What Cardone Industries does

Cardone Industries was a Philadelphia-based remanufacturer of automotive replacement parts, founded in 1970 by Michael Cardone, Sr. and Michael Cardone, Jr. as a wiper motor remanufacturer and grown over 50+ years into a major U.S. independent aftermarket supplier. The company operated a multi-category portfolio spanning brakes (including ABS components, brake boosters and pumps, disc brakes), drivetrain (differentials, axles, transmission and transfer case components), electronics (engine, transmission, body, ABS and other control modules), engine (ignition and pumps), fuel/air/exhaust (throttle bodies, MAF sensors, turbochargers, fuel injectors), steering (power steering components, rack and pinion), and motors (window lift, wiper, sunroof, power sliding door, transfer case). The portfolio was marketed under three sub-brands: CARDONE Reman (remanufactured cores), CARDONE New (new aftermarket), and CARDONE Ultra (premium tier), with a fourth brand, Modulus Premium Steering Solutions, under the corporate umbrella.

The business was built on a remanufacturing model in which used automotive parts ('cores') were returned by customers, disassembled, cleaned, rebuilt with new wear components, and 100% tested to O.E. performance standards using protocols such as hydraulic efficiency testing and computer load testing. This model produced parts priced approximately 40% below new OEM equivalents while saving up to 86% of energy and 85% of raw material versus new production, positioning the company on a Reduce-Reuse-Recycle sustainability thesis. Revenue was generated through a hybrid go-to-market: B2B e-commerce on cardone.com with login-gated pricing, an authorized reseller network with a 'Where to Buy' finder, and independent aftermarket distributors serving the IAM segment across the U.S. and Canada.

Cardone was acquired by First Brands Group LLC in 2020 as part of a rollup consolidation strategy. First Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025 amid a fraud investigation, and in January 2026 commenced a wind-down of Cardone, Brake Parts Inc., and Autolite after failing to secure DIP financing or buyers. Texas manufacturing facilities were permanently closed with 129 workers laid off, and the 1.3 million-square-foot Northeast Philadelphia headquarters was listed for lease. The company's operating status is now recorded as closed, and its assets are the subject of active bankruptcy litigation among prepetition lenders.

Name

Cardone Industries

Legal name

Cardone Industries

Website

https://cardone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Cardone Industries remanufactured and supplied automotive replacement parts (brakes, drivetrain, electronics, steering, motors) to the U.S. and Canadian independent aftermarket under CARDONE Reman, New, and Ultra brands. Founded in Philadelphia in 1970, its operations were wound down in January 2026 following its parent First Brands Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Remanufactured Automotive Aftermarket Parts

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers (42314)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Powertrain Electronics & Controls Remanufacturing (ECUs/TCUs, Mechatronics) (TLAKALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Starter, Alternator & Motor/Generator Rebuild/Remanufacturing (TLAKALAM), Fuel System Component Rebuild/Remanufacturing (Injectors, Pumps, Common Rail) (TLAKALAF), Driveline Components Rebuild/Remanufacturing (Driveshafts, U-joints, CV joints) (TLAKALAD), Engines (Diesel/Gasoline/Natural Gas) Rebuild & Remanufacturing (TLAKALAA)

Keywords

• Remanufactured auto parts
• Automotive aftermarket parts
• Brake components
• Steering systems
• Engine electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Auto Parts Sales: Sale of new and remanufactured automotive replacement parts including brakes, drivetrain components, electronics, engine parts, steering systems, and motors. Products sold under CARDONE Reman, CARDONE New, and CARDONE Ultra brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cardone Industries remanufactures and distributes automotive replacement parts, including brakes, drivetrain, electronics, engine, fuel/air/exhaust, steering, and motors, sold under the CARDONE Reman, CARDONE New, and CARDONE Ultra sub-brands. The company runs a core exchange program that takes back used automotive parts as raw material for remanufacturing, and sells primarily to the independent aftermarket through authorized resellers, distributors, and a login-gated B2B e-commerce portal.

Product overview

Cardone Industries is an aftermarket auto parts manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio organized into three sub-brands: CARDONE Reman (remanufactured parts rebuilt from core units), CARDONE New (new aftermarket parts), and CARDONE Ultra (premium-tier products). The company also markets Modulus Premium Steering Solutions. The core product portfolio spans six major categories: Brakes (including ABS Components, Brake Boosters & Pumps, Disc Brakes), Drivetrain (Differential, Driveline & Axles, Transmission & Transfer Case), Electronics (Control Modules, Dashboard), Engine (Ignition, Pumps), Fuel/Air/Exhaust (Air Intake, Emission Control, Forced Induction, Fuel Injection System), Steering (Power Steering Components, Rack & Pinion, Steering Gear & Components), and Motors (Comfort & Convenience, Drivetrain Motors, Window Lift, Wiper and Washer). Founded in 1970, the company operates on a sustainability model emphasizing Reduce, Reuse, Recycle principles, with remanufacturing reducing energy and raw material consumption by up to 80%.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARDONE Reman: Remanufactured automotive parts, including engines, electronics, fuel systems, and steering components.
• CARDONE New
• CARDONE Ultra
• Modulus Premium Steering Solutions

