms. With operations in more than 90 countries, Solera continues to expand its position as the preeminent global data intelligence and technology leader, serving all constituents engaged in vehicle
lifecycle management.

“We are excited to continue transforming the industry with the additions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving. These acquisitions enable Solera to further enhance our end-to-end vehicle lifecycle solutions for customers and bridge the gap between vehicle and driver performance on a global scale,” said Darko Dejanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Solera. “Solera is uniquely positioned to lead the industry through innovation, geographic expansion and
additional strategic acquisitions.”

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Infomedia Ltd., a SaaS platform provider in parts, service and data insights solutions to the global automotive industry, has completed the acquisition of US-based e-commerce platform SimplePart.

SimplePart designs, implements and manages consumer-facing e-commerce programs in the US and Canada for many of the world’s top automakers, helping them increase their sales of genuine automaker parts, accessories and service.

SimplePart’s intuitive, purpose designed e-commerce platform provides automaker and dealer customers a branded website, online store and digital marketing support to power successful e-commerce programs. SimplePart’s leading-edge platform also includes sophisticated production systems that can catalogue
complex automaker data and provide extensive reporting and insights to increase aftersales revenue; features not commonly available with other e-commerce solutions.

“We are delighted to officially welcome SimplePart into the Infomedia family. Our respective teams have started to engage and identify opportunities to leverage
existing relationships in the Americas and elsewhere,” said Infomedia’s CEO, Jonathan Rubinsztein. “SimplePart is a strategic extension of Infomedia’s core global offering and uniquely positions us to offer our customers an expanded range of market leading business-to-business and business-to-consumer parts,
service and data insights solutions. We welcome the opportunity to share the knowledge and understanding of automaker and dealer fixed operations built into SimplePart’s e-commerce solutions with our customers globally.”

Infomedia continues to assess further acquisition targets with a focus on assets that enhance its core parts, service and data insights offerings and extend its capabilities, open access to new customers and increase its reach in key geographic markets.

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Standard Motor Products, Inc.  has acquired all of the capital stock of Trumpet Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (more commonly known as “Trombetta”), for $108 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

Trombetta is a worldwide leader in providing power switching and power management products to OE customers in various markets. Trombetta generates approximately $60 million in annual revenue, and has manufacturing facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and Tijuana, Mexico, as well as a majority ownership in a joint venture in Wuxi, China.

SMP will fund the acquisition in cash through borrowings under its revolving credit facility. It is anticipated that the acquisition will be accretive to earnings in 2021.

“We are very pleased to announce this acquisition. Founded in 1932, Trombetta has a long history of supplying high-quality products to a broad group of blue-chip OE customers across multiple commercial vehicle and off-highway channels, including heavy truck, construction, agricultural, electric vehicle and power sports markets,” said Eric Sills, Standard Motor Products’ Chief Executive Officer and President. “This acquisition fits very well with our strategy to expand beyond our core aftermarket business into related markets, and is highly complementary with our recent Pollak acquisition.”

He continued:

“Trombetta’s product portfolio includes well-established electromechanical parts such as contactors and voltage regulators, along with cutting edge electronic
components including various electronic controls and CAN bus-enabled devices. Importantly, few of Trombetta’s products are powertrain-related and thus are unaffected by the shift from internal combustion engines. We believe that in the future we will be able to leverage these technologies in our aftermarket business.

“This acquisition also provides us with an increased global manufacturing footprint, additional engineering talent, a well-connected sales organization, and a strong and seasoned leadership team. We believe that the combination of Trombetta, along with the business we have already built in these markets, will create a critical
mass that can be a powerful force for growth. It will also provide enhanced capabilities for SMP’s core aftermarket business. We welcome Trombetta and its roughly 300 employees to the SMP family.”

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Looking to expand its digital footprint in U.S. auto dealerships from coast-to-coast, U.K.-based CitNOW has acquired Quik.

Quik. is an integrated cloud-based SaaS company that has pioneered industry-leading digital service technology in the automotive industry. It features digital multi-point inspections, video, parts-pricing and availability, customer communications, and online payment options that fully integrate with existing dealership management systems.

Quik.’s goal is to make relationships between dealers and customers more honest, open and transparent, and its advanced products were designed to modernize the service experience by meeting today’s customer expectations, and predicting future demands as technology continues to drive consumer behavior.

“We are very excited to welcome the Quik. team to the CitNOW group,” said Alistair Horsburgh, CEO of CitNOW. “We identified Quik. as a company that would be a great strategic fit to both grow our presence in the United States auto market as well as develop the Quik. after-sales platform for our OEM and dealer group partners in both the United Kingdom and European markets.”

Quik. has effectively combined service and sales into a single modular, integrated and all-encompassing system. The centerpiece is a digital Smart MPI inspection tool that is capable of capturing thousands of menu-priced items, reducing employee workload and speeding up estimate delivery times. It features a sophisticated back-end VIN-driven OEM labor and repair time guide that is tethered to OEM parts-pricing for almost every vehicle make. It also features a HD technician video platform that utilizes advanced algorithms to decode and deliver diagnostic videos to customers in real-time, and a sophisticated point-of-sale payment solution that offers customers the ability to take advantage of flexible payment options and pay instantly from their mobile device, saving them valuable time at check-out.

The ultimate goal for Quik. is to replace outdated processes in the car business with modern digital alternatives that today’s tech-savvy customers are looking for.

Aside from the acquisition, Quik. also announced that CEO Jack Gardner has decided to step down from his role to pursue other interests. Quik. COO Chad Deaver is remaining with the company and will now report to Horsburgh.

CitNOW, backed by investment firm Tenzing, is a global company that was launched in 2008. It pioneered video in the automotive industry by allowing people to view cars without visiting showrooms. Since its inception in 2008, CitNOW has grown rapidly and become a global market leader. With more than 10,000 installations in franchised car dealerships in 62 countries, CitNOW has created an easier and more-transparent car-buying experience. Its digital communication tools for sales and after-sales are vital for bridging the online to offline customer experience, while helping to build trust, transparency and long-lasting customer relationships.

