Who Owns Carquest?
Carquest is owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a publicly traded automotive aftermarket retailer headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Advance acquired the brand through its 2013 purchase of General Parts International for approximately $2 billion. Carquest operates a network of company-owned and independently owned stores focused primarily on professional installer customers.
Parent Company
Acquired
2013
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Carquest Timeline
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Carquest?
- Parent Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2013
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: AAP
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Carquest | Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | Wholly owned |
Advertisement
History of Carquest
- Founded: 1957
- Founders: O. Temple Sloan Jr. and independent parts distributors
- Acquired by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.: 2013
Carquest began in 1957 as a cooperative buying group for independent auto parts distributors. The name, a shortening of "Car Quest," covered a member-owned network in which independent jobbers pooled purchasing to compete with national chains on price and availability.
Through the following decades it grew into a national brand with hundreds of member stores, while retaining its cooperative DNA of local ownership. General Parts International emerged as the corporate structure behind the banner, eventually acquiring the network outright and operating Carquest as its flagship trade name.
Advance Auto Parts acquired General Parts International in late 2013 for about $2 billion, a deal intended to strengthen Advance's professional installer business. The Carquest banner survived the merger intact, and the name remains on storefronts across the US and Canada more than a decade later.
Following Advance's 2024 restructuring, the Carquest network has been integrated operationally into the same market hub supply chain as Advance stores, though the banner retains its distinct storefront identity and pro-oriented customer base.
Advertisement
About Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
What does Advance Auto Parts own?
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. owns the Advance Auto Parts and Carquest store banners, the DieHard product brand, private-label sourcing arm Autopart International, and the ARGOS private-label motor oil. It sold its Worldpac wholesale business in November 2024.
Is Advance Auto Parts publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker AAP. It is a conventional single-class public corporation with institutional investors holding most shares.
When was Advance Auto Parts founded?
Arthur Taubman founded the company in 1932 in Baltimore, Maryland, as Advance Stores Company after buying three auto parts stores. It went public on the NYSE in 2001.
Who owns Advance Auto Parts?
Public shareholders own it. Shane O'Kelly has been president and CEO since September 2023, leading a turnaround focused on margin recovery and store network optimization.
Advertisement
What is Advance Auto Parts' market position?
It is the third-largest US automotive aftermarket parts retailer behind AutoZone and O'Reilly, operating approximately 4,300 stores. Its margins trail both competitors, which defines its current restructuring strategy.
Does Advance Auto Parts own Carquest and DieHard?
Yes. Carquest came through the 2013 acquisition of General Parts International, and the company bought the DieHard brand in 2019 for about $200 million.
- Founded: 1932
- Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: AAP
- Revenue: $8.6 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 40,000
Where Is Carquest Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Carquest Categories & Tags
Carquest Recalls & Controversies
Carquest has no distinct recall or controversy record separate from its parent. Product-level issues on parts sold under the Carquest label are handled under Advance Auto Parts' standard quality and return processes, and no Carquest-specific regulatory action is part of the brand's record.
The closest thing to brand-level scrutiny is the ongoing debate among independent store owners about supply chain integration: consolidation under Advance's market hub model improves parts availability but reduces the local control that historically defined the banner's appeal.
Advertisement
Brands Owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Retail EcommerceAdvance Auto Parts
Owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Flagship retail banner of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), operating roughly 4,000 automotive parts stores across North America.
auto-partsretailautomotive-aftermarket
AutomotiveDieHard
Owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Automotive battery and product brand owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), acquired from Sears in 2019 and sold exclusively through its stores.
car-batterydiehardautomotive
Carquest Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Advance's corporate supply chain gives the banner inventory depth it lacked as an independent
- +Preserved local ownership model retains installer relationships in smaller markets
- +Shared buying power across ~4,300 combined stores improves parts pricing
- +Professional focus diversifies the parent's revenue away from soft DIY demand
- +Long brand history carries recognition among professional mechanics
Considerations
- -Brand operates in the shadow of the larger Advance banner for corporate investment
- -Independent-store model creates inconsistent customer experience across locations
- -Competing pro networks (AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA) have deeper hub infrastructure
- -Corporate turnaround priorities may not align with independent store interests
- -Banner has minimal consumer recognition, limiting DIY cross-over
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions About Carquest
Sources & Further Reading
Advertisement
Competitors to Carquest
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Parts | USA | 1925 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Advance Auto Parts | USA | 1932 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
AutomotiveNAPA Auto Parts
Owned by Genuine Parts Company
Automotive parts distribution brand founded in 1925 and owned by Genuine Parts Company, operating thousands of stores and a network of AutoCare repair centers across North America.
