Autolite
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive parts |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Headquarters | Cleveland , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia |
| Products | Spark plugs, ignition wire sets, starter motors, ignition systems, wiring components |
| Parent | FRAM Group |
Autolite (also known as Auto–Lite) is a United States-based brand specializing in spark plugs and ignition wire sets, with its headquarters located in Cleveland, Ohio. The brand's products are distributed across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Prior to 2011, Autolite operated under the automotive Consumer Products Group of Honeywell, alongside brands such as FRAM and Prestone. Since that year, manufacturing and marketing responsibilities have been handled by the FRAM Group. Notably, Autolite has served as the official spark plug supplier for NASCAR since April 2000.
History
The origins of Autolite date back to 1911 with the establishment of Electric Autolite, which initially focused on producing generators for early automotive lighting systems. In 1927, Electric Autolite expanded by acquiring the Prest–O–Lite Battery Company from The Union Carbide Corporation. Under the leadership of President Royce G. Martin in 1935, the company ventured into spark plug production, guided by ceramic engineer Robert Twells. The inaugural spark plug was manufactured in 1936 at their facility in Fostoria, Ohio. Over time, Autolite broadened its product range to include starter motors, ignition systems, and wiring components, securing supply agreements with leading automobile manufacturers such as Chrysler, Studebaker, and Packard.
In 1961, the Ford Motor Company acquired the Autolite brand name along with a spark plug manufacturing plant in Ohio, a battery factory in Michigan, distribution rights, and a number of employees. Subsequently, Autolite products became standard equipment in Ford vehicles. However, a federal antitrust lawsuit against Ford culminated in a 1972 Supreme Court ruling that compelled Ford to divest its Autolite holdings to the Bendix Corporation by 1973. Following this divestiture, Ford adopted the Motorcraft brand for its original equipment parts globally.
Meanwhile, in 1963, Electric Autolite's remaining operations merged with the Mergenthaler Linotype Company to create Eltra Corporation. The segment of Autolite not sold to Ford transformed into Prestolite Motor and Ignition Company, which later became known as Prestolite Electric. In 1973, Bendix expanded its portfolio by acquiring both FRAM and Autolite brands. AlliedSignal purchased Eltra in 1980 and subsequently acquired Bendix in 1983, thereby consolidating former Ford-owned Autolite assets under AlliedSignal’s umbrella (which later became Honeywell). In 2011, Honeywell divested its automotive Consumer Products Group to Rank Group, which formed FRAM Group to oversee operations and manage trademarks.
In September 2025, the parent company of Autolite, First Brands Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following substantial declines in revenue. The company reported assets ranging from $5 billion to $10 billion and liabilities between $10 billion and $50 billion.
Manufacturing location of Autolite spark plugs
The majority of Autolite spark plugs are produced in China and imported by FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC through SHANGHAI SWEET AUTO PARTS CO LTD via the Port of Oakland. Additionally, some manufacturing takes place at FRAM Group’s facilities located in Greenville, Ohio and Albion, Illinois, within the United States.