The PSA Group is enhancing its multi-brand aftermarket offering, one of the pillars of its “Push to Pass” strategic plan. The company is acquiring a controlling interest in Autobutler, an online quote platform for automotive aftermarket services, with operations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden. Autobutler will remain independent.
The company says the acquisition of an equity interest in this new business strengthens the PSA Group’s multi-brand aftermarket offering, particularly for “smart buy” customers seeking the best value. It also will help the group develop business within its own networks, expand its customer base, attract new independent auto repair shops and improve its expertise in digital aftermarket services.
Launched in 2010, the Autobutler online platform has already allowed nearly 300,000 customers in four European countries to get an online quote for vehicle maintenance and repair. Users simply enter their car model, location and the type of work they want done, and receive corresponding offers and quotes from three garages located near their home. This type of service meets new needs from customers, who are increasingly turning to the internet to compare prices and services before entrusting their vehicle to a garage. PSA’s investment will go hand in hand with expansion of the business into new countries.
In its “Push to Pass” strategic plan, PSA Group set the two-pronged objective of being a benchmark carmaker and becoming customers’ favorite supplier of mobility services.
Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon, chief financial officer of the PSA Group, said, “This investment is particularly well-aligned with our ‘Push to Pass’ strategy. It will help us to shake up existing paradigms and adjust our business so that we can better meet the needs of our customers, offer them a full range of mobility-related services and tap new growth markets.”
The co-founders of Autobutler, Peter Zigler and Christian Legêne, said, “The future in the automotive industry is digital. For the past six years we have proven that car owners are ready to go digital in the search for reputable garages. With PSA’s focus on digitalization and their ‘Push to Pass’ strategy, we see great synergies and believe the alliance is a good match which will help Autobutler become Europe’s No. 1 platform for online workshop repairs offering the best transparency and trust.”
