Who Brands - Brand Ownership DirectoryWho Brands
HomeBrowse BrandsCategoriesCompaniesCompareBlogQuizAbout
HomeBrowse BrandsCategoriesCompaniesCompareBlogQuizAbout
Who Brands

Your trusted reference for brand ownership information. We provide factual, comprehensive data about who owns the brands you know.

Stay in the know

Get the latest ownership updates delivered to your inbox.

Browse

  • All Brands
  • Categories
  • Companies
  • Countries
  • Compare Brands
  • Blog
  • Brand Quiz
  • RSS Feed

Company

  • About Us
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Submit a Brand
  • List Your Brand
  • Write for Us

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Disclaimer

Support Us

☕Buy me a coffee

2026 Who Brands. All information is provided for educational purposes. Brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Home
  2. Brands
  3. Conglomerates & Industrial
  4. Motion
Motion logo
Conglomerates & Industrial

Who Owns Motion?

Motion, formally Motion Industries, is the industrial distribution brand of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a publicly traded American distribution company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama, Motion distributes industrial maintenance, repair, and operations supplies to more than 180,000 customers and will become a standalone public company in Q1 2027.

Parent Company

Genuine Parts Company

Acquired

1972

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Motion Timeline

1928
Genuine Parts Company

Parent company established in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company Founded
1946

Motion

Founded by Caldwell Marks, William Spencer III

Founded
1972
Acquired by Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company acquired Motion

Acquired
GlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Motion?

  • Parent Company: Genuine Parts Company
  • Ownership Type: Subsidiary
  • Acquisition Year: 1972
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: NYSE: GPC
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
MotionGenuine Parts CompanySubsidiary

History of Motion

  • Founded: 1946
  • Founders: Caldwell Marks, William Spencer III
  • Acquired by Genuine Parts Company: 1972

Motion Industries began as Owen Richards Company, an industrial supply business purchased in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1946 by Caldwell Marks and William Spencer III. The founders renamed it Motion Industries, saying "everything we do moves," a nod to its bearings and power-transmission focus.

The company grew through the postwar industrial expansion as a distributor of bearings, drives, motors, and related MRO products. It was one of the first industrial distributors to adopt a central warehouse and electronic parts database, which became its operational edge.

Genuine Parts merged with Motion in 1972, bringing the industrial distributor under the same corporate umbrella as NAPA. Over the following decades, Motion expanded through acquisitions and greenfield branches into a continental network, becoming the largest part of GPC's industrial business. In 2018, GPC's EIS electrical products subsidiary was folded into Motion's Electrical Specialties Group before EIS was sold separately in 2019.

The brand entered its next chapter in February 2026 when GPC announced the spin-off plan. In September 2026, the company confirmed the new company will trade under the Motion name, with investor days scheduled for December 2026 and the separation targeted for Q1 2027.

About Genuine Parts Company

What does Genuine Parts Company own?
Genuine Parts Company owns NAPA Auto Parts (automotive aftermarket distribution in North America), Repco (automotive aftermarket in Australasia), Motion Industries (industrial parts distribution), UAP Inc. (Canadian automotive parts), and TruckPro (heavy-duty truck parts). The company operates over 10,000 automotive locations globally and approximately 600 industrial service centers.

Is Genuine Parts publicly traded?
Yes, Genuine Parts Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker GPC. The company has been publicly traded since 1968 and has paid dividends for over 65 consecutive years, qualifying it as a Dividend King. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street.

What is Genuine Parts' annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Genuine Parts reported sales of $24.3 billion, up 3.5% from $23.5 billion in FY2024. Net income was $66 million ($0.47 per diluted share), down significantly from $904 million ($6.47 per diluted share) in FY2024. Adjusted net income was $1.0 billion ($7.37 per diluted share).

Who is the CEO of Genuine Parts?
Will Stengel serves as Chair-Elect and Chief Executive Officer. Stengel led the announcement of the planned separation of GPC's automotive and industrial businesses into two independent public companies in February 2026.

Is Genuine Parts splitting up?
Yes. In February 2026, Genuine Parts announced a plan to separate its Automotive Parts Group ("Global Automotive") and Industrial Parts Group ("Global Industrial") into two independent publicly traded companies via a tax-free spinoff. Global Automotive generated over $15 billion in sales and $1.2 billion in EBITDA in 2025. Global Industrial generated approximately $9 billion in revenue. The separation is targeted for completion in Q1 2027.

What is NAPA Auto Parts?
NAPA Auto Parts is the primary automotive aftermarket brand operated by Genuine Parts Company's North America Automotive segment. With 6,864 locations across the U.S. and Canada, NAPA is one of the largest automotive aftermarket distribution networks in North America. The NAPA network includes a mix of approximately 35% company-owned and 65% independently-owned stores, plus over 20,000 NAPA Auto Care repair centers.

