CIPA-USA
CIPA-USA is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of rear view mirrors and related accessories, headquartered in Port Huron, Michigan, serving automotive, powersports, marine, and towing markets via both OE supply and aftermarket distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersPort Huron, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CIPA-USA does
CIPA-USA is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of rear view mirrors and related accessories, headquartered in Port Huron, Michigan, with manufacturing operations in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. Founded in 1985 when it was acquired from CIPA-France (a mirror manufacturer established in 1926), CIPA-USA inherits nearly a century of mirror design heritage and serves four primary end-markets: automotive (passenger vehicles, including OEMs Chrysler, Ford, Honda, and Toyota), powersports (ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft), marine (notably ski boat mirrors, where it claims global category leadership), and towing (custom and universal towing mirrors for trucks and SUVs). The company also produces complementary exterior lighting products (LED and High Intensity lighting under the EVO Formance brand) and performs stamped, cast, forged, and injected molded work for OE programs beyond its core mirror line.
The company's core technical capabilities include in-house CAD design, hard surface 3D prototyping, A2LA-certified laboratory testing, and EDI-based order management. All mirrors comply with FMVSS 111, and the company maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification with a stated zero-defect acceptance criterion. Its principal U.S. facility at 3350 Griswold Rd totals approximately 136,000 square feet across manufacturing, assembly, packaging, distribution, and office space.
CIPA-USA operates a dual go-to-market: an Original Equipment division that sells directly to automotive and recreational vehicle OEMs as a tier-1 supplier, and an Aftermarket division that distributes through authorized online retailers (including Tow-N-Go Solutions, eTrailer.com, 4WheelParts, RealTruck.com, Summit Racing, Overton's, and CarID), a physical dealer network, and its own e-commerce website with vehicle search/fit-chart tools, supported by drop-ship fulfillment via UPS and FedEx. Products are sold at unit pricing — for example, the CIPA Universal Towing Mirror (Part# 11980) lists at $44.99 retail. Most recently disclosed revenue was $11 million in fiscal 2012, up from $500,000 at the time of acquisition from CIPA-France in 1985.
CIPA-USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIPA-USA
- Legal name
- CIPA USA
- Website
- https://cipausa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CIPA-USA is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of rear view mirrors and related accessories, headquartered in Port Huron, Michigan, serving automotive, powersports, marine, and towing markets via both OE supply and aftermarket distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIPA-USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Mirror Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Mirrors & Exterior Vision Systems Manufacturing (Mirrors/Housings/Camera Modules) (IMACAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Automotive Lighting Assemblies Manufacturing (Headlamps/Taillamps/Interior Lamps/DRLs) (IMACAKAG), Automotive Exterior Trim & Appearance Components Manufacturing (Moldings/Badges/Grilles/Chrome/Cladding) (IMACAKAE), Aftermarket Lighting & Visibility Products Manufacturing (Bulbs/LED Kits/Headlamps/Mirrors/Cameras) (IMACANAG), Motorcycle, powersports & ATV parts and accessories distribution (CRAOANAK), Automotive Aftermarket Parts Distribution (Light-Duty) (TLAKAOAA)
Keywords
Where CIPA-USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Huron
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CIPA-USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Aftermarket Mirror and Accessory Sales: CIPA-USA generates revenue through the sale of rear view mirrors, towing mirrors, and accessories to consumers and businesses via authorized online retailers and physical dealers. Products are sold individually at unit prices.
- Original Equipment (OE) Manufacturing: CIPA-USA supplies mirrors and related products directly to automotive OEMs (Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Toyota) and recreational vehicle manufacturers (ski boats, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, PWCs) as a first-tier supplier.
- Lighting & Accessories: CIPA expanded into lighting products including High Intensity and LED lighting applications, sold through the same aftermarket and OE channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing (Unit) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CIPA-USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIPA-USA designs, manufactures, and distributes rear view mirrors and related accessories for the automotive, powersports, marine, and towing industries. The company operates two divisions: an Aftermarket division that sells to consumers and businesses through authorized online retailers and a dealer network, and an Original Equipment (OE) division that supplies mirrors and related products directly to automotive OEMs (Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Toyota) and recreational vehicle manufacturers. The portfolio includes automotive mirrors, custom and universal towing mirrors, powersports mirrors, marine mirrors and brackets, handlebar mirrors, and vehicle lighting products such as LED underbody kits and halogen replacement bulbs.
Product overview
CIPA-USA is a manufacturer of rear view mirrors and related accessories serving multiple industries including automotive, powersports, towing, and marine. The company operates two main divisions: an Aftermarket division and an Original Equipment (OE) division. The core product portfolio includes Automotive Mirrors, Powersports Mirrors (ATV, Motorcycle, Snowmobile, Watercraft), Custom Towing Mirrors, Universal Towing Mirrors, Marine Mirrors, and Marine Mirror Brackets. Beyond mirrors, CIPA has diversified into related products including Exterior Lighting (Evo Formance halogen replacement bulbs, LED underbody kits, strobe lights), RV accessories, and OE manufacturing capabilities (stamped products, castings, forgings, injected molded products). The company manufactures in the US, Mexico, and Asia with headquarters in Port Huron, Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EVO Formance: Product line including halogen replacement headlight bulbs and LED underbody kits, covered under a 30-day warranty (distinct from the standard 1-year warranty on other CIPA products)
Companies that use CIPA-USA
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CIPA-USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CIPA-USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Tow-N-Go SolutionscorePrimary authorized online reseller for CIPA custom towing mirrors. Operates the primary online store for CIPA towing mirror products (e.g., Part# 11550 for F-150). Also serves as an authorized reseller for replacement parts. Tow-N-Go Solutions links directly from CIPA's website for product purchases.
