The history of Cardoen

2024 is a special year for Cardoen. In 2024, Cardoen will have existed for 75 years. That's 75 years of passion, reliability and unparalleled service. So 75 years of Cardoen deserves a big celebration. And in a way that is as legendary as our history. Because for 75 years Cardoen has been working on your car of tomorrow.

In May 2024, we launched our a big birthday promotion: For 75 days, you had the chance to win a refund of up to 75% of the purchase price of your new car. Meanwhile, Cardoen has 16 branches. With more than 1,000 cars from 25 different brands in stock, Cardoen is still the biggest car supermarket.

In October 2022, Cardoen opens its doors to the public during ‘Open Bedrijvendag’. Visitors get the chance to see behind the scenes of the Reconditioning Center and discover how Cardoen reconditions second-hand cars.

After several months of hard work, Cardoen opens its new office headquarters in July 2022. The showroom at the location in Antwerp, where the offices are based, is suddenly transformed.

At the end of May 2022, DATS 24 opens the first public hydrogen filling station in Belgium at the Cardoen site along Boomsesteenweg in Wilrijk.

Cardoen is a growing company. In January 2022, the car supermarket organises a series of job days to fill various positions at the Reconditioning Center and the head office.

In November 2021, Cardoen opens the doors of TRC, The Reconditioning Center. This is where second-hand cars are reconditioned, making them fit for the road for many more years. Also, Cardoen increases the extended warranty from 7 up to 10 years.

In June 2021, Cardoen Doornik moves to Chaussée de Bruxelles 394B. On this larger premises Cardoen Doornik also gains a service center, which means that all locations are now equipped to manage maintenance and repairs.

Cardoen becomes the exclusive distributor for Aiways in Belgium. This Chinese brand makes full-electric and extremely affordable SUVs.

The corona virus causes problems for Cardoen too, affecting the delivery of new cars. The range of second-hand cars goes up again.

The corona virus forces Cardoen to focus more on the online sales of cars. For the first time, Cardoen sells cars without a single visit to the showroom. The car supermarket also launches home delivery of cars. This makes it possible to do absolutely everything without even leaving the house.

In a short time, Cardoen opens not 1 but 2 locations in Wallonia. So, Cardoen now has 5 locations in Wallonia instead of 3. Liège opens towards the end of the year.

In November 2018, Cardoen opens a new location in Charleroi: as the 5th car supermarket in Wallonia.

Cardoen teams up with the European Aramis Group. This partnership with the group creates lots of new jobs at Cardoen.

Cardoen opens a pop-up store in the heart of Antwerp, along the Meir in the Shopping Stadsfeestzaal. It is the smallest Cardoen location. Everyone is welcome until the end of February 2019.

In July 2018, Cardoen Geel opens its doors, at a top location along the Geel-West intersection. It is also the first Cardoen location in the Kempen district.

Cardoen Mons opens its doors in January 2017: our third location in Wallonia.

Cardoen Kortrijk kicks off in March 2016: the second car supermarket in West-Flanders.

Cardoen opens 3 new car supermarkets in the space of 7 months. Cardoen Zaventem, Cardoen Lier and Cardoen Bruges all open between February and August 2014.

Cardoen wins 3rd prize in the ‘Special Award 2012’ during the Federauto Awards. "The jury praises Cardoen for its special contribution to promoting and improving the image of the car sector."

In Doornik, Cardoen launches a new concept: the outdoor car supermarket. By keeping the costs even lower, Cardoen can offer its customers cars at an even better price. Certainly worth a visit.

Cardoen Ghent expands and moves to a new building with a 6,000m² showroom, near Ghent/Expo.

Cardoen is the first to present the Nissan Tiida to the Belgian public. This anti-crisis car costs around €20,000 abroad. The Cardoen price? That starts at €12,999. In less than one month, 80 Tiidas are on their way.

Cardoen hits the international headlines, from China to the United States, with its stunt promotion '2nd car free'. In the first 2 weeks more than 400 cars hit the road.

As the first in Europe, Cardoen presents Chinese car brands to the public in Belgium and the Netherlands. In doing so, Cardoen is pioneering in Europe.

The Dacia Logan is sold for the first time in West Europe, at Cardoen. After its success at Cardoen, Renault follows this example.

The first international Cardoen location opens its doors: Cardoen Roosendaal (The Netherlands) sees the light.

As the first in Europe, Cardoen begins working with a large distributor in the food industry: Colruyt. Today, Colruyt and Cardoen are still successful partners.

The first Cardoen location outside Antwerp opens its doors: Cardoen Eke near Ghent. Many more will follow.

Cardoen moves from the heart of Antwerp to Boomsesteenweg in Wilrijk. The gigantic 7,500 m2 showroom is open 7 days a week and has a permanent stock of 900 cars. Cardoen has meanwhile worked its way up to become market leader in multi-make car distribution in Belgium.

Cardoen begins the sale of new cars imported from Spain and Italy. The range of nearly new cars continues.

Son Karel Cardoen takes over at the helm. His speciality is nearly new cars.

Cardoen begins buying and selling cars abroad.

In the heart of Antwerp, Albert Cardoen begins selling second-hand cars.