Who Makes CarParts.com Auto Parts?

CarParts.com does not manufacture every part it sells, but it does own and design several of its own auto parts brands, including Kool Vue, JC Whitney and Evan Fischer, which are manufactured by contracted factories on its behalf.

The company is a publicly traded corporation listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PRTS, meaning it is owned by its shareholders rather than a single private owner.

CarParts.com was founded in 1995 as U.S. Auto Parts Network and officially changed its name to CarParts.com in July 2020 to match its main consumer facing website.

Knowing this history helps shoppers understand why the CarParts.com name is relatively new even though the underlying company has sold auto parts online since the 1990s.

This guide covers who owns CarParts.com, its brand portfolio, where its parts are manufactured, its reputation among online shoppers, and how it compares to other online parts retailers.

So lets get started.

Who Owns CarParts.com

CarParts, Inc. is a publicly traded company, meaning ownership is spread across shareholders who buy and sell its stock on the open market.

Shares trade on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol PRTS, and the company has been public since its original 2007 listing as U.S. Auto Parts Network, according to its public company profile.

David Meniane serves as chief executive officer, leading the company through its continued growth as an online auto parts retailer.

The company employs roughly 1,186 people and operates across the United States and the Philippines, according to its most recent public filings.

CarParts.com Company History And Name Change

The business now known as CarParts.com was founded in 1995 under the name U.S. Auto Parts Network, selling aftermarket parts through early e commerce channels.

The company went public on Nasdaq in February 2007 under the ticker PRTS, a listing it has maintained through its later rebrand.

In July 2020, U.S. Auto Parts Network officially changed its corporate name to CarParts.com, Inc. to align with its primary consumer facing website.

This name change reflected the growing importance of the CarParts.com website as the company’s main brand, even though the underlying corporate structure stayed the same.

What Brands Does CarParts.com Own

CarParts.com sells products under several of its own brand names, including Kool Vue for mirrors, JC Whitney for specialty and classic parts, and Evan Fischer for engine and drivetrain components.

These branded product lines are designed by CarParts.com but manufactured by contracted third party factories rather than produced by the company itself.

Alongside its own brands, CarParts.com also sells OEM and other aftermarket parts sourced from outside manufacturers to round out its catalog.

This mix of owned brands and outside sourcing is similar to the strategy used by other online retailers, including the one covered in our Where Are SKP Auto Parts Made guide.

Where Are CarParts.com Parts Made

Parts sold under CarParts.com’s own brands are manufactured by contracted factories, with many components produced in Taiwan and other established automotive parts manufacturing regions.

Because CarParts.com also resells parts from other manufacturers, the country of origin for any specific item depends on which brand and category a shopper selects.

The company’s distribution channels include direct to consumer e commerce, online marketplaces, specialty retailers and wholesale distributors, all pulling from the same broader manufacturing network.

This distributed sourcing approach lets CarParts.com offer a wide catalog without operating its own manufacturing plants.

CarParts.com Distribution And Business Model

CarParts.com operates primarily as an online retailer, selling directly to consumers through its website along with online marketplaces and wholesale channels.

The company is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and maintains operations in the Philippines to support its customer service and technology functions.

This multi channel distribution model lets CarParts.com reach both individual do it yourself customers and professional installers through different sales paths.

Warehousing and logistics remain central to the business, since fast and accurate shipping is a major factor in online auto parts retail.

Is CarParts.com Really Good or Worth It

CarParts.com has operated in some form since 1995, giving it one of the longer track records among online auto parts retailers.

Its status as a publicly traded company means its financial performance and business practices face more public scrutiny than many privately held competitors.

Customer experience can vary depending on whether a shopper buys a CarParts.com owned brand like Evan Fischer or a resold part from an outside manufacturer.

For budget focused buyers comfortable comparing part numbers, CarParts.com is generally considered a solid option, with its own brand lines often seen as a step above pure marketplace resellers.

CarParts.com Compared to Other Online Auto Parts Retailers

CarParts.com competes directly with other online sellers such as RockAuto and Parts Geek, though it stands apart by owning several of its own product brands.

Unlike smaller marketplace style retailers, CarParts.com’s public company status means it publishes regular financial results, giving shoppers more visibility into its scale and stability.

Compared to brand focused retailers covered in our Who Owns AutoZone guide, CarParts.com blends owned brand manufacturing with broader marketplace style reselling.

This hybrid model is a major part of what differentiates CarParts.com from purely marketplace based competitors.

CarParts.com Stock and Investor Information

As a publicly traded company, CarParts.com publishes quarterly earnings reports, annual filings and investor presentations that detail its revenue, brand performance and growth plans.

Current share price and trading activity for the stock can be tracked through financial data providers such as the Nasdaq listing page for PRTS.

Because the company is publicly traded, its ownership can shift daily as investors buy and sell shares, unlike privately held competitors with a fixed ownership group.

This transparency gives shoppers and industry watchers a clearer view into CarParts.com’s financial health compared to many privately owned online parts retailers.

CarParts.com Return Policy and Shipping

CarParts.com offers a returns program on most items, though the exact window and conditions can vary depending on the specific product category and brand.

Shipping speed and cost depend on the warehouse location closest to the customer, since CarParts.com maintains distribution centers positioned to reduce delivery times across the country.

Vehicle specific search tools on the CarParts.com website help reduce the chance of ordering an incompatible part, which is especially useful given the size of its catalog.

Customers ordering owned brand products like Evan Fischer generally deal directly with CarParts.com for any return or warranty issue rather than a separate manufacturer.

CarParts.com Warranty and Customer Support

CarParts.com backs many of its own branded parts with limited warranties, with specific terms varying by product category and brand.

Customers can reach support through the official CarParts.com website, which includes order tracking, returns and vehicle specific part search tools.

Because the company operates its own branded product lines, warranty claims for those items are typically handled directly by CarParts.com rather than through a separate manufacturer.

This direct support model is one advantage of buying from a retailer that owns its own brands rather than purely reselling third party inventory.

Frequently Asked Questions About CarParts.com Auto Parts

Who Makes CarParts.com Auto Parts

CarParts.com designs and sells its own brands like Kool Vue, JC Whitney and Evan Fischer, which are manufactured by contracted factories, alongside parts sourced from other manufacturers.

Is CarParts.com A Publicly Traded Company

Yes, CarParts.com, Inc. trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PRTS and has been publicly traded since 2007, originally as U.S. Auto Parts Network.

Where Are CarParts.com Parts Made

CarParts.com brand parts are manufactured by contracted factories, with many produced in Taiwan and other established parts manufacturing regions, alongside resold parts from other suppliers.

Is CarParts.com A Good Auto Parts Retailer

Yes, CarParts.com is generally considered a solid online auto parts retailer, backed by a long operating history and its own branded product lines like Evan Fischer.