PCEX Automotive has been recognized as SME of the Year 2025 at the 12th CEPYME Awards, one of the country’s most prestigious business distinctions, which highlights the excellence, innovation, and economic and social impact of Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises. The company, headquartered in Alicante and specialized in international automotive spare-parts trading, receives this recognition after a decade of sustained growth, digital transformation, and consolidation as a global benchmark in its sector.
The award, granted by the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CEPYME), highlights PCEX’s role in boosting the automotive sector and its ability to develop a business model based on proprietary technology, international expansion, and internal talent. In the words of its founder and CEO, David Santiago, this recognition “is an honor we accept on behalf of the entire team, a boost that reminds us that collective effort, ambition, and shared vision are the foundation of any progress.”
A business model based on innovation and efficiency
Since its creation in 2012, PCEX has worked to modernize a sector traditionally resistant to disruption. The company manages more than 20 million references and has developed its own technological tools that optimize purchasing, logistics, and stock management. Among them, its smart price comparison tool connected to suppliers in real time stands out, reducing the time dedicated to manual comparisons by 90% and directly increasing competitiveness.
In 2024, the company made one of its largest investments in R&D&I. These investments are behind the 88% growth in e-commerce, which already accounts for 60% of total revenue.
International expansion and leadership in foreign trade
Internationalization is one of PCEX’s strategic pillars. In 2024, the company exported 97.73% of its total revenue, reaching 43.3 million euros and expanding its presence to more than 40 countries across four continents. These figures reflect its ability to enter markets with high barriers to entry and establish itself as a global player, thanks to strategic local partnerships and highly efficient logistics.
This international focus has been widely recognized in previous editions of the CEPYME Awards, where PCEX won distinctions in International Development, Digital Transformation, and Best Payment Practices.
Talent, equality, and social impact
PCEX has made talent its main driver of growth. In 2024, it increased its workforce by 50%, with 100% permanent contracts. The company particularly stands out in pay equality: in comparable departments, female professionals earn equal or higher compensation than their male colleagues, with positive differences of up to 7%. Additionally, the incorporation of female talent grew by 44% in just one year.
The company has also strengthened its work-life balance policies with measures such as flexible schedules, while increasing its training investment by 129% to ensure real professional development opportunities.
In terms of sustainability, PCEX is progressing toward ZERO WASTE certification and stands out for its commitment to responsible payments, reducing its average payment period to suppliers.
Disruptive projects and commitment to the circular economy
One of the most significant milestones has been the boost given to the TERA Batteries project, a company belonging to the same corporate group, PCEX GROUP. This initiative, part of the Valencian Industrial Strategic Plan, focuses on diagnosing, recovering, and reusing lithium batteries from electric vehicles, promoting the circular economy and reducing the generation of hazardous waste. In addition, TERA manufactures energy storage systems and batteries for electric mobility, contributing to the creation of sustainable solutions for the industry. This project positions PCEX Group as a relevant player in the emerging industrial development linked to sustainable mobility and the decarbonization of the sector.
A recognition of teamwork
For David Santiago, the award reflects the spirit that has guided the company’s growth from the beginning: “Numbers don’t tell the story; people do. This award belongs to those who turn challenges into opportunities every day and make PCEX’s continued growth possible.”
With this recognition, PCEX Automotive reaffirms its leadership as one of the most innovative, competitive, and dynamic SMEs in the country, and faces the future with a clear vision: to continue driving technology, talent, and sustainability from Spain to the world.
