What Holt Lloyd does

Holt Lloyd International Ltd is a privately held UK chemical manufacturer founded in 1919 and headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom. The company develops, tests, and manufactures automotive maintenance and repair chemical products — including aerosol cleaners, degreasers, brake cleaners, radiator sealants (the patented Radweld line), emergency puncture repair foam (Tyreweld), exhaust repair systems (Gun Gum), starting aids (Bradex Easy Start), screen wash, de-icers, headlight restoration kits, and a digital Paint Match Pro colour catalogue covering 6,000+ paint colours and 8,000+ vehicle matches. All products are formulated in-house at a dedicated R&D chemistry laboratory in Manchester staffed by qualified chemists, and manufactured at the company's Barton Dock Road facility. The business operates under four owned consumer brands — Holts, Prestone, Simoniz, and Redex — each targeting distinct automotive aftermarket categories (repair/maintenance, coolants, car care, and fuel additives respectively).

The company's revenue model is unit-based hardware sales of low-ticket consumables distributed through a multi-channel go-to-market strategy. Products reach end customers via at least 11 named UK retail and e-commerce partners — Amazon, Halfords, EuroCarParts, Screwfix, Tesco, Toolstation, B&Q, Morrisons, Asda, BM Stores, and FIXRA — plus direct-to-consumer sales through holtsauto.com and dedicated sub-brand websites. The company maintains localized storefronts in the UK, France, and Germany, and reports global export operations. Three primary customer segments are served: Consumer DIY drivers performing at-home vehicle maintenance; professional garages and mechanics requiring workshop-grade products; and fleet managers procuring bulk maintenance supplies. Pricing is unit-based with product lines offered in multiple sizes (e.g., Tyreweld in 300ml to 600ml variants) to address different vehicle categories from small passenger tyres through commercial vans. The company is independently owned, holds no disclosed external investors, and operates with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications valid through 2028.

Name

Holt Lloyd

Legal name

Holt Lloyd International Ltd

Website

https://holtsauto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holt Lloyd is a privately held Manchester-based chemical manufacturer founded in 1919 that develops and sells automotive maintenance, repair, and cleaning products under the Holts, Prestone, Simoniz, and Redex brands, distributed across the UK, France, and Germany via major retailers and direct e-commerce to DIY consumers, professional garages, and fleet operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Chemicals

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (324)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rust Removers, Metal Cleaners & Tarnish Removers (CRAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Automotive maintenance products
• Car care chemicals
• Radiator repair sealants
• Tyre repair aerosols
• Exhaust repair systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Maintenance & Repair Products: Sale of chemical-based automotive products including sprays, cleaners, sealants, and repair kits through retail and wholesale channels. Products sold as one-time purchases targeting both consumer DIY and professional garage markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels12 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Holt Lloyd manufactures and distributes DIY vehicle maintenance chemical products under the Holts, Prestone, Simoniz, and Redex brands. The portfolio includes radiator sealants, tyre repair aerosols, exhaust repair systems, screen wash, de-icers, vehicle maintenance sprays, and paint matching products sold to consumer DIY drivers and professional workshops.

Product overview

Holt Lloyd operates as a manufacturer and distributor of automotive maintenance and repair chemical products, founded in 1919 and based in Manchester, UK. The company develops, tests, and manufactures products under its own Holts brand as well as portfolio brands including Redex, Prestone, Simoniz, and Adam's Polishes UK. The Holts product portfolio comprises standalone chemical formulations organized into product categories: Vehicle Maintenance Sprays (professional-grade cleaners, degreasers, silicone sprays, copper grease, white lithium grease, brake cleaner, contact cleaner, EGR cleaner, and maintenance sprays); Exhaust Repair Products (Gun Gum paste, exhaust assembly paste, firegum, and various repair bandages for different pipe sizes and configurations); Restoration Kits (headlight restoration kit, headlight restorer polish, underbody schutz, cataloy knifing putty, and valve grinding kit); Radiator Leak Repair (Radweld, Radweld Plus, SEALit, Wondarweld, Speedflush); Car Cleaning (screenies glass wipes, jumbo sponge, shampoo and wax); Screen Wash (one shot, ready to use, and concentrated formulations); Starting Aids (Bradex Easy Start, Cold Start engine starter sprays); Tyre Repair (Tyreweld emergency puncture repair in multiple sizes); De-Icer (trigger and aerosol sprays); and Paint Match Pro (colour matching system with 6000+ paint colours and primers). The products are designed for both consumer DIY and professional garage use, with a professional product range designated for workshop applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redex: Fuel additives brand under the Holt Lloyd family of brands.
• Simoniz
• Prestone

Products and services

• Radweld

Quantifiable outcome

• Tyreweld seals punctures up to 5mm and allows safe driving for up to 100 miles at 50mph
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Simoniz USA: US-based car care and cleaning chemicals manufacturer sharing the Simoniz brand with Holt Lloyd's UK operations. While geographic markets differ, the underlying product categories (car wash, cleaners, detailing) are directly comparable.
• Prestone Products Corporation: American antifreeze and coolant manufacturer holding the Prestone brand in North America. Brand-adjacent to Holt Lloyd's Prestone UK business with directly comparable coolant and automotive chemical products.

Direct peers

• WD-40 Company: Global specialty chemicals manufacturer best known for multi-purpose maintenance sprays and automotive DIY products. Closely comparable multi-channel retail distribution model and brand-led DIY positioning to Holt Lloyd.
• Turtle Wax: Established car care chemicals brand offering cleaning, polishing, and detailing products through automotive retail and DIY channels. Direct overlap with Holts/Simoniz car care categories and similar DIY/professional segmentation.
• Wynn's: International manufacturer of fuel additives, engine treatments, and automotive specialty chemicals. Directly comparable to Redex fuel additive brand and Holts' ICE-focused performance chemistry portfolio.
• Sonax: German manufacturer of car care, workshop, and winter chemical products with strong DIY and professional garage channels. Direct competitor to Holts in European markets with comparable product breadth across cleaning, repair, and seasonal products.
• CRC Industries: Global specialty chemical manufacturer producing cleaners, degreasers, lubricants, and corrosion inhibitors for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Strong overlap with Holts' brake cleaners, degreasers, and maintenance sprays.
• Würth: Global leader in automotive aftermarket chemicals, fasteners, and workshop supplies serving both professional garages and trade customers. Direct overlap with Holts' professional garage product range and workshop chemical offerings.
• Comma Oil & Chemicals: UK-based manufacturer and distributor of motor oils, lubricants, coolants, and automotive maintenance chemicals. Geographic and product overlap with Holts' Prestone coolant brand and broader automotive fluids portfolio.
• Bardahl: Global manufacturer of fuel additives, lubricants, and automotive specialty chemicals with strong DIY and professional channels. Comparable to Redex and Prestone product categories with similar chemical formulation expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/holtsauto
• Facebookfacebook.com/holtsauto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holtsauto
• Instagraminstagram.com/holtsauto

Compliance2 records

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 Holt Lloyd