Introducing Autowave, an independent automotive distributor that specialises in automotive electronics and locksmith equipment. The company’s Managing Director Ravi Kotecha tells us more.
Autowave began as a small sole trader operating out of a van in the early 2000s, offering car audio and auto electrical services. As car audio became less popular, we focused on automotive electronics, car keys and ECUs, which seemed to be the way the trade was going. As the car key side of the business developed, there was a difficulty in sourcing remote keys at competitive prices, and Autowave was not alone. As auto locksmithing became popular, so did the demand for car keys, so the priority was to source good quality aftermarket keys at sensible prices. Fast forward to 2021, and we are the UK’s leading aftermarket auto locksmith distributors.
Presence
The company’s head office is in Nottingham, but we have another office, and a research, development and assembly facility in Shenzhen, China. Product development and quality control is paramount in the auto locksmith industry, so having a base in Shenzhen is of huge importance and differentiates Autowave from other suppliers of auto keys and equipment. It also allows manufacturers to come to us directly when new products are being developed and launched in the European market. With an office due to open in Europe before the end of the year, the growth of the Autowave distribution network is set to continue.
Products
We stock a full range of auto remotes, key blanks, replacements cases, key blades, key programming equipment, key cutting equipment, lock picks and diagnostic tools. A one stop shop for all key-related products, the company is the UK Distributor for Xhorse, OBDstar, Bosscomm, Xtool, Atten, Lonsdor, CGDI, Auto-XT, Key DIY and Yanhua ACDP. Offering a same day despatch until 4:15pm and free delivery for orders over £20, we are committed to offering a first-class, efficient service. As an industry first, all applicated products are available to lookup on AutoCat or on our website – www.rdr.link/FA011 – so the full range is easily accessible.
Support
With a knowledgeable team of product specialists at the end of the phone, coupled with industry-leading quality control and sourcing, technical backup is always on-hand. With an on-site repair centre, any products that do require attention are swiftly sorted within the UK. We also offer free training twice a month at our premises in Nottingham, whilst also offering regional training throughout the year. On top of this, we have a huge range of video guides available on the Autowave YouTube channel – www.rdr.link/FA012 – with new videos added every day!
Profit opportunity
As more garages and independents start to offer spare key services, the requirement has arisen for a solid supply with quick availability. Profits are good enough to warrant motor factor space and the ease of lookup has made this a lucrative market to enter. Motor factors can enter the market as stockists servicing an existing customer base which may already be offering or interested in offering a spare key service. Alternatively, factors could offer their own spare key service and act as a hub for local garages to bring key jobs in, whilst also offering the service to retail customers.
Either method of entry into this lucrative marketplace would allow for increased footfall, more enquiries and the edge over competitors, whilst most importantly having a fantastic profit potential in a relatively untapped market.