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Bolt On Technology has teamed up with Protractor so that repair shop owners can access powerful text messaging, appointment scheduling, workflow and reporting capabilities that can help keep repairs bays full and build customer loyalty.

Through its collaboration with Protractor, Bolt On can now easily integrate its Cloud-based NextGear product with one of the workhorses of the automotive aftermarket. Shop managers who love their Protractor software can easily take advantage of NextGear with no long-term contract, no additional hardware, and no steep learning curve.

NextGear capabilities available within the Protractor platform include:

• Customizable and Unlimited DVIs – Expand your digital vehicle inspection capabilities with no limits, giving customers vehicle condition photographs and videos and BOLT ON’s signature red/yellow/green-light vehicle health reports.
• Two-way text messaging with customers – Provide status updates and request approvals via text message; send detailed DVIs for fast scanning and easy comprehension; include videos and photos in the messages so your customers can see exactly what the techs are recommending and why.
• Advance appointment scheduling – Schedule return appointments and other routine maintenance in advance; track mileage, past appointment history, and oil type to create an accurate prediction of when the vehicle will be due for service again; and increase future business and confirmed appointments.
• Workflow Manager – View and track the status of any vehicle in the shop; integrate the appointment calendar for easy scheduling; assign work to technicians and track their time; and customize Workflow Manager for an at-a-glance assessment of the day’s jobs.
• Mobile Payment and Financing Options – Pull customer and work order information from Protractor and text invoices directly to customers, allowing them to pay for services quickly and easily from their smart phone using Text to Pay technology. You can also offer customers primary and secondary financing options to help them afford repairs they may not have otherwise.
• Customer and business reporting – Streamline day-to-day tasks with custom reports that provide a thorough look at critical business and financial data; create personalized, easy-to-read invoices; include recommendations for next visits along with coupons to encourage repeat business; and easily modify and create inspections with a drag-and-drop interface.

“Protractor and Bolt On share the goal of helping shops grow and succeed with cutting edge technology,” said Mike Risich, founder and CEO of Bolt On Technology. “Shops using this leading management system can enjoy everything NextGear offers trouble-free, improving the customer relationship, resulting in more sales, higher AROs and steady traffic in the repair bay. And BOLT ON shops can now seamlessly take advantage of one of the top programs in the industry.”

Data shows that digital vehicle inspections can increase AROs by nearly 40 per cent when vehicle owners can see and more fully understand the nature of the repair.

DVIs enable shops to photograph a vehicle’s condition, track the repair process, build robust customer profiles and communicate inspection summaries and images via text message. The repair shop can, for example, send the customer a picture in real time of worn brake pads, threadbare tire treads, or a cracked timing belt, along with a picture of what that part is supposed to look like and a complete vehicle health report with technician’s notes. Aside from increased AROs, customers appreciate the transparency DVIs provide. To date, Bolt On shops have sent more than 60 million repair photos to customers’ cell phones.

NextGear is available for a monthly fee of $199. There’s no annual subscription or long-term commitment, so shops can simply pay month-to-month.

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Groupe Touchette Inc., the largest Canadian owned tire distributor, takes the next steps in its development plan with the acquisition of Pneus Chartrand Distribution Inc., Pneus Chartrand Mécanique Inc., as well as the Groupe Immobilier Chartrand Inc.

The agreement, which will take effect on July 1, 2021, encompasses all the retail and distribution activities of Pneus Chartrand.

With seven branches and a prominent network of customers across the province, Pneus Chartrand allows Groupe Touchette Inc. to consolidate its leading position in Quebec and Canada by asserting itself even more strongly as a solid and credible partner to independent retailers and other distribution networks seeking for a turnkey tire supplier solution.

“We are very proud of the acquisition of Pneus Chartrand, a major player in our industry in Quebec and in the Montreal metropolitan area, thriving from a solid reputation and whose business model is both complementary and compatible with our own,” said Nicolas Touchette, co-owner and CEO of Groupe Touchette Inc. “This confirms that we are more determined than ever to pursue our growth through strategic distribution and retail channels.”

“Customers will benefit from the combination of our national and regional strengths. They now have access to greater purchasing power and inventory range that offers advantages such as better product availability and exclusive products,” added Frédéric Bouthillier, co-owner and COO of Groupe Touchette Inc. “The complementarity of our two companies will quickly capitalize on their strengths as well as on the commitment, experience, and expertise of their employees. Components that are an integral part of our corporate culture which is focused on excellence in the service provided to current clients and the ability to position ourselves quickly to attract new customers.”

For M. Chartrand, Owner and President of Pneus Chartrand, “Groupe Touchette Inc. not only represents the best tire distribution company in Canada, but it is also best positioned, thanks to its exhaustive experience in distribution and retail, to ensure the continuity and development of what we have built over the years since 1949. Throughout our discussions, I have been impressed by their commitment to our employees, customers, and partners. I am convinced that Groupe Touchette Inc. has what it takes to ensure a prosperous future.”

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Electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle cybersecurity provider Autocrypt has partnered with the Shield Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, hosted by the University of Windsor, to prioritize research and development in securing connected and autonomous vehicles.

As automotive technology evolves to become more autonomous and electrified, threats to the technology have seen exponential increase.

Autocrypt focuses on raising awareness of the need to prioritize security, but also providing comprehensive security solutions to mitigate those risks.

Autocrypt has  secured more than 5,000 kilometres of smart highways and roadways throughout the peninsula, winning C-ITS contracts for the entire nation. Its security operations center (SOC) provides complete security coverage of the internal vehicle system and V2X communications, the core technology allowing for seamless autonomous driving. By actively detecting and preventing unwanted access, Autocrypt offerings ensure a secure vehicular environment for electric, connected, and autonomous vehicles.

Shield focuses on research and innovation of automotive cybersecurity technology as well as education and training for students and corporations in order to raise awareness for the need to prioritize cybersecurity preparedness.

