FAI Automotive

What FAI Automotive does

FAI Automotive is a UK-based wholesale distributor of replacement automotive parts, operating as Automotive Distribution Centre Limited (with FAI Automotive Limited as a dormant subsidiary) and wholly owned by South African-listed conglomerate Motus Holdings Limited. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Leighton Buzzard, the company supplies an all-makes range of engine and chassis components — including timing chain kits, engine sealing, valve train, internal engine, cylinder heads, pumps and pulleys, pans and covers, filtration, steering and suspension, wheel bearings, braking, and control cables — engineered to meet or exceed OE specifications for European, Japanese and Korean passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, distributed under the FAI, Camtec, Metelli and Yenmak brands.

The business serves two primary B2B segments: independent garages/workshops purchasing OE-quality components for repair and maintenance, and motor factors/distributors reselling those components to the aftermarket. Products are manufactured in ISO TS16949-certified facilities with an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, and the company offers an extended 60-month/100,000km warranty on timing chain kits versus a 24-month standard warranty. Operational support includes a Technical Express Returns programme (reports within 20 working days), a technical video library, technical bulletins, an online warranty tracker, and an electronic parts catalogue searchable by vehicle registration, make/model, engine type, or part number.

Commercial model is quote-based B2B trade distribution with carriage-free UK delivery above £130, ancillary carriage and timed-delivery surcharges below that threshold, and standard payment terms by the 20th of the month following invoice. Distribution reaches more than 50 countries via direct sales to UK motor factors and a network of international distributors, with marketing conducted through the corporate website, monthly "New to Range" email announcements, technical bulletins, downloadable marketing assets, and major aftermarket trade shows including Automechanika Frankfurt.

Name

FAI Automotive

Legal name

FAI Automotive PLC

Website

https://faiauto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FAI Automotive is a UK-based B2B distributor of OE-quality replacement engine and chassis parts for European, Japanese and Korean vehicles, serving independent garages and motor factors in more than 50 countries under the FAI, Camtec, Metelli and Yenmak brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Parts

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633), Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (33631)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Mechanical replacement parts distribution (engine, drivetrain, steering, suspension, brakes) (CRAOANAA)

Keywords

• Aftermarket automotive parts
• Engine timing kits
• Brake system components
• Steering suspension parts
• Vehicle replacement parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Leighton Buzzard

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aftermarket Automotive Parts Sales: FAI Automotive operates as a wholesaler of spare parts for motor cars and vans, generating revenue through one-time sales of replacement automotive parts. The company sells under FAI and Camtec brands through trade/ex-works sales with standard payment terms of the 20th day of the month following invoice date. Returns of non-defective goods are accepted within 30 days with a 20% handling charge.
2. Carriage and Delivery Services: FAI generates ancillary revenue through delivery charges: orders under £130.00 incur £5.95 per parcel carriage charge, with surcharges for before-12noon delivery (£4.75 for orders over £130, £8.90 for orders under £130). Stock orders (50+ lines) qualify for 48-hour delivery service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FAI Automotive is a UK-based B2B distributor of premium aftermarket replacement automotive parts for European, Japanese and Korean passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The portfolio spans engine timing kits, engine sealing, valve train, internal engine, cylinder heads, pumps and pulleys, pans and covers, filtration, steering and suspension, wheel bearings, braking and control cables, sold under FAI, Camtec, Metelli and Yenmak brands via UK trade sales and international distribution.

Product overview

FAI Automotive is a premium aftermarket automotive parts supplier offering a comprehensive 'all makes' range of engine and chassis components for European, Japanese and Korean vehicles. The product portfolio is organized into two main categories: Engine Parts (Timing Chain Kits, Engine Sealing, Valve Train, Internal Engine, Cylinder Heads, Pumps and Pulleys, Pans and Covers, Filtration) and Chassis Parts (Steering & Suspension, Wheel Bearings, Braking, Control Cables). The company operates under sub-brands Metelli and Yenmak and provides supplementary services including an electronic parts catalogue and warranty tracking system. Founded in 1983, FAI delivers OE-quality replacement parts trusted by customers in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camtec: Replacement automotive parts brand covering European, Japanese and Korean passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, alongside the FAI brand.