Does Genuine Parts pay a dividend?
Yes. Genuine Parts is known for its long track record of dividend increases, with over 65 consecutive years of annual dividend increases as of 2024, qualifying it as a Dividend King under the standard definition of 50-plus years of consecutive increases.

  • Founded: 1928
  • Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: NYSE: GPC

Visit Genuine Parts Company website

View full company profile for Genuine Parts Company

Where Is Motion Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama, USA
  • Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

Motion Categories & Tags

Industrial PartsMroDistributionMotionGenuine PartsAmerican Brand

Motion Sustainability & Ethics

Motion has no independent sustainability certifications at the brand level; programs are reported under Genuine Parts' corporate commitments, including distribution efficiency and supplier standards.

The brand's environmental profile is that of a distributor: emissions from a large vehicle fleet and warehouse network, packaging waste from millions of shipped SKUs, and safety/labor compliance across a global workforce. Motion sells products supporting customers' efficiency and emissions goals but does not market itself as a green brand.

Ethics issues are typical for industrial distribution: supplier sourcing standards, workplace safety, and service transparency. No major scandals specific to the Motion brand are on record.

Motion Recalls & Controversies

Motion has not been the subject of major brand-level controversies or recalls. As a distributor, its exposure to product defects runs through supplier recalls affecting parts it sells, rather than faults in its own products.

The most significant event for the brand is the corporate separation itself, which carries execution risk around systems separation, standalone audit work, and customer continuity through the Q1 2027 transition. GPC management has framed the split as giving Motion dedicated leadership and capital to compete as a focused industrial distributor.

Earlier controversy around Motion is limited to routine labor and service disputes in its branch network, none rising to a brand-level reputational event.

Brands Owned by Genuine Parts Company

NAPA Auto PartsAutomotive

NAPA 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
View all brands owned by Genuine Parts Company

Motion Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +Leading diversified industrial distributor with ~720 North American branches
  • +Deep MRO customer relationships and 10-million-plus SKU offering
  • +Will operate as a focused standalone company with dedicated leadership in Q1 2027
  • +Exposure to resilient industrial demand across 14-plus end markets
  • +Potential to participate in data center infrastructure supply chain over time

Considerations

  • -Industrial distribution is cyclical and tied to manufacturing activity
  • -Faces scale competition from Fastenal and Grainger plus specialists
  • -Spin-off execution risk around systems, staffing, and standalone audit work
  • -GPC's 2025 industrial softness showed exposure to weaker manufacturing demand
  • -Customer and supplier concentration risks at the high end of the catalog

Frequently Asked Questions About Motion

Sources & Further Reading

  • Motion Official Website
  • Genuine Parts Investor Relations
  • GPC Separation Leadership Announcement (September 9, 2026)
  • GPC 2025 Form 10-K (SEC)
  • NYSE: Genuine Parts (GPC)
  • Wikidata: Motion Industries

Competitors to Motion

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

BrandParent CompanyCountryFoundedMarket PositionPrimary MarketGender Target
The Home Depot ProThe Home Depot Pro
Home Depot
USA
2015
Market leaderUnited statesBusiness
AvnetAvnet
Avnet
USA
1921
Mass marketGlobalAll Genders
DangeloDangelo
Core Main
USA
1987
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders
Distributors Inc.Distributors Inc.
Core Main
USA
2018
SpecialtyUnited statesAll-ages
HEICO Distribution GroupHEICO Distribution Group
Heico Corporation
USA
1993
Mass marketGlobalAll Genders
NAPA Auto PartsNAPA Auto PartsSister Brand
Genuine Parts
USA
1925
Mass marketGlobalAll Genders

Learn More About Competitors

The Home Depot ProRetail Ecommerce

The Home Depot Pro

Owned by The Home Depot Inc.

The Home Depot's business-to-business maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) distribution brand, rebuilt through the $8 billion HD Supply reacquisition in 2020, serving multifamily, hospitality, healthcare, and institutional customers.

b2bmrodistribution
AvnetTechnology Software

Avnet

Owned by Avnet, Inc.

American electronic component distribution brand founded in 1921, serving manufacturers worldwide as the flagship of Avnet, Inc.

electronicssemiconductorsdistribution
DangeloConglomerates Industrial

Dangelo

Owned by Core & Main Inc.

Fire protection and waterworks distributor in Southern California, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Core & Main Inc. (NYSE: CNM) since July 2023.

fire-protectionwaterworksdistribution
Distributors Inc.Conglomerates Industrial

Distributors Inc.

