NAA Member News: GEFCO SA acquires integrated automotive services provider XPAuto

7th February 22

GEFCO SA has announced the acquisition of XPAuto, a leading UK provider of fully integrated automotive services including fleet management, vehicle logistics and advanced vehicle care, for an undisclosed sum.

The deal has seen GEFCO SA take a 100% stake in the firm, with all operations led out of the UK.

XPAuto provides automotive services, underpinned by a suite of powerful digital platforms. Working with leading OEMs, resellers and corporate organisations, it manages the whole lifecycle of a demo fleet vehicle including booking, delivery, collection, repair and de-fleeting. XPAuto also provides bespoke fleet services for press and events – including single vehicle launches – as well as premium retail handovers. 

The acquisition will see GEFCO UK integrate XPAuto’s digital platforms, XPAssetSmart and XPAssetCare, into existing platforms as part of a plan to build an IT network between both companies. The advanced suite of fleet management tools enable smart scheduling and asset management capability alongside a range of customer facing applications.

With the adoption of XPAuto’s services, GEFCO UK will extend its proposition as a key provider of services for vehicles throughout their entire lifecycle even further. This complements GEFCO’s Moovecar offering, its brand dedicated to in-life vehicle management, which delivers services ranging from last mile delivery to refurbishment and maintenance.

As part of the deal, GEFCO UK will also leverage XPAuto’s client portfolio and its employees, retaining the CEO Oliver Woodmansee and the existing management team who have led the XPAuto business to a market leading position in recent years through its ‘Go To’ strategy. In the UK, XPAuto will continue to operate under its brand from its 8,000m², 1,500 bay compound in Chipping Warden in the Midlands.

Luc Nadal, GEFCO CEO said: “We are pleased to welcome XPAuto employees into GEFCO Group. GEFCO’s 70-year expertise in automotive logistics and XPAuto’s smart solutions and demofleet expertise are highly complementary. We look forward to growing the business in the UK and exploring ways for our mobility customers to benefit from our innovative phygital solutions in more countries in the future.” 

“At GEFCO, one of our key principles is to support our clients with colleagues who are integrated and focused on knowledge-sharing across different elements of our business. XPAuto’s new expertise, technology, services and knowledge will provide an important contribution to this.”

Cedric Chacon, Managing Director at GEFCO UK, added: “We’re excited to build on our successful existing partnership, formed earlier this year, which saw XPAuto reassign its Brand Ambassador Drivers to deliver daily last mile services for GEFCO UK. 

“The deal presents key strategic opportunities for both parties. It fully supports our strategy for enhanced mobility and digitalisation within Moveecar services. We already have a clear plan on the direction we want to take together and the areas for potential investment into XPAuto’s services and platforms. We anticipate that this could involve an expansion of its Midlands compound and there are also ambitions to expand the last mile delivery offering to all GEFCO UK sites.”

Oliver Woodmansee, CEO at XPAuto said: “The acquisition marks a new bigger future for XPAuto. Having already built strong foundations for this partnership, we’re confident that this new phase will allow both companies to grow and deliver increased capability, reach and a broader range of combined services for our clients. There are significant changes and opportunities in the market and the time is right for XPAuto to be part of a larger group of companies so our capabilities can grow and develop alongside the needs of our customers.

“As a Midlands-based business, we’re well positioned to offer expansive reach across the nation, as well as bringing GEFCO’s various sites closer together. We know also that our innovative fleet management tools are amongst the best in the logistics space and will no doubt be crucial to making management of the customer experience as straightforward as possible for GEFCO’s OEM clients.”

XPAuto were advised on the transaction by NOR Capital.