ATLANTA -- Mighty Auto Parts this week announced that it is under new ownership after being acquired by the Gonher Group of Monterrey, Mexico. The two companies have been close, long-time business partners, with Gonher distributing OE-quality Mighty brake friction in Mexico, and Mighty sourcing OE-quality Gonher air filters for the U.S. market.

Gonher is a base manufacturer and prominent OE supplier of several lines of automotive products, including filters, batteries and lubricants. The company was founded by Don Jose Gonzalez in 1953, and today its 2,700 employees distribute product throughout Mexico and provide OE exports to 18 other countries. Rodrigo Gonzalez Calderón is CEO; Don Jose Gonzalez, the founder, serves as chairman.

Based in Norcross, Ga., Mighty Distributing System of America is a franchisor of sales and service operations in the automotive aftermarket. The company, which oversees 110 franchisees and company operations in 43 states, began in Maryland and the District of Columbia in 1963.
 
Mighty President and CEO Ken Voelker commented, “The timing was ideal because we were perfectly poised for long-term growth with a strategic international partner. And we couldn’t have asked for a better match considering the Gonher Group’s value system, financial strength and immense manufacturing capabilities to produce some of our most sought-after OE-quality products.

“This is clearly a strategic move for both parties,” Voelker added.

Voelker remains as president and said that most of the members of the executive team will stay in place. He added, “Given the complementary nature of the acquisition, there will be very few changes in the day-to-day business at Mighty.”

In 2006, Mighty was lauded by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top 25 franchises out of the nation’s more than 2,500 franchise brands.