Qa1
QA1 is a privately held U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1993 and based in Lakeville, Minnesota, that designs and sells high-performance automotive suspension components — shocks, struts, coilovers, kits, and drivetrain parts — for GM, Ford, and Mopar vehicle platforms across drag racing, street performance, and handling segments, distributed direct-to-consumer and through major specialty dealers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersLakeville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Qa1 does
QA1 is a U.S.-based, privately held manufacturer of high-performance automotive suspension components, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota. The company designs and produces a broad mechanical product line including shocks, struts, coilovers, complete suspension kits, control arms, sway bars, rod ends, linkages, brake kits, ball joints, springs, and carbon fiber driveshafts, serving vehicle platforms from GM, Ford, and Mopar across drag racing, street performance, circle track, handling, big wheel, and truck segments. Individual components are priced from approximately $10 to over $700, while complete suspension kits range from roughly $1,900 to $8,400, indicating a multi-tier offering that spans entry-level hobbyist to professional racer use cases.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct e-commerce with a national authorized-dealer network that includes major specialty performance retailers such as JEGS, Summit Racing, Speedway Motors, and Turn 14 Distribution. QA1 also owns Speedtech Performance as a wholly owned subsidiary brand, expanding its reach within the performance-vehicle aftermarket. The business is WBENC-certified as a Women's Business Enterprise and currently employs 101-250 people. In 2025 the company opened an 81,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Mooresville, North Carolina and a sales and product development center in St. George, Utah, with a follow-on capacity expansion at the Mooresville site announced for 2026, indicating active scale-up of physical operations outside the Minnesota headquarters.
Qa1 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Qa1
- Legal name
- QA1
- Website
- https://qa1.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- QA1 is a privately held U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1993 and based in Lakeville, Minnesota, that designs and sells high-performance automotive suspension components — shocks, struts, coilovers, kits, and drivetrain parts — for GM, Ford, and Mopar vehicle platforms across drag racing, street performance, and handling segments, distributed direct-to-consumer and through major specialty dealers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Qa1 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performance Automotive Suspension Components
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Suspension Systems & Components (Springs/Shocks/Struts/Air Suspension) (IMACAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stabilizer & Anti-Roll Systems (Sway Bars/Links) (IMACAIAM), Axle & Suspension Linkages (Control Arms/Tie Rods/Bushings/Ball Joints) (IMACAIAL), Aftermarket Suspension & Steering Components Manufacturing (Shocks/Struts/Bushings/Tie Rods) (IMACANAC)
Keywords
Where Qa1 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakeville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Qa1 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Suspension Parts and Systems Sales: Direct sales of high-performance suspension components, shocks, struts, and complete suspension kits to consumers and through dealer network. Products range from individual components ($10-$50) to complete vehicle kits ($1,900-$8,400).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Components |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Suspension Kits and Systems |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Qa1 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
QA1 designs, manufactures, and distributes high-performance automotive suspension components and systems, including adjustable shocks, coilover kits, tubular control arms, sway bars, spindles, and complete vehicle handling kits tailored for GM, Ford, and Mopar platforms. The company sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce storefront and through an authorized dealer and distributor network, with a parallel OEM/industrial line supplying motion control solutions to commercial customers.
Product overview
QA1 is a high-performance automotive suspension manufacturer offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered around adjustable shocks, struts, and complete suspension systems. The core offering includes Shocks & Struts (with sub-lines Proma Star, MOD Series, Stocker Star, Ultra Ride, and Aluma Matic for street/drag, plus 5Q/6Q/7Q/8Q/26/27/63 Series for circle track), Suspension Kits & Systems (Handling Kits, Drag Kits, Big Wheel Kits, Lowering Kits, Coilover Conversion Systems, and 4-Link Systems), and Suspension Components (9-inch rear end housings, control arms, spindles, sway bars, trailing arms, panhard bars, chassis stiffening, engine mounts, and crossmembers). Supporting product lines include Springs, Brake Kits, Ball Joints, Rod Ends & Linkages, Carbon Fiber Driveshafts, Proforged Steering Kits, and DIY Suspension Parts. The company also offers OEM/Industrial solutions and sub-brands including Speedtech Performance. Products serve markets across trucks, street performance, handling, drag racing, circle track, and big wheel applications, primarily for GM, Ford, and Mopar vehicles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Speedtech Performance: Performance suspension components and systems brand under QA1 Brands
Products and services
- Shocks & Struts
- Suspension Kits & Systems
- Suspension Components
- DIY Suspension Parts
- Springs
- Proforged Steering Kits
- Brake Kits
- Ball Joints
- Rod Ends & Linkages
- Carbon Fiber Driveshafts
- OEM / Industrial Solutions
Companies that use Qa1
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Qa1 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Qa1 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Speedtech PerformancecoreSpeedtech Performance is one of QA1 Brands' portfolio companies. QA1 Brands expanded manufacturing footprint to consolidate production including Speedtech Performance to meet surging demand and improve lead times for its brands.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Qa1 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fox Factory Holding Corp: Fox Factory designs and manufactures high-performance shocks, coilovers, and suspension components for mountain bikes, off-road, on-road, and racing applications under the FOX, BDS, and Icon brands. Directly comparable to QA1 across adjustable shocks, coilovers, and vehicle-specific suspension kits for trucks, Jeeps, and performance cars, but at significantly larger scale and with broader OEM and mountain-bike exposure.
