Libya’s car parts manufacturers

Libya’s Car Parts Industry

Libya’s car parts sector is predominantly centered on import and wholesale distribution, with a growing ecosystem of domestic distributors and a few local manufacturing and assembly operations. Most parts are imported—either OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or aftermarket—from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Key Distributors & Wholesalers

1. Al-Rafeeda Company (Benghazi/Tripoli)

Founded in 1996, Al‑Rafeeda imports car and truck spare parts, oils, and lubricants mainly from European brands like Elring, Gates, and AT Germany . It has branches across Libya and positions itself as a supplier of high-quality, reputed components.

2. Eatran Autoparts (Tripoli)

Since 1999, Eatran has grown to stock over 22,000 different parts for passenger vehicles and trucks. It serves about 1,200 regular clients and supplies parts for brands such as BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, VW, Audi, Opel, Chevrolet, Jeep, and Ford .

3. Libya Motors Co. JSC (Tripoli)

A major wholesaler specializing in vehicle supplies and new parts, registered as a merchant wholesaler of motor vehicle parts. Exact founding date and revenues are not publicly disclosed, but it’s a prominent player .

4. Calanscio Auto Parts (Tripoli)

A Tripoli-based distributor of both genuine OEM and aftermarket parts for cars and trucks. They also operate a subsidiary for heavy-equipment parts (World of Trucks LTD) .

5. Al Bustan Holding

Known for its extensive automotive operations, this group holds ~40% market share in Libya’s auto sector. Started importing spare parts in 2005 and maintains after-sales workshops in Tripoli, Misrata, and Benghazi .

Market Structure

A recent May 2025 report notes 49 identifiable auto-parts manufacturers in Libya—an increase of about 2% from 2023—with Misrata, Tripoli, and Jafara accounting for the majority of them . Most of these companies lack a strong online presence: only one has a website, and a couple have social media. This means distribution is heavily localized and relationship-driven.

Domestic Assembly & Manufacturing

Although Libya has limited manufacturing capacity, the Libya Trucks and Buses Co. in Tajura reportedly performs engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of bus and truck parts in partnership with IVECO (Italy)—suggesting some in-country production capabilities .

Additionally, the Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO) in Misrata produces steel bars, rods, coils, and sheets—critical raw materials that underpin any component manufacturing .

Community Insights & Aftermarket Scene

Industry insiders and Reddit users highlight local sourcing channels, such as scrapyards (“rābash”) and Facebook groups. One user mentioned:

> “For BMW and other German brands in Riyadh there [are] lots of shops that sell OEM and German parts … for Toyota/Lexus there is Akrum in Tajoura” .

Another shared:

> “Tripoli Aboslim … that’s where a ton of scrap yards are, you’ll find a few BMW one there and they will have all the spares u need” .

This confirms a strong informal aftermarket network, where used parts are sourced via scrapyards and community platforms.

Challenges & Opportunity

1. Dependence on Imports: Domestic part production is minimal; nearly all components are imported.

2. Fragmented Market: With numerous small distributors, quality and reliability of parts can vary greatly.

3. Limited Digitalization: Most small firms lack websites or e-commerce platforms.

4. Growth of OEM Supply Chains: Established companies like Al‑Rafeeda, Eatran, and Calanscio have formed partnerships with international OEMs and aftermarket manufacturers.

5. Potential Local Growth: Given Libya’s steel-making base (LISCO) and assembly capabilities, there’s room for developing light manufacturing or assembly to produce components domestically.

Outlook

Libya’s car parts sector is at a transitional crossroads: heavily import-reliant yet ripe for local investment. The emergence of localized aftermarket networks through scrapyards and social media fills gaps in availability for popular brands. Meanwhile, established distributors are pushing OEM and high-quality aftermarket supply chains.

Key opportunities lie in:

Expanding digital sales infrastructure

Enhancing local assembly/production leveraging steel outputs

Formalizing the used-parts aftermarket

With these developments, Libya could move toward a more resilient, semi-domestic auto-parts ecosystem capable of servicing both common and specialty vehicles.

This paints a detailed portrait of Libya’s current car parts manufacturing landscape, outlining its strengths, challenges, and pathways forward.