CoolDrive, one of Australasia’s largest automotive parts distributors, has completed the first phase of its expansion into the New Zealand market with the acquisition of Auckland Auto Air.
Business partners for over 30 years, Auckland Auto Air was both CoolDrive’s first customer in New Zealand and its original distributor. Respective business owners John Blanchard from CoolDrive and Barry Rogers from Auckland Auto Air sat on the original VASA committee together.
Along with its recent acquisitions of Direct Auto Parts and Total Air Conditioning, the purchase of Auckland Auto Air enables CoolDrive to offer the New Zealand market a comprehensive range of automotive and air conditioning parts.
“It’s long been an ambition of mine to bring these three distributors together under our brand – it gives CoolDrive a very strong presence in the New Zealand market,” says CoolDrive managing director Blanchard.
“We’re now able to offer our own and former Auckland Auto Air customers the synergies of improved deliveries, stock availability, access to our online catalogue and the convenience of iShop to make the purchase of parts much easier.”
Like CoolDrive, Auckland Auto Air is a family-owned and run business and while founder Rogers and his son John remain with the workshop and refrigeration business, his other son Phillip moves across to CoolDrive.
There, Phillip will be joined by Brent Harris, a long-time Auckland Auto Air employee, providing continuity for existing customers. Both are also well known to current CoolDrive customers.
“With Auckland Auto Air’s long-time representation of our Jayair products in New Zealand, this transition is going to be pretty seamless. We expect loyal Auckland Auto Air customers to enjoy the expanded parts offering, as will our own customers,” says Blanchard.
Phillip Rogers will take up the role of CoolDrive Auckland branch supervisor, while Brent Harris will occupy an internal sales role.
