HESS Automobile
HESS Automobile is a family-owned, multi-brand automotive distribution group based in Strasbourg, France, operating 86 dealerships across the Grand Est region selling 22 vehicle brands, delivering ~65,000 vehicles and servicing ~300,000 workshop visits annually to individual consumers and small business fleets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersStrasbourg, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HESS Automobile does
HESS Automobile is a privately-held, family-owned multi-brand automotive distribution group founded in 1946 in Strasbourg, France, and now in its third generation of family leadership (Jonathan and Anthony Hess, joined 2006). The group operates 86 points of sale across the Grand Est region of France — Alsace, Lorraine, Burgundy, and Champagne-Ardennes — distributing 22 automotive brands including Renault, Peugeot, Citroën/Stellantis brands, BMW, MINI, Toyota, Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, Hyundai, Nissan, and Opel, with a combined annual volume of roughly 65,000 vehicle deliveries and 300,000 workshop visits. The company has pursued a sustained acquisition-driven roll-up strategy, adding brands such as BMW Motorrad (motorcycles, 2023), expanding Toyota and Opel into the Meuse region (2024), acquiring Jaguar Land Rover Nancy (2025), and crossing the French border with the acquisition of Swiss dealer Bickel Auto AG in April 2026. The holding company is organized as HESS AUTOMOBILE CENTRE AUTO (SAS), registered in Strasbourg (RCS 891 303 380), with no external private equity or institutional investment.
The business model combines new and used vehicle sales, in-house financing through HESS Finance (a brand partnership with CGI Finance, a Société Générale subsidiary offering LOA, LLD, credit, and Cool credit), and comprehensive after-sales services including workshop, body shop, maintenance, parts, and accessories. Differentiation rests on multi-brand aggregation (one-stop access to 22 OEMs), a captive used-vehicle ecosystem (Le Veodrome for performance, Primocar for budget, HESS Classic for collection), early adoption of cryptocurrency payments via BitPay, complete online purchase flow with €49 reservation and home delivery, and a training infrastructure (CFA de la mobilité acquired 2024) aligned with hybrid and EV technician pipelines. The group's stated value proposition emphasizes transparent pricing, broad inventory (5,000+ vehicles in stock), and a 4.4/5 customer satisfaction rating that has supported consecutive 'Service Client de l'Année' awards in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Technology and operational infrastructure are conventional for European automotive retail: PrestaShop powers the e-commerce front-end, Algolia handles product search, Matomo provides analytics, Stripe processes card payments, and Cegid HR manages recruitment and HR operations. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. GTM operates as a hybrid field-sales-plus-direct-to-consumer model: physical dealership network is the primary touchpoint, supplemented by a complete online purchase path (search, virtual consultation, €49 online reservation, digital signing, home delivery) extending reach across France. Customer base is overwhelmingly B2C retail with a smaller business fleet channel. Growth has been achieved entirely through organic reinvestment and targeted acquisitions, without external funding rounds.
HESS Automobile firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HESS Automobile
- Legal name
- HESS AUTOMOBILE CENTRE AUTO
- Website
- https://hessautomobile.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- HESS Automobile is a family-owned, multi-brand automotive distribution group based in Strasbourg, France, operating 86 dealerships across the Grand Est region selling 22 vehicle brands, delivering ~65,000 vehicles and servicing ~300,000 workshop visits annually to individual consumers and small business fleets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HESS Automobile industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Retail and Dealership Services
- NAICS
- Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (4412), Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312)
- SIC
- Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Vehicles & Parts C2C (CRAFAKAE)
Keywords
Where HESS Automobile is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Strasbourg
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices31 records
Markets served
HESS Automobile business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Vehicle Sales - New and Used: Sale of new vehicles (voitures neuves), used vehicles (véhicules d'occasion), demonstration vehicles, and utility vehicles across 22 automotive brands through 86 sales points
- Automotive Financing: HESS Finance provides financing solutions including LOA (Location avec Option d'Achat), LLD (Location Longue Durée), credit, and Cool credit with guaranteed vehicle buyback options
- After-Sales Services: Workshop services, body shop repairs, maintenance, tire services, parts and accessories sales, and service contracts
- Cryptocurrency Payment Processing: Acceptance of cryptocurrency payments via BitPay platform for vehicle purchases
