What Schäferbarthold does

Schäferbarthold GmbH is a family-run German automotive spare parts wholesaler headquartered in Porta Westfalica, founded on April 1, 1924, and led by Managing Directors Dr. Christian Schäferbarthold and Wolfgang Schäferbarthold. The company specializes in nine selected vehicle brands—BMW, Citroën, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, and VW—and operates three proprietary own-brand product lines: OE-FIT (original-equivalent premium parts for dealerships and authorized workshops), OE-Cult (specialized premium-brand parts for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche specialists), and Caripar (cost-effective parts with a three-year guarantee for everyday repairs). The company has held ISO 9001 certification through TÜV Thüringen since 1994 and celebrated its 100-year centennial in April 2024.

The business operates a multi-channel distribution model combining an enterprise field sales force of 50+ representatives deployed on-site across Germany and Europe with 100+ inside sales staff and a B2B online shop at b2b.schaeferbarthold.com. The company serves 6,000+ customers in three primary segments—authorized dealerships, independent and specialized workshops, and specialist dealers and wholesalers—alongside a small physical Fachmarkt (specialist retail store) at its Porta Westfalica headquarters. Marketing channels include Automechanika and Equip Auto Paris trade shows, social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing), a 300+ page annual accessories catalogue presenting nearly 3,000 items, customer track-day events at Bilster Berg, and cultural sponsorship through the Minden Kultur-Sommerbühne.

Schäferbarthold's revenue model is wholesale hardware sales of automotive spare parts to B2B customers, with pricing in EUR (ex-VAT) and 14-day payment terms. Revenue, ARR, and any growth metrics are not publicly disclosed. The company maintains core strategic partnerships with NEXUS Automotive International, GVA, and Zukunftswerkstatt 4.0, and pursues minor social partnerships (Mindener Stiftung für Kinder, TEILEn e.V., Lebenshilfe Arbeit e.V.). There is no evidence of external investment, M&A activity, or ownership change, and the firm remains under family control with over 400 employees.

Name

Schäferbarthold

Legal name

Schäferbarthold GmbH

Website

https://schaeferbarthold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Schäferbarthold is a family-run German automotive spare parts wholesaler founded in 1924, serving 6,000+ workshops and dealers across Europe with parts for nine vehicle brands and three proprietary own-brand lines (OE-FIT, OE-Cult, Caripar).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Porta Westfalica

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Spare Parts Wholesale: Primary revenue stream from wholesale distribution of automotive spare parts to authorized workshops, independent workshops, specialist dealers, and other wholesalers. The company specializes in selected vehicle brands and high-quality car parts, offering solutions for both premium brands (Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz) and everyday repair needs.
2. Own Brand Products (OE-FIT, OE-Cult, Caripar): Exclusive own brands provide high-quality automotive spare parts, including special parts in original quality for premium brands and products for everyday repairs reflecting vehicle market value.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schäferbarthold is a specialised automotive parts wholesaler founded in 1924, distributing OEM-quality spare parts and accessories for nine selected vehicle brands (BMW, Citroën, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, VW) to authorised workshops, independent workshops, specialist dealers, and other wholesalers across Germany and Europe. The company operates three proprietary own brands — OE-FIT (original-quality parts for dealerships), OE-Cult (premium-brand parts for specialist workshops), and Caripar (cost-effective repairs with three-year guarantee) — supported by a field sales force of 50+ representatives, 100+ inside sales staff, and a B2B online shop serving over 6,000 customers.

