LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. – The recently announced sale by Standard Motor Products (SMP) of its European distribution business will have no effect on the sales and marketing efforts of the newly introduced Intermotor brand as SMP will retain exclusive distribution rights of Intermotor in North, Central and South America.

“Although the ownership of the European division has changed, the day-to-day operations remain the same,” said Lawrence Sills, chairman and chief executive officer of SMP. “SMP will continue to partner with the Intermotor management team to manufacture and distribute premium quality engine management parts for import vehicles. In addition to retaining exclusive distribution rights, we have kept our manufacturing operation in Poland and will continue to source products from Intermotor. This is a win-win situation for all parties involved.”

Since the introduction of Intermotor in the United States in June 2009, the response to the brand has been overwhelmingly positive. Through an aggressive and proactive sales and marketing effort, SMP has communicated the difference in quality and performance of the Intermotor line to its customers. SMP has positioned Intermotor as a broad engine management line that includes ignition and electrical, relays, switches and sensors with a concentration on high technology categories such as computerized engine controls, fuel injection and emission controls.
 
“We could not be more pleased with the response to the Intermotor brand,” continued Sills. “With the growing number of import vehicles on the road, customer demand dictated a clear need for an import-specific engine management program. Bringing Intermotor to the Americas allowed us to leverage a popular brand name and combine the strengths of two organizations, regardless of ownership, to help our customers grow their businesses with the Intermotor brand.”