AUTO 7 Named Approved Vendor For Automotive Parts Associates

MIRAMAR, Fla. – Steven Kruss, president of Auto 7, which supplies Korean-made, OEM-quality automotive parts to distributors across North America, announced that Auto 7 has been named an approved vendor of Automotive Parts Associates (APA), one of the nation’s largest auto parts distributors groups.

APA is a member-owned organization of more than 110 independent shareholders that distributes auto parts from more than 350 warehouses and company store locations throughout the United States and Canada.

According to Kruss, APA’s decision to partner with Auto 7 makes sense. Auto 7 offers a world-class catalog with more than 70,000 applications, and represents the fastest growing fleet in North America – Korean-made cars like Hyundai and Kia.

“It’s a great opportunity for Auto 7,” said Kruss. “But more importantly, it’s a great opportunity for APA members to better serve their customers. We can help them meet the growing demand for high-quality OEM parts for Hyundai and Kia.”

Gary Martin, APA’s president and CEO, added that it’s important for APA to have vendors like Auto 7 that offer a valuable alternative to the dealer. “Auto 7 gives APA members, their distributors and installers an option in the rapidly expanding import parts segment of this growing vehicle car parc," said Martin.

Auto 7, located in Miramar, Fla., is part of an international company that has been in business for more than 60 years. It supplies a wide array of Korean-made, OEM quality automotive parts that are ISO-14000, QS-9000 or ISO/TS-16949 certified, and many of which are not typically available in the traditional aftermarket supply chain.

Federated Auto Parts Distributors announced it is entering into a collaboration with the Association of Independent Oil Distributors (AIOD) – one it said will focus on mutual benefits for the respective members.

“Federated is constantly looking at ways to improve value for all constituents and this agreement provides that,” said Sue Godschalk, president of Federated. “This collaboration provides added volume and opportunities for our suppliers, new partners for our members, and added supply points and products for shop customers. We have enjoyed working closely with several AIOD members in the past and this agreement will expand and create further opportunities for both Federated and AIOD.”