AACHEN, Germany (September 29, 2026) — AC Schnitzer, the BMW and MINI tuning specialist founded in Aachen in 1987, has found a new owner. The company had been set to close at the end of the year. Rotterdam-based AM Group will acquire the AC Schnitzer brand from the Aachen-based KOHL Group, with the transfer scheduled for November 2026. The deal means the tuner will reach its 40th anniversary in 2027.

From Closure to a New Owner
In March 2026, the KOHL Group announced that AC Schnitzer would end operations by the close of 2026. It cited several reasons:

  • Germany’s lengthy parts-approval process, which it said leaves German tuners eight to nine months behind international competitors when new BMW models launch
  • rising costs, U.S. tariffs, and volatile exchange rates
  • a weakening domestic market
  • difficulty attracting younger customers as BMW moves toward electrification

KOHL said at the time that it would look for a buyer for the brand.

Under the agreement, the AC Schnitzer brand, its technical documentation, and its TÜV certification files will move into a newly established German company. AC Schnitzer will keep its German operations and identity, and the new structure is meant to speed up parts approval in Germany. The AC Schnitzer range for BMW and MINI models covers aerodynamic parts, wheels, suspension, performance upgrades, and complete vehicle concepts. It will continue under the new ownership.

AM Group and New Leadership
AM Group is a holding company specializing in premium vehicle personalization and performance engineering, with operations in more than 30 countries. Its portfolio includes Urban Automotive, the vehicle modifier based in Milton Keynes, U.K., as well as UBC Composites, GP Products, and Absolute Motors. The group plans to invest in AC Schnitzer’s design, research and development, and manufacturing. Its composites businesses will support the development of advanced carbon-fiber components. It also plans to expand international sales and reach new customer segments while preserving the brand’s technology-driven philosophy.

Imran Arshad, co-founder of Evolve Automotive and intake specialist Eventuri, will lead AC Schnitzer as managing director.

“Clear vision, engineering excellence, purposeful design, and attention to detail – these are the values that have made AC Schnitzer so appealing to BMW customers, including myself.”

– Imran Arshad, Managing Director, AC Schnitzer

“I am truly delighted that we have found the perfect partner for AC Schnitzer – one that genuinely understands the brand.”

– Rainer Vogel, outgoing Managing Director, AC Schnitzer

About AC Schnitzer
AC Schnitzer was founded in 1987 in Aachen, Germany, by Willi Kohl and Herbert Schnitzer. It has spent nearly four decades developing road-legal performance and styling upgrades for BMW and MINI vehicles.