What ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG does

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1995 and based at the ad-CARGO Zentrallager in Castrop-Rauxel, North Rhine-Westphalia, is the central logistics entity of the CARAT Automotive purchasing and marketing cooperation. It operates the group's central warehouse and nationwide distribution infrastructure for automotive parts, serving CARAT's network of independent parts wholesalers (CARAT-Gesellschafter) and partner workshops (Konzeptwerkstätten) across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The parent of the CARAT group is CARAT Systementwicklungs- und Marketing GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Mannheim, with the broader group employing approximately 250 people across both sites.

CARAT functions as a purchasing and marketing cooperation for the independent automotive aftermarket, bundling the procurement volumes of member wholesalers to negotiate competitive conditions with OEM manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers. The offering to members and downstream workshops spans centralized logistics through ad-CARGO, marketing systems, workshop concepts, IT solutions (including the mycarat.net member portal), and exclusive own-brand products such as COREXX (commercial-vehicle parts) and MEN@WORK (workshop equipment). The revenue model rests on membership/cooperation fees and the throughput of centralized purchasing volumes, with the ad-CARGO subsidiary monetizing logistics services delivered to the member base.

Strategically, ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO is positioned within a cooperative group that is a founding member of AutoDistribution International (ADI), a 24-partner international network with over 400,000 m² of national distribution facilities. Recent strategic activity includes the end-2024 acquisition of TecMotive GmbH (technical services from Hella Gutmann), the July 2025 entry of ATEV as a new Kommanditist with planned full shareholder status from 2026, and the January 2026 onboarding of Dederichs GmbH as a new CARAT shareholder. The group also operates MSX (Mobility Service Xpo), an industry event that drew approximately 3,500 guests and 100+ exhibitors in 2025.

Name

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://carat-automotive.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG operates the central logistics warehouse for the CARAT Automotive purchasing and marketing cooperation, distributing automotive parts to independent wholesalers and partner workshops across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Logistics & Distribution

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), General Warehousing and Storage (49311)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

E-commerce & Omnichannel Fulfillment Centers (Non-Temp Controlled) (TLALAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Value-Added Warehousing Services (Kitting, Labeling, Repack, Light Assembly) (TLALAAAL)

Keywords

• Automotive parts logistics
• Purchasing cooperation
• Aftermarket distribution
• Workshop concepts
• Central warehousing

Headquarters

HQ city

Castrop-Rauxel, North Rhine-Westphalia

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Group purchasing and marketing services: CARAT provides purchasing cooperation services to member wholesalers, offering competitive procurement conditions, centralized logistics through ad-CARGO, and marketing systems for independent automotive parts dealers and workshops. Revenue is generated through membership/cooperation fees and centralized purchasing volumes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG operates the ad-CARGO Zentrallager, the central warehouse and nationwide logistics facility for the CARAT automotive aftermarket purchasing cooperation. The company provides central warehousing, parts distribution, and logistics services to member automotive parts wholesalers and partner workshops across Germany. As the logistics subsidiary of CARAT Systementwicklungs- und Marketing GmbH & Co. KG, it enables bundled purchasing power, efficient parts availability, and delivery speed for independent Kfz-Teilegroßhändler and freie Werkstätten throughout the DACH region.

Product overview

ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG operates as the logistics and distribution arm of the CARAT Automotive group. The company provides central warehousing and logistics services through its ad-CARGO Zentrallager facility in Castrop-Rauxel, supporting the distribution of automotive parts to workshops, dealers, and industry partners across Germany. As part of the CARAT purchasing and marketing cooperation, ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO enables connected wholesalers and partner workshops to benefit from excellent parts availability and delivery speed, while optimizing their own storage and logistics strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COREXX: Own brand for quality van and commercial vehicle parts, developed specifically for professional use in the aftermarket.
• MEN@WORK

Products and services

• ad-CARGO Zentrallager (Central Warehouse Logistics)

