Cedars
Cedars is a privately held Chinese automotive intelligence and sourcing firm founded in 2007 that serves international automotive companies, dealers, and distributors in 60+ countries with market research, supplier identification, and wholesale auto parts distribution for Hyundai/Kia, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNanchang, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cedars does
Cedars is a privately held automotive intelligence and sourcing firm founded in 2007 and headquartered in Nanchang, China, with branch offices in Hong Kong and the United States. The company serves international automotive companies, dealers, and distributors from more than 60 countries who need visibility into the Chinese automotive market, supplier identification, and parts procurement. Its offerings fall into three categories: Intelligence Services (project consulting, proprietary databases, and industry reports providing 360-degree insight into the Chinese automotive industry), Sourcing Services (wholesale distribution of automotive parts for Hyundai/Kia, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brands such as Chery, Geely, Great Wall, and Lifan, plus sourcing agent and added-value services), and a smaller Investment Services line covering restaurant/equipment opportunities and the IVISMILE teeth whitening product. Testimonial customers include Empresas Indumotora, SADAR, CFAO Group, MG Saudi Arabia, GB Auto, and Marius (South Africa).
The business model is sales-led B2B, combining professional services revenue (intelligence consulting) with hardware/wholesale revenue (auto parts distribution). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based for both services and parts. Cedars markets primarily through its multilingual website (70+ language versions) and an extensive online product catalog, supported by visible customer testimonials and partner logos from major global automotive distributors. Distribution is direct wholesale to enterprise buyers, with cross-border shipping from China to 60+ countries. The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or funding rounds. Cedars is not a technology product company; its core capability lies in accumulated market data, supplier relationships, and sourcing execution rather than proprietary software or AI/ML systems.
Cedars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cedars
- Legal name
- Cedars
- Website
- https://cedars.cc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cedars is a privately held Chinese automotive intelligence and sourcing firm founded in 2007 that serves international automotive companies, dealers, and distributors in 60+ countries with market research, supplier identification, and wholesale auto parts distribution for Hyundai/Kia, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cedars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Intelligence and Sourcing Services
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces (CRAFAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Product Design & Mechanical Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Cedars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nanchang
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Cedars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Intelligence Services: Consulting services providing 360-degree insight into Chinese automotive industry, including project consulting, databases, and reports.
- Auto Parts Sourcing: Wholesale distribution of automotive parts including Hyundai/Kia parts, Ford Transit parts, and Chinese vehicle parts. Provides sourcing agent services and added value services for international buyers.
- Investment Services: Investment opportunities in restaurants, equipment, and IVISMILE teeth whitening business.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Cedars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cedars provides automotive business intelligence consulting (project consulting, databases, and reports offering 360-degree insight into the Chinese automotive industry) and wholesale automotive parts sourcing (Hyundai/Kia, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brand components) for international automotive companies and dealers. The company also offers sourcing agent services, added-value services, and investment opportunities including restaurants, equipment, and IVISMILE teeth whitening.
Product overview
Cedars is an automotive intelligence and sourcing service supplier founded in 2007, operating branches in mainland China, Hong Kong, and the United States with customers in over 60 countries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio consisting of three core service offerings: Intelligence Services (project consulting, databases, and industry reports), Sourcing Services (wholesale automotive parts distribution and sourcing agent services), and Investment Services. The product portfolio is organized around wholesale distribution of automotive parts primarily for Hyundai/Kia vehicles, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brands (Chery, Geely, Great Wall, Lifan), spanning engine components, brake systems, clutch assemblies, alternators, and belt kits. The Intelligence division provides business consulting and market analysis for the Chinese automotive industry, while the Sourcing division enables international buyers to procure vehicle parts through wholesale channels and dedicated sourcing agents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intelligence Services
Companies that use Cedars
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cedars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cedars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CEIBSminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. CEIBS (China Europe International Business School) is a prominent business school.
- CFAOcoreCFAO Group is a major automotive distributor in Africa. Testimonial from CFAO states 'The information Cedars provides is very useful to us and our business.' Significant customer relationship.
- GB AutocoreGB Auto is a major automotive company. Testimonial from GB Auto states 'I honestly think there is no company like yours in China as far as ethics, professionalism, timely feedback are concerned.' Notable customer relationship.
- GildemeisterminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. Gildemeister is a German machine tool manufacturer.
- IESEminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. IESE Business School is a prestigious business school.
- InchcapecoreListed as a partner on Cedars website. Inchcape is a global automotive distributor operating in multiple markets.
