COVER STORY
NAPA AUTO PARTS CONTINUES TO GROW
NAPA Auto Parts overcame the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver significant network expansion through 2020, launching 17 new branches in five states across Australia NAPA Auto Parts says it brings together more than 90 years of aftermarket industry heritage, knowledge and experience from Australia’s leading Trade and Specialist automotive aftermarket distributors: Ashdown-Ingram, Covs, Global Auto Spares and R&E Auto Parts. In bringing the heritage businesses together as one cohesive operation, NAPA Auto Parts explains it is making more parts available to more aftermarket professionals in general mechanical workshop, specialist automotive electrical and thermal, industrial and mining environments. NAPA Auto Parts is not planning on slowing the rapid network expansion any time soon and this will certainly be the case in 2021, with numerous new NAPA Auto Parts branches to be added to the 31 branches operating around Australia. This will include the conversion of existing heritage branch businesses to NAPA Auto Parts, selected relocations and completely new builds. “The initial development of our NAPA Auto Parts branch network has been exciting, allowing us to add an incredibly wide range of new products to our existing product range. This comprehensive and market leading offer of both specialist and generalist product under one roof, augmented by exceptional product expertise, is what the Australian aftermarket industry has been looking for,” NAPA Auto Parts Executive General Manager, Julian Buckley, said. “This year we will continue to optimise our network, including opening new greenfield locations, to allow us to make our exceptionally compelling customer offer available to even more of the country’s leading Trade and Specialist aftermarket professionals. The width and depth of stock in each NAPA Auto Parts branch and our Team’s expertise are positioning us to continue to build and strengthen relationships with mechanics, auto electricians and thermal control specialists everywhere.” Alongside the 31 NAPA Auto Parts branches, a further 31 branches operate under the heritage business banners of Ashdown-Ingram, Covs, and R&E Auto Parts. While the heritage branches have a great in-branch range, NAPA Auto Parts says its branches offer upwards of twice the stock width as the heritage branches. These heritage branches will be progressively converted to NAPA Auto Parts in the coming years. 20
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine March 2021
In areas where there is no NAPA Auto Parts branch currently, the existing heritage branch network continues to assist customers. These branches can offer the same products as a NAPA Auto Parts branch, despite not holding the inventory width a NAPA Auto Parts branch carries. These parts can be ordered and are never far away thanks to a nationwide network of distribution centres. Julian says it is crucial that the network has a wide range available and stock on hand. “It’s pretty simple – our customers have jobs to complete and we want to make sure we’ve got what they need to complete that entire job, when they need it,” Julian said. “We want to make sure we are providing great value for our customers every day, to make their day easier. This means having the products they need and the ability to provide them with expert parts advice, when they need them.” Each heritage business is said to be renowned for its expertise in servicing the needs of specific customer channels, ranging from small family mechanical workshop garages to multinational businesses with multiple fleets and workshops operating in remote and hostile environments.
A wider range NAPA Auto Parts says it is proud to partner with many of the world’s leading brands including Century, Delco Remy, Denso, Ecco, Gates, Hella, Monroe, Milwaukee Tool, Narva, NGK, Penrite, Philips, Prestolite, Red Dot, Redarc, Ryco and Sanden. These brands cover many requirements of the wider automotive aftermarket and are relied
upon globally by workshops to get their customers and fleets back on the road safely. In addition to the leading brands, NAPA Auto Parts also has a collection of market leading own brands, including OEX, Great Whites, RDA Brakes, Drivetech 4x4 and NAPA. It says this extensive range has been tried and tested over the years, offers OE-equivalent quality, and is trusted by the country’s leading aftermarket trade specialists and often asked for by name. NAPA Auto Parts says there is good reason for this. It explains Thunder recently launched an innovative DC-DC Charger with unique features never before seen in the Australian market; while Great Whites was one of the first Australian brands to launch LED driving lights and the first to achieve an incredible one lux at one kilometre. Meanwhile, OEX has been trusted by electrical and thermal specialists for over 20 years, earning a reputation for quality, value and reliability, while also developing patented innovative products to simplify life in a workshop. OEX has now begun expanding to traditional mechanical parts including ignition leads and engine pulleys. The newest addition to the NAPA Auto Parts own brand stable takes its name from a company with
