Engine and Performance Warehouse

What Engine and Performance Warehouse does

Engine and Performance Warehouse, Inc. (EPWI) is a private, wholesale-only distributor of internal combustion engine components founded in 1984 as an outgrowth of Paul Van Woensel's earlier business (Heads by Paul, established 1972). The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with a secondary headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and serves automotive machine shops, engine rebuilders, and jobbers across 21 states through twelve distribution centers carrying more than 120,000 SKUs across 100+ product lines. EPWI has cumulatively sold over one million engine kits since inception and reports a customer base of more than 7,500 active accounts. The company remains under founder ownership, with Paul Van Woensel serving as President and Owner.

EPWI's core offering spans complete engine kits, rotating assemblies, cylinder heads, engine components, and related precision parts, supported by reported 96%+ daily fill rates, same-day shipping on most orders, and next-day ground delivery coverage. The company's operating model combines a high-SKU physical distribution network with EDI integration and an online ordering platform launched in 2002, which processed its one-millionth online transaction in 2010. The workforce of approximately 150 employees is distributed across outside sales (14), inside sales (34), and customer service (35), reflecting a relationship-driven wholesale motion. EPWI has grown through a series of targeted acquisitions, including John D. Harvey Company in Dallas (1994), GT Parts & Machine in Oakland (1999), and Quality Parts Service in Portland (2002), and was a founding member of Engine Parts Group, Inc. in 1989. The company maintains trade affiliations with SEMA, AERA, CAN, and APSA, and product line extensions have included marine engine kits and premium rotating assemblies.

EPWI generates revenue through wholesale distribution margins on engine components and kits sold to its jobber and machine shop customer base, with no public revenue disclosure, no external funding events evidenced, and no franchised retail or consumer-facing channels. The business model is structurally low-tech relative to digital-native distributors, with the most recent documented digital investment being the 2002 online ordering platform; no AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics capabilities are evidenced in the available data.

Name

Engine and Performance Warehouse

Legal name

Engine and Performance Warehouse, Inc.

Website

https://epwi.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Engine and Performance Warehouse is a private, founder-owned wholesale distributor of engine parts and kits, serving over 7,500 automotive machine shops, engine rebuilders, and jobbers across 21 states through 12 distribution centers carrying 120,000+ SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engine Parts Distribution: Wholesale distribution of engine parts to automotive machine shops, jobbers, and engine rebuilders. EPWI stocks over 120,000 SKUs across 100+ engine parts product lines including performance engine parts. They maintain exceptional fill rate performance with typical daily fill rates exceeding 96%.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Engine and Performance Warehouse (EPWI) is a wholesale-only distributor of engine parts that stocks more than 120,000 SKUs across 12 distribution centers and assembles customizable engine kits (Premium, E-Direct, Marine, and Rotating Assemblies) sold exclusively to qualified Automotive Machine Shops and Automotive Jobbers. The company supports customers with next-day ground shipping, EDI ordering, online kit-building tools, an Engine Calculator, and a Quick Returns Program, and reports over one million engine kits sold.