“The goals of Shield and Autocrypt align together exceptionally well,” said Autocrypt’s Director of Business Development, Sean HJ Cho. “This partnership will allow us to work more closely with the connected and autonomous vehicle security landscape in Canada, as the country advances in cutting-edge technologies for electric, connected, and autonomous vehicles and begins to implement necessary changes following the UNECE’s WP.29 regulations. Our existing technology and real-world use cases will allow us to contribute to the shift that needs to take place in the minds of both corporations and consumers: that security should not be taken for granted, and vehicles and mobility infrastructure need to be secured before drivers hit the road.”

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Solera Holdings, Inc. will acquire Omnitracs, a complete fleet management platform, and DealerSocket, a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry.

These acquisitions will extend Solera’s position as the preeminent global data intelligence and technology leader serving all constituents engaged in vehicle lifecycle management.

With operations in more than 90 countries, Solera is the global technology leader operating in a highly complex vehicle lifecycle management ecosystem. Solera’s software and unique data assets power the value-chain of a vehicle from purchase to claims, repair and resale. These acquisitions will build upon Solera’s strategy to minimize complexity and reduce friction at all touchpoints in the vehicle lifecycle with fully integrated intelligent technology platforms.

“Solera is the driving force behind the rapid digitization of the vehicle lifecycle, delivering intelligent, data-driven, mission-critical solutions for our customers,” said Darko Dejanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Solera. “These highly strategic acquisitions will enable us to expand into adjacent verticals and capitalize on emerging trends in our industry. Solera’s unique position in a large and growing market allows us to transform the industry through innovation, proprietary data assets, unmatched scale and deep customer relationships.”

With Omnitracs, Solera will offer a unified platform that encompasses safety, productivity and maintenance solutions for commercial fleets.

“By joining Solera, Omnitracs will be able to further extend our converged solutions, both in and on the vehicle, into fleet lifecycle management services while also extending our access to new markets,” said Ray Greer, Chief Executive Officer of Omnitracs.

The addition of DealerSocket’s cutting-edge platform completes an end-to-end suite of solutions for automotive dealerships, combining customer acquisition and retention solutions, inventory management, dealership management systems, e-titling and a unique service and maintenance platform.

“The combination of DealerSocket with Solera allows us to offer dealerships a fully unified platform to simplify workflows and enables us to become the digital backbone across all areas of a connected dealership, simplifying and improving the retail experience. We are thrilled to join the Solera team,” said Sejal Pietrzak, Chief Executive Officer of DealerSocket.

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Bestbuy Distributors Ltd. recently announced the acquisition of three new shareholders, effective May 1, 2021.

Proudly owned by the Awad family, Just Brake has been a part of the automotive aftermarket for more than 35 years, serving their loyal customer base from North York, Ontario.

“We were impressed with the service and programs Bestbuy had to offer and now as a shareholder, we look forward to being able to offer our customers so much more,” said Freddie Awad, general manager, Just Brake.

Just Brake is located at 90 Milvan Drive, North York, Ontario.

Rainbow Auto Parts Ltd., located in Mississauga, Ontario, opened in 2013 and is owned by Davinder Tiath.

“We are very pleased about the opportunities available to us with being a shareholder in BestBuy,” Tiath said. “The service and programs offered are second to none and will allow us to continue growing our business.”

Petruzzi Automotive & Industrial Supply Inc. is a new business shaking up the Greater Hamilton market.

Owned by three entrepreneurs, Ivano Petruzzi and Andrew and Anthony Tarasca are young professionals focusing their business efforts on the traditional automotive wholesale customer base and the many Hamilton area industrial accounts.

“My partners introduced me to Bestbuy, and I knew immediately that everything they had said about the Bestbuy family attitude, as well as all the service and programs that Bestbuy has to offer, is exactly what we need to move our business forward. We are very excited about the future,” Petruzzi said.

Petruzzi Automotive & Industrial Supply is located at 765 Woodward Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario.

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Argyle Capital Partners has acquired The Mufflerman Inc. from the Brouwer family. The transaction closed on Mar. 1, 2021.

The Mufflerman was started in 1964 by John Brouwer Sr. as Sarnia’s “First Exclusive Muffler Shop”.

In 1996, the business was taken over by John’s four sons and nephew. With 12 locations servicing Southwestern Ontario, The Mufflerman has evolved to provide complete automotive repair and service to all aspects of the vehicle.

“Finding the right partners to take over our family business was of critical importance to us,” said John Brouwer Jr., president of the Mufflerman. “We look forward to working with Argyle and carrying on the traditions that have made us successful. Our employees and customers are the focus of what we do every day and we know that will remain.”

Costa Haitas will work alongside the Brouwer family in a transition period and become the new president of The Mufflerman. Haitas brings more than 20 years of experience in the auto repair, tire and automotive aftermarket industries. “I am honoured to partner with the Argyle team in the acquisition of a truly iconic Southwestern Ontario business,” Haitas said. “We look forward to continuing the proud tradition of excellence in quality, service and trust that has served the Brouwer family and The Mufflerman customers for over 57 years. I am excited about working with the dedicated employees and Store Managers, many of whom have over 30 years of experience and dedication to their positions.”

“From our first meeting with the Brouwer family we knew that the commitment to providing only the best service to customers was the cornerstone of the Mufflerman way,” added Glenn Gatcliffe, partner at Argyle. “The strong cash flow generation, recession resilience and favourable macro trends present an opportunity for continued and sustainable growth.  We are excited about working with the entire Mufflerman team and Costa as we continue the Brouwer family tradition of hard work and ethically fulfilling the customer’s needs.”

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Vast-Auto Distribution, a subsidiary of Groupe Del Vasto, has acquired Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté, an established family-run business with two parts store locations on the south shore of Montreal.

Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté, owned and operated by Bernard Roy since 1980, has been in business since 1950 and nearly 70 years later is still dedicated to providing the professional installer with exceptional service, quality products and access to knowledgeable employees.

“We are honored and proud that Bernard has chosen to sell his business to Vast Auto and delighted to welcome the entire team from Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté to the Vast Auto family. Moreover, Bernard and his son Cedric’s decision to stay on as part of the team will allow for a smooth transition and an uninterrupted customer service experience,” said Mauro Cifelli, president and CEO of Groupe Del Vasto. “We are confident that our culture, commitment to customer service and personal approach to taking care of our customers and employees, will fit hand in glove with Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté’s long-time approach to doing business.”

