From humble beginnings as Highway Autos in Willesden to becoming the UK’s largest automotive parts distributor under the LKQ Corporation umbrella, the story of Euro Car Parts is one of remarkable growth and unwavering commitment to the automotive aftermarket. This journey, marked by strategic expansions and key acquisitions, highlights how a local car parts shop evolved into a national powerhouse, with a significant presence in key locations like Manchester. For those seeking “Lkq Manchester Car Parts”, understanding this history provides context to the robust and reliable service available today.
The story began in 1978 with Highway Autos, a high street shop in Willesden dedicated to trading car parts. Even in its nascent stage, the ambition for growth was evident. Within three years, Highway Autos expanded, opening a second location, laying the groundwork for what would become Euro Car Parts. The official birth of Euro Car Parts in 1984 marked a pivotal moment, solidifying a commitment to a deeper expertise and wider reach in the automotive parts market.
In 1993, the scene was set for national expansion. Birmingham and Manchester became the first two cities outside of London to welcome Euro Car Parts branches. This strategic move to Manchester was particularly significant, establishing an early foothold in a major metropolitan area and signaling the company’s intent to serve customers across the UK. This early expansion to Manchester is a key part of the story for anyone searching for “lkq manchester car parts” today, as it demonstrates a long-standing presence and commitment to the region.
The dawn of the new millennium in 2000 ushered in another wave of expansion. New sites opened across the UK, including Glasgow, Bellingham, Chessington, East London, Belfast, Southampton, Leeds, and Newcastle. This period wasn’t just about geographical growth; the parts program itself was significantly expanded, catering to a broader range of vehicles and customer needs.
Euro Car Parts solidified its position as a market leader by 2001. A proven strategy focused on the automotive aftermarket allowed for the successful introduction of in-depth ranges for German and Scandinavian vehicles. Furthermore, the addition of Peugeot, Renault, and Citroen through a dedicated French program broadened the company’s reach into diverse European marques.
2004 marked the origins of the ‘All Makes’ approach. With over 30 branches nationwide, Euro Car Parts became the leading national distributor for European car marques. The program expanded to include Seat, Skoda, BMW Mini, and Smart car. Crucially, the launch of an ‘All-Makes’ program for Air Conditioning, Batteries, and Catalytic converters signaled a shift towards serving a wider spectrum of vehicles, a precursor to the “Any part for any car” mantra.
Recognizing the importance of skilled personnel to sustain growth, the Euro Car Parts Training Academy was established in 2005. This initiative underscored the company’s commitment to developing “home-grown talent” and ensuring a knowledgeable workforce to support its expanding operations.
The mantra “Any part for any car” was born in 2006. This pivotal statement declared that Euro Car Parts was ready to serve owners and repairers of any vehicle make, a bold promise that broadened their customer base and solidified their market position.
Expanding beyond just parts supply, 2007 saw the launch of Garage Solutions. This comprehensive package included tools and equipment, training, data, finance, management, and marketing support, demonstrating a commitment to helping customers grow their own businesses.
Despite the severe global market crash and recession in 2008, Euro Car Parts demonstrated resilience. Sales grew to £187 million, a remarkable 30% increase from the previous year, showcasing the strength of the business model and customer loyalty even in challenging economic times.
Further solidifying its industry position, Euro Car Parts was appointed the sole supplier of batteries, car parts, and consumables to RAC patrol vans in 2010. The company also secured the coveted Kwik Fit contract for shocks, springs, and suspension components. By the start of this new decade, Euro Car Parts boasted over 80 branches across the UK, further enhancing accessibility for customers, including those searching for “lkq manchester car parts”.
A transformative moment arrived in 2011 with the acquisition of Euro Car Parts by LKQ Corporation. This placed the business at the heart of a global automotive parts powerhouse, providing access to greater resources and international reach. The launch of the Click and Collect service in the same year, along with an expansion to 90 branches and 3,400 employees, demonstrated continued growth and adaptation to changing customer needs.
Branch number 100 opened in Harrow, North London in 2012, a symbolic milestone of national reach. By year-end, the branch count exceeded 125. To manage increasing demand, a massive 141,000 sq. ft distribution center opened in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, primarily dedicated to the Collision Repair range.
European expansion followed in 2013 with the merger of Euro Car Parts and Sator Holdings, creating LKQ Euro. This merger resulted in one of the largest vehicle parts distributors in Europe, providing a platform for further acquisitions, including Iris Coatings and 5 UK distributors of automotive paint and body shop supplies.
In 2014, LKQ Corporation, the parent company of Euro Car Parts, achieved Fortune 500 status, a testament to its global scale and success. Euro Car Parts also partnered with BEN, a charity supporting the automotive community’s mental health, highlighting a commitment to social responsibility.
2015 saw the announcement of Super Hubs, a new standard for service delivery. These branches offered 100% availability of an expanded stock choice, promising over 1,000 new jobs and adding over 1 million sq ft of warehousing. The Moss Lane Super Hub in Manchester became Euro Car Parts’ 200th branch, further emphasizing Manchester’s importance within the network and offering even greater access to “lkq manchester car parts”.
A series of strategic acquisitions marked 2016, including HELLA Ireland, Arleigh Group, and the business assets of Andrew Page Limited, further consolidating Euro Car Parts’ market position and expanding its product and service offerings.
Euro Car Parts extended its physical presence to the Republic of Ireland in 2017 with the opening of its first branch in Dublin. Omnipart was launched as a one-stop shop for online trade customers, and the first Euro Car Parts trade catalog was introduced to meet the growing demand from professional technicians across the UK and Ireland.
The 1 million sq. ft T2 distribution center opened in 2018, consolidating five central distribution centers into two Tamworth sites. Both T1 and T2 became fully operational in the same year, streamlining logistics and enhancing efficiency.
Today, Euro Car Parts stands as the UK’s largest automotive parts distribution network. With over 280 branches, 20 rapid fulfillment centers, and 5,250k sq ft of warehouse storage, the company stocks over 100,000 car, van, and caravan parts. Every day, 50,000 branch deliveries are made to trade customers, supported by a workforce of over 10,000 employees. For customers in Manchester and across the UK searching for “lkq manchester car parts” or any automotive component, Euro Car Parts, now part of the LKQ family, offers an unparalleled network, a vast inventory, and a legacy built on decades of dedicated service and growth.
