Longtime BMW tuner attributes shutdown to bureaucracy, logistical issues, and inability to motivate the younger generation.
AC Schnitzer
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AC Schnitzer, the BMW racing team-turned-tuner, will unfortunately cease operations by the end of 2026, as announced by its parent company, the Kohl Group, which is owned by the same family that founded ACS in 1987. Currently, the brand manufactures parts for BMWs and motorcycles, but all inventory must be sold off by the end of this year, and Kohl is looking for a buyer for the brand.
In essence, AC Schnitzer as we know it will no longer exist. The company’s announcement cites several reasons for this outcome—some indisputable, while others are more subjective. Valid factors mentioned include "tariffs in the essential U.S. market, rising global raw material prices, highly fluctuating exchange rates in international currencies, and the collapse of suppliers." Additionally, the "extremely lengthy approval process" for automotive parts in Germany has also been a hindrance.
The statement from Kohl goes on to touch on cultural changes, noting that "consumers of vehicle enhancements through aftermarket parts are frequently depicted in the media as eccentrics or posers,” and like other tuning companies, it struggled to “inspire younger customers” in the same way their fathers did. We certainly won’t deride aftermarket customers, unless they happen to be using Mansory’s services—that’s our only exception.
Regardless of the reasons, this news is disheartening. AC Schnitzer was established 39 years ago following the merger of the Kohl Group and Team Schnitzer, which gained recognition for campaigning BMWs in various motorsport events. It was a fixture during the heyday of the DTM, when E30 M3s competed against Mercedes 190Es and Alfa 155s. When the tuning trend surged in the late ’90s and early 2000s, it established a distinctive presence.
We have seen many of ACS's peers shut down over the years, but this news is still difficult to digest. Let’s hope that if the brand continues in some capacity, it does so in a manner that respects its legacy.
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Longtime BMW tuner attributes shutdown to bureaucracy, logistical issues, and inability to motivate the younger generation.
AC Schnitzer's parent organization is looking to sell the brand after 39 years of racing and tuning BMWs.