GRAPEVINE, Texas – National Pronto Association has announced the addition of Auto Electric & Carburetor Co. to the Pronto membership. The company joined Pronto on June 1.
 
Auto Electric & Carburetor Co. Inc. began in downtown Birmingham, Ala., in the 1950s as a boat and small engine parts retailer. Subsequently, the company expanded its business to include automotive repair as well as electrical and carburetor service. Under the direction of longtime President and CEO George Reed, the company diversified into Yazoo brand lawn mowers and distribution of small engine and automotive parts. During the 1970s and 80s, the automotive parts business overtook and eventually replaced the small engine and lawn & garden business.  
 
Steve Kampwerth replaced George Reed as president and CEO in 1997, after a 10-year career in the ACDelco parts division of GM and opened Auto Electric & Carburetor’s first branch under the trade name Southern Distributors in Mobile, Ala. Today, Auto Electric & Carburetor, under its trade name, operates five branch warehouses throughout Alabama and the Gulf Coast region in addition to its 60,000-square-foot headquarters, located in Birmingham.
 
Southern Distributors wholesales automotive parts to vehicle dealerships, independent automotive repair centers, national parts and repair chains as well as fleet and governmental entities.