- Eibach Springs: Eibach is a global manufacturer of performance springs, sway bars, and coilovers used in motorsport and OE applications. Comparable to QA1 across springs, sway bars, and OE-adjacent suspension components, with stronger motorsport and OE-program exposure.
- Bilstein (thyssenkrupp Bilstein): Bilstein is a leading global manufacturer of monotube gas-pressure shock absorbers and suspension components for OE and aftermarket, including performance series for street and motorsport. Comparable to QA1 across adjustable and non-adjustable shock absorbers and strut assemblies, but at a much larger scale with deep OE manufacturer relationships.
Direct peers
- KW Automotive / KW Suspensions: KW Automotive is a German manufacturer of high-performance coilovers, suspension kits, and motorsport dampers under the KW, ST Suspensions, and Belltech brands. Directly competes with QA1 in adjustable coilovers and complete vehicle-specific suspension upgrades for street performance, with a strong European footprint that QA1 lacks.
- Hotchkis Sport Suspension: Hotchkis designs and sells handling kits, sway bars, coilovers, and chassis components for classic American muscle cars and late-model performance vehicles (GM, Ford, Mopar). Closely comparable to QA1 in vehicle-specific handling kits, sway bars, and tubular control arms targeting the same enthusiast and drag-strip customer.
- Belltech (a KW brand): Belltech specializes in lowering kits, spindles, shocks, and suspension components for trucks, SUVs, and performance cars. Overlaps directly with QA1's lowering kits, spindles, control arms, and sway bar offerings targeting truck and street performance customers.
- AFCO Racing / AFCO Performance Group: AFCO Racing manufactures adjustable shock absorbers, coilover systems, and chassis components primarily for dirt-track, drag racing, and street performance applications. Directly comparable to QA1 across circle track shocks (5Q-8Q/26/27/63 equivalent), drag shocks, and tubular control arms serving the same racing disciplines.
- RideTech (a Polaris portfolio brand): RideTech manufactures air suspension, coilovers, tubular control arms, and chassis components for classic muscle cars, trucks, and pro-touring builds. Comparable to QA1 in coilover and tubular control-arm offerings for the same GM/Ford/Mopar classic-vehicle restoration and pro-touring segment.
- BMR Suspension: BMR Suspension manufactures polyurethane bushings, lowering springs, sway bars, control arms, and chassis braces for late-model GM, Ford, and Mopar performance applications. Directly comparable to QA1's tubular control arms, sway bars, panhard bars, and chassis stiffening components for the same domestic performance-car enthusiast base.
- Viking Performance / Viking Shocks: Viking Performance builds custom, hand-assembled two-tube and three-tube adjustable shock absorbers for street rods, hot rods, and pro-touring vehicles. Overlaps directly with QA1's Proma Star and MOD Series adjustable shocks for street, drag, and custom builds.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Qa1 social profiles
Digital presenceQa1 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Qa1 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Qa1 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Qa1 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Qa1 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Qa1 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Qa1
What does Qa1 do?
QA1 designs, manufactures, and distributes high-performance automotive suspension components and systems, including adjustable shocks, coilover kits, tubular control arms, sway bars, spindles, and complete vehicle handling kits tailored for GM, Ford, and Mopar platforms. The company sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce storefront and through an authorized dealer and distributor network, with a parallel OEM/industrial line supplying motion control solutions to commercial customers.
Is Qa1 a public or private company?
Qa1 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Qa1 founded?
Qa1 was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Qa1 based?
Qa1 is headquartered in Lakeville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Qa1 make money?
One revenue line is on record: suspension Parts and Systems Sales.
Who are Qa1's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fox Factory Holding Corp, Eibach Springs and Bilstein (thyssenkrupp Bilstein). Direct peers are KW Automotive / KW Suspensions, Hotchkis Sport Suspension, Belltech (a KW brand), AFCO Racing / AFCO Performance Group, RideTech (a Polaris portfolio brand), BMR Suspension and Viking Performance / Viking Shocks.
Does Qa1 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Qa1.
What industry is Qa1 in?
Qa1's product category is Performance Automotive Suspension Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAIAA, Suspension Systems & Components (Springs/Shocks/Struts/Air Suspension), with a secondary code of IMACAIAM, Stabilizer & Anti-Roll Systems (Sway Bars/Links). Its NAICS code is 336330 and its SIC code is 3714.