Looking at Brazil
| by Austin Gamble
Expanding Borders
With a vehicle parc of over 40 million units, and a big geographical footprint, Brazil poses a distribution challenge
to the manufacturers and importers of automotive parts. Stepping up to the plate, Distribuidora Automotiva has
made its mark in the logistics firmament of the country, and beyond.
W
ith over 50 years of tradition,
Distribuidora Automotiva has
become one of the biggest
and most important auto parts supply
companies in the world. Part of the
Comolatti group, which is a leader in
the automobile industry aftermarket
in Brazil, Distribuidora Automotiva
centralises and manages four suppliers:
Sama, Laguna, Matrix and Abouchar.
Sama and Laguna are suppliers of
automotive parts and accessories and
engine parts respectively, and if one
peruses the brands that they represent,
it is literally a global who’s who of
respected quality brands, whilst Matrix
is a supplier of cutting edge audio and
lighting accessories. Abouchar is the
most important distributor of Pirelli tyres
in Brazil.
➲ Distribuidora Automotiva’s executives are passionate about their business – not least export
manager Sérgio Batista Oliviera and logistics manager Angelo Miranda
➲ The
foyer at
Distribuidora
Automotiva
is full of
Supplier
Awards
The secret of Distribuidora Automotiva’s
success is its ability to enhance its
partnership with its suppliers and
customers by providing complete
solutions in logistics management and
logistics operation.
Thus it is little wonder that this success
has spread outside the borders of Brazil,
with expansion across the continents,
including South America, Central America,
North America, North Africa, Europe, the
Middle East, and South East Asia.
Distribuidora Automotiva is an important
cog in the Comolatti group, which
has interests in a variety of industries.
Subsidiaries Tiete Veiculos and Cofipe
play in the commercial vehicle space, with
strong support from Volkswagen and Iveco,
whilst Bernina is the real estate arm of the
group, looking after its real estate activities.
| words in action
28
july 2014
➲ Innovation is the name
of the game at Distribuidora
Automotiva – at the collection
counter an electronic signboard
indicates the state of each order
– and no one waits more than
16 minutes for their order
And with food being part of the Brazilian
psyche; it is not surprising to discover
that part of Comolatti’s portfolio is the
Terraço Italia Restaurant, a mandatory
stop for the gourmets of the world, and
an exercise in celebrating the best of
Italian gastronomy.