“The last thing I was interested in was handing over the keys to another operator and walking away from a business I built for over four decades,” said Bernard Roy. “As I thought about the legacy I wanted to leave and the future of Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté, one choice became clear, selling to another family business that shares the same values and commitment to customers, employees, quality and service, and for those reasons, Vast-Auto Distribution was the right choice.”

This transaction is a critical part of Groupe Del Vasto’s long-term plan for future growth and expansion of its store network. By integrating other successful businesses like Pièces d’auto J.P. Côté into their network, they can continue offering high-quality parts and service seamlessly to an ever-expanding
customer base.

“That is precisely what we intend to do with the addition of these 2 locations that will continue to be operated by the existing team but benefit from our wide inventory assortment, our new south shore warehouse facility and the expertise of the Auto Value international network of suppliers, programs and technology,” said Cifelli.

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The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., headquarters for Auto Value, has added Tekmetric as an approved shop management system (SMS).

Auto Value’s leading business-to-business ecommerce platform, MyPlace4Parts, is now integrated with Tekmetric.

Tekmetric offers a full-suite of shop management solutions, including digital vehicle inspections, true two-way texting, text-to-pay, intuitive workflow management, parts ordering and vendor management and reporting/analytics for key performance metrics. In line with the auto repair industry’s dedication to stellar customer service, Tekmetric’s customer success and engineering teams listen to users to continuously refine its product and service offerings. Its commitment to industry success makes Tekmetric one of the fastest growing shop management systems in the country.

“MyPlace4Parts is our premier, parts-ordering platform that we continue to expand to meet the demands and needs of our customers,” said Jimmy Golden, director ecommerce solutions at the Alliance. “With a solid SMS tool integrated, the customer can do so much more than just order parts. As we add Tekmetric as our 71^st integration, we are confident it will be a wonderful selling and management tool.”

Founded by auto repair shop owners who weren’t satisfied with the shop management solutions on the market, Tekmetric and its leadership are determined to usher the auto repair industry into a new era of service excellence and operational efficiency. Because advancing the auto repair industry requires a collective effort, Tekmetric consistently seeks partnerships with other forward-thinking leaders in the industry, which prompted it to integrate Auto Value’s MyPlace4Parts platform.

“We’re here to help shop owners accelerate their business and offer a better service experience to their customers,” said P.J. Leslie, director of business development for Tekmetric. “We want to help our shops sell as many parts as humanly possible, and we’re proud to partner with Auto Value in this shared goal.”

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Two of the automotive industry’s retail software suppliers, Autofutura and GForces, have merged to form a new group.

With the rapid acceleration of the digitization of the automotive sales process, the companies have come together to maximize sales efficiency and improve the way consumers buy cars.

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AutoCanada Inc., a  multi-location North American automobile dealership group, announced that it has completed the acquisition of PG Klassic Autobody in Prince George, British Columbia.

PG Klassic Autobody has served the Prince George community for nearly 50 years and has built a reputation as a top-tier collision centre. The business operates out of a facility of more than 20,000 square feet and is strategically located in close proximity to three of AutoCanada’s dealerships – Northland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Northland Hyundai, and Northland Nissan. The acquisition represents a continuation of the Company’s strategy to develop its national collision centre network to match AutoCanada’s dealership network.

“This marks our second collision centre acquisition since Q4 and is another step towards our goal of filling out our national collision centre footprint,” said executive chairman, Paul Antony. “We strongly believe in supporting our customers and OEM partners through the entire vehicle ownership lifecycle – including collision repair. Increasing vehicle complexity puts a further emphasis on fixing vehicles the right way – using parts and procedures prescribed by the OEM.”

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APEX Auto has joined Bestbuy as a full member shareholder.

Mike Kadykalo, the founding owner of APEX Auto, is a lifelong Durham resident who has been a fixture in the local automotive industry for more than 50 years. It is this passion for the industry that has allowed Kadykalo to grow APEX into one of Durham Regions most trusted sources for everything automotive.

Founded in 1996, APEX has two locations in Oshawa and Ajax, Ontario. Dan Murray, Partner and General Manager, joined APEX in 2018. Murray’s lifelong passion for automotive led him to leave the printing industry after 25 years.

Kadykalo stated, “We are excited to be part of the Bestbuy family and we look forward to being active participants in the growth of our mutual businesses.”

APEX’s two locations are 190 King St. E., Oshawa, Ontario | 370 Monarch Avenue, Ajax, Ontario.

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eMentorConnect has partnered with Women in Automotive Network.

The company’s mentoring software will power Woman in Automotive’s goal to promote women leaders within the auto industry.

“Women in Automotive is an exceptional organization to bring under the eMentorConnect umbrella as it continues to build on one of our key tenants to support the delivery of mentoring programs aimed to advance women in leadership,” said Nancy Wolk, co-founder of eMentorConnect. “The scalable capabilities of the eMentorConnect platform coupled with the impressive Women in Automotive board, volunteers and members will achieve their goal to champion the advancement of women in the automotive industry.”

Jody DeVere, co-founder, Women in Automotive shared her enthusiasm. “We are pleased to announce this next giant step in our mission to empower women in the automotive industry by launching the WomenPowered Mentoring platform. This platform will enable industry-wide mentoring for women seeking to grow their careers in their respective roles with the help of respected industry thought-leaders, both men and women, as mentors.”

Together, eMentorConnect and Woman in Automotive will:

• Enhance the mentoring journey of women in automotive.
• Provide assistance to women without access to professional development resources.
• Connect members/mentees to mentors across the automotive industry.

For more information visit www.ementorconnect.com and https://womeninautomotive.com.

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Snap-on Incorporated has acquired Dealer-FX Group, Inc., based in Markham, Ontario, for approximately $200 million in cash.

Dealer-FX is a developer, marketer, and provider of service operations software solutions for automotive original equipment manufacturer customers and their dealers. Dealer-FX specializes in software as a service (SaaS) management systems, communications platforms and extensive data integrations, and offers a digitized solution that increases dealership productivity and enhances the vehicle owners’ service experience.

