HISTORY

From its origins
to the present day

1950

Bepi Koelliker starts importing and selling the Rolls Royce and Jaguar brands.

1958

Bepi Koelliker becomes the official Italian importer of the English ROOTES group, manufacturer of Hillman, Sunbeam, Humber and Singer cars. A long road to success begins.

1960

Bepi Koelliker formally takes over the role of Jaguar and Daimler importer. It also started marketing MG and Triumph Trademark cars.
His collaboration with British car manufacturers continued with the British Leyland Group, buying MINI and Austin among other products.

1970

The marketing of a long series of cars with unique specifications and features began. The Koelliker brand is used to create special fittings for the Italian market, communicated and marketed under the ‘Bepi Koelliker Styling’ logo

1975

Bepi Koelliker’s son, Luigi, starts the company’s activities, giving much attention and commitment to international relations with foreign car manufacturers.

1979

The Koelliker Group becomes the Italian importer and distributor for cars produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

1983

The Koelliker Group starts the exclusive import and distribution of the Spanish SEAT brand throughout Italy.

1990

The Koelliker Group becomes the sole importer in Italy of cars built by the Korean car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company (HMC).

1991

The Seat brand business was sold to the Volkswagen group. In the eight years
of managing SEAT, the Koelliker Group imported
and sold 458,067 cars from the Spanish brand, contributing
fundamentally to its presence and success in the market.

1992

Acquisition of the import and distribution of North American Chrysler-JEEP vehicles for Italy. The business was sold to the Chrysler Corporation on 1 March 1996, after having sold around 23,000 vehicles in less than four years.

1999

The Koelliker Group starts importing and distributing the Korean brand KIA. The business was transferred to the direct control of KIA Motors Europe through the creation of KIA Motors Italy in June 2011.
In 12 years of marketing, the Koelliker Group has imported and sold more than 300,000 KIA vehicles, which today is one of the best known and most appreciated brands by the Italian public.

2003

Since November 2003 the Koelliker Group has been the official importer and distributor of Ssangyong Korean cars in Italy.
Since 2004 it has also been the importer and distributor of the Ssangyong brand for the Austrian market.

2008

In November 2008 the Hyundai brand business was transferred to the direct control of HMC, with the creation of Hyundai Motor Italia. In the 18 years of its management, the Koelliker Group has sold more than 500,000 Hyundai vehicles on the Italian market, making the brand one of the most appreciated on the Italian market.

2011

After numerous successes and record sales volumes, the Koelliker Group sold the Kia brand to the National Sales Company in June 2011. The Group continues to be the sole importer in Italy for the Mitsubishi and SsangYong brands.

2015

A year of recovery for the Koelliker Group. Turnover and sales are growing steadily. New goals and challenges are always on the horizon.

2019

The Koelliker Group officially announces the relaunch of the company, reclaiming its role as an innovator and driver of the evolution of the automotive sector. The Group’s business model, which has stood out over the years for its uniqueness and success, is shining again,
thanks to an important and complex transaction signed on 26 July 2019 that definitively closes the bank debt restructuring plan.

2021

KGen was founded with the aim of going beyond the old paradigms of the automotive market and offering customers a range of cutting-edge, tailor-made services and products, contributing to the creation of a unique and exclusive hub of complete, integrated electric mobility solutions.