In early April, 1896, the local Bavarian newspaper contained a small article, barely a few centimetres high. It read as follows: “Johann Baptist Abt takes over blacksmiths and coachworks in Burgstraße, Kempten.” The blacksmith of yore has since developed in ABT Sportsline, the world’s largest #automotive aftermarket and performance parts specialist for Audi and VW, one of the most successful international motorsport teams and an innovative electromobility pioneer. The family business is now celebrating its 125th birthday.
“Much has changed since the early days – the world, its people, the car, our perspective on things”, says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “One thing, however, has remained constant: Our passion for exciting new technologies, adventure and occasional unconventional methods.” The managing partner is the fourth generation, who is in charge of running the company with now 200 employees that has always been based in the heart of the Allgäu region. “An #anniversary like always provides the perfect opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you. To my family, our employees all over the world, all of our partners in day-to-day business and motorsport, the fans on the race tracks and of course to our customers, who challenge and inspire us.”
The developments are always in tune with the times
Sporty cars were not yet on the agenda in 1896, but the “innovative blacksmith” was not short of creative ideas 125 years ago. Johann Baptist Abt developed a skid construction with which horse-drawn vehicles could be optimally converted to “winter operation”. Since then, exciting mobility themes have been a recurrent theme in the history of ABT and paved the way for the vehicle #tuning division with its roots in motorsport that was founded in 1967. Here too, the family business is always at the cutting edge: Back in 1980, ABT marketed the first electronic performance upgrade. Bodywork components, rims, suspension and intricate customisation followed. Since 1991, the company has operated under the name ABT Sportsline and has its headquarters in the street named after Hans-Jürgen Abt’s father, Johann-Abt-Straße in Kempten-Leubas.
“The challenges facing our engineers and designers have changed over the years. Striking body conversions, gaudy colours – that was a long time ago. Then came elegant understatement, confident performance and high-quality customisation”, Hans-Jürgen Abt describes the transformation over the decades. The response from Kempten: increasingly daring and innovative technical and aesthetic concepts. These qualities also impress vehicle manufacturers: When the brands of the Volkswagen Group want to offer their customers something really special, they like to turn to the expertise and world-renowned reputation of ABT Sportsline. This applies to the numerous long-term cooperations with Audi as well as to the common activities with Skoda or the close partnership with the relatively young brand CUPRA.
In 2021, ABT Sportsline not only has a presence all over Germany, but in conjunction with its partners in over 60 countries worldwide.
