AC Schnitzer – the name that has been making great BMWs and MINIs even more thrilling since 1987 – is moving into new hands. In November 2026, Aachen’s KOHL Group will pass the brand to AM Group, the Rotterdam-based house of premium vehicle personalisation, performance engineering and high-end automotive parts. The move secures AC Schnitzer’s future ahead of its 40th anniversary in 2027 and opens a new era of investment in design, product development and international growth.
A much-loved marque in safe hands
For almost four decades, AC Schnitzer has chased one idea: that an outstanding BMW or MINI can always be made more dynamic, more agile and more rewarding to drive. Its performance upgrades, suspension, aerodynamics, wheels and complete vehicle concepts have won a devoted following among drivers who notice the details, and every one of them is backed by rigorous engineering, exhaustive testing and road-legal homologation. Under AM Group, AC Schnitzer keeps its own identity and engineering-first philosophy, now with the depth and reach of the wider Group behind it.
Headquartered in Rotterdam and active in more than 30 countries, AM Group is already home to Urban Automotive, UBC Composites, GP Products and Absolute Motors. From November 2026, AC Schnitzer – one of the most established independent names in BMW and MINI tuning – joins that line-up.
“I am truly delighted that we have found the perfect partner for AC Schnitzer – one that genuinely understands the brand. AM Group provides the resources the company needs in a rapidly changing market environment to drive growth, increase dynamism and strengthen its appeal to new customer segments,” says Rainer Vogel, Managing Director of AC Schnitzer.
Shaping the next generation of AC Schnitzer
AM Group brings serious craft to the partnership: in-house design, research and development, advanced carbon-fibre expertise and manufacturing. It also brings a proven talent for building brands and dealer networks around the world, and plans to take AC Schnitzer further afield as part of its portfolio.
“We will provide the resources, infrastructure and investment required to make the brand relevant for the next generation. This is part of our DNA and what we bring to the table“, says Patrick Meijer, Co-CEO of AM Group. “AM Group was built with the goal of bringing together specialised automotive companies while allowing them to preserve their individual identities. AC Schnitzer fits perfectly with this philosophy,” adds Luis Carrera, Co-CEO of AM Group.
That respect for character runs through the new structure, too. AC Schnitzer’s operations will be managed by a new German company, which will take custody of the brand’s existing technical documentation and TÜV certification files.
Leading the brand into its next chapter is Imran Arshad, co-founder of Evolve Automotive and Eventuri and a BMW enthusiast in his own right. He joins AC Schnitzer as Managing Director and will shape its future product and brand strategy alongside AM Group:
“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. The brand’s heritage is the foundation for innovation – for the further development of the design language and the technical principles that define AC Schnitzer.”
“AC Schnitzer will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027 – as a brand that has not only a great history, but also a great future ahead,” says Rainer Vogel with confidence. “I am particularly pleased that our dealers and customers will continue to have the opportunity to give their BMWs and MINIs an individual character through AC Schnitzer upgrades, conversions, engine tuning and suspension modifications.”