Owned by Core & Main Inc.

Full-service fire protection distributor providing comprehensive fire protection products and services in Hawaii.

fire-protectiondistributionhawaii
HEICO Distribution GroupAerospace Defense

HEICO Distribution Group

Owned by HEICO Corporation

Aerospace aftermarket parts distribution division of HEICO Corporation, supplying FAA-approved components to airlines and MRO providers globally.

aircraft-partsaviationaerospace
NAPA Auto PartsAutomotive

NAPA 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

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Motion competes with 6 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.

Independent Alternatives to Motion

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Genuine Parts Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

ACC LimitedConglomerates Industrial

ACC Limited

Owned by Adani Group

Indian cement and ready-mix concrete manufacturer, one of the oldest cement companies in India, owned by Adani Group since 2022.

cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned

ACC Limited is privately owned, unlike Motion which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Ambuja CementConglomerates Industrial

Ambuja Cement

Owned by Adani Group

Indian cement manufacturer providing construction materials and building solutions, owned by Adani Group since 2022.

cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned

Ambuja Cement is privately owned, unlike Motion which is under a publicly traded parent company.

CHSConglomerates Industrial

CHS

Owned by CHS Inc.

American agribusiness brand for grain, agronomy, energy, and crop input services, the master brand of the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States.

agribusinesscooperativegrain
Privately Owned

CHS is privately owned, unlike Motion which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Dalmia CementConglomerates Industrial

Dalmia Cement

Owned by Dalmia Bharat Group

Indian cement and building materials brand owned by Dalmia Bharat Group, the fourth largest cement manufacturer in India by capacity.

cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned

Dalmia Cement is privately owned, unlike Motion which is under a publicly traded parent company.

UltraTech CementConglomerates Industrial

UltraTech Cement

Owned by Aditya Birla Group

Indian cement and building solutions brand owned by Aditya Birla Group, headquartered in Mumbai, and the largest cement producer in India by capacity.

cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned

UltraTech Cement is privately owned, unlike Motion which is under a publicly traded parent company.

FastenalConglomerates Industrial

Fastenal

Owned by Fastenal Company

American industrial and construction supplies distributor, the largest fastener distributor in North America with over 3,500 locations across 25 countries.

fastenersindustrial-distributionconstruction-supplies
Publicly Traded

Fastenal operates independently without a large parent corporation.

Genuine Parts Company Stock Information

Jobs at Genuine Parts Company

Latest News About Motion

Related Articles About Motion

View more articles
Regional Brands That Got Swallowed by Multinationals
Global

Regional Brands That Got Swallowed by Multinationals

La Serenissima is now Arcor/Danone. Innovist is now L'Oreal. Zabka is being bought by Couche-Tard for $8.6B. S Brands is now Wipro. Discover regional brands swallowed by multinationals. Explore our database.

Who Brands StaffSep 26, 2026
GlobalAcquisitionsBrand Ownership
Why Some Global Brands Have Different Names Abroad
Global

Why Some Global Brands Have Different Names Abroad

Lay's is Walkers in the UK. Burger King is Hungry Jack's in Australia. KFC is PFK in Quebec. Mr. Clean is Don Limpio in Spain. Discover why global brands have different names abroad. Explore our database.

Who Brands StaffSep 24, 2026
GlobalInternationalBrand Ownership
Brands That Mean Different Things in Different Countries
Global

Brands That Mean Different Things in Different Countries

Fila is premium in Taipei but budget in Europe. Muller yogurt means indulgence in Italy but health in Germany. Starbucks' Tank Day caused boycotts in Korea. Discover brands that mean different things in different countries. Explore our database.

Who Brands StaffSep 23, 2026
GlobalInternationalBrand Ownership
View more articles

People Also Searched

Discover popular brands and companies in the Conglomerates & Industrial category and related searches from other users.

ACC Limited
Brandcement

ACC Limited

Indian cement and ready-mix concrete manufacturer, one of the oldest cement companies in India, owned by Adani Group since 2022.

Brand in Conglomerates & Industrial
constructionbuilding-materials
Aggregates USA
Brandaggregates

Aggregates USA

Crushed stone, sand, and gravel producer operating quarries and distribution facilities primarily in the southeastern United States, operating as a division of Vulcan Materials Company.

Brand in Conglomerates & Industrial
construction-materialsquarrying
Ambuja Cement
Brandcement

Ambuja Cement

Indian cement manufacturer providing construction materials and building solutions, owned by Adani Group since 2022.

Brand in Conglomerates & Industrial
constructionbuilding-materials
Browse All Conglomerates & Industrial

Last reviewed: September 26, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team