Products and services

• Timing Chain Kits Premium quality timing chain kits engineered to match OE specifications, including variable valve timing variants for European, Japanese and Korean engine applications, with an extended 60-month/100,000 km warranty.
• Engine Sealing Gaskets and sealing components including head gaskets, top sets, full sets, rocker gaskets, oil seals, head bolts and valve stem seals for engine rebuild applications.
• Valve Train Camshafts, camshaft carrier modules, engine valves, rocker arms, ladder racks, lifters and tappets for various engine applications.
• Internal Engine Pistons, piston rings, engine bearings, liners and connecting rods for engine rebuild applications, complemented by Yenmak sub-brand piston and engine components.
• Cylinder Heads Complete and bare cylinder heads for European, Japanese and Korean vehicle applications.
• Pumps and Pulleys Water pumps, oil pumps and crankshaft pulleys for engine cooling and lubrication systems.
• Pans and Covers Sump pans, transmission pans, oil control valves, sump plugs and rocker covers for engine and transmission applications.
• Filtration Air, cabin, fuel and oil filters for engine and cabin air quality maintenance.
• Steering and Suspension Control arms, ball joints, stabiliser links, tie rod ends and strut mounts for vehicle steering and suspension systems.
• Wheel Bearings Hub bearings and wheel bearings for front and rear axle applications.
• Braking Brake discs, brake pads and calipers for vehicle braking systems, with semi-metallic pad formulation and zinc-coated calipers covering manual and electronic parking brake systems.
• Control Cables Brake cables and gear cables for vehicle control systems.
• CSK1014A DV5 Chain Upgrade Kit Timing chain conversion kit for PSA DV5 engines upgrading the chain system from 7mm to a more robust 8mm specification, with technical guidance for installation, addressing known design weaknesses in the original specification.
• Metelli Sub-brand Range Aftermarket automotive parts under the Metelli sub-brand offering engine and chassis components for European, Japanese and Korean vehicles.
• Yenmak Sub-brand Range Piston and engine component brand providing replacement pistons and internal engine parts under the Yenmak label.
• Camtec Sub-brand Range Replacement automotive parts brand covering European, Japanese and Korean passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, sold alongside the FAI brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% UK vehicle parc coverage with braking range
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature8 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MEYLE: Independent aftermarket manufacturer-distributor specializing in chassis, steering, suspension, and engine components sold through European distributors. Closely mirrors FAI's chassis-leaning product portfolio and OE-equivalent quality positioning.
• Corteco (Freudenberg): Aftermarket specialist distributing engine sealing, gaskets, filtration and chassis components to European motor factors. Highly comparable product mix to FAI's engine and sealing lines and a similar OE-quality value proposition.
• Euro Car Parts: UK-based aftermarket parts distributor serving independent garages and motor factors with a broad mechanical, braking, and engine component range. Directly comparable business model and customer base to FAI Automotive within the UK independent aftermarket.
• Blue Print (ADL group): UK-headquartered Asian vehicle aftermarket specialist distributing engine, steering, suspension and braking parts through motor factors. Comparable all-makes programme and customer base to FAI with overlapping European, Japanese, and Korean vehicle coverage.
• FEBI Bilstein: German aftermarket parts specialist with a multi-category engine, steering, suspension and braking range sold to motor factors and workshops across Europe. Highly comparable product mix, OE-quality positioning, and distribution model in the same European aftermarket.

Others

• Metelli Group: Italian aftermarket parts manufacturer and sister-company within the Motus Holdings group, distributing engine, steering, and braking components globally. Closely comparable product categories but operates as a complementary brand within the same parent ecosystem rather than a direct market competitor.

Emerging players

• NTK/NTN-SNR (NTN Automotive): Specialist in wheel bearings, engine timing components and other mechanical aftermarket parts distributed through European motor factors. Partial product overlap with FAI's wheel bearing and timing chain lines and similar OE-quality positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Global Tier-1 supplier offering a comprehensive aftermarket parts and diagnostics portfolio through the same UK motor factor channel that FAI serves. Comparable in product breadth and end-customers but vastly larger scale and incumbency in braking, electrical, and engine management categories.
• Continental ContiTech / ATE: Major Tier-1 incumbent distributing engine timing, belts, and braking components (under ATE) through the same UK motor factor channel. Overlapping product categories and customer base, but anchored by much deeper R&D and global scale.
• Brembo Aftermarket: Premium braking specialist with global aftermarket reach competing in the disc, pad, and caliper categories that FAI is expanding into. Comparable in braking category focus but operates at a much larger scale and with stronger OE credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/faiauto
• Facebookfacebook.com/faiautoparts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fai-automotive-plc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 FAI Automotive