Philips Automotive Lighting has signed up Hella UK as a distributor of Philips products across the UK vehicle aftermarket.

It said the addition of Hella to its existing British distribution network is further proof that the world’s leading supplier of automotive light bulbs is intent on making real progress in the UK.

This new partnership brings a leading light set supplier together with the world’s number one supplier of OE vehicle bulbs with the aim of offering the UK aftermarket a complete OE aftersales solution for vehicle lighting.

Darren Robinson, managing director of Hella UK said: "We believe that with Philips and Hella working together in the UK aftermarket we now have a great sales story. Quality is obviously the core of our offer across both brands and we firmly believe we can bring this quality competitively to our customers.”

Hella will distribute the full range of Philips Automotive lighting products, covering both the 12V range for passenger and LCV applications and the 24V range for the commercial vehicle sector.

Philips Automotive Lighting’s UK country manager, Ed Savage said Hella's existing sales structure and logistics operation offers Philips "huge potential" to increase penetration in the UK aftermarket.