Auto Delta is one of the most successful trading companies for automotive spare parts and accessories on the Portuguese market. It was founded 30 years ago by Armindo Romão and Catarina Silva and has been family owned to the present day. The company supplies more than 600 customers in the whole of Portugal – and beyond that, in various countries of Africa and Europe.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: Mr. Romão, congratulations! In May, Auto Delta can look back on 30 years of market activities. Do you still remember the year 1977?

Armindo Romão: Of course. At that time, we started as a 2 person enterprise. My wife Catarina Silva was responsible for administration and I for sales. Those days were quite different from now: back then, the customers still used to come to the suppliers. Of course, today it is the other way round. In the meantime, we see ourselves as service partners, visit our customers regularly and inform them about innovations.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: How was it in the early days?

Armindo Romão: Difficult. In the years after the “Revolution of the Carnations” in 1974, import restrictions inhibited the economic development in Portugal. Getting hold of car spare parts was a very complicated business. In order to import products we had to take out credits. It has been hard work but fortunately, we have succeeded.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: And then Portugal joined the European Union ...

Armindo Romão: Yes, this was in 1986. However, at that time, Auto Delta had already gone through major developments: from retail trade to a wholesale trade company. This enabled us to concentrate on new technologies – and allowed us to meet the increased quality standards of the EU. This development continues to the present time. Our company has already prepared for the future, as our children have started to continue our work.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: Auto Delta has remained a family business to this day?

Armindo Romão: Through and through – and this in the widest sense of the word. The entire company works like a large family. My son Marcelo Silva has taken charge of sales management and imports. My daughter Rosália Silva takes care of financial affairs together with my wife. Also our 30 other employees are part of this “family alliance”. Our entire success is due to this team spirit and the good cooperation.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: Does this also reflect on the relationship with your customers?

Armindo Romão: Of course. Thanks to our low staff turnover, our employees and customers have often known one another for many years. This creates confidence and trust – and in many instances leads to actual friendships.

A well-established team: Armindo Romão and his wife Catarina Silva of Auto Delta in conversation with MAHLE Aftermarket news.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: These are the so-called soft facts. How about the hard facts at Auto Delta?

Armindo Romão: In 1995, we have moved to new headquarters, where all necessary service sections have been combined on an area of 2,300 sq. m. When a lorry drives today onto our site, it can leave again, fully loaded after 20 minutes. Our product range comprises now any type of automotive spare part and accessories. We have engines, suspension components, steering gear, clutches, brakes, filters and much more in our range. In order to offer solely guarantied quality, we only work together with first-class manufacturers – such as MAHLE.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: We are pleased to hear this.

Armindo Romão: MAHLE has a very good reputation in Portugal. This cooperation does therefore also strengthen our image. However, I would like to go one step further: I was earlier speaking about our company as a family. In this sense, we are proud to be part of the “MAHLE family”. This is because the business relations with MAHLE are distinguished by that “little bit extra”. You offer absolute quality in every business division. This is an incentive for our own quality management.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: In what way?

Armindo Romão: This year, we will introduce the necessary steps for our quality certification – both on national and international level. We want to show our customers that we are a forward-looking company.

MAHLE Aftermarket news: Mr. Romão, we thank you for the conversation and wish you continuous success – also, and in particular with MAHLE products.