FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Nov. 14, 2016) — Akebono Brake Corp.'s Euro Ultra-Premium ceramic disc brake pad line has been named the “Best Overall Import Aftermarket Product or Product Line” by the Auto Care Association's Import Vehicle Community segment.
The Akebono team, led by Akebono President and CEO Wilm Uhlenbecker accepted the honor during IVC's annual Import Product and Marketing Awards event at the 2016 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
“We are deeply gratified and honored that the Euro Ultra-Premium brake pad line has once again been selected for this prestigious award,” said Ken Selinger, director of aftermarket sales and marketing, Akebono. “This is an especially notable win for Akebono in light of the many recent introductions by our top competitors of European-focused brake pad lines that have entered the aftermarket.”
This is the second time in three years that Akebono's Euro Ultra-Premium ceramic pads have earned the award. According to Akebono, the product was judged by the association according to its superiority in areas of commercial success, quality of reputation, market demand, distribution, presentation, packaging and highest profit potential for the distribution chain, among others.
“This award is a testament that Akebono ceramic technology is supremely effective and so highly regarded in this competitive market, such that we have become the benchmark for European specialists and professional technicians throughout North and South America,” Mr. Selinger said.
Introduced in 2005, the Euro Ultra-Premium brake pad line offers vehicle owners a highly engineered, application-specific product designed specifically to optimize the braking performance of European vehicles, Akebono said. The product is 100-percent made in the U.S. and is designed exclusively for use on European vehicles, including Audi, BMW, Fiat and Volvo models.