The farm where it all began has been passed down through generations ever since the Peace of Roskilde, and as a former farm boy Kaj was instilled with a sense of order from the start: 
– You should work and not be sloppy. And you should be a little inventive. Tractors have always been a natural part of Kaj's life – that easily happens when you live on a farm. And as an active member of JUF, the young farmers' association, he kept up to date in the field. 

– At a meeting, a picture from America was shown of the first digging unit mounted on a tractor. This was in the mid-1940s, and we youngsters thought it was very exciting, Kaj recounts, and we note that right there and then the first seed was perhaps sown for what is today Olsson Parts. Kaj went on to study at SLU Alnarp in Skåne and had, by this time, already met his Lilli, who soon became his wife. He did work experience on several larger farms, but tractors were still a great interest. Kaj eventually applied to Volvo's tractor division of the time in Gothenburg and stayed on as a salesman for a few years. 

No tractor diggers for Volvo 

– I tried to get the tractor diggers into Volvo's range but never succeeded. So I resigned, got myself my own tractor digger and started my own contracting business instead, Kaj chuckles. The year was 1957, and Kaj's firm CH Olsson Entreprenad AB had a fully booked schedule. He divided his time between Gothenburg, where Lilli, who worked as a teacher, was, and the farm in Köperöd outside Ellös where the firm was based. Roads were laid and plots were dug, often far from home, and Kaj began to grow tired of being away from the family so much. 
 

– The boys had come along and I wanted to take things a bit easier. Instead, I started bringing tractors home from England to sell. He brought the tractors home via the port of Vallhamn on the neighbouring island of Tjörn, which back then, in the mid-1960s, had regular crossings over the North Sea. In the early 1970s the ”cab law” came along and nearly threw a spanner in the works for the whole business. 

– Suddenly every tractor had to have a cab, and it was blessed well impossible to get hold of that for the English tractors. So I built a workshop on the farm and focused on spare parts instead. 

Could the parts be had more cheaply? 

In England there were firms that had specialised in the aftermarket, and Kaj got several tips and contacts that way. And since he had repaired and fixed his tractors himself over all the years, he knew what was needed. 

– But original parts for the English tractor makes Ferguson and Fordson were expensive. I could see the difference when I was over in England and bought directly from the manufacturers. Surely it must be possible to get them cheaper…? And indeed it was. More people were hired and the business grew. New premises were built on our own land in the industrial area outside the village of Ellös. In the spring of 1981 the move took place, and in 1988 the firm's name was changed to Olssons i Ellös. In 1996 the first online store opened. 

Handed over to the sons 

In 1999 Kaj took a step back and handed over to the three sons Henrik, Olle and Magnus. In 2020 the Olsson Parts brand was launched, and two years later the first external CEO in the family company's history was hired. 
 
A lot of water has flowed under the bridges since the farm boy Kaj – you know, the one who has never done anything remarkable in his 92 years – saw his first digging unit in a picture, resigned from Volvo and started his own business, began importing tractors from England and became one of the biggest in spare parts for tractors and later construction machinery too. A legacy for the sons to manage humbly? 
– It's nice that the boys have made the most of it. 

The Olsson Parts saga

1. 1957

   Kaj Olsson starts CH Olsson Entreprenad AB and carries out contracting work with his own machines.

   
2. 1970

   Kaj builds a workshop at home on the farm, focuses on spare parts for tractors and starts mail-order sales.

3. 1980–1990

   The business grows, moves to new premises, changes its name to ”Olssons i Ellös” and the Olsson catalogue is now also available on CD-ROM.

   
4. 1996

   The first online store is launched.

5. 2005

   The last complete Olsson catalogue is printed (2,000 pages).

   
6. 2016

   • A dedicated export initiative begins.
   • Spare parts for construction machinery gain a clear place in the range.
   • Online stores in Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and English are launched.
   • The number of employees passes 50.
   • Launch of our own Volvo BM 7664, which makes a big impact on the market – premiered at the Elmia Lantbruk trade fair.

   
7. 2018

   First employee outside Sweden (a representative in Denmark).

8. 2020

   • Olsson Parts is launched and becomes the official brand.
   • The new olssonparts.com is launched and, besides an online store in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and English, we're now also available in German.
   • Expanded spare parts range, with parts for Volvo Penta too (and later Yanmar as well).

   
9. 2022

   • The restoration of the Volvo BM 350 Boxer is completed and its first drive takes place in Ellös.
   • The first external CEO is hired.
   • Our tagline ”MAKE THINGS WORK” is launched and the Olsson Parts brand is cemented.

   
10. 2023

    • Premiere of our marine diesel range at the Gothenburg Boat Show.
    • The number of employees passes 100.
    • Kaj passes away and the sons take over as second-generation owners with an external CEO.
11. 2024

    • We exhibit at our first outdoor trade fair in Germany (Nordbau).
    • We pass SEK 400 million in turnover.
    • We continue to create e-commerce innovations with the launch of ”My Machines”.