LKQ Europe has acquired ACtronics, the automotive electronics repair and remanufacturing specialists.
The move means that workshops across the UK will have more access the ACtronics’ expertise, through the LKQ UK & Ireland business. This is critical at a time when electronics in cars continues to grow. These services can help garages fix complex faults, rather than replace them with expensive new units.
ACtronics repairs a wide range of components, including ABS/ESP units, instrument clusters and displays, transmission control units (TCUs), engine control units (ECUs) and body control units (BCUs), as well as specialist components for EVs – parts that are often only available new from the manufacturer.
The process is straightforward: workshops send in the faulty unit, it’s repaired or remanufactured, and returned ready to refit with no need for complex reprogramming. This helps reduce downtime and gives garages a more affordable alternative to full replacement.
ACtronics important for LKQ
The number of electronic components in cars is increasing, requiring new ways of dealing with problems and repairs. As vehicle manufacturers increasingly add new technologies, repairs can become more expensive.
But offering a remanufacturing service, or the ability to send units away for expert repair, can bring costs down. This is especially critical at a time when household budgets are being squeezed by rising fuel and energy prices.
By acquiring ACtronics, LKQ Europe is recognising the essential need for electronics repair and remanufacturing in today’s aftermarket. By combining ACtronics’ specialist capability with LKQ’s scale and customer network, the aim is to make these repairs easier to access, reduce turnaround times and expand availability.
“As vehicles become more complex and the cost of replacing electronic components continues to rise, remanufacturing and repair are becoming an increasingly important part of the solution,” commented Kevan Wooden, CEO of LKQ UK and Ireland.
“Expanding access to specialist electronic repairs gives workshops more flexibility in how they approach a job, whether that’s fitting a new part or repairing an existing one, helping them balance cost, availability and customer needs.
“ACtronics also complements our existing capabilities, including SYNETIQ, LKQ Electriq and our Vege engine range, further strengthening the breadth of our sustainable parts offering. Together, this gives LKQ UK & Ireland an unrivalled proposition while continuing to expand the range of solutions available to our customers.”
Faster turnaround
Niek Bragt, Managing Director of ACtronics, added: “Working with LKQ creates a real opportunity to improve access to specialist electronic repairs for workshops and their customers.
“By combining our repair expertise with LKQ’s scale and network, we can help reduce turnaround times, increase availability, including more parts from stock, and continue expanding our range, including solutions for newer technologies such as EV components.
“Ultimately, this means faster, more efficient, more sustainable and more affordable repair options for the end customer.”
ACtronics is headquartered in the Netherlands, with UK operations running form its base in Colchester, Essex.