This acquisition complements and expands on Snap-on’s existing OEM and dealership business in its repair systems and information group that provides
electronic parts catalogs, essential tool and diagnostics programs, and custom analytics to OEMs and more than 50,000 dealerships, globally.

“Dealer-FX extends our strategic visibility into new technologies and platforms as they enter the vehicle parc, expands the reach of our shop management software, and enhances our expertise with respect to dealership service and repair operations. We believe Dealer-FX will magnify our current capabilities across the repair systems and information group,” said Nick Pinchuk, Snap-on chairman and CEO. “The service department is a key driver of automotive dealership success, and given the increasing complexity of vehicle repair and the importance of the customer experience, we believe this acquisition, with its end-to-end dealership software solutions, will further Snap-on’s progress along one of its decisive and coherent runways for growth, expanding with repair shop owners and managers.”

He continued: “Over the past few years, Dealer-FX has invested in its technology platform, significantly enhancing its value-proposition to dealership owners and managers. Coupled with the know-how and capabilities of RS&I, along with the financial strength of Snap-on, we believe this addition will fortify our already
strong position in vehicle repair and will upwardly increment our growth expectations in this important market segment. We welcome Dealer-FX to the Snap-on family.”

With 2020 fiscal year revenues of approximately $37 million, Dealer-FX will be reported within the company’s RS&I segment; the transaction is not expected to have a meaningful effect on Snap-on’s earnings per share during 2021.

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Dana Incorporated has acquired Pi Innovo LLC, a provider of embedded software solutions and electronic control units to support the light vehicle, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets.

Dana previously held a non-controlling interest.

Headquartered near Detroit, Michigan, the acquisition of Pi Innovo enables Dana to increase its in-house electrodynamics capabilities and electrification product
portfolio by adding a strong library of turn-key electric vehicle application software, vehicle level controllers, and auxiliary controllers.

“The extremely talented and experienced Pi Innovo team have provided exceptional modular software and controls solutions for original equipment manufacturers for more than 25 years,” said James Kamsickas, Dana chairman and CEO. “Integrating Pi Innovo with Dana’s leading e-Propulsion software capabilities will further enhance our ability to provide value for our customers as they continue to accelerate their electric vehicle portfolio development.”

The software and controls expertise of PI Innovo builds on Dana’s robust capabilities in designing, engineering, and delivering complete vehicle integration for e-propulsion systems, further positioning the company as a leader in vehicle electrification.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company have entered a definitive transaction agreement under which Goodyear will acquire Cooper in a transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately $2.5 billion.

The transaction will expand Goodyear’s product offering by combining two portfolios of complementary brands. It will also create a stronger U.S.-based manufacturer with increased presence in distribution and retail channels while combining both companies’ strengths in the highly profitable light truck and SUV product segments. The combined company will have approximately $17.5 billion in pro forma 2019 sales.

Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Cooper shareholders will receive $41.75 per share in cash and a fixed exchange ratio of 0.907 shares of Goodyear common stock per Cooper share for a total equity value of approximately $2.8 billion. Based on Goodyear’s closing stock price on February 19, 2021, the last trading day prior to the announcement, the implied cash and stock consideration to be received by Cooper shareholders is $54.36 per share, representing a premium of 24% to Cooper’s closing stock price on February 19, 2021, and a premium of 36% to Cooper’s 30-day volume weighted average price as of the close on February 19, 2021. Upon closing of the transaction, Goodyear shareholders will own approximately 84% of the combined company, and Cooper shareholders will own approximately 16%.

Founded in 1914, Cooper is the fifth-largest tire manufacturer in North America by revenue with approximately 10,000 employees working in 15 countries worldwide. Cooper products are manufactured in 10 facilities around the globe, including wholly-owned and joint venture plants. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Cooper, Mastercraft, Roadmaster and Mickey Thompson.

“This is an exciting and transformational day for our companies,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The addition of Cooper’s complementary tire product portfolio and highly capable manufacturing assets, coupled with Goodyear’s technology and industry leading distribution, provides the combined company with opportunities for improved cost efficiency and a broader offering for both companies’ retailer networks. We are confident this combination will enable us to provide enhanced service for our customers and consumers while delivering value for shareholders.”

Additional information regarding the transaction can be found on https://GoodyearCooper.transactionfacts.com.

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Mitchell and General Motors have teamed up to introduce the GM Canada Collision Repair Network.

Through the Network, participants can access business and technology resources designed to streamline the repair process, increase consumer confidence and support the safe return of GM vehicles to the road.

Mitchell will serve as program administrator, overseeing enrollment and verifying that repair organizations meet high standards for facilities, training, tools and equipment.

The Canadian Collision Repair Network closely mirrors GM’s U.S. program launched in 2018 and also managed by Mitchell.

Core member requirements—including a list of essential tools and curriculum for technician development—will now be standard throughout North America. Additionally, participating facilities will use Mitchell Cloud Estimating with Integrated Repair Procedures to create estimates and repair plans that offer line-level access to GM procedures as the appraisal is written, reducing research time and facilitating proper repair.

Unlike other Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certification programs, the GM Collision Repair Network provides a comprehensive, metrics-driven approach that requires participants have training, tools and repair procedures that can help them properly and safely restore today’s increasingly complex vehicles, such as those equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and constructed of special materials.

“Vehicle complexity has skyrocketed in recent years, necessitating expert knowledge, equipment and tools to do the job right,” said Bob Rintoul, vice president of Myers Automotive Group. “With the GM Collision Repair Network, we can be confident we have the resources needed to get vehicle owners back on the road safely. And with the certification, we also have an advantage over the competition.”

Additional information, including how GM Canada dealers can enroll, is available on the Mitchell website. In 2021, the Collision Repair Network will expand to Canadian independent repairers and Multi-Site Operators (MSOs).

