DETROIT — Automotive cooling specialists Behr GmbH and Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. have announced plans to form a joint venture — Behr Hella Service – which will serve the global independent aftermarket for vehicle air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems.
Subject to European regulatory approval, the joint venture will begin operations in Europe at the end of this year with plans to expand on a global basis later.
The two companies plan to combine the activities of Behr Service with Hella’s aftermarket air-conditioning business in a new company based in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany. Behr and Hella each will hold a 50 percent share in the joint venture. Management of Behr Hella Service will be shared by Juergen Laucher, managing director of Behr Service GmbH, and Dr. Joachim Damasky, responsible for electronics and air conditioning at Hella’s aftermarket products division.
“Behr Hella Service represents a logical continuation of the cooperation between Behr and Hella in our air-conditioning and front-end modules businesses,” said Laucher. “It combines Hella’s global sales organization with Behr’s product know-how, pooling our aftermarket activities in the air- conditioning and engine-cooling sectors.”
The joint venture is expected to provide customers with a wide range of parts and services related to vehicle air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems.
“Our customers will benefit from the combined know-how of the two partners,” said Damasky. “The joint venture offers customers special expertise in the areas of climate control and heat transmission, as well as excellent service competence in parts supplies, technical information and training packages for both the independent aftermarket and garages.”
At the time of its launch, the Behr Hella Service joint venture commands a leading market position in the Western European market for condensers and compressors and passenger-car cooling parts. The new organization’s customer service operations will be supported primarily by Hella’s international sales organization.
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