ABOUT US

Phonocar S.p.A. was founded in 1972 in Reggio Emilia and today is one of the leading European companies in the Automotive Accessories sector.

Who we are

Phonocar is a company that has built, over the years, a solid knowledge of the car accessories market, developing innovative ideas that have always been ahead of what the market could offer.

This wealth of expertise and constant focus on research and development have enabled Phonocar to become a benchmark in various areas of the automotive sector and across multiple channels.

Our design flexibility and versatility, ranging from Car Entertainment to safety, have broadened the company’s scope, allowing us to establish a widespread sales network throughout Europe and to become official suppliers to the largest GDS chains of specialised car accessory retailers.

Distribution Network

Phonocar relies on a widespread network of agents across Italy and the main European countries (Italy, France, Spain, Germany), ensuring full coverage and accurate after-sales management throughout Europe.

This commercial network serves over 3,000 points of sale and workshops across Europe, guaranteeing efficient and punctual distribution thanks to our centralised logistics, which allows deliveries within 24/48 hours.

In addition to this network of independent dealers and workshops, Phonocar collaborates with the leading car accessory chains and megastores in Europe, with which it has signed exclusive agreements for the distribution of sound and entertainment products.

Our presence in the aftermarket sector has also enabled us to reach agreements with leading importers in Italy and global car/truck manufacturers, bringing Phonocar-designed and manufactured products directly into the official accessory catalogues of major car brands. Today, it is possible to order a Phonocar product directly from your authorised dealer through the brand’s official channels.

R&D

One of the pillars of our corporate strategy, which has enabled us to grow and expand over the past 50 years, has been to prioritise research and innovation, thanks to a team of engineers and technicians that has steadily grown, covering new areas of research.

Alongside our primary activities of research and design on physical products and 3D component design—which have been our hallmark for many years—we have introduced new skills and professional profiles that have expanded our R&D into software and the IT/multimedia world related to the automotive sector.

Today, our R&D team is made up of professionals with diverse backgrounds and training, enabling us to respond quickly and efficiently to the needs of individual customers as well as to market demands.

Phonocar Detailor

In recent years, Phonocar has undertaken a path of growth and internal process improvement. Through major corporate reorganisation, the company has obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, which represent the highest standards of certification in the automotive sector.

It has also established an internal division called Detailor, specialising in the development and design of components and products for OEM and car manufacturers. The size of the team and the very nature of Phonocar are the strengths of the “Detailor” department, as they have enabled us to work swiftly on medium-to-large projects by leveraging our proven supply chain and industrial partners. We offer integrated solutions to clients and car manufacturers with reduced costs and much faster turnaround times compared to traditional suppliers.

Our key strengths can be summarised as follows:

  • Dedicated design team
  • Speed of execution
  • Reliable and tested supply chain
  • Flexibility in research thanks to our wide-ranging in-house technical expertise
  • Lean and short production structure, allowing us to shift production (EU or non-EU) to avoid delays

Thanks to these key points, Phonocar Detailor has become a well-established entity, working on significant present and future projects, positioning itself as a reliable and trustworthy partner in times of uncertainty.

Our history and wealth of expertise are our most valuable credentials, adding a new chapter of success to the story of Phonocar S.p.A.

OUR HISTORY

2024

52nd ANNIVERSARY

We can build on this to face the future with great optimism and the certainty that Phonocar will remain relevant in the market, just as it has been for the past 52 years, reinventing itself when necessary and creating value for customers and the people involved. At this moment, we have a clear path forward.

We may lose and win some matches in the coming years, but with the PASSION, PERSEVERANCE, and DETERMINATION that have always set us apart, in the long run, we will win the championships.

G. Bagnacani CEO

We celebrated our 52nd anniversary by gathering employees, agents, and the most important distributors, both Italian and international, in an exceptional location: Ruote da Sogno in Reggio Emilia.
A prestigious setting that hosted a memorable evening dedicated to the achievements reached and the ambitious goals ahead for the company.
Among the most emotional moments was the presence of Loris Capirossi, who offered an inspiring perspective on what it means to face challenges and achieve success—a message perfectly aligned with Phonocar’s corporate philosophy.

DETAILOR

LAUNCH OF THE DETAILOR LINE

Phonocar’s business unit dedicated to the development of products designed and customized in co-design with the world’s leading carmakers.

