First Brands Group bankruptcy :-(

[hatzie]

First Brands Group announced on January 26, 2026, that it has commenced the wind down of its North American operations for Autolite, Brake Parts Inc., and Cardone brands. This decision follows the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in late September 2025, driven by heavy debt from rapid acquisitions and deteriorating finances. Despite efforts to secure funding and sell the units, no viable solution was found.

Remaining operations: Other North American units (including filters, wipers, pumps, lighting, towing, and accessories) and all Rest of World (ROW) operations continue to run while the company seeks buyers.

Leadership statement: Interim CEO Charles Moore stated that all available options were explored, but the efforts did not result in a solution to maintain these operations.

Next steps:
First Brands is pursuing strategic sale transactions for the affected brands, with ongoing dialogue with key customers and stakeholders.

The company is also managing claims from creditors, including Marelli ($200M), FedEx ($5.4M), and the IRS ($4.7M).

This wind down marks a significant shift in the automotive aftermarket, impacting well-known brands such as Autolite (spark plugs), Cardone (remanufactured parts), and Brake Parts Inc. (Raybestos, Aimco, BrakePro).