ELK GROVE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALLDATA LLC, the leading provider of manufacturers' automotive repair information and solutions for the professional automotive service and collision repair industries in the US, announced today that it will enter the European market.
The US market leader, ALLDATA expands to Europe with licensed original manufacturer automotive repair data. The company has hired three industry experts who are experienced in processing technical data, as well as the open automotive aftermarket. Uli Zehnpfennig, Michael Stopka and Michael Krampe form the European core management team for ALLDATA's European launch in Cologne, Germany. The team has held management positions for the data expert TecDoc for many years.
"ALLDATA's European market entry is an exciting next step in the evolution of ALLDATA and in the use of technical information in the European Aftermarket," says Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and CEO of AutoZone, Inc., ALLDATA's parent company. "This new venture will focus on delivering high quality technical data directly from the manufacturing source using ALLDATA's intuitive common user interface supported by their industry leading customer support."
As in the U.S., ALLDATA's information is based on the original vehicle manufacturer's data and will be available online. Access to this information will fulfill a large need for European repair shops, giving them the ability to repair vehicles to manufacturers' standards. In particular, where service and recall data is concerned, independent repair shops are challenged with gaining access to the latest data. That lack of information can sometimes result in services not carried out according to manufacturers' guidelines.
"With ALLDATA, technicians will have the ability to verify their work was completed according to manufacturers' specifications," says Uli Zehnpfennig, Managing Director of ALLDATA Germany GmbH. "ALLDATA is committed to bringing its high quality standard to Europe as it has done in the United States," he further explains.
"The GVO (group exemption regulation) and the provisions in regard to Euro5/6 laid the positive foundations in Europe for the supply of technical information for repair shops. In the US, we are the market leader with more than 80,000 subscribers and we want to provide European shops the same quality data," adds Jeff Lagges, President of ALLDATA LLC. "We have been an active part of the US market since 1986 and we have gained extensive expertise in publishing automotive technical data. Together with our parent company, AutoZone, we are excited about expanding into Europe."
ALLDATA has established licensing agreements with manufacturers that cover the majority of the European vehicle population and has plans to publish the information in multiple languages. ALLDATA also plans to integrate with existing standard interfaces to increase ease of use for customers.
About ALLDATA
ALLDATA, founded in 1986, with more than 80,000 automotive repair and collision shop subscribers, is the leading provider of manufacturers' service and repair information, shop management software and customer relations tools for the automotive repair and collision industries in the US. Professional automotive repair shops across North America depend on ALLDATA for their automotive repair information needs. Visit www.alldataeurope.com for more information.
About AutoZone
As of August 27, 2011, AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 4,534 AutoZone stores in 48 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and 279 stores in Mexico.
AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com. Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, non-automotive products and subscriptions to the ALLDATA product through www.autozone.com, and our commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com. AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.