Dive into our long history and get a glimpse of the important milestones that make us the company we are today.
Since the beginning, many leading producers of parts to the automobile factories have come to CAC with their agencies, for efficient distribution of spare parts to the Danish market.
This has allowed CAC to develop into the leading supplier to the Danish market for all wearing parts: engine parts, brakes, clutches, steering gear, electrical components, etc. We get our spare parts from factories that also supply the car manufacturers, and thus the quality of our spare parts is at least equivalent to the parts that the cars were "born with".
The quality parts are delivered several times a day to local workshops primarily through our associated wholesaler chain, au2parts, which today consists of 40 units, and covers almost all of Denmark.
On the 1st of August 1927, the manufacturer Carl Christensen establishes the first company in Denmark to deal exclusively in automotive spare parts. It starts out in a small basement at Kystvejen 63 in Aarhus. The company CARL CHRISTENSEN, later known under the name CAC, supplies parts for the Ford and GM automobiles that come in from the US without batteries, speedometer etc.
The company's birthday is marked every year with ice cream on the 1st of August.
Opening of a branch in Copenhagen on Rådhuspladsen 77.
As the company grows and the premises at Kystvejen get too limited, CAC moves to Park Allé 15, where Carl Christensen establishes the first cylinder service shop in Denmark. Henceforth, the manufacturer is widely referred to as “Cylinder-Carl”.
The same year, the department in Copenhagen moves to larger premises at Gl. Kongevej 23.
The close connection between the engine reconditioning and the company is reflected in the two oldest distribution agreements that are still intact after more than 90 years. Goetze (piston rings and gaskets) and Mahle (pistons). Both distribution agreements date back to the beginning of the 1930s.
The company moves into new headquarters at Silkeborgvej 39, Aarhus.
The branch in Copenhagen moves to Finsensvej 84, and CAC becomes the largest engine remanufacture in Scandinavia.
Opening of a branch in Odense.
Opening of a branch in Aalborg. The world-renowned Danish architect, Arne Jacobsen, draws the building and designs the CAC logo.
The CAC name is an anagram for Carl and Anna Johanne Christensen. The building receives a “Beautiful Architecture” award by the municipality, and today it is a preserved building.
CAC is converted into a private limited company.
Carl Christensen establishes the CAC Foundation with the aim to support art and culture in Denmark. The main emphasis is on support for The Old Town in Aarhus and the Manor House Museum Gammel Estrup in East Jutland. In 1979, Carl Christensen and his wife grant the majority of shares in Aktieselskabet CARL CHRISTENSEN to the foundation. Today the CAC Foundation owns CAC 100 %.
Carl Christensen dies 85 years old. Peter Jensen is appointed new CEO.
New premises in Tilst/Aarhus are inaugurated.
The AutoPartner wholesaler concept is established with the aim of distribution to workshops locally. Today, the AutoPartner wholesaler concept is known as au2parts.
CAC expands the HQ in Tilst/Aarhus with 2,300 m2 to a total area of 6,800 m2. In order to grow in a highly competitive market where quality and avalibility are crucial factors, it is fundamental to have a strong international network. CAC therefore enters Temot International as a shareholder and plays an active role in the global purchase association. www.temot.com
The AutoPartner workshop concept is launched with the purpose of helping workshops with marketing.
CAC introduces the market's first electronic catalogue of spare parts.
Peter Jensen resigns, and Thomas Jensen is appointed new CEO.
CAC introduces e-commerce between CAC and customers. Today, 99 % of all orders are sent electronically to CAC.
CAC establishes onlineautodele.dk – an accounting and administrative system for automotive wholesalers with e-commerce towards workshops. Today, almost 70 % of all orders are sent electronically to the au2parts wholesalers from the workshops.
CAC introduces a new web-based catalogue for wholesalers and workshops, which facilitates their access to ordering spare parts. Today, the catalogue is known as au2web, and it is installed within more than 3,500 Danish workshops and retailers.
The AutoPartner wholesaler chain changes its name to au2parts. Today, au2parts has 40 branches and a turnover of more than DKK 1 billion.
The Teknicar workshop concept is set up. The concept helps workshops with marketing and technical data.
The RudeCenter workshop concept is launched. The concept involves a training programme for workshops in order for them to get technical knowledge in the fitting and servicing of car glass.
CAC's storage in Aarhus is expanded by 3,000 m2, while the storage in Glostrup is expanded by 1,000 m2.
The No-Name workshop concept is launched. The concept offers marketing assistance and access to attractive cooperation agreements, but without a common logo. The No-Name workshops retain their own name and logo and market themselves.
CAC-group reaches a turnover of DKK 1 billion.
CAC moves to a new domicile at Sintrupvej 12 in the western part of Aarhus, where the company has 22,400 m2.
The CAC-group is streamlined:
Eurodeal, purchased in 1993, is merged into CAC.
Aabenraa Cylinder Service, purchased in 1996, is sold.
CAC Industri & Marine, separated as an independent company under the CAC Foundation in 2016, is sold.
CAC invests in a new simi-automated storage system, which will make the main warehouse more efficient. The core of the inventory optimisation is an AutoStore facility with 56 robots, 105,993 boxes and 118,151 locations.
The warehouse in Glostrup is expanded to 5,000 m2.
au2parts launches The green e, which signals that the auto repair shops have the training to repair and service electric and hybrid cars. CAC is once again investing in an automated warehousing system, Autostore - this time in Glostrup.
CAC is establishing together with German SELECT "Temot Purchase Community, TPC" as a pilot project under Temot International.