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Used vehicles under €15,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Used vehicles €15,000-25,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Used vehicles €25,000-40,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Vehicles €40,000 and above |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Online reservation fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
HESS Automobile product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HESS Automobile operates a multi-brand automotive distribution network selling new, used, and demonstration vehicles from 22 brands across 86 points of sale in the Grand Est region of France. The company also provides in-house financing (HESS Finance), after-sales workshop and body shop services, parts and accessories, vehicle trade-in evaluation, cryptocurrency payment via BitPay, and corporate fleet solutions, supported by a full online sales platform with home delivery across France.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Le Veodrome: Multi-brand used vehicle sales label specializing in sports cars and performance vehicles
- Primocar
- HESS Finance
- Hess Classic
Products and services
- New vehicle sales
- Used vehicle sales
- Le Veodrome used vehicles
- Primocar budget used vehicles
- HESS Classic collector vehicles
- HESS Finance automotive financing
- After-sales workshop and maintenance
- Body shop (Carrosserie)
- Parts and accessories sales
- Service contracts
- Cryptocurrency vehicle payment
- Vehicle trade-in and reprise estimation
- Online vehicle reservation
- Corporate fleet solutions (Solutions entreprises)
- BMW Motorrad motorcycle sales
- Anti-theft vehicle marking (Marquage Antivol)
- Automotive training programs (CFA de la Mobilité / HESS Academy)
Quantifiable outcome
- 86 sales points serving customers across Grand Est region
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use HESS Automobile
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HESS Automobile technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
HESS Automobile partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BitPaycoreBitPay provides cryptocurrency payment processing infrastructure enabling HESS Automobile customers to pay for vehicles using cryptocurrency. The partnership allows customers to receive secure payment links via email and complete transactions through the BitPay application.
- BMW Group FrancecoreBMW Group France granted HESS Automobile distribution rights for BMW and MINI brands, including BMW Motorrad for motorcycles. Partnership expanded in 2024 with new concessions in Besançon, Belfort, Lons-Le-Saunier, Pontarlier, and Dole.
- Renault GroupcoreRenault Group partnership includes distribution of Renault and Dacia brands. Multiple acquisitions of Renault dealerships in Strasbourg (2021), Mulhouse (2021), Montbéliard/Belfort (2021), Saverne (2022), and new locations in Alsace.
- Peugeot (Stellantis)corePeugeot distribution partnership includes acquisition of manufacturer-owned dealerships in Champagne and Ardennes region (2012), with expansion including new Reims dealership and Blue Box locations.
- Toyota FrancecoreToyota distribution partnership spans multiple decades with concessions in Besançon (since 1994), followed by Metz, Belfort, Longwy, Forbach, Thionville, and expansion into Meuse region (Verdun, Bar-le-Duc, Saint-Dizier) in 2024.
- Jaguar Land RovercoreJLR distribution in Metz and Strasbourg since 2013, with acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover Nancy in 2025.
- Nissan FrancecoreNissan partnership began in 1985 with significant expansion in 2009 (Nancy, Metz, Thionville) and 2010 (Besançon). Coverage includes Saint-Avold joining the Alliance in 2014.
- Hyundai Motor FrancecoreHyundai distribution since 1999 starting with Strasbourg, then expanding to Besançon, Mulhouse, Dijon, Nancy, and Reims. HESS Automobile Reims participates in annual environmental cleanup initiatives.
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Stellantis)coreLong-standing Fiat distribution since 1968, expanded to include Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Jeep, and Abarth. Coverage across Alsace, Burgundy, and Lorraine regions.
- Volvo Cars FrancecoreVolvo distribution since 1972, with expansion in 2022 including acquisition of Volvo/Hyundai sites in Reims, Epernay, and Châlons-en-Champagne.
- Opel (Stellantis)coreOpel distribution began in 1991 in Besançon and expanded to Dijon (1992), with expansion into Meuse region (Verdun, Bar-le-Duc, Saint-Dizier) in 2024.
- BMW MotorradcoreFirst motorcycle brand for HESS Automobile acquired in 2023 with BMW Motorrad 'Flat and Ride' in Mulhouse and 'Fast and Ride' in Strasbourg. Expansion in 2024 to Besançon, Belfort, and Pontarlier.
- CFA de la MobilitécoreAcquired CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) de la Mobilité in Strasbourg in 2024. This training center offers CAP to BTS level qualifications in automotive trades, including hybrid and electric vehicles, and serves all companies in the Alsace automotive sector.
- SpeedyminorPartnership with Speedy for automotive service and repair operations announced in 2022.
