COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 44131

Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1880–1998founding years14still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedWatts of Lydney Group Ltd.
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSears, Roebuck and Co.
1906
FoundedLookers plc
1908
TechnologyFord's Model T puts the automobile within reach of the middle class.
1913
TechnologyFord's moving assembly line transforms factory production.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedStrauss Discount Auto
1919
FoundedThe Pep Boys
1925
FoundedStandard Motor Products, Inc.
1926
FoundedCanadian Tire Corporation, Limited
1927
FoundedGenuine Parts Company
1928
FoundedAdvance Auto Parts, Inc.
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedMidas Inc.
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRon Tonkin Chevrolet Company
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedCARQUEST Corporation
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedAutoZone, Inc.
1979
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCSK Auto Corporation
1987
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
FoundedThe Major Automotive Companies, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedLKQ CorporationFoundedPennzoil-Quaker State Company
1998
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Les Schwab Tire Centers →
Active
Les Schwab's first attempt at selling tires in Prineville, Oregon, has blossomed into one of America's largest and most…
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880 · United Kingdom
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Defunct · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Lookers plc →
Defunct · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Lookers plc is one of the United Kingdom's top five new and used car dealers.
Strauss Discount Auto →
Active · founded 1919
Strauss Discount Auto is a privately owned regional aftermarket automobile parts chain, its headquarters located in…
The Pep Boys →
Active · founded 1925
With about 650 company owned and operated automotive aftermarket superstores in 37 states and Puerto Rico, The Pep…
Standard Motor Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Standard Motor Products, Inc.
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Canada
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of the leading retailers in Canada.
Genuine Parts Company →
Active · founded 1928
Genuine Parts Company is one of the largest automobile parts suppliers in the United States, providing parts to about…
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Midas Inc. →
Active · founded 1956 · www.midasinc.com
Midas Inc.
Ron Tonkin Chevrolet Company →
Active · founded 1960
Ron Tonkin Chevrolet Company has 16 locations in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area.
CARQUEST Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1974
CARQUEST Corporation is an alliance of warehouse distributors (WDs) and "jobber-stores" that sell automotive…
AutoZone, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
The leading U.S.
CSK Auto Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1987
CSK Auto Corporation is a holding company for CSK Auto, Inc., a subsidiary that manages all of the corporation's…
The Major Automotive Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
The Major Automotive Companies, Inc.
LKQ Corporation →
Active · founded 1998
LKQ Corporation is the largest supplier of used auto parts in the United States.
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company →
Active · founded 1998
The Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company formed in 1998, through…
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