The National Automotive Parts Association – more commonly known as NAPA – has undergone an international journey with various company titles over the years in Australia.
NAPA itself, a subsidiary of the 100-year-old United States-based Genuine Parts Company (GPC), and throughout its own period of operations, has established many regional divisions to break into other markets around the world, such as GPC Asia Pacific in Australasia.
Under GPC Asia Pacific, the first dedicated NAPA outlet opened in Australia in 2018, and was followed closely by the rebranding of some key subsidiaries to NAPA stores, like Ashdown-Ingram, Covs, Global Auto Spares and R&E Auto Parts.
Now, sporting an amalgamation of operational capabilities from some of the country’s most prominent commercial transport parts businesses, NAPA offers an extremely varied and thorough service capacity across a network of locations in the majority of Australia’s capital cities.
According to Wesley Skewis, NAPA National Sales Manager – Industrial, the ownership of such varied industry knowledge enables NAPA to provide an unmatched service experience to customers.
“Our expertise ensures you stay ahead of industry demands,” Wesley says.
“We combine 100 years of industry knowledge with unrivalled distribution capability. Backed by smarter technologies and operational efficiencies, we deliver value that goes beyond expectations.”
These ‘smarter’ technologies are largely designed for heavy-duty vehicle applications in both the commercial transport and mining industries, bolstering truck fleet capabilities with a variety of additions to safety and performance.
Recognising the necessity in reliable electrical systems for heavy-duty vehicles, NAPA’s auto electrical solutions offerings include robust heavy-duty batteries for extended performance, alternators & starter motors, lighting, UHF communications and original equipment (OE)-grade electrical consumables — such as lugs, connectors, crimps and heat shrink.
Additionally, these solutions also consist of efficient 12- and 24V jump starters, inverters, BC-DC chargers and transformers.
“All of these solutions work to ensure consistent power for heavy duty vehicles in all conditions,” Wesley says.
The effective operations of these heavy-duty vehicles in many weather conditions is further supported by NAPA’s air conditioning components, which include compressors, condensers, evaporators, belts and pumps, sourced from many globally trusted brands.
These parts, provided at a lower cost through NAPA’s OE First Fit solutions program, are made more accessible to transport operators for seamless integration into their fleet vehicles.
Furthermore, safety is a top priority for NAPA and its products, and is delivered largely in the form of high performance braking and suspension.
Specifically, NAPA provides brake pads, rotors, drums and callipers designed for heavy-duty applications, in addition to OE-spec suspension components which enhance vehicle stability and durability.
This safety also extends to the care of vehicle components, which NAPA enables through its premium drive belts, lubricants and filters, all of which are also provided through the company’s First Fit solutions program and, according to Wesley, offer essential help with part protection.
“The health and safety of our teams is of paramount importance to us,” Wesley says.
“Our commitment to operating a safer business is deeply rooted into our company values, with initiatives driven from all areas of the combined GPC Asia Pacific businesses.”
NAPA’s safety offering also includes basic features like first aid kits, warning systems, fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment and mobile safety solutions, ensuring compliance with Australian safety standards.
“It’s more than just wearing hi-vis on site and complying with a code,” adds Wesley. “We take safety to new levels, ensuring continuous improvement and the safest possible environment for anyone interacting with a NAPA team member, product, or initiative.”
Apart from NAPA’s thorough service offering for heavy-duty vehicles, the company also specialises in a range of strategic business solutions designed to give customers competitive advantages in their markets through various means.
Shedding some light on these offerings, Wesley outlines NAPA’s goal in helping its customers with business operations.
“At NAPA, we go beyond supplying components,” Wesley says.
“Our goal is to enhance efficiency, productivity, and profitability for your business with a variety of tailored solutions.”
These tailored solutions tackle productivity and profitability by reviewing companies’ value propositions and making critical changes to operations to cut costs and provide a clearer offering for customers.
This includes vendor rationalisation and range standardisation, which mainly aims to streamline procurement by consolidating suppliers and standardising product ranges.
NAPA also provides businesses with assistance in maintaining optimal stock levels through intelligent
inventory management and strategic sourcing solutions.
These improved stock capabilities are further supported by the NAPA PROLink ordering platform, which provides real time stock visibility and pricing from the nearest NAPA branch, automated ordering and advanced parts identification, which helps reduce errors in this space.
NAPA provides these meticulous services with expertise gained from the brand’s ISO 9001 accreditation that Wesley says is a testament to its uncompromising quality.
“With our ISO 9001 accreditation, we maintain rigorous quality control across our entire supply chain,” Wesley adds.
“Every product meets strict OE specifications, ensuring durability, reliability and peak performance. We then help our other customers achieve this standard.”
NAPA’s pool of industry knowledge, national supply presence and expansive offering of both heavy-duty products and strategic business plans have allowed it to successfully service much of Australia’s commercial transport and mining industry.
The combination of these qualities has ensured the brand’s position as a leading supplier for at least the near future, bringing cost-effective solutions to customers and industries.
