Name

CIAK GRUPA

Legal name

CIAK Grupa d.d.

Website

https://ciak.hr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Parts Distribution: Distribution of aftermarket spare parts for all vehicle types including passenger cars, trucks, and construction machinery. Over 200 retail stores network across Southeast Europe.
2. Battery Sales: Sale of automotive, truck, marine, and industrial batteries under CIAK Starter brand. Over 25 years of market presence in Croatia.
3. Ecology and Waste Management Services: Collection, transport, processing, and disposal of dangerous and non-dangerous waste. Four hazardous waste management centers operating at European standards. Manages over 30,000 tons of hazardous and non-hazardous waste annually.
4. Lubricants and Oils Distribution: Distribution of motor oils and lubricants for passenger and commercial vehicles.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIAK GRUPA is a Croatian holding company that distributes aftermarket automotive spare parts, batteries, and lubricants through a network of over 200 retail stores across Croatia and Southeast Europe. The group operates four divisions: CIAK Auto (passenger vehicle parts), CIAK Truck (commercial vehicle parts), CIAK Battery (own-brand batteries including EFB and AGM lines), and CIAK Ekologija (collection, transport, processing, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste). The company also manufactures branded batteries (CIAK Starter) in cooperation with global battery manufacturers.

Product overview

CIAK GRUPA is a Croatian holding company with four main business divisions operating as a platform-plus-divisions model. CIAK Auto is the leading Southeast European distributor of aftermarket spare parts, batteries, and oils with over 200 stores. CIAK Truck specializes in OE-quality truck parts for all types of trucks and construction machinery. CIAK Ekologija handles environmental management and waste processing. CIAK Battery distributes and recycles batteries with over 25 years of experience. The portfolio also includes branded battery products (CIAK Starter EFB, CIAK Starter Extreme, CIAK Truck EFB) manufactured using recycled materials from the company's own recycling center, and the CIAK EcoCycle initiative for sustainable circular economy practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIAK Auto: Auto parts distribution division representing world-known automotive parts manufacturers for all vehicle types
• CIAK Truck
• CIAK Starter
• CIAK Truck EFB
• CIAK Starter Extreme
• CIAK Ekologija
• CIAK EcoCycle
• CIAK Auto Akademija