SERVICES
Phonocar’s technical office offers professional consulting on projects provided by clients, with tailored solutions for the creation of molds for mass production and mechanical functionality. Additionally, the company offers a comprehensive design service, turning the client’s idea into reality: first with 3D drawings and technical dimensions, then with the production of a prototype sample, and finally with the actual mold. This consolidated process ensures meticulous project control down to the smallest details.

DESIGN
Our technicians work both on the client’s existing designs and on materializing their ideas. Project engineering is carried out using constantly updated CAD-CAM software, while Phonocar personnel provide tailored solutions and technical proposals based on the client’s needs.

Prototyping
Prototypes are created using CNC machines and then finalized with customized finishes:

  • Full-scale 1:1 prototypes
  • Prototypes for mold construction
  • Post-molding templates
  • Drilling templates

MOLDS
Mold production encompasses a wide range of polyurethane types and various mold design mechanics. With Phonocar, every project is optimized for both production time and cost efficiency.

2023

SUPPLIER FOR TOYOTA ITALIA

Phonocar SPA is pleased to announce a new supply agreement with Toyota Motor Italia. Specifically, the agreement concerns the integration of safety and alarm systems within the brand’s vehicles.

The agreement with Toyota further confirms Phonocar’s ongoing commitment to achieving the highest quality in the selection of its strategic partners.

Guglielmo Bagnacani, CEO of Phonocar, stated:

“Today, we are proud to offer Toyota Italia customers a new range of products to enhance vehicle safety standards, thanks to the extensive expertise Phonocar has gained in the field.”

2022

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

Every virtuous enterprise is first and foremost a company rooted in its local territory and social fabric, understood as the people who live there, its economic, environmental and artistic resources, its culture, history and values: the same production in a different place cannot but produce different results.

Because doing business also means speaking with people, giving back to the local territory what it has given to the company, in terms of both uniqueness but also with an eye to the future.

G. Bagnacani CEO

Phonocar, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, has therefore decided to open its doors to its employees’ friends and family, presenting itself and offering the opportunity to visit its work spaces, meet the people who work there, understand the production dynamics starting from the manufacturing lines, promote its wealth of knowledge and prowess in keeping up with the times.

UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFICATION

The company has obtained UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certification for the design, manufacture and marketing of its multimedia, car hi-fi, and car accessory products.

COMPANY VALUES

• EXPERIENCE: understood as acquired knowledge, but also possible new frontiers to be explored, is one of the underlying values of the company’s work.
• QUALITY: customer satisfaction inspires us to continue striving for the highest quality standards in relation to both the product and our business/administrative relations.
• INNOVATION: work is always advancing, and so are we. Cutting-edge technology, foreign markets, technical materials are just some of the company’s objectives to make sure we stay competitive in a continuously evolving market.
• HUMAN RESOURCES: the company is made up of people, each playing a precious role. A small company like ours requires the highest level of care and search for committed people, dedicated to their work, who can grow with and within the company.

2021

Vodafone Automotive

SATELLITE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS

The collaboration with Vodafone Automotive is consolidated in 2021 with an agreement for connected products.

2020

TARGA TELEMATICS

The collaboration with Targa Telematics begins with the aim of developing the SVR (Stolen Vehicle Recovery) market.

2018

Phonocar Security

Requests by installers, following the distribution of Vodafone Automotive products, are taken up by our technicians, who study products and accessories that expand the possibilities for installation and customisation of alarms and parking sensors.

2017

Vodafone Automotive

ALARMS
PARKING SENSORS

The collaboration with Vodafone Automotive begins in 2017 with an agreement for the distribution of non-connected products (alarms and parking sensors).

2013

Car manufacturer partnerships

Thanks to the experience gained in the aftermarket, Phonocar becomes the partner of choice for car manufacturers, dealing with:

  • OVERSIGHT OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, from design to packaging
  • DEVELOPMENT OF BRANDED PRODUCTS
  • ORGANISATION OF ACTIVITIES AT DEALERSHIPS:
    training, product presentations, installation courses, sell-out support, partnerships for events, trade fairs and conventions
  • SUPPORT SERVICE
  • CATALOGUES AND FLYERS

VOLKSWAGEN:
development of navigation systems

IVECO:
dedicated OEM first fit products
and the Official Accessories line

PARTNERS:
Audi, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz,
Nissan, Seat, Škoda, Smart, Toyota.

