We have been strengthening our team in the Italian independent aftermarket since 01.02.2026. With Lilia Cozma, we have a new local sales representative who has already gained extensive experience in the automotive aftermarket and is now contributing her expertise and clear sense of responsibility as the first point of contact for our customers.
And that is important. Because the Italian aftermarket has its very own character. It is personal, characterized by entrepreneurs and strong networks and is based on trust.
Many wholesalers and garages are family-run. Decisions are made through direct exchange. If you want to be successful here, you have to listen, react quickly and be present. This is exactly where we come in.
The market is demanding - and that's what makes it exciting
Italy is highly competitive, technically adept and brand-conscious. At the same time, it is dynamic. Topics change quickly. Availability, product ranges and market requirements demand flexible and often short-term decisions.
With a strong local presence, we can better support these dynamics. Decisions can be made more quickly, coordination can be conducted more directly and market impulses can be recognized at an early stage. Lilia is close to our partners - and close to the latest developments in the market.
With her, we not only gain sales experience in establishing and developing retail partners for premium brands. We also gain structure, transparency and a clear focus on growth. A central goal of her role is to further improve market transparency - to understand volumes, price segments and potential more clearly - and to develop profitable, sustainable growth from this.
Her own claim aptly describes her role:
"Driving profitable growth in Italy through strong partnerships, local focus, and full ownership."
Lilia Cozma
Head of Sales Center Italy
What does this mean in concrete terms for our wholesale partners?
Above all, closeness. Personal conversations. Faster coordination. Shorter decision-making processes.
We don't want to serve the Italian market from a distance. We want to be able to act quickly, address current issues directly and make processes more efficient for our customers. Which products are running? Where are bottlenecks occurring? What requirements are coming from the garages? What potential can be developed together?
This is not about short-term effects. It's about stability, planning security and strengthening an industry together.
Partnership instead of pure supply
For us at Hengst, sales means more than just supplying products. We see ourselves as a practical partner along the entire value chain. This partnership begins as a development partner for OEMs and strengthens our cross-brand market expertise. In the aftermarket, however, it is lived above all through proximity and reliability.
Our own structure is also an important aspect of this. We ourselves are a family-run company - now in its third generation. This family way of thinking shapes our decisions. Long-term thinking, responsibility and mutual trust are not just buzzwords for us, but the basis of our cooperation - also with our customers in Italy.
We know the needs of our customers' customers. With our products, well thought-out processes and active market support, we want to make everyday life in garages easier and thus also support the trade. Our aim is not only to provide the necessary products, but also to create real benefits - for example with our practical kits, which contain all the relevant components for efficient replacement in addition to the actual part.
Growing together
The Italian aftermarket offers great potential. With more proximity, a clear structure and mutual trust, this potential can be developed sustainably, and with Lilia Cozma, we are consistently pursuing this path - with the aim of creating market transparency, strengthening partnerships and shaping profitable growth together.
Thank you for being part of our team!
