Impex

What Impex does

Impex, headquartered in Chimilin, France, is a multi-channel designer and distributor of automotive, motorcycle, bicycle, and pet care accessories, founded in 1970 (firmographic data also references 1975) and operating today as a subsidiary of DC Expansion Group since 2023. The company curates a portfolio of more than 4,000 SKUs sourced from approximately 500 suppliers and assembled under exclusive licensed brands (Michelin, Facom, Bosch, Castrol, Valeo, Air Wick, Arbre Magique, AEG, WRC) and proprietary private-label brands (Precision Steel, XL Cover, XL Perform Tools, Contrejour, FIDELAMI). Its technical differentiator is a continuously updated European vehicle parc database that powers 1,900 deployed interactive in-store kiosks enabling product matching by vehicle or registration for technical categories such as snow chains, wiper blades, and batteries.

Impex generates revenue primarily through B2B product distribution — one-time license-driven sales of branded and private-label automotive, two-wheeler, and pet care accessories — to mass retail, specialist networks, e-commerce platforms, and DIY stores. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; professional B2B customers authenticate to access the platform, with terms of 60 days from invoice (45 days for consolidated invoices) and free shipping above €600 ex-tax for single-location delivery in France. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales: a dedicated team of 28 sector managers covers France end to end, supported by a customer service team, in-store merchandising and promotional animations, and category management services.

Operations span France (HQ and Italian subsidiary co-located), Spain and Portugal through IMPEX Iberica in La Garriga near Barcelona, and Asia sourcing through the wholly-owned INNO+ office in Hong Kong, backed by 25,000m² of European warehouse space, a workforce of approximately 250 employees across Europe and Asia, and 5,000+ B2B customers worldwide. Self-disclosed annual revenue is €118M. Omnichannel fulfillment including B2C direct-to-consumer delivery and dropshipping has been layered on top of the core B2B wholesale model, alongside digital catalogs covering France, Italy, and Spain-Portugal markets.

Name

Impex

Legal name

IMPEX

Website

https://impex-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Impex is a French multi-channel designer and B2B distributor of automotive, motorcycle, bicycle, and pet care accessories, selling 4,000+ branded and private-label SKUs to 5,000+ retailers across Europe under exclusive licenses with Michelin, Facom, and others.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chimilin

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution (B2B): Sale of automotive accessories, two-wheeler products, and pet care items to B2B customers including mass retail, specialist networks, e-commerce platforms, and DIY stores. Revenue generated through product sales under exclusive licenses and private-label brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Impex is a multi-channel designer and B2B distributor of equipment and accessories for the automotive, two-wheeler, bicycle, and pet care sectors, supplying more than 5,000 retail and OEM customers across Europe with a portfolio of 4,000+ products offered under exclusive licensed brands (Michelin, Facom, Bosch, Castrol, Valeo, Air Wick, AEG, WRC) and proprietary private-label brands (Fidelami, Precision Steel, XL Cover, XL Perform Tools, Contrejour). The company provides integrated distribution services including supply chain management, 1,900 in-store interactive vehicle-matching kiosks, a 28-person field sales force in France, and omnichannel fulfillment (B2B, B2C, dropshipping) backed by 25,000m² of European warehousing and Asia sourcing through its INNO+ Hong Kong office.

Product overview

IMPEX is a multi-channel designer and distributor of automotive, two-wheeler, and pet care equipment and accessories, founded in 1970. The company operates with a portfolio of more than 4,000 products across four main product lines: Automotive (care & maintenance, fragrances, on-board equipment, exterior protection, tools, filtration, wiper blades, braking, ignition, batteries, electrical, snow chains, carrying & towing, sunshades, interior trim, oil, wheel trims, audio & multimedia), Motorcycle (care, maintenance, and service parts), Bicycle (equipment, repair, cleaning, braking, cables, transmission, wheels, tires, electrical, safety, tools), and Pet Care (well-being, cat products, games, walks, care & beauty, travel). The company distributes products under exclusive licensed brands (Michelin, Facom, Air Wick, AEG, WRC), exclusive IMPEX brands (Precision Steel, XL Cover, XL Perform Tools, Contrejour, FIDELAMI), and private-label brands for retail partners. Services include interactive in-store kiosks with vehicle database, field sales teams, supply chain management, marketing & merchandising support, consumer service, and omnichannel solutions (B2B, B2C, dropshipping).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fidelami: Exclusive pet care brand offering products for dogs and cats including collars, harnesses, leashes, carriers, and grooming accessories.