- MOBILIANSminorMOBILIANS (Conseil national des professions de l'automobile) is the designated consumer mediation body for automotive disputes. HESS Automobile provides customers with contact information for MOBILIANS mediation service.
- GNFA (Groupement National Formation Automobile)corePartnership with GNFA for training sales personnel through the HESS Academy program. Alternating training program for Commercial Advisor qualifications, with consistent results: 2016 (20 graduates), 2017 (30 graduates, 24 hired CDI), continuing annually.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HESS Automobile competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Groupe Bernard: Major French multi-brand automotive dealer group headquartered in southeastern France, distributing multiple OEM brands across a regional dealership network. Highly comparable to HESS as a large-scale, multi-brand French dealer operating with similar financing, aftersales, and used-vehicle offerings.
- Emil Frey France: French subsidiary of Swiss Emil Frey Group, one of Europe's largest multi-brand automotive retailer/distributors. Operates a broad network of French dealerships carrying premium and volume brands. Direct comparable given overlapping geography, brand portfolio breadth, and multi-brand distribution model.
- Stellantis &You: Stellantis-owned dealer network distributing Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, DS Automobiles across France. Comparable to HESS as a French multi-brand dealer selling overlapping Stellantis brands (Peugeot, Fiat, Opel, Jeep, Alfa Romeo).
- Renault Retail Group: Renault-owned dealer network distributing Renault and Dacia vehicles across France and Europe. Overlaps with HESS on Renault/Dacia franchises and represents both a peer and a customer relationship for HESS (which is an independent Renault/Dacia dealer).
- Groupe Parot: French multi-brand automotive dealer group with operations in new vehicle sales, aftersales, and used vehicles. Comparable to HESS as a French regional multi-brand dealer operating multiple franchises with integrated services.
- Mary Automobiles: French multi-brand automotive dealer group based in Normandy with a network of dealerships selling multiple OEM brands. Comparable to HESS as a French regional multi-brand dealer with similar aftersales and used-vehicle operations.
- Groupe Jean Rouyer: French multi-brand automotive dealer group with a network of franchises across multiple French regions. Comparable to HESS given similar multi-brand French distribution model with new vehicle, used vehicle, and aftersales operations.
Broad incumbents
- Inchcape plc: London-listed global multi-brand automotive distributor with operations in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Broader and larger incumbent that overlaps with HESS in multi-brand premium distribution and aftersales, but operates at significantly greater geographic and capital scale.
- Hedin Mobility Group: Swedish-headquartered multi-brand automotive dealer and mobility group with operations across Europe (including France). Comparable as a European multi-brand dealer group, though substantially larger and more geographically diversified than HESS.
Emerging players
- Auto1 Group: European digital-first used-car platform operating Autohero retail and Auto1 wholesale across multiple countries. Tangentially comparable to HESS in the used-vehicle segment but operates a fundamentally different asset-light digital model versus HESS's physical dealer network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HESS Automobile social profiles
Digital presenceHESS Automobile financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HESS Automobile leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
HESS Automobile subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
HESS Automobile funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HESS Automobile M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HESS Automobile
What does HESS Automobile do?
HESS Automobile operates a multi-brand automotive distribution network selling new, used, and demonstration vehicles from 22 brands across 86 points of sale in the Grand Est region of France. The company also provides in-house financing (HESS Finance), after-sales workshop and body shop services, parts and accessories, vehicle trade-in evaluation, cryptocurrency payment via BitPay, and corporate fleet solutions, supported by a full online sales platform with home delivery across France.
Is HESS Automobile a public or private company?
HESS Automobile is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was HESS Automobile founded?
HESS Automobile was founded in 1946. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is HESS Automobile based?
HESS Automobile is headquartered in Strasbourg, France, in the Europe region.
How does HESS Automobile make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Sales - New and Used is the primary driver. The others are automotive Financing, after-Sales Services and cryptocurrency Payment Processing.
Who are HESS Automobile's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Groupe Bernard, Emil Frey France, Stellantis &You, Renault Retail Group, Groupe Parot, Mary Automobiles and Groupe Jean Rouyer. Broad incumbents are Inchcape plc and Hedin Mobility Group. Auto1 Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does HESS Automobile have an API?
No public API is recorded for HESS Automobile.
What industry is HESS Automobile in?
HESS Automobile's product category is Automotive Retail and Dealership Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAKAE, Automotive Vehicles & Parts C2C. Its NAICS code is 4412 and its SIC code is 5500.