Arnold Motor Supply
Arnold Motor Supply is a Midwest auto parts retailer and distributor operating 66-79 retail stores across Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri, serving DIY vehicle owners and professional installers with parts, machine shop services, and two private-label brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersSpencer, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Arnold Motor Supply does
Arnold Motor Supply is a Midwest-based automotive aftermarket retailer and distributor founded in 1927 by E.P. Arnold in Spencer, Iowa, and organized as Arnold Motor Supply LLP. The company operates 66-79 retail stores across Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri, with 20 locations housing full-service machine shops that rebuild engines and cylinder heads. Its core offering is a multi-category parts catalog spanning brakes, engine, electrical, drive train, suspension, fuel and emissions, heating and cooling, and ignition products, complemented by two private-label brands: Perfect Stop (brake components) and MacPherson Ride Control (suspension components) manufactured in ISO-certified facilities. The company also operates three dedicated divisions: Industrial Paint Solutions (industrial coatings for light-duty manufacturers, formed 1996), Auto Refinish Solutions (collision parts and body shop equipment, formed 2006), and the Machine Shop (engine rebuilding, acquired 2005).
The business serves two primary customer segments: DIY individual vehicle owners transacting at retail counters, and a B2B base of professional installers, specialty shops, and fleet operators served through the For The Pro program and MyPlace4Parts online ordering platform. Revenue is generated through unit-priced parts sales (hardware model), with core charges on remanufactured components and quote-based pricing for commercial accounts; online orders are placed for in-store pickup rather than direct shipping. Distribution runs through a physical retail network with select delivery for professional customers, with e-commerce and store-locator tools supporting lead generation.
A defining institutional feature is the employee partnership ownership model in place since 1966, in which employees become owners through a minimum $500 investment (a tribute to founder E.P. Arnold's original $500 capital). The company has been a member of the Auto Value group since 1983, participates in the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, and connects to a network of more than 35,000 Certified Service Centers offering the Confidence Plus North American Warranty. The website and e-commerce platform are operated on Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance software.
Arnold Motor Supply firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arnold Motor Supply
- Legal name
- Arnold Motor Supply LLP
- Website
- https://arnoldmotorsupply.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Arnold Motor Supply is a Midwest auto parts retailer and distributor operating 66-79 retail stores across Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri, serving DIY vehicle owners and professional installers with parts, machine shop services, and two private-label brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arnold Motor Supply industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Auto Parts Retail
- NAICS
- Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (4413), Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (33634), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension Components Manufacturing (IMACAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Paint, refinishing & body shop supplies distribution (coatings, abrasives, tools, consumables) (CRAOANAF), Tires, wheels & related supplies distribution (CRAOANAD)
Keywords
Where Arnold Motor Supply is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spencer
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices66 records
Markets served
Arnold Motor Supply business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Auto Parts Retail: Sale of automotive parts and accessories through physical retail stores and online ordering with in-store pickup. Products include brakes, batteries, alternators, suspension parts, engine components, and more for all vehicle types.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual parts and accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Arnold Motor Supply product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arnold Motor Supply sells replacement parts, accessories, tools, and supplies for all vehicle types through 66–79 retail stores across the Midwest and an online catalog with in-store pickup. The product range spans brakes, batteries, alternators, suspension, engine components, electrical, fuel and emission, heating and cooling, and collision parts, supported by private-label brands Perfect Stop and MacPherson Ride Control, three operating divisions (core retail, Auto Refinish Solutions, Industrial Paint Solutions), and 20 in-store full-service machine shops.
Product overview
Arnold Motor Supply is an auto parts retailer and distributor operating 79 retail stores across the Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri) with 20 full-service machine shops. The company offers a multi-category parts catalog spanning Belts & Cooling, Brakes & Wheel Bearings, Chassis & Steering, Drive Train, Electrical, Engine, Exhaust & Clutch, Fuel & Emission, Heating & Air Conditioning, Ignition & Engine Filters, and Vision Manuals & Misc. product lines. Their portfolio includes owned brands (Perfect Stop brake products and MacPherson Ride Control suspension products) alongside national third-party brands. The company operates through three divisions: the core retail auto parts business, Auto Refinish Solutions (collision parts and body shop equipment), and Industrial Paint Solutions (industrial coatings). Online purchasing is available via their e-commerce platform with in-store pickup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Perfect Stop: Private-label brake components brand including disc brake calipers, rotors, pads, drums, and brake boosters.
- MacPherson Ride Control
- Auto Refinish Solutions
- Industrial Paint Solutions
Products and services
- Perfect Stop Private-label brake components product line including disc brake calipers, rotors, pads, drum brake shoes, brake drums, power brake boosters, and ABS wheel speed sensors, manufactured in ISO certified facilities and sold through Arnold Motor Supply stores and website.
- MacPherson Ride Control Private-label suspension components product line including strut and coil spring assemblies, shock absorbers, struts, and steering dampers for the automotive aftermarket, sold through Arnold Motor Supply stores and website.
- Machine Shop Services Full-service engine rebuilding and cylinder head rebuilding services offered at 20 of Arnold Motor Supply's retail locations across the Midwest, with the main facility in Nevada, Iowa (formerly Midwest Cylinder Head).
- Auto Refinish Solutions Division supplying collision parts and selling and servicing body shop and industrial painting equipment for collision and refinish customers.
- Industrial Paint Solutions Light industrial coatings division selling industrial paint to light-duty manufacturers, formed from the 1996 Automotive Paint and Equipment acquisition and expanded with the 2003 purchase of Industrial Paint Supply in Omaha, NE.
