You may want to stock up now.
As of early 2026, Autolite, along with sister brands Stoptech and Fram, is facing shutdown and liquidation following a failed restructuring of its parent company, First Brands Group.
Liquidation Process:
First Brands Group is moving to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy to Chapter 7 for certain units, including Autolite, after failing to secure funding or buyers.
Operations Shut Down:
The move to Chapter 7 means a court-appointed trustee will take over to liquidate assets, effectively winding down North American operations of the Brake Parts, Cardone, and Autolite units.
Company Fraud Charges:
In late January 2026, the founder and former CEO of First Brands were charged with a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme, which accelerated the collapse of these business units [0.5.5, First Brands founder pleads not guilty in company's collapse].
Impact on Supply:
Major automakers, including Ford and GM, have had to adjust supply chains due to the disruption.
Background:
The company had been operating on a week-to-week basis due to severely low cash reserves.
More time-honored names bite the dust