Walkenhorst Holding

Walkenhorst Holding is a German holding company that traces its origins to 1954, when it was founded as an automotive trading business. For decades it operated as the Walkenhorst Gruppe, a network of car dealerships concentrated in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, with locations in Melle, Ibbenbüren, Osnabrück, Gütersloh, Diepholz, Vechta and Cloppenburg. Its core franchises were BMW, BMW i, BMW M, MINI and Alpina, and the group ranked among the largest BMW dealers in Germany. In 2006 the portfolio was broadened with Renault, Dacia and Hyundai, and Nissan was added in 2008 (a move reversed in 2018). On 31 July 2019 the company divested Renault and Dacia and sold its Gütersloh site to the Mattern Group. Long-time owner and senior principal Harro F. Walkenhorst died on 11 June 2017. On 1 May 2022 the Walkenhorst Gruppe was acquired by the Osnabrück-based Weller Autohausgruppe, and its eight dealerships were integrated into the BMW division B&K. Today, under the name Walkenhorst Holding GmbH, the company describes itself as the parent company of a diversified corporate group active in automotive, real estate, consulting, investments and motorsport, acting as a strategic holding that creates room for innovation and growth and brings people, ideas and business models together.

Walkenhorst Holding traces its roots to 1954, when the Walkenhorst automotive trading business was established in Germany. Over the following decades it grew into the Walkenhorst Gruppe, a regional dealership network with locations in Melle, Ibbenbüren, Osnabrück, Gütersloh, Diepholz, Vechta and Cloppenburg. The group's core franchises were BMW, BMW i, BMW M, MINI and Alpina, and it became one of the largest BMW dealers in Germany. In 2006 the portfolio was expanded to include Renault, Dacia and Hyundai, followed by Nissan in 2008. The Nissan business was revised in 2018. On 31 July 2019 the company separated from Renault and Dacia and sold its Gütersloh site to the Mattern Group. Long-time owner and senior principal Harro F. Walkenhorst died on 11 June 2017. On 1 May 2022 the Walkenhorst Gruppe was acquired by the Osnabrück-based Weller Autohausgruppe, and its eight dealerships were integrated into the BMW division B&K. Following the takeover, the entity continues as Walkenhorst Holding GmbH, describing itself as the parent company of a diversified group active in automotive, real estate, consulting, investments and motorsport, operating as a strategic holding.

• 2022

  Acquired by Weller Autohausgruppe on 1 May; eight dealerships integrated into BMW division B&K.

• 2019

  Renault and Dacia divested; Gütersloh site sold to Mattern Group on 31 July.

• 2018

  Nissan business revised.

• 2017

  Owner and senior principal Harro F. Walkenhorst dies on 11 June.

• 2008

  Nissan added to the portfolio.

• 2006

  Portfolio expanded with Renault, Dacia and Hyundai brands.

• 1954

  Founded as a German automotive trading business.

Strategic holding company and former major German BMW dealer group, now diversified across automotive, real estate, consulting, investments and motorsport.

• BMW dealerships

• MINI dealerships

• Alpina dealerships

• Renault dealerships (until 2019)

• Dacia dealerships (until 2019)

• Hyundai dealerships

• Nissan dealerships (2008–2018)

1. 1Walkenhorst Holding | Walkenhorst Gruppewalkenhorst-holding.de
2. 2Walkenhorst Holdingwikidata.org
3. 3Walkenhorst Holdingde.wikipedia.org