2006

Multimedia

Presentation of the new line dedicated to multimedia and car entertainment systems.

A new and important chapter opens in Phonocar’s history:
the aftermarket demands new products offering enhanced performance and in-car entertainment without neglecting the ongoing need for customisation.

Design begins to focus on upgrading the standard equipment: multimedia systems, monitors, drives, etc.

In this context, interfaces become the flagship product for installers, who now have the freedom to modify and/or implement OEM systems without renouncing functionality.

  • DVD DRIVES
  • HIGH-QUALITY SCREENS
  • EARPHONES
  • MICRO CAMERAS
  • NAVIGATORS
  • INTERFACES
  • STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS
  • SERVICE INTERFACES
  • AUDIO/VIDEO INTERFACES
2000
1997

25th anniversary

1993
1987

From small enterprise to industry

Constant growth leads to the transition from snc to S.p.A. and the opening of a new 6000 m2 plant in Via Emilia, still the company’s headquarters today.
A huge step and enormous visibility

The foreign market continues to play a key role:

  • in 1991 a new branch is opened near Ludwigsburg (Stuttgart district) in Germany
  • in 1995 a new branch is opened in the south of France, employing 5 VRP salesman
  • it has a network of direct agents and exclusive distributors in Belgium, Spain and Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark and Sweden.
1981

The revolution in HI-FI systems

REAR SHELF CAR SPEAKERS

HI-FI systems spread at lightning speed, but are “limited” by the installation of car speakers in the doors only.
With the introduction of wooden panels allowing the installation of large-sized speakers in the rear of the vehicle, Phonocar radically overturns this concept.
A genuine innovation demonstrating the company’s dynamic and enterprising nature, backed by its production flexibility and the technical expertise of its staff.

DETACHABLE FACEPLATES

The rapid diffusion of car stereos brings with it a sharp rise in theft, leading to the production of the first detachable faceplates.

1980

The HI-FI line is born

HI-FI CAR

The production and sale of consoles increases in step with the rapid spread of car radios.
The CAR HI-FI concept doesn’t yet exist, but Phonocar perceives that everything to do with “listening to music in the car” has great potential.

With the first speakers and the first amplifier, a decision is made to separate “accessory” components of car radio installations from the constituents of the system itself: the HI-FI Line is thus born, with its first dedicated catalogue in 1980.

• 1976 – DOOR SPEAKERS
audio switches from MONO to STEREO

• UNIVERSAL/CUSTOMISED

• 1977 – SPEAKER KITS FOR CAR RADIOS
consisting of 2 woofers, 2 tweeters and 2 crossovers
first company to propose the KIT

• 1978 – POWER BOX
the first Phonocar branded amplifier

1972 Foundation

Founded as
“FABBRICA CONSOLLES E ACCESSORI AUTORADIO”

What are “tunnel centre consoles”?
They are wooden fabrications that when attached to the central part of the dashboard, allowed the installation of a car radio and an integrated central speaker (MONO).

They were commonly called “Tunnels” because they were installed at the “transmission tunnel” found in cars of that era.

The broad range included both “universal” and “custom-fit” consoles specifically for certain car makes.

Most also included a glove box and/or ash tray in addition to the speaker.
For certain car makes, consoles were even made with a gear stick cover to accommodate the gear shift as well.

European and Italian MARKET.

PRODUCTS

WOODEN TUNNEL CENTRE CONSOLE
WITH CAR RADIO AND SPEAKER COMPARTMENT FOR CARS AND TRUCKS:

• UNIVERSAL
compatible with numerous brands and relative car makes

• CUSTOMISED
specifically for certain car makes

A few examples of historic cars for which consoles were made:

ALFA ROMEO Alfa Sud, Alfetta
AUDI 80z
AUTOBIANCHI A/112
BMW 520, 3000
CITROËN DS, Pallas, e Dyane
FIAT 500, 126, 127, 128
FORD Capri, Escort, Fiesta
INNOCENTI Mini minor
OPEL Kadett
PEUGEOT 104
TOYOTA Corolla
VOLKSWAGEN Passat, Golf

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