Media Inquiries

We welcome any opportunity to work with members of the print, broadcast or electronic media. If you are interested in learning more about Driving Comfort and our product line, please contact us at 434-974-7118, ext. 3078 or e-mail mediarelations@drivingcomfort.com.

Company information, hi-resolution product images and product samples* are available upon request. When inquiring, please provide your name and title and your media outlet’s name, address, phone number and circulation/audience numbers. We’ll also want to know the products you’re interested in, the planned focus of your story and the date the information is needed.

We will always endeavor to assist journalists on tight deadlines, but please allow 1-3 business days for best service. A minimum of 2-3 business days will be required to process and ship product samples.

Thank you for your interest in Driving Comfort. We’ll look forward to assisting you in any way we can.

*Some restrictions apply.

Company History

Driving Comfort is a division of Charlottesville, Va.-based International Auto Parts, North America’s largest vendor of Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia parts and accessories.

Company founder Paul Opiela, a chemist with a passion for Italian cars, began selling mail-order parts from the kitchen of his New Jersey home in 1971.

Within just a few years, Paul was a full-time catalog merchant and IAP was quickly gaining a reputation for quality, honesty and great customer service. In 1978, Paul moved his growing company to Charlottesville, Va, and slept on the floor of his first warehouse for a few weeks while he looked for a home for his growing family. His hard work and dedication paid off, and IAP continued to grow and thrive.

Driving Comfort, a web-based subsidiary, was launched in 2004. Driving Comfort specializes in auto and home accessories designed to help busy families travel in comfort, safety and style.

As a company, we’ve come a long way from that kitchen table in New Jersey, but Paul and our entire team remain dedicated to providing the same type of friendly, personalized service the first IAP customers enjoyed three decades ago.