- eTrailer.commajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA products including mirrors and accessories. Listed as a primary online partner on CIPA's website.
- 4WheelPartsmajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA powersports and automotive accessories.
- RealTruck.commajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA truck accessories including towing mirrors.
- Summit Racing EquipmentmajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA automotive and performance products.
- Overton'smajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA marine products including boat mirrors and accessories.
- CarIDmajorAuthorized online retailer for CIPA automotive accessories and lighting products.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CIPA-USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Murakami Corporation: Murakami is a Japanese Tier-1 manufacturer of automotive rearview and side mirrors, supplying domestic OEMs including Honda and Toyota. It is a direct peer in OE mirror supply to several of the same OEMs CIPA-USA serves.
- Gentex Corporation: Gentex is a leading global supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based vision systems to the automotive industry, including electronics-integrated mirrors for major OEMs such as BMW, Ford, and Toyota. It is the most direct comparable to CIPA-USA's mirror business but at significantly greater scale and with deeper electronics integration.
- SMR (Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec): SMR is a major global Tier-1 supplier of automotive exterior mirrors, serving most global OEMs with a broad portfolio of conventional and signal-integrated mirrors. It is a direct competitor in the same product category as CIPA-USA.
- Ficosa International: Ficosa is a Spain-based global supplier of rearview mirrors, camera systems, and vision-related electronics for automotive OEMs, with a portfolio spanning mechanical mirrors through camera-monitor systems. It directly competes with CIPA in the OE mirror market.
- Ichikoh Industries (Valeo): Ichikoh, now part of Valeo, is a Japan-based manufacturer of automotive mirrors, lighting, and related components, supplying domestic OEMs. It is directly comparable in product category to CIPA-USA's mirror and lighting portfolio.
- SL Corporation: SL Corporation is a South Korean Tier-1 supplier specializing in automotive mirrors, lighting, and camera systems, supplying Hyundai, Kia, and other global OEMs. It is a direct peer in the OE mirror and lighting space.
- Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation: Hopkins is a US-based manufacturer of towing, trailer, and aftermarket vehicle accessories, including towing mirrors, lighting, and tow bars. It is a direct competitor in the North American aftermarket towing/accessory category where CIPA-USA sells its custom towing mirrors.
- Fit Systems (Towing Mirrors): Fit Systems specializes in aftermarket replacement towing mirrors for trucks and SUVs, sold through e-commerce channels. It is a direct competitor in the vehicle-specific custom towing mirror category that is a core CIPA-USA product line.
Broad incumbents
- Magna International (Magna Mirrors): Magna is one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, with a Mirrors business unit producing complete mirror assemblies, electrochromic mirrors, and integrated camera systems for global OEMs. It is a much broader incumbent than CIPA-USA but competes in the same mirror product category.
Regional players
- Milenco (Towing & Motorhome Mirrors): Milenco is a UK-based manufacturer of towing mirrors, motorhome mirrors, and related accessories, primarily serving European markets. It is a regional peer in the towing and recreational vehicle mirror segments where CIPA-USA also competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CIPA-USA social profiles
Digital presenceCIPA-USA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CIPA-USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIPA-USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CIPA-USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIPA-USA 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 CIPA-USA
What does CIPA-USA do?
CIPA-USA designs, manufactures, and distributes rear view mirrors and related accessories for the automotive, powersports, marine, and towing industries. The company operates two divisions: an Aftermarket division that sells to consumers and businesses through authorized online retailers and a dealer network, and an Original Equipment (OE) division that supplies mirrors and related products directly to automotive OEMs (Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Toyota) and recreational vehicle manufacturers. The portfolio includes automotive mirrors, custom and universal towing mirrors, powersports mirrors, marine mirrors and brackets, handlebar mirrors, and vehicle lighting products such as LED underbody kits and halogen replacement bulbs.
Is CIPA-USA a public or private company?
CIPA-USA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CIPA-USA founded?
CIPA-USA was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CIPA-USA based?
CIPA-USA is headquartered in Port Huron, United States, in the North America region.
How does CIPA-USA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Aftermarket Mirror and Accessory Sales are the primary driver. The others are original Equipment (OE) Manufacturing and lighting & Accessories.
Who are CIPA-USA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Murakami Corporation, Gentex Corporation, SMR (Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec), Ficosa International, Ichikoh Industries (Valeo), SL Corporation, Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation and Fit Systems (Towing Mirrors). Magna International (Magna Mirrors) is listed as a broad incumbent. Milenco (Towing & Motorhome Mirrors) is listed as a regional player.
Does CIPA-USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIPA-USA.
What industry is CIPA-USA in?
CIPA-USA's product category is Automotive Mirror Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAKAF, Automotive Mirrors & Exterior Vision Systems Manufacturing (Mirrors/Housings/Camera Modules), with a secondary code of IMACAKAG, Automotive Lighting Assemblies Manufacturing (Headlamps/Taillamps/Interior Lamps/DRLs). Its NAICS code is 3363 and its SIC code is 3670.