Augsburg International, the importer and distributor of car parts and accessories, expects business to reach 35 million euros, an increase of 30% from the previous year, as a result of the development of the automotive component segment.
"The car parts market is very much tied to the car market. The growth percentage of turnover last year was due to the similar growth pace of the car market in Romania," commented Mircea Lungu, PR manager of Augsburg International Romania.
The company achieved an approximate 35% increase in turnover last year to 26.7 million euros. It has 1,800 active clients, which include car service shops, corporate fleets, insurance companies, retail stores and individuals. Out of these, 1,000 are permanent customers, the Augsburg official says.
The importer opened the central warehouse located in Militari, western Bucharest, this May.
Augsburg International arrived in Romania in 1996, and its parent company is Germany-based Connex.
The first concept developed by Augsburg was the car parts and accessories showroom where the Smart vehicles were being sold. Tiriac Auto, a division of a group of companies owned by businessman Ion Tiriac, later became the sole importer of Smart cars in Romania.
The second concept introduced by Augsburg on the Romanian market was the automotive supermarket in 2003, when it opened such a store in Militari, close to Carrefour. This is where it sells various types of car parts on a 540 square metre sales area.
The company also developed an automotive complex on the same location that includes a fast car service facility where the parts purchased from the supermarket can be installed.
Augsburg International currently owns three car showrooms in Bucharest, Brasov and Iasi, as well as two wholesale centres in Arad and Cluj and two car service facilities in Bucharest. Augsbu