“We’re honored to support GM and its launch of the Canadian GM Collision Repair Network,” said Debbie Day, executive vice president and general manager of Mitchell’s Auto Physical Damage division. “Close collaboration and a joint commitment to proper, safe repair has resulted in a successful program for Network participants throughout the US. Having recently introduced Mitchell Cloud Estimating to the Canadian market, now is the perfect time to expand the program to all of North America.”

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The leadership of National Pronto Association and Automotive Distribution Network has announced the merger of the two organizations.

As of Jan. 1, 2021, the newly formed organization will be known as the Pronto Automotive Distribution Network.

Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, Pronto Automotive Distribution Network will be led by Robert Roos as president and David Prater as executive vice president. The combined organization will represent over 250 members in North America with an estimated revenue of approximately $5 billion annually.

Members will continue to market under the Pronto, Parts Plus and Auto Pride names.

In addition, Pronto Automotive Distribution Network, together with Federated Auto Parts, will comprise the Automotive Parts Services Group (The Group).

“Pronto members and staff are excited to partner with the Network team. The similarities between our two groups are significant, making the transition into one company a much easier path,” said Roos. “This merger will benefit Network and Pronto members, as well as our valued vendor partners, by increasing our membership footprint throughout North America and helping to ensure our collective future viability. In addition, the merger will enhance our position within The Group, working alongside our partners at Federated. I can’t think of a better way to start off the new year.”

“By forming the Pronto Automotive Distribution Network, we will have the ability to build on past success, make a greater impact in the marketplace, and identify more ways to benefit our members, supplier partners and associates,” added Prater. “Because the aftermarket is always evolving, taking this proactive step and merging two of the major program groups will help ensure our combined membership is well positioned to compete and achieve mutual success well into the future.”

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Miami-based NPW Companies has acquired Denver-based Engine & Performance Warehouse, Inc.

Nearly 50 years old, EPWI is the nation’s largest engine parts specialty warehouse distribution company.

The two companies signed the deal on Dec. 4.

In addition to EPWIs focus on the western half of the United States, their footprint has a national reach boasting 13 warehouse locations in ten states. This addition further expands NPWs already substantial footprint that now totals 30 warehouse locations and 50 stores.

“We are thrilled to partner with this long-established and trusted company,” said Larry Pacey, founder, president and CEO of NPW Companies. “EPWI is known for experienced, knowledgeable employees, robust logistics capabilities, substantial inventories, consistent performance and strong supplier partnerships. They make for a fantastic addition to the NPW family.”

Engine & Performance Warehouse currently services more than 6,500 active customers including automotive jobbers, machine shops, and engine rebuilders.

In addition to an impressive geographic presence, EPWI also claims an extensive master catalog with more than 100 engine parts product lines, and over 200,000 SKUs. It supports over 100 brand names (all major engine parts brands) as well as a handful of private label brands, including EPWI Private Label, E-Force Performance, E-Direct Value Brand, and Engine Pro & Engine Pro Performance.

“NPW shares the same values as we do along with the same challenges, and are growing a highly successful entity,” said Paul Van Woensel, president of EPWI. “So many things are required of a distributor these days and the list keeps growing. The strengths of our companies when combined create the critical mass to address these changing requirements and successfully carry us into the future.”

NPW currently has 17 warehouse locations and more than 50 store locations across the United States and Canada, and services more than 150 Certified Service Centers. The company is a shareholder owner of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., as well as a member of the Automotive Accessories Marketing (AAM) Group

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OEConnection, an automotive technology provider for OEM distribution networks, has acquired Summit Consulting Int’l, Inc., a business intelligence consulting and solutions provider to the automotive industry.

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Aftermarket Analytics has announced a new agreement with Dayco to assist the company with inventory management.

“We are proud to have been chosen by Dayco to build the first truly global inventory decision support system,” said Justin Holman, CEO of Aftermarket Analytics. “For the first time, part catalogs, VIO, replacement rates, and demand forecasting analytics for every major world region will work together seamlessly on a single platform.”

Bruno Vallillo, Global Aftermarket President of Dayco, added, “This partnership will help us in strengthening our capabilities on getting continuous global car parc analysis and trends to better serve the aftermarket business and customers’ requests.”

Holman also announced that Aftermarket Analytics will host a booth during the Virtual AAPEX Show, Nov. 3 – Nov. 5. During the 2020 Virtual AAPEX Experience the company will introduce its newest custom solution to the aftermarket.

“Our scripting language empowers users to calculate SKU level inventory recommendations across all stores and distribution centers and allows for the creation of a custom script on a per team basis to calculate returns and orders,” said Robert Valentine, the company’s lead developer. “We overlay VIO, demand, sales history, current inventory levels and climate data to create logic rules as complex as the user needs.”

The company will also showcase Inventory Analyst, an “off-the-shelf” web-based tool to help aftermarket companies accurately generate SKU level demand forecasts. Virtual AAPEX Experience attendees who connect with Shawn Wills, director of sales, national accounts at the company’s virtual booth will be eligible to receive a two month trial of Inventory Analyst for only $99.

For nearly 10 years, Aftermarket Analytics (previously TerraSeer) has helped businesses in the automotive aftermarket improve category management, increase supply chain efficiency, and boost profits with its predictive models and easy-to-use data portals.

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Bosch and Hunter Engineering are teaming up to develop and sell advanced drivers’ assistance calibration systems (ADAS) in North America.

For the first time, technicians will benefit from an integrated alignment system from two of the most-trusted repair industry brands that delivers repeatable and documented calibration. Combining Bosch’s experience in ADAS system technology with the quality and credibility expected from Hunter will deliver an innovative and accurate calibration system that every shop owner needs.

The integrated product includes a co-branded, Bosch-developed diagnostic tool, calibration fixture and associated hardware for ADAS system calibration for the majority of global automakers, and vehicle alignment systems from Hunter.

“Bosch’s knowledge in ADAS system design adds an understanding on different driver’s assistance systems that’s not available on other products,” said Michael Simon, Director Strategic Business, Bosch Aftermarket division. “Our technology background combined with the credibility customers expect from Hunter will deliver a calibration system that’s innovative, efficient and accurate.”

