Private Equity Is Eating the Car Modding Industry

Private equity is increasingly reshaping the car modding industry, and the latest report centers on Hondata’s reported acquisition. This weekend, rumors circulated that tuning firm Hondata was bought by Engineered Performance Technologies, a private equity-backed parent also linked to Cobb Tuning, AutoMeter, Ecutek and other aftermarket brands. The claim appeared to come from a leaked draft press release shared in a Honda Type R parts Facebook group, and the company name in the draft raised questions, with no official statements yet issued by Hondata or the acquirer. If accurate, the deal is described as expanding corporate resources and manufacturing, including support for CANFlex systems and future software features. The development builds on a broader investment pattern that began with AutoMeter’s acquisition in 2013 and EPT’s later purchase of Cobb Tuning.