AutoCom Associates

What AutoCom Associates does

AutoCom Associates is a privately held public relations agency founded in 1995 by Larry Weis, providing PR counsel and execution services to automotive and high-technology businesses on a global basis. Its core offerings are editorial services (press releases, technical papers, product features, press kit production), media relations, event management, and client communications through the AutoCommunique newsletter and a dedicated online coverage/media-center portal hosting press areas for 16+ named clients.

The firm's competitive positioning is built on the deep OEM experience of its principals: CEO Larry Weis previously served as public affairs manager at Ford and director of communications for USCAR, while former senior partner Jack Harned (who passed away in early 2024) brought a 35-year career at General Motors including international PR leadership from Detroit, London, and Brussels. To extend reach beyond its 1-10 person headcount, AutoCom has been a member of the Automotive PR Network since 2003, a global partnership of independent PR consultancies operating in 33 major markets.

The business model is straightforward professional services: quote-based engagements with enterprise automotive OEMs, tier-1/tier-2 suppliers (GKN Automotive, MAHLE, Valeo, Freudenberg, Hitachi Astemo, Kiekert, TI Fluid Systems, INFICON, Coherix), automotive-technology vendors (UVeye, Intellias, Drive TLV), and select materials and consumer-product adjacencies (Alcantara, Tata Steel, Chipex). GTM is sales-led via direct client engagement and principal-level industry relationships, supported by an owned digital presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), a client newsletter archive spanning 2021-2024, and participation in automotive industry events.

Name

AutoCom Associates

Legal name

AutoCom Associates

Website

https://usautocom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AutoCom Associates is a privately held, 1-10 employee public relations agency providing editorial services, media relations, and communications counsel to enterprise automotive manufacturers, tier-1/tier-2 suppliers, and high-technology firms globally via direct engagement and the Automotive PR Network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomfield Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Relations Services: AutoCom provides public relations services and counsel to automotive and high-technology businesses globally. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements including media relations, editorial services, event management, and communications consulting.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AutoCom Associates provides public relations services and counsel on a global basis to automotive and high-technology businesses. Core offerings include editorial services (press releases, technical papers, product features, press kit production), media relations and coverage management, event planning, and ongoing client communications through the AutoCommunique newsletter. The firm also operates as part of the Automotive PR Network, a global communications group with agencies in 33 major markets.

Product overview

AutoCom Associates offers public relations services and counsel on a global basis to automotive and high-technology businesses. The agency's core offerings include Editorial Services (press releases, technical papers, product features, press kit production) and client communications via the AutoCommunique newsletter. Additional services include media relations and coverage management through client press areas. AutoCom operates as part of the Automotive PR Network, a global communications group with agencies in 33 major markets worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services and Counsel

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Automotive PR NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003AutoCom Associates is a member of the Automotive PR Network, a unique global partnership of public relations firms established in 2003. The network has independent consultancies operating in 33 major markets worldwide and represents more than 100 companies covering virtually every facet of the auto industry, including OEMs, suppliers, high-technology service providers and aftermarket businesses.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• FleishmanHillard: Large Omnicom-owned PR firm with a global automotive and technology practice. Competes for the same enterprise auto-supplier and OEM PR mandates that AutoCom pursues, but offers integrated paid/earned/owned capabilities that a 1-10-person shop cannot match.
• Allison Worldwide: Mid-to-large PR firm (formerly Allison+Partners) with a recognized automotive practice. Comparable in serving mobility and technology clients with senior-led teams, though it operates at materially greater scale and offers a broader integrated marketing stack.
• Weber Shandwick: Interpublic-owned global PR firm with automotive, technology, and B2B practices. Directly comparable as a competitor for enterprise communications engagements with OEMs, suppliers, and high-tech clients, with deeper resources for global account management.
• MSL Group: Publicis-owned global PR network with strong automotive and technology practices. Competes directly for OEM and supplier communications mandates; offers integrated earned, paid, and digital capabilities beyond AutoCom's scope.
• Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm with a substantial automotive and mobility practice serving OEMs and tier-1 suppliers. Directly comparable as a competitor for the same enterprise auto clients (Ford, GM-adjacent) that AutoCom serves, but at vastly greater scale and with global in-house capacity.
• Ketchum: Omnicom-owned PR firm with an established automotive and technology sector practice. Comparable as a competitor for the same enterprise client base that AutoCom targets, but operating at significantly larger scale with full-service capabilities.

Emerging players

• Hotwire: Global technology and B2B communications agency. Comparable in serving technology and mobility clients with senior-led teams, competing for similar accounts to AutoCom's high-technology segment but at larger global scale.
• Walker Sands: B2B PR and integrated marketing firm with a strong technology and mobility practice. Comparable in serving B2B technology clients adjacent to automotive, with similar mid-size boutique positioning but a more digitally-led offering.
• Highwire PR: Technology-focused PR agency serving enterprise tech and mobility clients. Comparable to AutoCom in senior-led, vertical-specialized B2B PR model, but with a technology-native positioning that overlaps AutoCom's high-technology client base.

Direct peers

• Brodeur Partners: Boutique-to-mid B2B tech and mobility PR agency. Closely comparable to AutoCom in size, vertical focus (technology and mobility), and senior-led engagement model — a direct competitive peer for technology-supplier PR mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AutoComDetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/AutoComAssociates/?ref=bookmarks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autocomassociates
• Instagraminstagram.com/autocom_associates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 AutoCom Associates