First Brand Auto Parts Group supplier bankruptcy

Post by **abscate** » 26 Sep 2025, 18:49

You might not have heard of rFirst Brands Auto Group but you’ve probably got their parts …

First Brands Group is a global automotive parts company that develops, markets and sells premium products through a portfolio of market-leading brands including: Raybestos complete brake solutions, Centric Parts replacement brake components, StopTech performance brakes, Fram filtration products, Luber-finer filtration products, Trico wiper blades, Anco wiper blades, Michelin licensed wiper blades, AirTex and Carter fuel and water pumps, Autolite spark plugs, StrongArm lift supports, Carlson brake hardware, Cardone new and remanufactured replacement parts, and our towing & trailering portfolio composed of Reese, Drawtite, Bulldog, Tekonsha, Fulton, Westfalia along with Hopkins universal owned and licensed brands and Philips licensed aftermarket lighting.

Looks like Corporate Wankers hid 6B in debt on 1B in assets.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 27 Sep 2025, 17:33

That's at lot of brands and a lot of parts!
volvolugnut

Post by **scot850** » 28 Sep 2025, 07:08

It is worrying when so many parts suppliers seem to be in trouble. Considering the price OE parts have become v's the aftermarket parts in the last 5 years or so, makes is even more strange that parts suppliers are failing. Then if the aftermarket manufacturer's made good parts in the first place, maybe more would buy them. The list of the brand names with this company that will be wiped out has some decent brands in it. However, FRAM, Centric I will not miss.

Neil.

bronco · Post by **bronco** » 28 Sep 2025, 10:20

back when i was more of a bronco guy i had thriving ebay business selling used ford truck and bronco parts.

Changes in ebay forced me to shut it down. too many scammers and high shipping costs for larger items mainly.

plenty of volvo parts we know are worth holding onto but maybe its time to start making lists of stuff that is still available from part stores but suspect right out of the box , and begin stockpiling for some perceived demand 10 or 15 years out.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 28 Sep 2025, 11:59

I wonder what they've been doing wrong. Maybe buying too many brands and spreading themselves thin? First Brands is Trico renamed after Trico started buying other companies, if I recall correctly.

Cees Klumper · Post by **Cees Klumper** » 28 Sep 2025, 14:56

"First Brands has grown through debt-financed acquisitions of rival auto parts makers."

Possibly they overpaid for their acquisitions. Wouldn't be the first time.

The brands will survive as they have significant value.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 28 Sep 2025, 15:29

Yes, First Brands Group website confirmed they used to be Trico sometime before 2020 when First Brands bought Brake Parts Inc, including Raybestos.
volvolugnut

Post by **abscate** » 28 Sep 2025, 17:03

Mergers are for board members and C-Suite to get rich on stock options and other low tax compensation. They rarely serve the market well

Post by **Krons** » 28 Sep 2025, 20:07

abscate wrote: 28 Sep 2025, 17:03 Mergers are for board members and C-Suite to get rich on stock options and other low tax compensation. They rarely serve the market well

Fact.

Post by **CIK7** » 29 Sep 2025, 20:54

abscate wrote: 26 Sep 2025, 18:49 You might not have heard of rFirst Brands Auto Group but you’ve probably got their parts …

First Brands Group is a global automotive parts company that develops, markets and sells premium products through a portfolio of market-leading brands including: Raybestos complete brake solutions, Centric Parts replacement brake components, StopTech performance brakes, Fram filtration products, Luber-finer filtration products, Trico wiper blades, Anco wiper blades, Michelin licensed wiper blades, AirTex and Carter fuel and water pumps, Autolite spark plugs, StrongArm lift supports, Carlson brake hardware, Cardone new and remanufactured replacement parts, and our towing & trailering portfolio composed of Reese, Drawtite, Bulldog, Tekonsha, Fulton, Westfalia along with Hopkins universal owned and licensed brands and Philips licensed aftermarket lighting.
Looks like Corporate Wankers hid 6B in debt on 1B in assets.

I think all but a few are junk. Cardone is suppose to be a good refurbisher I thought. And I was sure Reese and drawtite were quality products. Mechanics say not to use Autolie, Fram, and cheap brakes. However, there's a Centric brake pad either for the p80 Volvo or the Honda accord that was rated higher than a lot of other brake pads so I hunted until I found them. I'm not saying it's the most high quality brake pad, but certainly much better for the money than most others.