About Me

An entrepreneur since 1962. A lateral thinker to this day.

Since starting out as an entrepreneur in 1962, Bernd Behrens has followed the development of the industry first-hand: as a dealership owner, initiator of innovation, association president and strategic sparring partner. He has helped shape new business models in automotive retail, from car rental at the dealership and private leasing to today’s strategies for customer loyalty, after-sales revenue and international remarketing.

Bernd Behrens smiling, his hands open as he explains

What drives me

People in the automotive industry

I am your source of ideas and your sparring partner for better, creative and sometimes unconventional solutions in sales, marketing and service. I consistently integrate customer centricity into your entire company, making it more successful in the long term.

Appreciation, fulfillment and trust are at the heart of everything I do. I take care of sustainable implementation, both methodically and personally.

Digitalization in automotive retail
Crisis and restructuring management
Remarketing
Future management

Get to know me

since 1962
managing partner, later consultant
20
years as president of the Renault dealer association, which he founded in 1969
1000+
women and young new drivers in driving safety training
900+
employees in 18 businesses: marketing for the Glinicke Group

Career

Six decades of innovation in the car trade

1941
Born in Kassel
Born and raised in an automotive family.
1962
Managing partner at Autohaus Behrens
After completing his Abitur and a commercial apprenticeship: building up sales and service for Renault and Peugeot. Autohaus Bernd Behrens achieved above-average market shares and the highest customer satisfaction and was one of the ten largest Renault dealers in Germany.
1969
Founder of the Renault dealer association
To strengthen mid-sized automotive retail. Over the following two decades as its president, he successfully promoted the Renault brand and expanded the dealer network.
1971
Car rental at the dealership
For the first time, a car rental business within the dealership: the first steps toward becoming a mobility service provider. Hertz car rental since 1978, expansion of the station network in Central Hesse and the Siegerland region from 1983.
1979
Innovation: leasing for private customers
from 1980
A meeting place for the region’s drivers
With event marketing and customer relationships lived every day. Driving safety training for more than 1,000 women and young new drivers, honored by the Verkehrswacht Deutschland.
1986
Catalytic converters for all
At Bernd Behrens’ initiative, Renault France became the first foreign importer to offer only vehicles with catalytic converters.
from 1990
Thuringia becomes a success region
Development of Thuringia for Renault sales; founding of Autohaus Thalmann in Weimar in 1993. Founding of Hertz car rental for Hungary in 1994.
mid-1990s
The Multimobil concept
Kassel mobility forums and the linking of environmentally friendly car mobility with car sharing and public transport.
2001
Founding of the Car-Factory
A training company and small automotive manufactory for unemployed young people without vocational qualifications. New sales channels with department stores and hypermarkets from 2000.
2003
Managing director of a VW/Audi dealership
2004
Marketing and communications for the Glinicke Group
Responsible for 18 businesses with 8 brands and over 900 employees: dealer brand, innovative services, systematic customer loyalty, communication in the digital world.
since 2009
Independent automotive consultant
Business consultant, innovator and lateral thinker: new sales and service concepts, international studies, digital marketing of used cars, damage management for dealer groups.
2015
The book “Herzenssache Kunde in der Automobilbranche”
Co-author and co-developer of Automotive Clienting with Edgar K. Geffroy.
2025
Speaker at mobile.de’s mo:re 2025
On the international panel on the cross-border used-car business.

Network

The partners I work with

BBE Automotive, Cologne

A consulting firm specializing in the automotive industry, serving manufacturers, retail, the aftermarket and mobility and financial service providers. Visit website