Product overview

Schäferbarthold is a specialized automotive parts wholesaler serving authorized workshops, independent workshops, specialist dealers, and wholesalers. The company operates three exclusive own brands: OE-FIT provides original-equivalent quality parts for dealerships and authorized workshops; OE-Cult offers premium-grade spare parts for specialized workshops working with high-end brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche; and Caripar delivers cost-effective repair solutions with a three-year guarantee for everyday repairs. The company specializes in nine vehicle brands: BMW, Citroën, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, and VW.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OE-FIT: The only real alternative to the manufacturer - combines quality and added profitability with guarantee promise, perfect concept for dealerships and authorised workshops.
• OE-Cult
• Caripar

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 6000 customers across Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mindener Stiftung für KinderminorOthers · 1 January 2008Protestant church foundation founded in 2008 by two Minden entrepreneurs. Schäferbarthold supports the foundation financially and personally, helping children in the Minden region access education and opportunities.
• NEXUS Automotive InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational automotive parts wholesale network partnership providing access to global distribution and knowledge sharing across the NEXUS Automotive network.
• GVA - Gesamtverband Autoteile-HandelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in the German Automotive Parts Trade Association, representing industry interests and maintaining professional standards in automotive parts distribution.
• Zukunftswerkstatt 4.0coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network partnership contributing 100 years of expertise in specialised parts for authorised workshops, focused on future-oriented solutions and innovation in automotive aftersales.
• Lebenshilfe Arbeit e.V.minorOthersSupported pastoral foundation where services such as packaging, labelling, shrink wrapping and repackaging are carried out, and resources produced by the foundation are purchased.
• TEILEn e.V.minorOthersTraffic safety organization supported by Schäferbarthold through its support association. The core project is the Tabaluga Mobile, teaching children traffic rules through play with over 60 mobile traffic schools operating across Germany.
• Minden Marketing GmbH - Kultur-SommerbühneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural sponsorship consortium supporting regional cultural events since 2011. Past artists include Götz Alsmann, NENA, BAP, Al Di Meola, Helge Schneider. Schäferbarthold is one of the leading business enterprises promoting the Minden region.
• TÜV ThüringencoreOthersQuality certification partner providing ISO 9001 certification since 1994, demonstrating commitment to quality management standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stahlgruber (LKQ Euro Car Parts): Major European automotive parts wholesaler, formerly Stahlgruber GmbH, now part of LKQ Corporation; distributes branded and own-brand parts to workshops across Germany and Europe — directly comparable in customer base, own-brand strategy and field-sales model.
• WM SE (Wessels + Müller): German automotive parts wholesaler and Werkstattpartner cooperative, serving independent workshops across Germany; directly comparable as a B2B multi-brand parts distributor with workshop-focused service model.
• Trost SE: Long-established German automotive parts wholesaler (now integrated with WM SE) distributing parts and workshop consumables; directly comparable in business model, customer segment and product breadth.
• Alliance Automotive Group: European aftermarket parts distributor (part of Genuine Parts Company) operating in Germany, France, UK, Poland and Nordics; directly comparable as a multi-country B2B automotive parts wholesaler with workshop and dealer customers.
• Autodistribution: European cooperative of independent automotive parts distributors; directly comparable as a B2B spare-parts wholesaler with a network-of-distributors model analogous to Schäferbarthold's NEXUS membership.
• PV Automotive: German commercial-vehicle and passenger-car parts wholesaler with strong workshop focus; comparable in B2B distribution model, own-brand portfolio and customer segments (independent workshops, specialists).
• Mec-Diesel: Specialized German automotive parts wholesaler focused on premium European marques (BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi); closely comparable in premium-brand specialization and OE-quality positioning.

Broad incumbents

• LKQ Corporation: Largest North American and major European aftermarket parts distributor; comparable as a broad incumbent in the same industry with overlapping product categories, but operating at much larger scale and with a different geographic mix.
• Robert Bosch GmbH — Automotive Aftermarket: Global automotive parts manufacturer and aftermarket distributor; comparable in that its aftermarket division serves the same European workshop and dealer customer base, but operates as a broad incumbent across many more product categories than Schäferbarthold.

Emerging players

• FCP Euro: US-based digital-first European parts specialist (BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi, Volvo) with strong direct-to-workshop e-commerce; comparable as a premium-brand specialist but a digital-native emerging competitor to traditional field-sales wholesalers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schaeferbartholdgmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaferbarthold-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Schäferbarthold