Products and services

• Automotive Accessories Range Multi-category range of automotive accessories covering care & maintenance, fragrances & air fresheners, on-board equipment, exterior equipment & protection, tools, filtration, wiper blades, braking, ignition, batteries & accessories, electrical, snow chains, carrying & towing, sunshades, interior trim, oil, wheel trims, and audio & multimedia. Sold B2B under exclusive licensed brands (Michelin, Facom, Bosch, Castrol, Valeo, Purflux, Jurid, Fulmen, Exide) and Impex private-label brands.
• Motorcycle Care, Maintenance & Service Parts Two-wheeler product line covering motorcycle care & maintenance consumables and motorcycle service/mechanical parts for B2B retail distribution.
• Bicycle Equipment & Accessories Bicycle product range covering cyclist & passenger items, equipment, repair & cleaning, braking & cables, transmission, wheels & tires, electrical, safety products, and tools, distributed B2B to retailers.
• Pet Supplies (Fidelami brand) Pet care product range covering well-being, cat products, games & toys, walks (collars, harnesses, leashes, visibility), care & beauty (grooming), and travel (carriers, harnesses). Distributed under the exclusive Impex pet care brand Fidelami.
• Interactive In-Store Vehicle-Matching Kiosks 1,900 interactive kiosks deployed in partner stores, powered by a continuously updated European vehicle database. Consumers search by vehicle or registration number to identify the right product for technical items such as snow chains, wiper blades, and batteries.
• Field Sales & Account Management Services Dedicated B2B field sales coverage of France through 28 sector managers with a support team and privileged interlocutors providing responsive, personalized retail account follow-up.
• Omnichannel B2B, B2C, and Dropshipping Fulfillment Omnichannel logistics services including direct point-of-sale or warehouse delivery, B2B, B2C, and dropshipping, with real-time order tracking for partner retailers' online customers.
• Marketing, Design & Merchandising Services Marketing design, market analysis, product design, packaging, point-of-sale advertising materials (PLV/ILV), commercial animations, promotions, space theatricalization, and category management for retail partners.
• Automotive Expertise & Vehicle Fleet Analysis In-house automotive expertise leveraging a unique database to propose offers adapted to the vehicles in circulation, supported by quality control, regulatory monitoring, quality audits, and an expert laboratory network.
• Consumer Service Support Dedicated consumer service team reachable Monday–Friday by phone (+33 4 76 32 69 47) and email ([email protected]) with a commitment to respond within 48 hours.
• Fidelami Exclusive Pet Care Brand Exclusive Impex private-label pet care brand offering products for dogs and cats including collars, harnesses, leashes, carriers, grooming accessories, walking accessories, and travel items.
• IMPEX Iberica Subsidiary (Spain & Portugal) Wholly-owned subsidiary based in La Garriga, near Barcelona, covering the Spanish and Portuguese markets with the full Impex product and service portfolio.
• INNO+ Asia Sourcing Office (Hong Kong) Wholly-owned Hong Kong-based trading subsidiary that handles sourcing and development of Asian supply sources, supplier follow-up, and quality follow-up for the Impex product range.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 5,000 B2B customers worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• MichelinflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 1970Exclusive license partnership for automotive accessory ranges under the Michelin brand.
• FacomflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 1970Exclusive license partnership for automotive tools under the Facom brand.
• BoschcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for automotive electrical and other equipment products.
• CastrolcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for automotive oils and maintenance products.
• ValeocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for automotive equipment and components.
• Air WickcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for fragrances and air fresheners for automotive sector.
• Arbre MagiquecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for automotive air fresheners and fragrances.
• AEGcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicense for automotive tools and equipment under the AEG brand.
• WRCcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicense for automotive equipment and accessories under the WRC brand.
• DC Expansion GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, IMPEX has been part of DC Expansion Group, a collective of companies sharing entrepreneurial culture and expertise in mobility and equipment sectors.
• INNO+coreTechnology or IntegrationTrading subsidiary based in Hong Kong that handles sourcing and development of Asian supply sources, ensuring quality follow-up and supply chain management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Oscaro: France-focused online auto-parts retailer; a French-market benchmark that competes for the same DIY/installation consumer, although distribution-channel structure (B2C vs IMPEX's B2B) differs.
• Mister Auto: French online auto-parts retailer with broad SKU coverage; operates in the same French end-market as IMPEX but via direct-to-consumer e-commerce rather than B2B distribution.

Direct peers

• LKQ Corporation: Largest global distributor of alternative and aftermarket automotive parts with a multi-brand, multi-channel distribution model; directly comparable on scale, customer breadth, and supply-chain integration.
• Groupauto International: International automotive aftermarket distribution and buying group covering many European markets; operates a similar multi-channel B2B distributor network with shared suppliers and category-management services.
• FPS Distribution: UK-based automotive aftermarket parts distributor serving retailers and workshops; comparable in B2B distribution focus, broad SKU portfolio, and omnichannel capabilities.
• Alliance Automotive Group: European B2B automotive aftermarket parts distributor serving mass retail, specialists, and workshops across multiple countries—directly comparable to IMPEX's distribution model, customer mix, and European footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Valeo: Global automotive supplier with aftermarket offerings in lighting, filtration, wiper blades, and electronics; comparable as both a competitor and an existing IMPEX licensing partner across shared categories.
• Robert Bosch GmbH (Automotive Aftermarket): Global automotive components manufacturer with a large aftermarket division that distributes parts and accessories through retailers and workshops—an incumbent that overlaps with IMPEX's Bosch-branded portfolio and category breadth.
• Hella: Automotive lighting and electronics supplier with a substantial aftermarket business; overlaps with IMPEX's automotive electrical and accessories portfolio and competes for similar B2B customers.
• Schaeffler: Automotive and industrial supplier with a notable aftermarket division selling parts through distributors and workshops—comparable on premium-brand positioning and B2B distribution partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@impex_france
• Facebookfacebook.com/IMPEX.FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/impex-sas
• Instagraminstagram.com/impex_france/?hl=fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Impex