COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 441310

Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores

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

26companies1880–1998founding years26still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWatts of Lydney Group Ltd.FoundedWatts of Lydney Group Ltd.
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSears, Roebuck and Co.
1906
FoundedLookers plcFoundedLookers plc
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedStrauss Discount Auto
1919
FoundedThe Pep BoysFoundedThe Pep Boys
1925
FoundedCanadian Tire Corporation, Limited
1927
FoundedGenuine Parts CompanyFoundedGenuine Parts Company
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedMidas Inc.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRon Tonkin Chevrolet CompanyFoundedRon Tonkin Chevrolet Company
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCSK Auto Corporation
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedLKQ CorporationFoundedLKQ CorporationFoundedPennzoil-Quaker State Company
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2009
EconomyGM and Chrysler bankruptcies reshape the auto industry.
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…
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.
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880 · United Kingdom
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Active · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Active · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Lookers plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Lookers plc is one of the United Kingdom's top five new and used car dealers.
Lookers plc →
Active · 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…
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…
The Pep Boys →
Active · founded 1925
With about 650 company owned and operated automotive aftermarket superstores in 37 states and Puerto Rico, The Pep…
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Canada
1950s:Canadian Tire "money" is introduced.
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Canada
1950s:Canadian Tire "money" is introduced.
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…
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…
Midas Inc. →
Active · founded 1956 · www.midasinc.com
Midas 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.
Ron Tonkin Chevrolet Company →
Active · founded 1960
Ron Tonkin Chevrolet Company has 16 locations in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area.
CSK Auto Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
CSK Auto Corporation is a holding company for CSK Auto, Inc., a subsidiary that manages all of the corporation's…
CSK Auto Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
CSK Auto Corporation is a holding company for CSK Auto, Inc., a subsidiary that manages all of the corporation's…
LKQ Corporation →
Active · founded 1998
LKQ Corporation is the largest supplier of used auto parts in the United States.
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…
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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