BMW Tuner AC Schnitzer is being aquired from the KOHL Group by AM Group. The tuner had been expected to shut down due to market pressures. New management aims to keep the storied company’s heritage. Good news for BMW fans: One of the most recognized names in the brand’s tuning history has been saved from the scrap heap, as AC Schnitzer is being acquired by the Dutch AM Group from its founders, KOHL Automotive. It comes after we reported earlier this year that the company was set to wind up operations by the end of 2026. AC Schnitzer is a company that has been making aftermarket performance parts for Bavaria’s finest since 1987, with their first car being the ACS7, based on the E32-generation BMW 7-Series. Since then, they went on to provide ways of making BMWs sharper and faster across virtually all models, with some of their creations, such as the ACL2 (based on the M240i) and AC Schnitzer M5, setting lap records at the Nurburgring. Changing Of The Guard Despite that 40-year legacy, AC Schnitzer was subject to the pressures of the modern business environment. In March, when they announced they were closing shop, managing director Rainer Vogel pointed to rising costs, unpredictable suppliers, and Germany’s famously slow regulatory approval system, which gave competitors the first-mover advantage. Read: A Legendary BMW Tuner Is Shutting Down For Good But he also admitted that the brand hadn’t quite been able to capture the magic previously enjoyed by ACS. Electrification was named as one reason, as well as something of a generational shift, with the company not able to find that same appeal with a younger audience. BMW i4 by AC Schnitzer It remains to be seen how the brand’s new owners will tackle these challenges, and if they’ll continue to stick to just BMWs. Of late, AC Schnitzer expanded their repertoire to include MINI (with the brand being a part of the BMW family), and even the Toyota Supra (since the Supra was co-developed with the G29-generation Z4). One nugget of positive information is that it’s not just the name that will be transferred to AM Group, but also the existing technical documentation and TÜV certification files that will no doubt ensure some kind of continuation of the brand deeper than its shell. A Legacy To Uphold Of course, you don’t just buy a name like AC Schnitzer without understanding the rich heritage that has come before it. And the AM Group says they understand this and are planning to ensure that ACS “retains its identity” while it gains access to the expertise of the group. That expertise includes being present in 30 countries, with brands such as Urban Automotive (of Land Rover customization fame), UBC Composites, GP Products, and Absolute Motors. International sales are a key pillar in which AM Group thinks it can leverage with dealer development being one of the number one items on the checklist. “We will provide the resources, infrastructure and investment required to make the brand relevant for the next generation. This is part of our DNA and what we bring to the table,“ says Patrick Meijer Co-CEO of AM Group. Heading the new era of AC Schnitzer will be Imran Arshad, who steps in as managing director. Arshad comes from his own tuning background, being the co-founder of Evolve Automotive Eventuri. “Clear vision, engineering excellence, purposeful design, and attention to detail – these are the values that have made AC Schnitzer so appealing to BMW customers, including myself. The brand’s heritage is the foundation for innovation,” said Arshad.
+29 others