Customers depend on accuracy and workflow efficiency in their ADAS systems, and top technicians know that safely calibrating each vehicle can take time. These calibration tools are designed to help technicians align important safety systems quickly and accurately, saving the customer money.

“Hunter is proud to collaborate with Bosch,” said Kaleb Silver, Director of Product Management at Hunter. “This venture brings together two innovative and exciting companies, working together for the first time on important technology for cars today, and into the future.”

The new calibration tools will soon be available through Hunter’s distribution network. For more information on Bosch’s line of ADAS calibration systems and more Bosch Diagnostic products, visit https://www.boschdiagnostics.com/

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In a shuffle designed to give members more insights into the latest shifts in aftermarket customer finances, the former MEMA Financial Services Group (MFSG) and its Aftermarket Volume Group (AVG) have been combined to form the new AASA Aftermarket Volume Group (AAVG), which will operate as a council of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).

The new council will continue to provide valued benefits and services to enable members to make better informed decisions on customer businesses.

Executive committee

AAVG has established a new executive committee featuring highly respected industry leaders to provide direction for the council and ensure increasing value for members. This includes:

• Mike Duffy, Director of Aftermarket Accounts Receivable, DRiV Automotive division of Tenneco
• Darcey Keene, Corporate Credit Manager, Standard Motor Products
• Joe Yackanicz, Customer Financial Services (CFS) Director, Dorman Products

Current AAVG member benefits include: in-person and online discussion group meetings to review health and trends of customers, complimentary credit reference reports, access to legal advice on customer payment histories and bankruptcies, networking with other credit and finance professionals among suppliers, insights into Accounts Payable (AP), credit status, and other customer patterns, and ongoing education for aftermarket professionals

The next AAVG meeting will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 10 am ET.

Additional information about AAVG is available by contacting Terry Sakiewicz, Senior Manager, Councils and Engagement.

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Dana Incorporated has acquired a non-controlling stake in Pi Innovo LLC, a leader in embedded software solutions and electronics control units for the light vehicle, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets.

The investment in Pi Innovo will further enable Dana to enhance its in-house electric-vehicle capabilities by providing turnkey software and control solutions for its entire portfolio of technologies.

“Software and controls are essential in the functionality of increasingly complex e-Powertrain architectures, playing a critical role in maximizing efficiency and managing the systems used throughout the vehicle,” said James Kamsickas, Dana chairman and CEO.  “Pi Innovo’s exceptional team of engineers leverage more than 25 years of experience to provide proven, safe, and flexible solutions to meet the growing demand for automotive embedded controls in the e-Mobility market and beyond.”

Enhanced flexibility & efficiency

When combined with Dana’s complete systems capabilities for e-Propulsion, the companies will be able to further enhance the flexibility, robustness, and efficiency of the entire vehicle systems, while meeting the latest functional safety requirements.

“Pi Innovo has developed advanced software and controls solutions and production ECUs to enable the efficiency and safety of electric vehicles,” said Dr. Walter Lucking, CEO, Pi Innovo. “Dana’s capabilities across the entire mobility spectrum will give Pi Innovo further access to a growing customer base, and the company’s experience in vehicle electrification makes it an attractive partner for bringing customers complete turnkey solutions.”

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Arnott, which specializes in the production of air suspension products for passenger vehicles – has purchased the assets of the former AccuAir Control Systems suspension company.

This purchase enables Arnott to expand its air suspension products within the performance and luxury light vehicle market, as well as within the powersports industry.

“AccuAir is a great strategic fit within the Arnott portfolio of companies,” said Joe Santangelo, CEO of Arnott. “AccuAir has a well-established reputation of developing high quality, innovative air suspension control technology and we plan to pair it with our 30 years of experience to expand our reach in the performance aftermarket and the SEMA enthusiast upgrade space. The brand reputation has remained strong through the devotion of its loyal customer following, and we plan to reinvigorate it with new product innovation.”

About AccuAir

AccuAir is well known for its air management systems, especially its suspension controllers.

The business will be rebuilt at the Arnott facility in Merritt Island, Florida where AccuAir and Arnott engineers will work together to not only bring the suspension controllers back to market but also to develop new, user-friendly, complete air suspension systems for a wide range of performance applications.

“We plan to complete the business side of the acquisition, bring in the technical assets to our facility in Florida, and re-launch products in early 2021,” Santangelo said. “AccuAir customers will again be able to get products they love, but they’ll also have a wider and more extensive range of new products from which to choose.”

For more information on Arnott’s extensive line of affordable, high quality air suspension products for more than 20 vehicle makes as well as motorcycle applications, visit www.arnottindustries.com.

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NPW Companies has acquired All Products Automotive, headquartered in Chicago.

The deal closed on Oct. 16, 2020.

The acquisition strengthens NPW’s professional customer coverage and expands their penetration across the U.S., particularly in the upper Midwest.

Both companies are family-owned and operated. Greg and Jane Wintroub have successfully operated All Products since 1972. NPW Companies celebrated 50 years in operation in 2019.

Both companies are shareholder owners of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.

About NPW Companies

NPW currently has 16 warehouse locations and 50 store locations across the United States and Canada.

The company services more than 150 Certified Service Centres.

All Products brings an additional two locations and several more CSC locations.

As part of NPW, All Products will continue to be badged as Auto Value.

The brand has a national identity as part of the Alliance, the world’s premier aftermarket distribution and marketing program.

“This acquisition adds another critical location as we work toward our goal of providing next-day service to all 50 states. Adding All Products fills in the U-shaped gap we had in the Midwest,” said Larry Pacey, Founder and President and CEO of NPW. “Bob Losik of All Products will stay on as the general manager of the 112,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Chicago. As another family-owned business, we like the synergy of working with the people who perform the day-to-day tasks and just keep selling and marketing what our customers need and want.”

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As of Oct. 16th, Replacement Parts Inc. (Parts Warehouse, Inc.) and Crow-Burlingame, has merged with Distributors Warehouse, Inc. (DWI), headquartered in Paducah, Ky.

PWI and DWI first announced their partnership back in August.