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dederichs GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Family-owned automotive parts wholesaler based in Euskirchen, Germany. Operating for over 40 years, serving free workshops and brand dealerships with parts, workshop supplies, and technical solutions. Will become CARAT shareholder January 2026. Managed by Rolf, Marcus, and Michael Dederichs (second generation). Serves territory from Cologne/Bonn to Eifel region. Additional locations in Düren and Blankenheim.
• TecMotive (former Hella Gutmann subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Technical expertise and strategic depth. CARAT acquired TecMotive from Hella Gutmann at end of 2024. Provides calibration, maintenance, and product introduction services. Most existing customers remained despite competition ties - demonstrating trust and continuity.
• AutoDistribution International (ADI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADI is the first and leading international cooperation of automotive parts wholesale companies. CARAT is a founding member of ADI, which comprises 24 partner companies. ADI provides national distribution facilities with over 400,000 m² area and regional warehouses with 2,500,000 m² combined area. CARAT holds a leading role among ADI partners with focus on international network, customer proximity, availability, and logistics.
• Zukunftswerkstatt 4.0minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub for digital transformation in the automotive sector. Established in November 2021 in Esslingen, Germany. Provides a realistic simulation of automotive dealership structures for technology testing and training. CARAT is a system partner. Around 120 companies from the automotive ecosystem are members.
• PARTSLIFEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental management initiative for the automotive aftermarket. Coordinates disposal in independent workshops and provides support on disposal-related questions. CARAT is part of the PARTSLIFE initiative to contribute to environmental protection.
• SchrauberblogminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the WerkstattXperten innovation initiative. Provides workshop expertise and co-organizes MSX event. Marco ten Hagen and Christian Cloppenburg from Schrauberblog moderate workshop areas at MSX.
• amz (Automobil Fachmedien)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive trade media partner for MSX'25 event. Contributes to the industry event alongside CARAT.
• TecMotive GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical services company providing calibration, maintenance, and professional product introduction services. Acquired by CARAT end of 2024. Majority of existing customers remained despite close connections to CARAT competitors. Expansion plans presented. Provides technical support where regional service technicians reach their limits.
• HazetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium quality hand tools, workshop carts, and equipment manufacturer. Partner providing prizes for WerkstattXperten innovation competition at MSX'25. HAZET Werkstattwagen 178N-7/147 (worth approximately 7,000 EUR) offered as first prize.
• Hella GutmannminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle diagnostics, calibrations, and workshop equipment provider. Partner providing prizes for WerkstattXperten innovation competition. Mega macs S 20 diagnostic solution offered as second prize.
• ATH HeinlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop equipment specialist. Partner providing prizes for WerkstattXperten innovation competition. ATH W64 3DS-P balancing machine (October 2025 launch) offered as third prize.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Stahlgruber (LKQ Europe): One of Germany's largest automotive parts wholesalers, now part of LKQ Europe, serving workshops with broad parts portfolios and logistics networks. Highly comparable to CARAT as a wholesale distribution backbone for the German IAM, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• AutoDistribution International (ADI): International cooperation of independent automotive parts wholesalers, of which CARAT is a founding member. Comparable as the umbrella network of24 partners with combined distribution area of 400,000+ m² national and 2,500,000 m² regional warehouses.

Direct peers

• Trost Auto Service Technik: German automotive parts wholesaler serving workshops and service partners across Germany. Directly comparable to CARAT's connected-wholesaler network as a B2B aftermarket distributor with logistics, brand portfolio, and workshop-proximity focus.
• WM SE: Large German automotive parts retailer/wholesaler with nationwide branch network and workshop supply. Comparable to CARAT in serving independent workshops with parts, equipment, and marketing concepts, with overlapping presence in the German IAM value chain.
• PV Automotive GmbH: German automotive parts distributor supplying independent workshops with parts, accessories, and workshop equipment. Directly comparable to CARAT's connected wholesaler role within the German IAM, with similar target customer base and product breadth.
• ATEV (Auto-Teile-Einkaufs-Verbund eG): German/DACH cooperative purchasing organization for independent automotive parts dealers, active since 1986 with digital ordering system ATEVis. Closely comparable to CARAT as a peer cooperative — and notably now a limited partner of ad-CARGO transitioning to full CARAT shareholder in 2026.

Emerging players

• AUTODOC: Online-first automotive parts platform serving both consumers and workshops across Europe. Comparable as a parts-distribution competitor increasingly reaching into the German IAM workshop channel that CARAT's network serves, but with a fundamentally digital-native model.
• Hella Gutmann Solutions: Provider of vehicle diagnostics, calibration, and workshop equipment whose former subsidiary TecMotive was acquired by CARAT in 2024. Comparable to CARAT's emerging technical-services arm and a relevant ecosystem partner in diagnostics/calibration for the German IAM.

Regional players

• Weller GmbH & Co. KG: German automotive parts wholesaler represented on CARAT's advisory board (former member Jörg Röttgen). Illustrative peer as a regional connected wholesaler in CARAT's DACH member ecosystem with comparable IAM customer focus.
• Birner Gesellschaft m.b.H. Austrian automotive parts wholesaler and CARAT cooperation member (new advisory board member Franz Lettner). Comparable as a DACH-region member wholesaler within CARAT's own network, illustrating the regional composition of CARAT's affiliated partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@caratautomotive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ad-autoteile-cargo-gmbh-co-kg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ad-AUTOTEILE-CARGO GmbH & Co. KG