This article will cover everything you need to know about AC Schnitzer, from important dates, locations, and even current and discontinued models.
So here is everything you need to know about AC Schnitzer:
Table of Contents
Who Was The Founder Of AC Schnitzer?
AC Schnitzer was founded in 1987 by Willi Kohl and Herbert Schnitzer in Germany.
Its parent company back then was Kohl automobile GmbH, a car new car seller.
Where Is the AC Schnitzer Headquarters Location?
The headquarters of AC Schnitzer is currently in Aachen, Germany.
Aachewn is the westmost city in Germany, borders Belgium and the Netherlands, and has over 240,000 inhabitants.
Who Owns AC Schnitzer?
The Kohl Group owns AC Schnitzer.
The Kohl Group is a group of automobile sellers that sells brands like:
- BMW
- Mini
- Land Rover
- Jaguar
- Opel
- AC Schnitzer
Sales And Revenue Of AC Schnitzer
Annual Sales Figures Of AC Schnitzer
The total sales of AC Schnitzer during the last recorded update were below 20,000 vehicles.
AC Schnitzer’s Latest Revenue Figures
AC Schnitzer made $17,200,000 in the fiscal year of 2022.
How Many Employees Does AC Schnitzer Have?
According to their Linkedin account, AC Schnitzer has 11-50 employees as of 2023.
Who Is The Current CEO Of AC Schnitzer?
Rainer Vogel is the current CEO of AC Schnitzer.
Rainer Vogel has been the CEO of AC Schnitzer since April 1999.
Models
Top Current AC Schnitzer Models
- M2 F87 Competition by AC Schnitzer
- M3 G80, G81 by AC Schnitzer
- Toyota GR Supra by AC Schnitzer
- Mini JCW GP F56 by AC Schnitzer
- 8 Series Gran Coupe G16 by AC Schnitzer
Top Discontinued AC Schnitzer Models
- 2001 ACS5 5 Series E39 M5
- 2003 ACS3 3 Series E46 M3 Sport
- 2006 TENSION Street Version
- 2007 ACS1 BMW 1 Series Coupe
- 2016 ACL2
Here is the Nürburgring lap record for the fastest BMW around the Green Hell in the AC Schnitzer ACL2; sit back and enjoy the sound of the fantastic turbocharged six-cylinder being driven to the max:
AC Schnitzer In Motorsport
AC Schnitzer cemented its name in motorsport in 1987 when Anton Goeser competed in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) with a BMW 635 CSi AC Schnitzer DTM.
1988 Andreas Wetzelperger competed with the AC Schnitzer ACS3 in the Group N German Rally in the same year, Manfred Wollgarten took the track version AC Schnitzer ACS3 Sport Group N in the DTT (German Touring Car Trophy).
2005 AC Schnitzer broke the record for the fastest BMW in the world at 206.16 MPH (331.78 KPH) on the Nardo Ring with the AC Schnitzer TENSION based on the E63 BMW M6.
In 2007 they broke another record at the Nardo Ring, this time for LPG-powered vehicles, with their AC Schnitzer GP3.10 based on the BMW 335i reaching 197.66 MPH (318.1 KPH).
2009 was yet another year for them to break a speed record and this time for diesel-powered vehicles with the AC Schnitzer ACS3 3.5d Coupe based on the BMW 335d reaching 179.39 MPH (288.7 KPH).
AC Schnitzer broke a track record in 2011 by making the fastest Mini on Hockenheim short course with their AC Schnitzer EAGLE doing a lap time of 1:12,3; just for comparison’s sake, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder did it in the same time.
In 2015 they set the fastest lap time for any BMW on Hockenheim short course with their M4 by AC Schnitzer with a time of 1:09,20; in comparison, a Koenigsegg CCR did it in 1:09,8.
2016 they went to Sachsenring and broke the lap record for the fastest BMW M2 with a time of 1:32.9.
In the same year, they broke the Hockenheim short course record for diesel cars with the 150d by AC Schnitzer with a time of 1:13,8.
2017 they became the fastest sedan manufacturer on the Sachsenring with the M3 by AC Schnitzer with a time of 1:33,9, a record they broke again in 2018 with the M5 by AC Schnitzer with a time of 1:31,71.
In 2017 they also got the title for the fastest road-legal BMW on the Nürburgring with a time of 7:25,8, making it 1,1 seconds faster than a 2009 Nissan GT-R and just 0,6 seconds slower than a Ferrari Enzo.
2018 AC Schnitzer became the fastest sedan manufacturer on the Nürburgring, setting a time of 7:29,5 with the M5 by AC Schnitzer.
Final Thoughts On AC Schnitzer
Learning something new about car manufacturers is always interesting, and AC Schnitzer is no different, with a big name in the BMW community.
It is a shame AC Schnitzer isn’t that active in racing championships anymore, but at least they are still doing well and hopefully will stay in business for many years.
Hopefully, you found the article interesting and now know everything about AC Schnitzer.
FAQs
What Does AC Schnitzer Stand For?
The AC part of the name is the abbreviation for the city it was founded, which is Aachen, Germany, and Schnitzer comes from the last name of one of the duo who started it, Herbert Schnitzer and his co-founder Willi Kohl.
Where is AC Schnitzer Made?
AC Schnitzer and all their products and vehicles are made in Aachen, Germany, at the company’s headquarters.
Is AC Schnitzer BMW Approved?
Yes, and it even comes with a warranty of 5 years and between 60,000 to 100,000 kilometers depending on if it is an M or non-M model.
AC Schnitzer parts are also TüV Approved, so it does not affect the vehicles’ emissions and chassis in any harmful way.