50 Years of BORG Automotive Group: People, Progress, and Purpose – Insights from Our CEO
In 2025, BORG Automotive Group celebrates its 50th anniversary. What began as a small workshop in Denmark has since developed into Europe's largest independent remanufacturer. As part of the anniversary, CEO Jesper Møberg shares his thoughts on the company’s journey and what lies ahead.
Jesper Møberg have been part of BORG Automotive Group for 15 years. We asked him what makes the company special to him:
“BORG Automotive Group was one of the first companies to focus on professional remanufacturing of automotive parts. Our founder, Søren Toft-Jensen, was convinced of this idea as early as 50 years ago and put it into practice.
Growth for growth's sake is unthinkable here – we stand by our core values. And last but not least, we never take our customers' trust for granted but work hard to earn it every day.”
Looking back, what were the most important milestones for the company?
“When we look at the products, it is of course the additions to the range. We started with starters and alternators and began remanufacturing AC compressors in 2004. In 2006, we remanufactured brake calipers for the first time. Later, steering pumps and steering racks were added, as well as EGR valves and turbochargers. The acquisition of SBS Automotive, now BORG Automotive Newman, further expanded our portfolio with a broad range of newly manufactured spare sparts.
Our range has become increasingly sophisticated, including the underlying technology. Today, we are able to remanufacture extremely complex electrical products that are integrated into the vehicle system via digital communication protocols.”
BORG Automotive Group has been part of the Schouw & Co. investor group since 2017. In retrospect, what has changed as a result of the takeover?
“It was a real turning point – and an extremely positive one. Schouw & Co. is a responsible owner that truly lives by its slogan: ‘Results are created by people.’ This fits well with our slogan, ‘The most important part is you.’ Both companies put people at the centre of everything they do. Together, we are building a scalable organisation to support our ambitions. With the support of our owner, we have also been able to make important acquisitions, such as the turbocharger remanufacturer TMI and BORG Automotive Newman. In addition, we have expanded our logistics operations. And just recently, we acquired a production facility in Tunisia.”
Are there common threads that run through the history of BORG Automotive Group?
“Absolutely. For example, our commitment to uncompromising quality and the best customer service, as well as our ability to identify trends early on and build up the expertise needed to be successful in the long term. If we had not made such a huge effort to set up our own R&D centre back then, we would hardly be in a position today to remanufacture highly complex, digitalised automotive components. And that goes hand in hand with another strength: customer proximity. A good example of this is our customer survey, which we have been conducting regularly since 2016. The importance we attach to market feedback can be seen, among other things, in the fact that the acquisition of TMI was prompted by the request of many customers to purchase remanufactured turbochargers from us.”
You just mentioned digitisation. Another trend is electromobility. It is making many automotive parts redundant, including starters, alternators, turbochargers, and EGR valves in the long term. How is BORG Automotive Group preparing for this?
“Firstly, it goes without saying that spare parts for combustion engines will still be needed for a long time to come, as combustion engines will not disappear from our roads overnight. Nevertheless, we see changes in markets and technologies as a normal process. We are keeping pace with these developments. We already have a wide range of future-proof electric products in our portfolio and will be adding more. This is made possible by our colleagues in Product Management and our R&D centre, who keep track of the latest developments and conduct market analyses, often in collaboration with OE suppliers.”
Where does BORG Automotive Group currently stand? And what efforts are you making to maintain or improve your market position?
“We remain the undisputed largest independent remanufacturer of automotive parts in Europe. With Elstock, DRI, TMI, and Lucas, we have four strong aftermarket brands under one roof, while our subsidiary CPI handles the OE business and BORG Automotive Newman complements this with the new parts business under the brands NK and Eurobrake. The fact that so many customers place their trust in us makes us proud, but it also comes with a responsibility. That is why we are working to remain efficient and a leader in our field. We are doing this by, for example, systematically developing our product range and our services. Or by ensuring maximum transparency regarding the environmental impact of our products – to this end, we have commissioned and published life cycle assessments, among other things.”
BORG Automotive Group’s 50th anniversary comes at a difficult time for the industry. The transition to electric mobility, sales crises, and possibly a global trade war: How do you assess the situation? Will remanufacturing become even more important in the future?
“The geopolitical and global economic situation makes it difficult to make predictions. There is a ‘green agenda’ in the world, and sustainability is and will remain important. Climate change is recognised as a threat to mankind. But of course, there are other uncertainties that currently push it into the background such as the current uncertainties in global trade. However, in uncertain times, people keep their cars longer. That's good for our aftermarket business.”
Where do you see the company in another 50 years?
"Fifty years is a long time to look ahead – and let’s be honest, the world is changing fast. But I see us continuing to play a vital role in the mobility sector. Supplying high-quality spare parts will still be at the heart of what we do.
At the same time, I believe our expertise in remanufacturing will open new doors beyond automotive. As both economic and environmental pressures grow, giving products a second life will become even more relevant across industries.
I also see the potential for us to move from being a European leader to a global supplier. Whether that happens will depend on many factors – but our foundation is strong, and our ambition is clear. We’ll keep doing what we do best: delivering value, thinking long-term, and staying committed to continuous improvement."