Back in 2008 I wrote about the parts industry, both past and present, in a blog titled Parts is Parts. A lot has changed since then. My first clue was when I got a job at NAPA, which I also wrote about here. The vast majority of their parts are made in China. When the tariff wars started we were warned there could be supply chain issues. I watched prices go up across the board. I was my store's "old car expert", and as such customers would seek me out when they would come in to buy parts for their classic car. Procuring the parts was a different story. Almost everything had to be ordered in, either from the warehouse, a legacy store, or the manufacturer. Some parts, like a rebuilt carburetor, were no longer available to us. Heck even getting a rebuild kit was tough. Times have changed and I can't say it's for the best.
In September of last year a major shake up happened in the aftermarket parts industry. It was so significant that industry analysts anticipated a period of higher prices and decreased availability for essential maintenance components, marking the end of an era for some of the most trusted names in the industry. This was when the First Brands Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Opinions vary, but many view First Brands Group as just another American corporate raider who did leveraged buyouts and accumulated insurmountable debt. To give you an idea of the magnitude of their debt, at filing, First Brands owed about $11.5 billion but had only about $12 million in cash on hand. Making matters worse, in early 2026 federal authorities indicted former CEO Patrick James and his brother, Edward James, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Prosecutors allege the executives deceived lenders using falsified collateral and misleading financial statements to sustain the company’s massive debt load.
Some of you may be wondering just how significant one company filing bankruptcy can be. Well, this one company acquired numerous auto parts manufacturers, some 24 in total according to their website. That's 24 different U.S. based companies that were affected. Some were bought but many were forced to close up shop and lay off their employees. We are talking about some major, legacy names here like Fram, Autolite, Raybestos, Trico, Anco, Carter, Cardone, Reese, and Drawtite just to name a few. First Brands confirmed that it would be winding down its Autolite, Brake Parts, Inc., and Cardone subsidiaries after being unable to secure funding and complete a sale for the three companies. If Autolite spark plugs were your favorite, you now have to choose another brand. Cardone was a major re-manufacturer of automotive components that was in business for over 50 years. Is there even a company big enough to fill those shoes that is not located in China? Food for thought, or should that be 中国菜 for thought?
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