50 years ago, the success story of BORG Automotive Group began: On May 15, 1975, Søren Toft-Jensen founded a small workshop in Denmark, which was to become the largest independent remanufacturer of automotive spare parts in Europe. Long before remanufacturing became mainstream he attached great importance to resource-conserving business practices.
Credit: BORG Automotive Group
First location in Denmark: The modest workshop in Denmark where Søren Toft-Jensen began the journey that would make BORG Automotive Group Europe’s largest independent remanufacturer.
Today’s BORG Automotive Group is the result of a long development. Toft-Jensen built up his company continuously. In 1979, he launched the Elstock brand. Starters and alternators were the most important items for many years. In the 1990s, the company expanded into the European markets and production moved to Poland. In 2004, BORG Automotive was founded, AC compressors were added to the range and production was now also carried out under license under the long-established, international Lucas brand. In 2006, the brake caliper remanufacturing business was acquired from a Danish customer, and DRI, a third strong brand was introduced in 2007. In 2012, BORG acquired Car Parts Industries, a remanufacturer for the OEM market, and shortly afterwards began remanufacturing steering products and EGR valves.
Continuous, market-oriented growth
The acquisition of BORG Automotive by Schouw & Co. in 2017 then represented a significant milestone. With the backing of this financially strong partner, BORG Automotive was able to further expand its business. With TMI, the company acquired one of the leading remanufacturers of turbochargers and added a new, relevant product to its range. Furthermore, the take-over of SBS Automotive added selected new products to the portfolio.
Today, the BORG Automotive Group is a diversified company. BORG Automotive Reman takes care of the remanufacturing business in the automotive aftermarket, BORG Automotive Newman – the rebranded SBS Automotive – complements the range in the new parts business. Finally, CPI is a sought-after partner for car
manufacturers. Dedicated employees, several production facilities in Europe and Tunisia and one of the largest core warehouses in the market are important assets of the Group.
Focus on quality and customer satisfaction
Regardless of the respective product or market, there are constants that have always characterized BORG Automotive Group, such as the claim to always deliver the highest quality, to work transparently and to focus on the customer. Quality and environmental certifications, continuous investment in the in-house R&D center and the company’s own logistics centers are a matter of course. Just like the customer survey that BORG Automotive Group has been conducting since 2016 in order to align itself as closely as possible with its clients. No wonder BORG Automotive Group has regularly received awards for its commitment. Just recently, the company received the “Remanufacturer of the Year” award for the second time since 2015.
Navigating an increasingly complex market – an outlook for the next 50 years
As BORG Automotive Group marks their 50th anniversary, they are also mindful of the significant challenges shaping today’s automotive aftermarket. Geopolitical tensions are disrupting global trade flows. At the same time, competition is intensifying, and the pace of technological development is accelerating.
“The geopolitical and global economic situation makes it difficult to make predictions. There is a ‘green agenda’ in the world, and sustainability is and will remain important,” says CEO Jesper Møberg.
As for the next 50 years, Jesper Møberg predicts: “I see us continuing to play a vital role in the mobility sector. Supplying high-quality spare parts will still be at the heart of what we do. At the same time, I believe our expertise in remanufacturing will open new doors beyond automotive. As both economic and environmental pressures grow, giving products a second life will become even more relevant across industries.
I also see the potential for us to move from being a European leader to a global supplier. Whether that happens will depend on many factors – but our foundation is strong, and our ambition is clear. We’ll keep doing what we do best: delivering value, thinking long-term, and staying committed to continuous improvement.”