NAPA, Calif. — AUL Corp. surpassed 2 million contracts issued, the vehicle service contract provider announced last week. Officials said the milestone makes the firm one of the top independent VSC providers in the nation.

Founded in 1990 by industry icon Luis Nieves, AUL achieved the milestone just seven years after it touched the million-policy mark in 2011. Officials said that means the firm reached two million policies issued in about a third of the time.

“We are thrilled for the accomplishment, but we are even more thankful for our amazing family of independent agents and dealers,” said Jimmy Atkinson, AUL Corp.’s president and CEO. “Without [their] help, this achievement would not be possible.”

Atkinson said one of the drivers is consumers, who are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before. Vehicles are also more complex and technologically advanced, increasing the need for added protection. “When you combine the increasing need for VSC’s with AUL’s comprehensive policies and industry-leading customer support staff, you have a business that is primed for growth,” Atkinson said.

The firm recently promoted Henry Paoli to national sales manager and brought in a fourth regional sales executive in response to the company’s strong sales.

“We have always strived to be a leader in customer service and to provide the best suite of policies in the industry. And the only way to deliver upon those high standards is to bring in the best people in the business,” said Jason Garner, AUL’s senior vice president of sales and business development. “With 2017 having been the best performing year in AUL’s history, we look forward to serving our next million customers with our never-ending dedication to hard work and integrity.”