From a local retailer to a national player
Brazil is a huge country with a diverse topography and different climatic conditions, which have a strong influence on the commercial vehicle industry. The road infrastructure ranges from well-developed motorways in metropolitan areas to unpaved roads in rural areas and the Amazon region. Particularly in remote regions, potholes, a lack of tarmac and extreme weather conditions pose a challenge for transport vehicles. At the same time, there is a growing demand for robust and efficient commercial vehicles that can withstand the demanding conditions and support the growing logistics sector.
Today's Divap Group was founded in October 2012, but the company's roots go back further. Founder Rudimar Ruwer, known as Rudi, started his first company, Volsul Autopeças, back in 2001, laying the foundations for his career in the spare parts industry. The path into this market began in the spare parts department of a large bus company in Caxias do Sul. It was there that he first came into contact with bus parts and their maintenance. His mechanical engineering studies and technical understanding made it easy for him to enter the industry.
Today, Divap stands for customer proximity and efficiency. Everyday work is characterised by an active exchange with customers and consistent optimisation of internal processes to ensure well-organised and smooth cooperation within the company.
Passion, commitment, growth
‘Divap's success is based on several key factors. Passion for the work, daily commitment and a growing market provide a solid foundation,’ says Rudi. Equally important are a competent team, reliable business partners and down-to-earth, error-conscious management. The company employs around 30 people and attaches great importance to excellent customer service - both before and after the sale. A particular advantage are the two branches in close proximity to workshops, which enable fast and efficient support. This combination of strategic location and dedicated team makes Divap a strong partner in the industry.
Divap operates in a highly competitive market in which many of its competitors have been established for some time. Nevertheless, the company has a decisive advantage: it is growing in modern times and masters the challenges of an expanding business with a flexible and dynamic structure. As a result, Divap has now made a name for itself on a national level and is constantly endeavouring to develop its own business further.
Robust solutions for demanding road conditions
Over the years, Divap has continuously changed and developed. Originally specialising in Volvo parts, the company now offers spare parts for several brands. The range has also been expanded to include products from leading manufacturers and to increase the overall level of quality. From a local distributor, the company has grown to operate in different regions of Brazil - clear evidence of Divap's continuous growth and adaptability.
The Brazilian commercial vehicle market is characterised by unique challenges. ‘Road conditions are often problematic, with unpaved roads and potholes that have a major impact on vehicle durability. Added to this are extreme temperature fluctuations - a lorry can go from minus 3 degrees in the southern regions to high temperatures of up to 46 degrees in other parts of the country in a single day,’ reports Rudi.
Another problem is the labour market: there is a lack of qualified specialists for the installation and maintenance of spare parts as well as suitable tools to carry out repairs efficiently. There is also little interest in sales professions in the industry, which makes it difficult to put together efficient teams.
Partner for over 20 years
The partnership with Diesel Technic began back in 2003, when the brand first became known and has been an integral part of the business relationship ever since. The direct contact with Diesel Technic has existed since 2016 and has been cemented by shared values such as quality, reliability, transparency and a strong partnership. The close cooperation with the contact partners in particular has created a basis of trust from the very beginning. A special moment in this collaboration was the first direct import of DT Spare Parts brand products. The arrival of the first delivery marked a milestone for the company and opened up new opportunities to offer customers an even better range and optimised service.
‘The Brazilian automotive sector is diverse, with numerous brands such as Volvo, Scania, DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Iveco and MAN, which have established themselves in a wide variety of vehicle segments. All the better if you have the right brand with a wide range of products to hand,’ says the Managing Director, referring to DT Spare Parts. Quality, warranty and a comprehensive range are fixed requirements of the market. Today, Diesel Technic with its DT Spare Parts product brand occupies a very important place in the product portfolio and is one of the most important partners. With comprehensive support, the brand enables continuous growth and strengthens the company's position on the market.
To further strengthen the brand, Divap is focussing on communication, particularly through the DT Spare Parts Premium Shop, which is actively promoted by the sales team. In addition, several campaigns have already been organised with Diesel Technic, including trade fair appearances and customer trips to the company's headquarters in Germany. Divap is also present on social media and uses channels such as WhatsApp and its own website to share campaigns and information. This contributes to brand awareness and enables knowledge to be shared directly with customers.
The DT Spare Parts brand is now closely linked to Divap - customers see them almost as one unit, as the company works with almost all product segments. ‘Anyone who places an order with Divap receives DT Spare Parts,’ says Rudi, summarising the partnership.