- IndumotoracoreIndumotora Companies provided testimonial: 'Cedars, and specially its Business Intelligence Division, has been our eyes in Asia, helping us understand deeper the market trends and each of the relevant players competitive situation.' Major customer and long-term partner.
- Roland BergerminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. Roland Berger is a global strategy consulting firm.
- UnionminorListed as a partner on Cedars website.
- AmbacarminorListed as a partner on Cedars website.
- mannheimminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. Mannheim is likely a European automotive company.
- BajajminorListed as a partner on Cedars website. Bajaj is a major Indian automotive manufacturer.
- autoeasternminorListed as a partner on Cedars website.
- SADARcoreSADAR is a major customer. Director Santiago Guelfi provided testimonial: 'Together with Cedars we were able to lower the logistics cost of CBU cars, get spare parts supply faster and precise, negotiate with new OEM's.' Significant customer relationship.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cedars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Frost & Sullivan: Frost & Sullivan is a global market intelligence and consulting firm with substantial automotive practice and China coverage. It overlaps with Cedars' project consulting and reports offering, though at a much larger, multi-industry scale.
- Alibaba.com: Alibaba.com is the dominant cross-border B2B sourcing platform for Chinese manufacturers, including a large auto parts category. It competes with Cedars at the marketplace layer but lacks Cedars' automotive-specialist consulting and supplier-screening value-add.
- S&P Global Mobility: S&P Global Mobility is a global leader in automotive market intelligence, forecasting, and data, with deep coverage of China. Cedars' Intelligence Services compete in the same category at a much more focused, niche, China-only level with hands-on consulting.
Direct peers
- Global Sources: Global Sources is a Hong Kong-headquartered B2B sourcing platform connecting international buyers with Asian (including Chinese) suppliers across categories such as auto parts. Cedars competes in the same B2B China-sourcing space, but with a much narrower, automotive-only focus and added consulting layer.
- JATO Dynamics: JATO Dynamics provides global automotive market intelligence, vehicle specification data, and competitor benchmarking, including extensive China coverage. It is one of the closest direct analogs to Cedars' Business Intelligence division in terms of products and customers.
- LMC Automotive: LMC Automotive is a specialist provider of global automotive forecasts, market intelligence, and advisory services. It overlaps directly with Cedars' intelligence, databases, and consulting work, especially for international OEMs and dealers needing insight into China.
- Made-in-China (by Focus Technology): Made-in-China is one of the largest B2B marketplaces for Chinese manufactured goods, including auto parts. It represents the marketplace-style alternative to Cedars' more relationship-driven, agent-led auto parts sourcing model.
Emerging players
- LKQ Corporation: LKQ is one of the largest global distributors of aftermarket auto parts. While Cedars is smaller and more China-sourcing focused, LKQ illustrates the scale and model of a pure auto parts distribution peer and a potential strategic acquirer.
- Beroe Inc. Beroe is a procurement intelligence and sourcing advisory firm that helps global buyers with supplier discovery, risk analysis, and category intelligence. It is comparable to the consulting and supplier-identification portion of Cedars' offering, but without the bundled parts distribution.
Others
- Roland Berger: Roland Berger is a global strategy consulting firm with a strong automotive practice and an existing relationship with Cedars (listed as a partner). It is an adjacent participant in automotive advisory services rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cedars social profiles
Digital presenceCedars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cedars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cedars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cedars M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cedars
What does Cedars do?
Cedars provides automotive business intelligence consulting (project consulting, databases, and reports offering 360-degree insight into the Chinese automotive industry) and wholesale automotive parts sourcing (Hyundai/Kia, Ford Transit, and Chinese vehicle brand components) for international automotive companies and dealers. The company also offers sourcing agent services, added-value services, and investment opportunities including restaurants, equipment, and IVISMILE teeth whitening.
Is Cedars a public or private company?
Cedars is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cedars founded?
Cedars was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cedars based?
Cedars is headquartered in Nanchang, China, in the Asia region.
How does Cedars make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Intelligence Services are the primary driver. The others are auto Parts Sourcing and investment Services.
Who are Cedars's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Frost & Sullivan, Alibaba.com and S&P Global Mobility. Direct peers are Global Sources, JATO Dynamics, LMC Automotive and Made-in-China (by Focus Technology). Emerging players are LKQ Corporation and Beroe Inc.. Roland Berger is listed as an others.
Does Cedars have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cedars.
What industry is Cedars in?
Cedars's product category is Automotive Intelligence and Sourcing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAD, Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces, with a secondary code of BPAHAIAJ, Product Design & Mechanical Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 8700.