Walmart Inc. announced on Tuesday a partnership with Advance Auto Parts Inc., one of the largest U.S. aftermarket parts retailers, that will create an automotive specialty store on Walmart.com.
"The new omnichannel shopping experience will provide customers with access to Advance's extensive portfolio of aftermarket automotive parts, accessories and maintenance items," said Walmart, adding, "it will complement the extensive assortment and services already offered in more than 2,500 Walmart Auto Centers in the U.S. Rollout is expected to begin in the first half of 2019.”
"We are absolutely committed to building a best-in-class omnichannel experience and Walmart is an undisputed omnichannel leader," Darryl Carr, a spokesman for Advance Auto Parts, wrote in an email. "Partnering with Walmart enables us to share our extensive product offerings and trusted advice with an increased number of do-it-yourself customers and supports our long-term strategic objectives."
The news comes one day after Walmart's competing retailer Sears filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Carr did not directly acknowledge how its partnership with Walmart differs from the Amazon-Sears collaboration, but told Automotive News that "as the partnership progresses in 2019 and beyond, the companies plan to work together to explore new fulfillment options that will bring customers unparalleled convenience, including the future ability to pick up Advance orders placed on Walmart.com at both Walmart and Advance store locations." He also said that Walmart customers will have access to value-added content from Advance, which operates nearly 6,400 stores globally.
