What Cp-Carrillo does

CP-Carrillo, Inc. is a precision manufacturer of high-performance forged pistons and connecting rods headquartered in Irvine, California, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly-held Pankl Racing Group. Founded formally in 1995 but tracing its engineering lineage to Fred Carrillo's 1963 connecting rod business, the company manufactures in-house using proprietary materials and forging methods — most notably the Carrilloy chrome-nickel-moly-vanadium steel alloy meeting VAR (vacuum arc re-melt ASTM) standards, TF-X Top Fuel Forging, Profiled Pin Bore Technology (reducing peak stress by 30%), and CARR Multiphase Fasteners. Its manufacturing operations are ISO 9002-2008 certified, with titanium product lines additionally certified to ISO 9000 and IATF 16949:2016, and encompass CNC machining with probing, magnaflux and Rockwell testing, shot peening, and laser traceability.

The company serves professional racing teams, engine builders, and performance parts distributors across at least six segments — professional motorsport (NHRA, ProMod, Supercross), powersports (motorcycles, UTVs, ATVs, snowmobiles), automotive performance, marine, diesel performance, and OEM engine development. Its product portfolio spans four branded lines: the flagship CP-Carrillo pistons and rods, the Bullet Series for cost-conscious high-volume applications, the Arias Pistons brand acquired in November 2017, and a premium titanium connecting rod line introduced for powersport endurance applications (achieving approximately 35% weight savings over steel). Revenue is generated through one-time sales of forged components plus custom manufacturing services (with as little as 3-day turnaround and 50% deposits) and rod reconditioning services; the company does not sell retail directly, instead distributing through a global authorized dealer network spanning North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Commercial strategy combines channel-led distribution, a technical sales team for custom and OEM work, event-driven marketing (PRI trade show, annual Race Day), and racing team sponsorships that function as both R&D proving grounds and brand-building assets.

Name

Cp-Carrillo

Legal name

CP-Carrillo, Inc.

Website

https://cp-carrillo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CP-Carrillo is an Irvine, California-based precision manufacturer of high-performance forged pistons and connecting rods serving professional motorsport teams, engine builders, and performance parts distributors globally under its flagship brand, Bullet Series, Arias Pistons, and titanium product lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pistons Sales: Sale of forged pistons including CP-Carrillo, Bullet Series, and Arias Pistons product lines. Products sold through dealer network and direct to engine builders.
2. Connecting Rods Sales: Sale of connecting rods in steel (H-beam, A-beam configurations) and titanium for various racing applications. Includes H11 tool steel (WMC) and Multiphase (CARR) fastener options.
3. Hardware and Accessories: Sale of rings, wrist pins, wire locks, spiral locks, KRAMM LOX, and other installation hardware. Also offers oil support rails, PVD rings, and hard anodizing services.
4. Custom Manufacturing Services: Custom piston and rod manufacturing with turnaround as short as 3 days. Initial custom orders require 50% deposit. Engineering support provided for prototype and development engines.
5. Recon/Reconditioning Services: Reconditioning service for connecting rods including visual inspection, magnaflux, straightness check, alignment, re-hone, re-bush, and bolt testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CP-Carrillo manufactures high-performance forged pistons and connecting rods for racing and high-performance engine applications. The company produces both shelf-stock and custom-engineered components from proprietary materials including the Carrilloy steel alloy, supplying engine builders, professional racing teams, and aftermarket dealers through a global authorized distributor network. Supporting offerings include rings, wrist pins, wire locks, fasteners, and Titan

Product overview

CP-Carrillo is a high-performance racing components manufacturer specializing in forged pistons and connecting rods. The company offers a portfolio of products including its core CP-Carrillo Pistons and Connecting Rods, the budget-conscious Bullet Series pistons, the acquired Arias Pistons brand, and titanium connecting rods for powersport endurance applications. Supporting products include hardware components such as rings, fasteners, and wrist pins. The company provides both shelf stock and custom manufacturing capabilities, with recent additions like Profiled Pin Bore Technology for enhanced performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bullet Series: Large production runs on centralized manufacturing cells made from dedicated Bullet forgings, offering more economically priced parts
• Arias Pistons
• Bullet Rods

Products and services

• CP-Carrillo Pistons

Quantifiable outcome

• Profiled Pin Bore Technology reduces peak stress by 30%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Brian Crower (BC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Strategic partnership announced December 2025 to form a collaborative manufacturing program to introduce a new high-performance steel and titanium connecting rod line. Combines CP-Carrillo's manufacturing expertise with Brian Crower's product development capabilities.
• Arias Industries / Arias PistonsflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 3 November 2017CP-Carrillo acquired the Arias Pistons brand name, trademark, and relocated their piston production to CP-Carrillo's Irvine facility. Founded in 1969 by Nick Arias Jr. and Carmen Arias in Gardena, California.
• Pankl Racing GroupflagshipOthersParent company - publicly-held Pankl Racing Group. CP-Carrillo is a subsidiary benefiting from Pankl's technological advances, particularly in titanium connecting rod research and development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JE Pistons: A leading US manufacturer of forged racing pistons serving motorsports, powersports, and high-performance automotive applications. Directly comparable to CP-Carrillo in core product category (forged pistons), customer base (race teams and engine builders), and distribution model.
• Wiseco: Manufacturer of high-performance forged pistons, rods, and engine components for powersports, automotive, and racing markets. Directly competes with CP-Carrillo across multiple racing disciplines and product categories.
• Manley Performance: Manufactures forged pistons, connecting rods, valves, and crankshafts for high-performance racing and street applications. Direct peer given overlapping product portfolio in pistons and rods and similar customer base.
• Eagle Specialty Products (ESP): Manufacturer of specialty connecting rods and forged pistons for the performance and racing aftermarket. Direct peer in the custom rod market and competes head-to-head with CP-Carrillo's rod portfolio.
• Brian Crower: Manufactures connecting rods, pistons, valves, and complete engine packages for high-performance automotive. Direct peer in engine internal components; CP-Carrillo is now partnering with Brian Crower (Dec 2025) on a new steel/titanium rod line.
• Callies Performance Products: Manufacturer of forged crankshafts, connecting rods, and pistons for racing and high-performance engines. Direct peer across rotating assembly components for racing and street performance.
• Diamond Racing Pistons: Manufactures forged pistons for circle track, drag racing, and performance street applications. Direct peer in custom forged pistons with overlapping customer base in professional motorsports.
• Ross Racing Pistons: Manufactures forged pistons specifically for racing and high-performance applications. Direct peer in the racing piston market with similar product positioning to CP-Carrillo's CP and Bullet series.

Broad incumbents

• Mahle Motorsports (Mahle Powertrain): Global automotive supplier with a motorsport-specific division offering pistons, liners, and engine components. Broad incumbent—larger and more diversified than CP-Carrillo but overlapping in the high-performance piston category.
• Federal-Mogul (DRiV/Tenneco) Powertrain: Major automotive parts manufacturer producing pistons, rings, liners, and engine components globally. Broad incumbent serving OE and aftermarket with racing product lines that overlap with CP-Carrillo's piston offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CPCar
• Instagraminstagram.com/cp_carrillo
• Xx.com/cpcarrillo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Cp-Carrillo