Founded in 1991 by CEO Terence Scheckter, TSW develops highly technical products with a heavy design component, producing aftermarket wheels for automotive enthusiasts who customize their cars. Among the firm's brands are Black Rhino and TSW, as well as OE-specific brands in key luxury segments.
TSW serves over 5,800 dealers in North America through a network of eight distribution centers.
"We are thrilled to welcome Terence and his team at TSW to the Wheel Pros family," Wheel Pros CEO and Co-Founder Randy White said. "Terence has done a phenomenal job scaling his business, underscored by TSW's very positive reputation in the industry."
Wheel Pros noted that TSW's "best-in-class" brands complement the Wheel Pros portfolio and provide an opportunity for Wheel Pros to enhances its brand awareness and innovative design capabilities to meet the needs of a rapidly growing customer base.
Wheel Pros President and Co-Founder Jody Groce added: "We have known Terence for years and are excited to now work together to grow our combined portfolio.
"More and more people are looking to change from their OEM wheels to custom-branded aftermarket alternatives to showcase their individuality and style. Over the past year, we have seen many new customers enter the segment, customizing their vehicles for the first time."
With the acquisition of TSW, Wheel Pros enhances its brand awareness and innovative design capabilities to meet the needs of a rapidly growing customer base," added Jody Groce, President and Co-founder of Wheel Pros.
Founded in 1995, Wheel Pros serves over 10,000 retailers with an expanding global network of distribution centers spanning North America, Australia, and Europe, as well as a growing e-commerce presence. Wheel Pros has a portfolio of proprietary brands with over 300 custom wheel styles, including American Racing, Asanti, KMC Wheels, ATX, Fairway Alloys, Moto Metal, Motegi Racing, MSA, OECreations and RockStar.
Wheel Pros only recently concluded the acquisition of Performance Replicas Inc., a distributor of replica wheels. and earlier in 2020 acquired the assets of an alloy wheel plant in Auburn, Ala., formerly operated by Borbet G.m.b.H. of Hallenberg-Hesborn, Germany.
TSW's roots trace back to the 1960s and the creation of Tiger Sport Wheels in South Africa by former Formula 1 driver Eddie Keizan. During the 1980s the company went public on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and manufacturing was expanded dramatically.
It later bought ATS Wheels of Germany and established manufacturing in Germany, Poland, South Africa and the U.S. In 2001 the TSW aftermarket wheels operations were split off from the OE wheel production, which continued to operate under the Tiger Wheel and ATS names.
The aftermarket operation in the Americas was sold to Terence Scheckter who had formally run that business, and the European aftermarket operation was sold to Yokohama of South Africa.