“We are incredibly excited and lucky to be combining forces with the DWI team,” said Fletcher Lord III, president of Replacement Parts, Inc. “Steve Korte and his team at DWI have built such a strong business in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Building off the years and years of experience that DWI has built in their footprint is our main focus with these customers.”

200 years of parts experience

Combined, the two companies have nearly 200 years of experience in the parts business.

PWI has now grown its footprint into 12 states over the country’s southeast region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Parts Warehouse is a shareholder owner of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.

“We are thrilled with this collaboration and genuinely excited for the future,” Lord said.

About PWI & DWI

PWI and DWI are members of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc.

The two companies remain committed to preserving employee success and excellent customer service throughout the transition.

PWI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Replacement Parts, Inc. (RPI) also operating 177 company stores as Auto Parts Stores / Crow-Burlingame Company and Car Dealer Parts. The company provides parts for hundreds of Certified Service Centers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.

DWI’s automotive distribution center services Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The company currently has 65,000 square feet of usable warehouse space in Paducah and 21 store locations throughout the three states, and it services thousands of retail, wholesale, fleet, and agricultural customers. The company also provides parts for several Certified Service Centers in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Together, the two companies now serve a total of 12 states.

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Sako Auto Parts has joined Bestbuy as a full member shareholder.

Jacob and Sam Yako (formerly of Paste Auto Parts in Toronto, Ontario) are back in the automotive jobber store business with the opening of their new operation in Barrie, Ontario.

“It is fantastic to have Jacob and Sam as part of the Bestbuy family again,” said Bill Hay, president of Bestbuy. “It shows the incredible value of the Bestbuy program and that it is truly the best fit for the independent auto parts distributor.”

Sako Auto Parts is located at 18 Alliance Boulevard in Barrie, Ontario.

For more information on Bestbuy Distributors Limited, click here.

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Fix Network is expanding its ProColor Collision brand across Canada, with the opening of its first ProColor location outside of Quebec, and 14 other locations planned for Ontario, Atlantic Canada and Western Canada.

The first new location in the planned expansion opened recently in Hamilton, Ont.

Fix Network acquired ProColor Collision in September 2019 with a vision to expand the valuable brand outside of Quebec, where it already has more than 175 locations.

“By expanding the brand across Canada, we’re offering customers greater choice for their automotive repair needs,” says Steve Leal, president & CEO of Fix Network. “We’re also providing body shop owner operators a chance to grow their business using Fix Network’s proven operational processes and management tools, and access to our talented team of professionals who know the industry inside and out.”

Fix Network’s business comprises collision, glass repair and mechanical services, covering all three areas of the automotive aftermarket. Its franchise strategic partners enjoy exclusive territorial access, full operational support, training and technologies as well as established relationships with insurers and work providers.

The pandemic hasn’t slowed down Fix Network, which added 15 new Fix Auto and NOVUS Glass locations in the last six months. Majority of provinces have also designated collision, auto glass repair and mechanical services as essential services. Fix Network locations have been open for business throughout the pandemic, following strict safety protocols including physical distancing, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, as well as adhering to all provincial and municipals guidance and bylaws.

“We’re always talking with prospective independent body shop owner operators who are interested in growing their business and gaining operational support by joining a network like ours,” says Leal. “The pandemic has further highlighted the value of a network, which can support you through the uncertainty by giving you the tools, knowledge and training that you and your team need to get through the crisis and grow your business the right way.”

The ProColor Collision brand has built a solid reputation for outstanding customer service and state-of-the-art facilities. Plans for the brand’s growth in more Canadian cities as well as other markets are expected to be announced soon.

www.fixnetwork.com

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Brake Parts Inc was named a 2019 GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors during a virtual ceremony honouring the recipients of the company’s 28^th annual Supplier of the Year awards.

During the event, GM recognized 116 of its best suppliers from 15 countries that have consistently exceeded GM’s expectations, created outstanding value or introduced innovations to the company. The awards ceremony was originally scheduled as a live-event to be held in March but was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recognition is for supplier performance in the 2019 calendar year. This is the third time Brake Parts Inc has received the award.

“Our suppliers play a key role in delivering the products, services and experiences our customers deserve and these award-winning suppliers went above and beyond our expectations,” said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president, global purchasing and supply chain.

“We also believe it’s important at this point in time to thank our entire supply base for their efforts the last few months to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,” added Amin. “Not only have we been able to safely restart our manufacturing operations, our suppliers played a key role in assisting our initiatives to increase the supply of ventilators and personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontline health care workers to help save lives and keep communities safe.”

The Supplier of the Year award winners were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. Winners were selected based on performance criteria in product purchasing, global purchasing and manufacturing services, customer care and aftersales, and logistics.

“We are truly honored to be named a GM Supplier of the Year once again as this esteemed award is a testament to BPI’s deep commitment to providing the highest quality brake products, coupled with advanced innovation and superior customer service,” said David Overbeeke, president and CEO, Brake Parts Inc. “We will continue to work hard to go above and beyond GM’s expectations.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the GM family with this prestigious award for the third time in four years,” said Nick Viveiros, director of sales OE/OES, Brake Parts Inc. “Throughout 2019 there was countless collaboration on many large strategic projects involving cross functional groups from both GM and BPI to elevate the end user experience with ACDelco, while also highlighting the product line performance, safety and quality. We look forward to continuing our great partnership for years to come.”

In other Raybestos news, BuyBrakes.com is now an authorized retailer of the company’s brake pads, rotors and calipers.

BuyBrakes.com has added the Raybestos global brand to its line of brake system upgrades and replacement parts.

“As one of the fastest-growing online retailers of brake parts, we’re excited to have Raybestos in our line-up,” says John Butler, founder of BuyBrakes.com. “They’ve been around since 1902 and know how to make a quality brake part. We are looking forward to our partnership as an authorized retailer.”

Founded in 1998, BuyBrakes.com focuses solely on brakes and curates an inventory of the highest-quality parts available. Butler said the iconic Raybestos brand, Raybestos is an ideal addition to the BuyBrakes.com product line.

“We look forward to working with Raybestos and bringing our customers their quality products,” he said.

www.brakepartsinc.com

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