Stahlgruber GmbH
2018
$1.8B
Why
LKQ acquired Stahlgruber, a wholesale distributor of aftermarket spare parts with operations in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Switzerland, for approximately $1.8 billion. This was one of LKQ's largest acquisitions and expanded its presence in the largest European automotive aftermarket.
Impact
Stahlgruber became a strategic hub for LKQ's European operations, particularly in Germany, the largest European market for automotive spare parts. The acquisition added over 200 storage and sales sites.
Outcome
Mixed. Stahlgruber gave LKQ scale in Germany, but European margins remain below North America (9.3% vs 14.4% segment EBITDA margin in FY2025), and a 2026 ERP implementation in Germany disrupted Q2 2026 results.