The Genuine Parts Company has added Auto Parts Group to its portfolio as a specialist supplier of genuine, certified and aftermarket automotive collision repair parts in the latest industry acquisition.
Melbourne-based GPC Asia Pacific will now operate APG as a dedicated Collision Repair division alongside its existing automotive parts businesses, which include Repco, NAPA, Rare Spares, Sparesbox, and AMX Super Stores.
GPC Asia Pacific, one of Australasia’s largest industrial and automotive aftermarket parts and service suppliers, made the announcement on Wednesday and said APG’s operations would continue unchanged under the new ownership.
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APG currently employs more than 300 staff, operates five distribution centres across Australia and supply more than 47,000 different product lines to around 3,500 collision repairers.
James Knox will also stay on and continue to lead the business as Executive General Manager of APG and become a member of GPC Asia Pacific’s Automotive Leadership Team.
APG will now enjoy the advantages of GPC Asia Pacific’s investment strength and global supply chain, the announcement said.
Natural next step
GPC Asia Pacific Managing Director and Group CEO Rob Cameron says the acquisition was a natural extension of their current business.
“It enables us to extend into a large and resilient sector of the automotive industry, one that has favourable tailwinds, and which will benefit from GPC’s global scale and capabilities.
“GPC has exciting plans to further invest in APG’s distribution capabilities, product range, and customer service capabilities, which will deliver a multitude of benefits to APG’s customers.”
GPC Asia Pacific has acquired 100 percent ownership of APG from the company’s founder, Stephen Campbell, who determined GPC was the best home for his company’s future growth aspirations, it noted.
“Coupling APG’s customer-focussed approach with GPC’s planned investments in larger product ranges and distribution centres will significantly enhance the APG proposition.” James Knox said.
In June, GPC Asia Pacific opened its newest facility, a state-of-the art 39,000 square-metre parts distribution centre in Broadmeadows, Melbourne. The highly automated facility is one of a number of expansion projects scheduled by the leading parts and accessories supply company.
Story originally published on The National Collision Repairer