Auto Hrvatska Announces New Investment Cycle

Auto Hrvatska, the largest and longest-standing domestic company in the automotive sector, is celebrating 70 years of existence this year and is preparing a series of investments aimed at expanding and improving its operations on the occasion of this anniversary. The new wave of investments will focus on expanding the portfolio of personal vehicles as well as the commercial assortment, the company announced.

Auto Hrvatska plans to soon introduce new offerings that could significantly change certain habits of domestic entrepreneurs regarding transportation and the everyday transport segment of business. Investment continues in the already initiated process of digital transformation.

Auto Hrvatska began operations back in 1952 when a group of eight car enthusiasts and technology pioneers, with the permission of the then authorities, established the “Auto-moto service for retail trade in used and new auto-moto parts and petroleum derivatives.” A successful start resulted in the rapid expansion of business and the enhancement of the sales offer from used tires and repaired vehicle parts. As the popularity and economic need for vehicles grew, so did the business and the market’s demand for services. The company further expanded territorially across the entire Republic of Croatia and in 1955 received the name it still carries today – Auto Hrvatska. Alongside retail, wholesale sales were also developed. Entrepreneurs needed vehicles for business purposes, and personal vehicles, once often an unattainable luxury, became a daily necessity. Soon, Auto Hrvatska opened a large number of new specialized stores in Zagreb, Karlovac, Varaždin, Rijeka, Pula, Split, Šibenik, Zadar, Knin, and Slavonski Brod. Representative offices were also opened in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Ljubljana in the area of the former state.

In 1963, Auto Hrvatska began cooperation with Volkswagen as its authorized partner for vehicle maintenance, and this level of successful business relationship has been maintained to this day. The significance of Auto Hrvatska for the development of the then Croatian economy is illustrated by the fact that the company took care of the needs of vehicle fleets in more than 5,500 companies from the then “social sector” and operated with as many as 682 suppliers from the former Yugoslavia. During the first two decades of operation, the company delivered 130,000 vehicles from the commercial and personal programs to its partners. In the publication “200 Largest in Yugoslavia” published in 1974, Auto Hrvatska ranked 24th among the 50 largest in the trade sector.

On the eve of its 25th anniversary, Auto Hrvatska was recognized as the leading sales and service organization in the automotive industry and became an exporter to foreign markets. At that time, the company successfully “jumped” the border, allowing domestic users a wider choice of quality global brands for the first time. Until that moment, the roads were dominated by „Fićeks“ and Zastavas.

At the beginning of the Homeland War, the market of the former state collapsed. Despite the difficult economic and trade circumstances at the time, Auto Hrvatska signed a cooperation agreement with the commercial vehicle manufacturer "Iveco" and in 1992 strategically decided on a business reorganization, after which it became a joint-stock company. Relationships were established with new suppliers and business partners across Europe. The consequence of such a business strategy was also the signing of a contract with the German company MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG from Munich, a manufacturer of commercial vehicles. After three trial years of cooperation, in 1996, based on exceptionally successful results, the company took on responsibilities and became the main importer of MAN trucks, buses, and original spare parts, as well as the organizer of the development of the service network in the Republic of Croatia. This was followed by importer contracts for the market of North Macedonia in 2011 and the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016.

After the end of the Homeland War, the sales and service capacity for the personal vehicle program was developed, focusing on Ford, Renault, Volkswagen, and Audi. In addition to existing authorized centers, service centers for quick vehicle service outside the warranty period were opened. The business expanded into the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while in Croatia, cooperation with the Volkswagen Group expanded, and Auto Hrvatska became an authorized sales and service center for Škoda personal vehicles.

In 2017, the company successfully established cooperation with the Ford Trucks brand. The entire distribution and maintenance of Ford Trucks vehicles is carried out through the sales and service network in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Today, the company operates in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia, specifically at a total of 26 locations with 700 motivated employees. They are importers for MAN, NEOPLAN, Ford Trucks, and Kässbohrer vehicles, and in their personal vehicle program, they sell and service vehicles of the brands Audi, VW, ŠKODA, Peugeot, Mazda, Renault, Dacia, and Fiat Professional, and recently also vehicles of the Seat and Cupra brands in Zadar. Additionally, they offer an extensive service network throughout Croatia and represent professional equipment and tools for equipping service centers.