From a local supplier of electrical spare parts to a Nordic partner

The history of Relais Group goes back to Startax Auto-Electronics Oy, a company specialising in car and commercial vehicle electronics founded in Tampere in 1996. In 2010, Relais Investment Oy was established as the parent company of Startax Auto-Electronics Oy to support the growth and internationalisation of Startax.

The establishment of Startax AS in 2011 saw the expansion of the business from Finland to Estonia. In 2014, the Group acquired JA-Tools JA-Elektro Oy in Finland and Maskin-Teknisk AS in Norway.
Startax Auto-Electronics Oy and JA-Tools JA-Elektro Oy were merged in 2016, and the new company was named Startax Finland Oy.

Relais experienced strong growth and international expansion in 2017 and 2018 with the acquisition of Awimex International AB in Sweden.

In May 2019, we and the Swedish companies AB Reservdelar and Huzells i Karlstad AB joined forces and became a leading automotive electrical equipment and spare parts provider in the Nordic countries.
In October 2019, we listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland, after which we have carried out targeted acquisitions in line with our strategy with determination.

In the beginning of 2020, we acquired SEC Scandinavia A/S in Denmark and TD Tunga Delar Sverige AB in Sweden.

At the beginning of 2021, we acquired Strands Group AB, a Swedish company specialising in global exports of vehicle lighting, as a result of which our position as one of Europe’s most significant players in the vehicle lighting aftermarket was further strengthened. 

In February 2021, we acquired Raskone Oy, the largest independent commercial vehicle repair and maintenance chain in the Nordic countries, and in March 2021, we welcomed Lumise Oy, an innovative vehicle lighting e-commerce operator, to the growing Relais family. 

In November 2021, we completed the acquisition of STS Sydhamnens Trailer Service AB, a commercial vehicle repair and maintenance business, and in December, Trucknik Reservdelar AB, a wholesaler specialising in spare parts for heavy commercial vehicles.

In May 2022, we acquired the share capital of the Swedish Skeppsbrons Jönköping AB. In July, we acquired the Danish LED lighting technology company Ecofoss A/S.

We were listed on the main market of Nasdaq Helsinki in December 2022. In the same year along with Ecofoss’ deal, we also acquired S-E-T A/S, and later in the summer of 2024, these two Danish companies were merged with the previously acquired SEC Scandinavia A/S, forming the Danish company SEC Set Ecofoss A/S.

In 2023, we completed four acquisitions, the most in our company’s history. Among these, Adita Oy is a Finnish company specializing in equipment and spare parts sales, while AutoMateriell AS and Nordic Lift AS are Norwegian companies. Jyväskylä Truck Center has since merged with Raskone Oy in Finland.

In the summer of 2024, we acquired Asennustyö M Ahlqvist Oy. In October of the same year, we completed the acquisition of Team Verkstad Sverige AB in Sweden – both companies are specializing in providing repair and maintenance services for buses and other heavy vehicles.

In early March 2025, we signed a letter of intent to acquire a majority stake of the Belgian company Matro Group. With the Matro acquisition, we are making a significant growth leap in the Central European truck accessories market.

Following the Matro acquisition, Relais operates not only in the Baltics and the Nordic countries but also in Benelux and Germany. In addition, we serve our customers with several own brands, including “Nordic Product Development” of the Swedish company ABR and “Nedking” from Matro.