VV-Auto Group Oy, the market leader in Finnish car trade, will become K Auto Oy

VV-Auto Group Oy, which is part of K Group, will change its name to K Auto Oy. Its subsidiary, VV-Autotalot Oy, will change its name to K Caara Oy. The changes will bring K Group’s car trade more clearly under the common recognisable K brand.

The new business names will be adopted on 1 June 2018, along with new logos and visual design. K Auto Oy’s subsidiary Oy AutoCarrera Ab will continue the import and retailing of Porsche under its current name.

“VV-Auto has been the market leader in Finland for many years, including last year, when we were the biggest car importer in terms of registrations. Car trade is one of Kesko’s three strategic divisions. It is increasingly important to identify new business opportunities across division lines. Going forward, we will increasingly utilise the extensive business network of the whole K Group and create innovative new business in a changing operating environment. Our current name does not fully reflect the company anymore, and thus it is now a good time to bring the car trade under the common K brand,” says Johan Friman, President of Kesko’s car trade division.

”VV-Autotalot is the biggest dealer of brands represented by the Volkswagen Group in Finland. Its new name will increase awareness of the retailing of K Group’s car trade division. We are also bringing our Caara services under the common K brand. K Group’s extensive and diverse operations and retail expertise create a unique foundation for VV-Autotalot’s car trade and for the development of new comprehensive multichannel services and products,” says Martti Muona, Managing Director of VV-Autotalot Oy.

VV-Auto began the import of cars in 1950, when the company, then named Autola Oy, imported the first 12 Volkswagen Beetles into Finland. Kesko acquired the operations from Wihuri Oy in 1977, and the company operated under the name VV-Auto Oy between 1978 and 2005, before becoming VV-Auto Group Oy in March 2006.

Further information:
Johan Friman, President, Kesko’s car trade division, johan.friman@kesko.fi, tel. +358 105 338 451
Martti Muona, Managing Director, VV-Autotalot Oy, martti.muona@kesko.fi, tel. +358 105 333 521

K Auto Oy imports and markets Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Porsche passenger cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Finland, and SEAT passenger cars in Estonia and Latvia. K Auto Oy also imports MAN trucks and MAN and Neoplan buses into Finland. In addition to importing, K-Auto is a major vehicle retailer, offering after-sales service at its own outlets in the greater Helsinki area and Turku. K-Auto's passenger car, commercial vehicle and truck customers are served by a comprehensive dealer and servicing network throughout Finland. In addition to its traditional operations, K-Auto develops car-related service concepts and multichannel services, including online stores, mobile applications and online systems for booking servicing. www.k-auto.fi

K Caara Oy is a subsidiary of K Auto Oy, and engages in the retailing of Volkswagen, Audi and SEAT, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, MAN trucks, and used cars, and related services in the greater Helsinki area and Turku, and in the development of various multichannel mobility services. The Caara.fi service concept includes the online sales of used cars, the CaaraOutlet store for lower price range used cars, the CaaraLeasing service for companies, the CaaraDeal leasing service for private customers, and the CaaraFix maintenance service for cars older than five years.