Products and services

• CIAK Auto Leading distributor of aftermarket spare parts, batteries, and oils in Southeast Europe, representing all major world manufacturers of OE quality auto parts for all passenger vehicle types. Operates a network of over 200 retail stores.
• CIAK Truck Distributor representing major world manufacturers of truck parts of OE quality for all types of trucks and construction machinery.
• CIAK Battery Battery distribution and recycling division with over 25 years of experience supplying batteries for automobiles, boats, motorcycles, and trucks in Croatia.
• CIAK Ekologija Environmental services division focused on responsible environmental management and recycling. Operates four centers for hazardous waste management at European standards, managing over 30,000 tons of hazardous and non-hazardous waste annually.
• CIAK Starter EFB Batteries Enhanced Flooded Battery technology for START-STOP vehicles with basic start-stop function. Double the cycle life of conventional batteries, maintenance-free technology, suitable for vehicles with increased energy needs.
• CIAK Starter Extreme Batteries Premium battery line with 36-month warranty. First regional battery brand to offer such extended warranty coverage. Features improved active paste formulation and enriched electrolyte mixture.
• CIAK Truck EFB Batteries Heavy-duty EFB battery for commercial vehicles, specifically designed for EURO 5 and EURO 6 generation trucks. Offers up to 3x more cycle life than conventional batteries, discharge up to 80% capacity, and extreme vibration resistance for rear-axle mounting.
• Hazardous Waste Management Services Collection, transport, processing, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste serving over 2,000 business entities. Operates four hazardous waste management centers operating at European standards.
• Agricultural Packaging Waste Collection Network Network for collecting packaging waste from plant protection products in cooperation with CROCPA, enabling farmers to comply with environmental regulations by returning empty packaging free of charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 tons of hazardous and non-hazardous waste managed annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sim Impex (Bosnia and Herzegovina)coreOthers · 30 September 2024CIAK Group completed the acquisition of Sim Impex from Bosnia and Herzegovina, expanding its regional footprint in the automotive aftermarket sector.
• STAHLGRUBERcoreOthers · 16 April 2024C.I.A.K. Auto d.o.o. Croatia signed acquisition transaction for STAHLGRUBER operations in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina markets on April 16, 2024.
• Potokar d.o.o. (Slovenia)coreOthers · 16 February 2023Acquisition of Potokar d.o.o. Ljubljana, Slovenia completed on February 16, 2023. Potokar is one of the independent automotive aftermarket distributors (IAM) in Slovenia, present on 18 locations with portfolio of over 40,000 references.
• Trgometal d.o.o. (Croatia)coreOthers · 3 March 2021Acquisition transaction of Trgometal d.o.o., Zagreb completed on March 3, 2021, expanding CIAK's presence in the Croatian market.
• PantherolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 November 2020Joint promotional campaign with Pantherol brand for prize draw. In period November 2020 - January 2021, customers purchasing Pantherol products at C.I.A.K. Auto locations could participate in prize draws for shopping cards, gaming consoles, and watches.
• CROCPA (Croatian Association for Crop Protection)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2020C.I.A.K. partners with CROCPA to collect packaging waste from plant protection products. Together they create networks of locations and schedules for farmers to return empty packaging free of charge. Partnership enables farmers to comply with environmental regulations.
• Battery Manufacturers (Global)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with largest world battery manufacturers for development of CIAK Starter branded batteries. Cooperation enables production of EFB, AGM, and extreme batteries with extended warranties for various vehicle types.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alliance Automotive Group: European IAM distributor owned by Genuine Parts Company operating across France, the UK, Germany, Poland, and other European markets; comparable multi-country IAM wholesale and workshop-supply model targeting both passenger and commercial vehicles.
• INTER CARS: Poland-based independent automotive aftermarket parts distributor with a multi-country Central/Eastern European footprint, dedicated truck-parts and battery lines, and a hybrid retail/wholesale model — directly comparable to CIAK Auto and CIAK Truck in scope, customer mix, and SEE/CEE regional strategy.
• Stahlgruber GmbH: German-headquartered IAM distributor with a workshop and commercial-vehicle focus; CIAK acquired Stahlgruber's Slovenian and Bosnian operations in 2024, demonstrating direct product, customer, and operating-model overlap with the German parent.

Others

• REMONDIS: One of Europe's largest privately held waste management and recycling companies operating hazardous-waste centers; comparable to CIAK Ekologija in regulated hazardous-waste handling and recycling infrastructure footprint.

Emerging players

• VARTA AG: German branded battery manufacturer with strong European automotive and Start-Stop aftermarket share; competes head-on with CIAK Starter's EFB/AGM/Extreme product positioning in regional channels and OEMs.
• Exide Technologies: European-headquartered battery manufacturer covering automotive, industrial, and Motive power segments; competes with CIAK Starter in OE-quality branded batteries and overlaps with CIAK Ekologija in battery recycling collection.

Broad incumbents

• AutoZone: Largest US aftermarket parts retailer; broad incumbent whose retail-store-density, private-label battery, and free diagnostic services provide a reference point for CIAK's 200+ retail store model and CIAK Starter brand strategy.
• LKQ Corporation: Global North American–anchored distributor of aftermarket automotive parts, with significant European operations; broad incumbent operating at much larger scale than CIAK but with highly overlapping product categories, customer base, and supplier partnerships.
• Genuine Parts Company: US-listed parent of NAPA Auto Parts and Alliance Automotive Group; serves as the broad-incumbent comparable for a multi-region IAM distributor-platform strategy including parts, batteries, and industrial supply.

Regional players

• Groupauto International: International network of independent automotive aftermarket distributors with strong presence in Spain, Latin America, and parts of Europe; comparable as a regionally federated IAM competitor that could overlap with CIAK in SEE distribution arrangements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CIAK GRUPA