Product overview

Engine and Performance Warehouse (EPWI) operates as a wholesale engine parts specialty distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of products centered around customizable engine kits. The core offerings include Premium Engine Kits (customizable master kits with gaskets, bearings, cams, timing components and internal parts), E-Direct Economy Engine Kits, Marine Engine Kits for marine-specific applications, and Premium Rotating Assemblies (crankshafts, connecting rods, pistons). Supporting the kit offerings are sub-products like Engine Pro Timing components and tools such as Engine Calculators. The company distributes over 100 engine parts brands through 12 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada. Additional services include an online Quick Returns Program for RMA processing. The company pioneered online kit building capability in 2002 and has sold over 1,000,000 engine kits since founding in 1984.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Customizable Premium Engine Kits Configurable, built-to-spec engine kits assembled by EPWI from its inventory of 120,000+ SKUs and shipped to qualified automotive machine shops and jobbers; hundreds are built and shipped each month and over one million engine kits have been sold historically.
• E-Direct Engine Kits E-Direct Engine Kits are a separate, ready-to-ship engine kit product line offered by EPWI to qualified automotive machine shops and jobbers, distinct from fully customizable Premium kits.
• Marine Engine Kits Marine-specific engine kits offered by EPWI for marine engine rebuilders, assembled from the 120,000+ SKU inventory and sold through the same wholesale channel to qualified automotive machine shops and jobbers.
• Premium Rotating Assemblies Pre-built rotating assemblies (crankshaft, rods, pistons, bearings) sourced from EPWI's inventory and sold wholesale to qualified automotive machine shops and jobbers.
• Engine Parts Distribution (Wholesale Only) Wholesale-only distribution of engine parts from 120,000+ SKUs across 12 distribution centers, with next-day ground shipping, online ordering at epwi.net, EDI integration, and a 96%+ fill rate. Sold only to qualified Automotive Machine Shops and Automotive Jobbers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 engine kits sold since inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Engine Parts Group, Inc. (EPG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989EPWI is a founding/charter member of Engine Parts Group, Inc. since 1989. This strategic partnership connects EPWI with a national network of engine parts distributors under the Engine Pro brand.
• National Engine Pro Warehouse Distributor NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPWI is a member of the National Engine Pro Warehouse Distributor Network. The network provides a catalog and collective buying/promotional power for member distributors.
• SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association)minorOthersTrade organization membership providing industry networking, standards advocacy, and professional development for automotive specialty equipment manufacturers.
• AERA (Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association)minorOthersIndustry trade association for automotive engine rebuilders providing training, certification, and industry standards.
• CAN (Custom Automotive Network)minorOthersTrade organization for custom automotive professionals supporting industry growth and networking.
• APSA (Automotive Parts & Service Association)minorOthersTrade association representing automotive parts and service professionals, providing advocacy and industry standards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BBB Industries: BBB Industries is a leading remanufacturer and distributor of automotive replacement parts including engines, starters, alternators, and turbochargers. It directly overlaps EPWI's engine-rebuilding supply proposition across both OE replacement and aftermarket channels.
• Engine Parts Group (EPG): EPWI is a founding member of Engine Parts Group, a national network of independent engine parts distributors operating under the Engine Pro brand. Member distributors offer overlapping engine kit and parts assortments and share catalog/promotional infrastructure directly comparable to EPWI's go-to-market.
• RockAuto: RockAuto is an online-first auto parts wholesaler/retailer carrying extensive engine, drivetrain, and vehicle repair parts across makes/models. It competes with EPWI for machine shop and jobber customers seeking broad engine parts availability with digital convenience.
• Summit Racing Equipment: Summit Racing is one of the largest direct-to-consumer and wholesale distributors of performance and specialty automotive parts in the U.S. Like EPWI, it serves engine builders, machine shops, and performance enthusiasts with deep SKU breadth and proprietary catalogs.

Broad incumbents

• Standard Motor Products: Standard Motor Products manufactures and distributes a wide range of replacement automotive parts, including engine management and ignition components sold through wholesalers and jobbers. It overlaps EPWI's customer base and serves a similar engine-rebuilding and aftermarket installer channel.
• Dorman Products: Dorman is a large aftermarket auto parts manufacturer and distributor offering broad coverage of engine, drivetrain, and chassis replacement parts. While broader in scope than EPWI, it competes in overlapping engine-related SKUs through jobber and installer channels.
• O'Reilly Auto Parts: O'Reilly is a leading national auto parts retailer/specialty distributor with strong commercial (B2B) sales programs serving professional installers. It carries engine components and supplies that overlap EPWI's assortment and competes for the same machine shop and jobber customers.
• AutoZone: AutoZone is the largest U.S. aftermarket auto parts retailer and distributor, operating thousands of stores and a major commercial program serving installers. While much broader than EPWI, it competes for engine parts demand from machine shops and jobbers via its commercial channel.
• NAPA Auto Parts (Genuine Parts Company): NAPA is the largest U.S. auto parts distribution network operated by Genuine Parts Company, serving professional installers and jobbers with extensive engine and drivetrain parts. Its scale and installer programs make it a key broad incumbent competing with EPWI's specialty engine kit positioning.

Others

• Federal-Mogul (DRiV / Tenneco): Federal-Mogul (now part of Tenneco/DRiV) is a global manufacturer of original equipment and aftermarket engine components, including pistons, rings, bearings, and sealing products. It supplies upstream to distributors like EPWI and is comparable as an engine-parts ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engine-performance-warehouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Engine and Performance Warehouse