WomenWithWheels.com

AUTOBACS, An Automotive Utopia
Taking the Boring out of Shopping

New to the states, AUTOBACS SEVEN CO, LTD has arrived from Tokyo. A publicly traded company, AUTOBACS opened its first U.S. Super AUTOBACS "Car-Life" retail store in Stanton, CA in August of this year.

Japan’s largest automotive aftermarket parts and accessories retailer, the new SUPER AUTOBACS store, located in Orange County, appeals to the avid auto enthusiast. A 35,000 square foot store, AUTOBACS carries brand name and original merchandise complete with specialty installation, maintenance and car customization bays on-site.

A car lover’s utopia, SUPER AUTOBACS takes the "boring" out of shopping for car essentials, boasts President and CEO Mr. Yasukiyo Tajima. Raising the level of personal "car-life" support, SUPER AUTOBACS carries the coolest and widest selection of high-performance aftermarket products and accessories. The "ultimate shopping and service-oriented experience," says Tajima.

The new mega store in Stanton carries more than 80 brands and 10,000 products, including brand name products for both domestic and import cars. Much like shopping in a sophisticated department store, SUPER AUTOBACS features designated departments, making products easy to locate. Customers will be able to find and purchase tires, wheels, performance parts, gadgets, collectibles, custom audio systems, books, sunglasses, bumpers, grills and thousands of unique gadgets. On-site audio and parts installation is also available, as well as car customization and certified maintenance service.

Customers can even sit in a viewing room, grab a snack and watch the work being done on their vehicle.

AUTOBACS SEVEN has been around since 1948, established as a wholesaler and retailer of automobile parts. The first AUTOBACS specialty automotive outlet opened in Osaka in 1974 and has since become known as Japan’s premier source for automobile parts and service. There are more than 500 franchises across Japan and overseas.

Today AUTOBACS SEVEN is moving beyond its niche as a retailer of automotive products, and evolving into a business that provides comprehensive support for the car lifestyle. A one-stop shopping source for all automotive needs, AUTOBACS comprehensively supports the car lifestyle.

According to Mr. Koichi Sumino, President and CEO of AUTOBACS SEVEN CO., LTD, the word AUTOBACS is an acronym for the primary products and services provided to the auto enthusiast: Appeal, Unique, Tires, Oil, Batteries, Accessories, Car Audio and Service. The "Seven" represents the added value AUTOBACS gives its customers with the broad range of products and services offered, says Sumino.

As of fiscal year 2002, AUTOBACS had a total of 542 stores (including franchises) in Japan, six in Taiwan, one in Singapore, one in Thailand, two in France and one in the U.S. There are five different types of stores: SUPER AUTOBACS (up to 55,000 square feet), AUTOBACS Type II stores (17,000-25,000 square feet), AUTOBACS Express quick service centers, AUTOBACS Second-Hand stores and a corporate store in Japan that promotes the AUTOBACS Racing Team Aguri (ARTA) project. At this time, AUTOBACS has not released any news regarding further U.S. stores.

AUTOBACS stores contain more than 71 brands and 10,000 products located in several different departments of the store. The first floor houses the high performance parts department, tires and wheels, motor oil, batteries and fluids, mufflers, shocks and suspensions, an SUV department, aftermarket parts area, audio/visual and navigation and security, among other departments. On the second floor are books, videos and educational information, car collectibles and toys, AUTOBACS team racing merchandise and a viewing room.

Some of the top brands carried by AUTOBACS stores include Bridgestone/Firestone, Cooper, Monster Cable, Panasonic, Kicker, Kenwood, Apex, Greddy, JBL, Pioneer and Sony, among several others. On-site services such as installation, car customization, certification and maintenance are also offered, which make AUTOBACS stand out from the rest.

Wouldn’t you just love to take a stroll through this monstrosity of automotive stuff? I sure would. Next time you’re in Los Angeles, look up AUTOBACS, or go to their web site at www.autobacsusa.com or www.autobacs-seven.com.