- Confidence Plus North American Warranty Parts-and-labor warranty program covering air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, engine performance, emission control, steering, suspension, wheel bearings, fuel systems, brake systems, starting and charging, electrical systems, hybrid batteries, exhaust, and ignition services, available exclusively through Confidence Plus Certified Service Centers partnered with Arnold Motor Supply.
- For The Pro Program Dedicated B2B program offering professional installers, specialty shops, and fleet operations competitive commercial pricing, multiple delivery and purchasing options, online ordering through MyPlace4Parts, and dedicated business support to help grow their business.
Quantifiable outcome
- Stores help customers get the right part, the first time and every time
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Arnold Motor Supply
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Arnold Motor Supply technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Arnold Motor Supply partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Auto Value GroupcoreArnold Motor Supply joined the Auto Value group in March 1983. The company operates under the Auto Value brand at many locations and participates in the Auto Value certified service center network.
- Confidence Plus Certified Service CenterscoreNetwork of more than 35,000 Professional Automotive Certified Service Centers throughout North America offering Confidence Plus North American Warranty for parts and labor coverage.
- Aftermarket Auto Parts AlliancecoreChris Sanchez, VP of Product Category Management, served on the product committee for the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance for four years. The company is part of this major aftermarket automotive parts alliance.
- Industrial Paint SolutionsminorDivision formed in 1996 (originally light industrial coatings division) that sells industrial paint to light-duty manufacturers; acquired Industrial Paint Supply in Omaha, NE in 2003.
- Auto Refinish SolutionsminorDivision started in 2006 that supplies collision parts, and sells and services body shop and industrial painting equipment.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves15 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Arnold Motor Supply competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- O'Reilly Automotive: One of the largest U.S. auto parts retailers with thousands of stores nationwide; directly comparable because both sell replacement parts across all major categories including brakes, suspension, and engine components, with strong professional installer programs.
- AutoZone: Largest U.S. auto parts retailer with ~7,000 stores; comparable to Arnold in core parts categories, private-label programs (Duralast), and commercial B2B sales motion, but with vastly greater scale and omnichannel fulfillment.
- Advance Auto Parts: Major U.S. auto parts chain operating thousands of stores; directly comparable in parts assortment, professional installer focus, and private-label brands, though its footprint and digital capabilities are significantly larger.
- Genuine Parts Company (NAPA Auto Parts): Distribution and retail parent of NAPA Auto Parts, the largest U.S. distributor of auto parts; comparable to Arnold as a parts retailer serving both DIY and professional installers, with a parallel independent-store and alliance-based model.
Direct peers
- Bumper to Bumper (Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance): Arnold's sister banner inside the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance; the closest direct peer given shared alliance affiliation, similar store-level assortment, machine shop services, and professional installer programs.
- Auto Value (Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance banner): Arnold itself operates under the Auto Value banner at many stores since 1983; Auto Value locations nationwide are the most direct peers sharing the same Alliance-backed parts catalog, warranty program, and private-label SKUs.
- Balkamp (NAPA commercial banner): NAPA's heavy-duty and commercial banner; comparable to Arnold's For The Pro program and heavy-duty / fleet focus across brake, suspension, and chassis categories.
Regional players
- Fisher Auto Parts: Regional independent auto parts distributor serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S.; comparable in business model — independent store-based distribution with strong professional installer focus — though its geography does not overlap with Arnold's Midwest base.
Emerging players
- RockAuto: Pure-play online auto parts retailer with a vast catalog and nationwide shipping; an emerging disruptive peer that competes for the same DIY and small-shop customers Arnold serves, particularly those willing to wait for shipping.
Others
- Standard Motor Products: Aftermarket manufacturer and supplier of replacement parts (engine management, ignition, temperature control); relevant peer because it sits upstream in the same supply chain feeding both Arnold's private-label lines and competing parts retailers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Arnold Motor Supply social profiles
Digital presenceArnold Motor Supply compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Arnold Motor Supply financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arnold Motor Supply leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Arnold Motor Supply subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Arnold Motor Supply funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arnold Motor Supply 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 Arnold Motor Supply
What does Arnold Motor Supply do?
Arnold Motor Supply sells replacement parts, accessories, tools, and supplies for all vehicle types through 66–79 retail stores across the Midwest and an online catalog with in-store pickup. The product range spans brakes, batteries, alternators, suspension, engine components, electrical, fuel and emission, heating and cooling, and collision parts, supported by private-label brands Perfect Stop and MacPherson Ride Control, three operating divisions (core retail, Auto Refinish Solutions, Industrial Paint Solutions), and 20 in-store full-service machine shops.
Is Arnold Motor Supply a public or private company?
Arnold Motor Supply is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Arnold Motor Supply founded?
Arnold Motor Supply was founded in 1927. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Arnold Motor Supply based?
Arnold Motor Supply is headquartered in Spencer, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arnold Motor Supply make money?
One revenue line is on record: auto Parts Retail.
Who are Arnold Motor Supply's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are O'Reilly Automotive, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts and Genuine Parts Company (NAPA Auto Parts). Direct peers are Bumper to Bumper (Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance), Auto Value (Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance banner) and Balkamp (NAPA commercial banner). Fisher Auto Parts is listed as a regional player. RockAuto is listed as an emerging player. Standard Motor Products is listed as an others.
Does Arnold Motor Supply have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arnold Motor Supply.
What industry is Arnold Motor Supply in?
Arnold Motor Supply's product category is Auto Parts Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAOAH, Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension Components Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRAOANAF, Paint, refinishing & body shop supplies distribution (coatings, abrasives, tools, consumables). Its NAICS code is 44133 and its SIC code is 3714.