auto-partsautomotive-aftermarketretail
Retail EcommerceAdvance Auto Parts
Owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Flagship retail banner of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), operating roughly 4,000 automotive parts stores across North America.
auto-partsretailautomotive-aftermarket
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Carquest competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Advertisement
Independent Alternatives to Carquest
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Retail EcommerceAce Handyman Services
Owned by Ace Hardware Corporation
The home repair and improvement franchise brand owned by Ace Hardware.
home-serviceshandymanfranchise
Privately Owned
Ace Handyman Services is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceAce Hardware
Owned by Ace Hardware Corporation
The hardware retail brand of Ace Hardware Corporation, the world's largest hardware cooperative.
hardwarehome-improvementcooperative
Privately Owned
Ace Hardware is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceAldi
Owned by ALDI SÜD
German discount supermarket chain operating in 20+ countries under two separate privately held entities, ALDI SÜD and ALDI NORD, both owned by the Albrecht family.
supermarketdiscount-retailgrocery
Privately Owned
Aldi is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceAsda
Owned by EG Group
British supermarket chain offering groceries, clothing, and general merchandise, owned by TDR Capital and the Issa brothers since 2021.
supermarketgroceryretail
Privately Owned
Asda is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceBig Lots
Owned by Variety Wholesalers, Inc.
American discount retail chain offering furniture, home décor, seasonal items, and general merchandise.
discount-retailfurniturehome-decor
Privately Owned
Big Lots is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceDisplate
Owned by GWD Concept sp. z o.o.
Polish marketplace for metal posters founded in 2013, majority owned by private equity firm Mid Europa Partners, with more than 40,000 independent artists.
metal-postersmarketplacewall-art
Privately Owned
Displate is privately owned, unlike Carquest which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Stock Information
Advertisement
Jobs at Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Latest News About Carquest
Advertisement
Related Articles About Carquest
View more articles
News & Updates
Monthly IPO Roundup: November 2026 -- October's Biggest Listings
October 2026 IPOs: Jio Platforms set India's all-time record at $3.2B and surged 27%, GCash owner Mynt raised a Philippine-record P60.9B, Anthropic filed publicly for a possible mid-November debut, and U.S. listings were a biotech grab bag. Full recap.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
Ipo RoundupIpoStock Market
News & Updates
Monthly M&A Roundup: October 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
October 2026's biggest deals: Paramount Skydance closed its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, Salesforce signed Braze for $5.66B, Proofpoint bought Varonis for $6.3B, the Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9B, and Viatris added Pacira for $1.65B. Full breakdown.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
M And A RoundupAcquisitionsNews
Rivalry
Duracell vs Energizer: The Battery Brand Rivalry
Duracell is Berkshire Hathaway-owned (25-30% US share). Energizer is publicly traded (NYSE: ENR) with Rayovac. Together they control ~85% of branded US batteries, but Amazon Basics has 27.1% online. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffOct 23, 2026
DuracellEnergizerRivalry
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Retail & E-commerce category and related searches from other users.
Brandconvenience-store
7-Eleven
Global leader in convenience retail with over 84,000 stores across 19 countries, offering a diverse range of food, beverages, and everyday essentials with a focus on 24/7 accessibility and neighborhood convenience.
Brand in Retail & E-commerce
retailfranchise
Brandhome-services
Ace Handyman Services
The home repair and improvement franchise brand owned by Ace Hardware.
Brand in Retail & E-commerce
handymanfranchise
Brandhardware
Ace Hardware
The hardware retail brand of Ace Hardware Corporation, the world's largest hardware cooperative.
Brand in Retail & E-commerce
home-improvementcooperative