Company - Profile & history - Header
LKQ Europe is the leading distributor of automotive aftermarket parts for cars, commercial vans and industrial vehicles in Europe. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, it is a subsidiary of LKQ Corporation. LKQ Europe includes LKQ Euro Car Parts, LKQ Benelux-France, LKQ RHIAG Group, LKQ Elit, LKQ CZ, LKQ DACH as well as recycling specialist, Atracco. LKQ is the largest shareholder in MEKO Group.
Today, we employ around 26,500 people and have a network of 900 branches. In 2023, LKQ Europe achieved $6.3 Bn in revenue and continues to thrive. Our teams supply parts to around 100,000 independent workshops in over 18 European countries.
We lead with enthusiasm, empower our people and dare to reimagine the future. As visionaries, we do more than just shaping the industry. We ignite change, innovate for our customers and create transformative, sustainable solutions for a better world. When we crossed the Atlantic in 2011, we took the first ground-breaking step towards Europe.
Our European story is about growth and development. During the last ten years, we’ve acquired more than 80 companies in Europe to become the automotive aftermarket leader. With the help of world-class logistics and state of the art warehousing we raised the spare parts supply in Europe to a whole new level.
Our regions
LKQ Europe
Shaping the automotive aftermarket through connectivity and innovation.
Formed in 1998, LKQ Corporation originally comprised of several wholesale recycled-products businesses in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Our expansion later included approximately 270 acquisitions of aftermarket, recycled, refurbished and remanufactured product suppliers and manufacturers, self-service retail businesses, specialty-vehicle aftermarket equipment and accessories suppliers.
‘Like-Kind-Quality’ was the starting point for the LKQ brand name. Over time, our name has evolved to reflect who we are now and means more than just products. Today, ‘Leadership. Know-how. Quality.’ conveys our pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the automotive industry, since our inception.
We are the leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair & accessorize automobiles and other vehicles.
Our most valuable asset are our 26.000 employees in Europe and 50.000 worldwide. Our people inspire us. We inspire our people.
With industry-leading warranty, CAPA certification, and a promise of protection indemnification program.
Donald Flynn establishes LKQ Corporation to reimagine the market and provide high-quality auto parts to a fragmented industry. Triplett Auto Recyclers, Damron Auto Parts and Star Auto Parts are LKQ Corporations’ first three acquisitions of many.
LKQ was tapping into a fragmented part of the industry, Ford Motor Company entered the recycled parts business as “GreenLeaf”.
LKQ officially goes public on the NASDAQ under the symbol LKQX.
LKQ enters the aftermarket parts business when it acquires Action Crash Parts. The addition of aftermarket parts, enables LKQ to successfully launch aftermarket programs in new markets and gain confidence to expand its aftermarket offerings.
The acquisition of Keystone Automotive industries is the biggest company-changing event for LKQ to date. At the time, Keystone was a public company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, operating 137 warehouses and 13 depots in 39 states – and regions of Canada.
LKQ enters the heavy-duty truck recycling business when it acquires Texas Best Diesel, which supplies and distributes fuel pumps, used transmission and engine parts. This is the start of a raft of acquisitions and many additional locations follow in the coming years.
LKQ gets into the remanufacturing space when it acquires PROFormance, an engine re-builder in Springfield, Missouri. This latest gain facilitates the geographic expansion of LKQ’s operations and provides an entry into the engine remanufacturing industry.
LKQ enters the UK market when it acquires Euro Car Parts, the largest aftermarket hard-parts distributor in Britain. With nearly 90 branches across England – and a national distribution centre, Euro Car Parts could re-stock daily, providing a huge competitive advantage.
European expansion continues when LKQ acquires aftermarket parts distributor Sator Beheer, in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Northern France. Sator Beheer later becomes Fource. LKQ also acquires five paint distributors in the United Kingdom.
LKQ enters the specialty aftermarket equipment and accessories business when it acquires Keystone Automotive Operations – the leading distributor and marketer of specialty automotive equipment and accessories in North America.
LKQ acquires Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia, a leading pan-European B2B distributor of aftermarket spare parts for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. In addition to Italy, LKQ operations expand into the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland and Spain.
LKQ acquires Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), the leading global manufacturer of automotive glass products. This acquisition enables LKQ to enter the automotive glass market and grow its industry-leading position and product offerings, to better meet the needs of customers.
LKQ acquires Stahlgruber – a wholesale distributor of aftermarket spare parts for passenger cars, tools, capital equipment and accessories, operating in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia and Switzerland. This expands LKQ’s presence in continental Europe and becomes a strategic hub for European operations.
The acquisition of Elite Electronics, specialising in various automotive diagnostic and repair services, opens new doors. The acquisition is a catalyst for launching LKQ North America in the vehicle services market. Consolidating LKQ’s industry-leading parts and distribution with Elite’s services furthers our vision.
LKQ subsequently creates Elitek – to provide mobile, on-site vehicle services to automotive collision repairers, mechanical repairers, and national fleets. This advances LKQ from focusing on only replacement parts to adding automotive diagnostic and repair services.
This year, LKQ celebrates its 25th anniversary. We are proud of how far we have come and even more excited for our bright future. With a passion for better, we will look back on our accomplishment that have got us to where we are today and explore how we can continue to drive our company and the industry forward.