Products and services

• Brakes Full line of brake components for the automotive aftermarket, including ABS Components, Brake Boosters & Pumps, and Disc Brakes (calipers, brackets, dust shields, parking brake actuators), sold as new and remanufactured SKUs under CARDONE Reman, CARDONE New, and CARDONE Ultra.
• Drivetrain Drivetrain components for the automotive aftermarket, including Differentials (4WD actuators, drive axle assemblies, leaf spring U-bolt kits), Driveline & Axles (CV axle assemblies, CV intermediate shafts, driveshafts/prop shafts), and Transmission & Transfer Case products (transfer case and transmission control modules, transfer case motors).
• Electronics Automotive electronic modules and dashboard components, including a full line of Control Modules (ABS, Active Suspension, Body, Diesel Fuel Injector Driver, Diesel Glow Plug, Engine, Fuel Injector, Fuel Pump Driver, Integrated, Lighting, Power Supply/TIPM, Powertrain, Relay, Transfer Case, Transmission, Vehicle) and Dashboard components (Climate Control Module, Instrument Cluster).
• Engine Engine components for the automotive aftermarket, including Ignition products (camshaft synchronizer alignment tool kits, distributors, camshaft position sensors, camshaft synchronizers, crankshaft position sensors) and Pumps (engine auxiliary water pumps, oil pump drive shafts, smog air pumps, vacuum pumps, vacuum pump pulleys).
• Fuel, Air & Exhaust Fuel system, air intake, and emission control components, including throttle bodies, mass air flow sensors, DEF heaters and pumps, diesel particulate filters, EGR coolers, NOx sensors, turbochargers, and fuel injectors for the automotive aftermarket.
• Steering Steering system components, including Power Steering Components (power steering pumps, power steering filters with patented bypass filtration, power steering power cylinders), Rack & Pinion assemblies, and Steering Gear products for the automotive aftermarket.
• Motors Electric motors for comfort, convenience, and drivetrain applications, including power sliding door motors, sunroof motors, headlight motors, power liftgate actuators, transfer case motors, window lift motors, and wiper motors.
• Rebuild & Return Service (Core Exchange Program) Service that takes back used automotive parts from customers as raw material for the remanufacturing process, issuing a core credit and reducing energy use by approximately 80% compared with new production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reman products cost consumers about 40% less than new
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Standard Motor Products: Major US aftermarket parts manufacturer (engine management, ignition, electronics, temperature control) explicitly co-listed with Cardone in the idle air control valve market analysis; directly comparable IAM portfolio with both new and reman lines.
• Dorman Products: Large US-based aftermarket auto parts company offering new and re-engineered solutions across drivetrain, electronics, brakes, and steering; competes head-to-head with Cardone in the IAM channel and on similar SKUs.
• BBB Industries: Remanufacturer of automotive alternators, starters, steering, brake calipers, and power steering components; one of the closest direct competitors in the reman segment Cardone historically led.
• Motorcar Parts of America: US-based remanufacturer of alternators, starters, brake calipers, and powertrain components serving the IAM channel; directly comparable business model and customer base to Cardone.
• Spectra Premium Industries: Aftermarket parts manufacturer covering fuel, cooling, and engine management — explicitly mentioned alongside Cardone in IAM market analyses; comparable product breadth and IAM distribution.
• WAI Global: Global distributor and remanufacturer of starters, alternators, and automotive electronics; competes directly with Cardone's motors and electronics reman lines in the IAM and heavy-duty segments.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Global Tier 1 supplier's aftermarket division offering a broad portfolio of new and reman parts (brakes, electronics, fuel injection, diagnostics); much larger and broader than Cardone but overlaps across nearly every product category.
• ACDelco: GM's aftermarket parts brand covering batteries, brakes, electronics, and engine components; competes with Cardone across most IAM categories, with OEM-anchored brand strength.
• DRiV (Tenneco): Aftermarket and OE ride-performance supplier (formerly Tenneco) covering braking, steering, powertrain, and emissions; broader portfolio than Cardone but overlapping in steering and powertrain electronics.

Regional players

• Bapcor: Australian-listed automotive parts distributor and remanufacturer; comparable business model combining parts remanufacturing with wholesale distribution, though primarily serving the ANZ market rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CARDONEindustries
• Facebookfacebook.com/283384408494
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardone-industries
• Xx.com/cardoneparts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardone Industries