30th March 2006 - PBR Expands Distribution in North America Through WORLDPAC

In November 2005 PBR announced it has significantly expanded its aftermarket presence in North America through the establishment of a distribution arrangement with WORLDPAC, one of North America’s leading distributors of automotive parts for imported vehicles. The new arrangement also provides WORLDPAC the opportunity to expand into the domestic market by offering a range of PBR brake parts suitable for locally produced vehicles.

The PBR brand was originally introduced to the North American aftermarket approximately 40 years ago through a Repco driven brake hydraulics program for imported vehicles. More recently the PBR brand has expanded through a popular friction material program with a broad range of disc brake pads.  Expansion to the PBR range in North America will include brake hydraulics (master cylinders, wheel cylinders, clutch master cylinders and clutch slave cylinders), brake hoses, brake calipers, park brake shoe kits, disc brake rotors, brake drums and drum brake shoes.

The new aftermarket program will leverage PBR’s longstanding reputation as one of the leading suppliers of brake system technology to North American vehicle manufacturers General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler. PBR has achieved significant success in the U.S. market over the past two decades through the development of high performance brake systems for American icons such as the Chevrolet Corvette and a vast array of light trucks, SUVs and passenger sedans.

PBR’s aftermarket brand image in North America has been exclusively developed for that region and consists of very distinctive packaging reflecting the high quality level of these products. A dedicated website has also been developed and can be viewed at www.pbrbrakes.com.

WORLDPAC’s distribution network extends to over 50 branches across the U.S. and Canada and includes the unique WORLDPAC speedDIAL on-line ordering and tracking system which delivers a new benchmark in automotive spare parts procurement for the trade.

Source: PBR Press Release