GM Celebrates Automotive Technicians on Skilled Trades Day
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By APF
The automotive aftermarket industry could be on the verge of one of its biggest shakeups in years.
According to a Bloomberg report, O'Reilly Automotive has submitted a cash offer for the automotive parts division of Genuine Parts Company, a business that analysts believe could be valued at more than $10 billion. While neither company has confirmed the negotiations, the report suggests a decision on the future of the business could come before the end of the summer. Genuine Parts could ultimately sell the division, pursue a spinoff, or retain the business if it determines that is the better long-term strategy.
For the automotive aftermarket, the implications could be significant. Genuine Parts is best known as the parent company of NAPA Auto Parts, one of North America's largest distributors of replacement parts for professional repair facilities, fleets, and do-it-yourself customers. Combining that network with O'Reilly's extensive retail and commercial operations would create an even larger player in an already competitive industry.
A transaction of this size could influence everything from supplier relationships and distribution networks to pricing, inventory availability, and competition with other major retailers such as AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts. Independent repair shops may also be watching closely to see whether any ownership changes affect commercial programs, delivery networks, or parts availability.
At this stage, the report remains based on anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, and there is no guarantee a deal will ultimately be completed. Additional bidders could emerge, or Genuine Parts could decide to pursue a different strategic direction.
What do you think?
Should O'Reilly acquire Genuine Parts' automotive business? Would this strengthen competition or reduce consumer choice? How could this affect NAPA stores, independent repair shops, and DIY enthusiasts? If you're in the automotive industry, what impact would you expect on pricing and parts availability? Join the discussion below and share your thoughts on what could become one of the largest automotive aftermarket deals in recent history.
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By Counterman
To be successful in aftermarket parts sales requires a very broad knowledge base. It means having the ability to address customer parts requests for dozens of different vehicle manufacturers spanning more than 75 years of production, including multiple vehicle systems. Much like our inventory mix, our employees’ knowledge needs to be “spread out” to accommodate these varied requests. Sure, we all have our strengths and specialties, but imagine the bottlenecks at the counter if Heather was the only staff member familiar with reading the paper catalogs covering vintage applications, or that Larry couldn’t catalog anything unless it was for a domestic vehicle.
While we would never hire a counterperson with such gaping blind spots concerning vehicle knowledge, when it comes to store operations, these kinds of scenarios happen every day. Cross-training staff eases the burden for everyone in the organization, from the top down. Becoming an “expert” in your own particular role doesn’t need to prevent you from being a versatile member of the team.
link hidden, please login to view For obvious reasons, not every employee will be responsible for making management-level decisions. But when it comes to daily operations, each member of your staff needs to be given not only the tools to succeed, but also the skills and authority to use those tools effectively. We’ve all worked in locations with extended business hours or short-staffing situations, and felt the pinch when a key member of the team was absent. Picking up the slack in these situations has become a harsh reality in today’s business environment, and without cross-training for the remaining employees, everyone on both sides of the counter suffers for it.
Depending on your individual role within the organization, you may have very little exposure to some of the other roles being performed around you, or you may already have experienced each role along the way to your current position. The hierarchy of roles in this industry tends to follow a natural progression, from delivery and stocking associates to counter and sales positions, and eventually to various management roles. Along the way, there is often considerable overlap in skills and responsibilities at each stage.
At any level of the hierarchy, the most destructive employee attitude is the “not my job” attitude. Traditional workforce roles generally fall into either “labor” or “management” categories. Many organizations even reinforce this idea through uniform choices. Unfortunately, this also may create a division among employees, who feel that titles are designed to separate them rather than to complement each other. Even worse than those employees who claim that something is “above their pay grade” are those members of the team who believe that performing a particular task is beneath them. Having a delivery driver who is comfortable with helping with simple customer service tasks is no less important than the keyholding manager who makes a hot-shot delivery to help maintain a commercial customer’s workflow. Cross-training works in both directions!
There may not be an “I” in “team,” but there are two of them in “idiot.” Building a team that can move effortlessly between roles requires all parties to be invested in the overall success of the business, not just their own individual interests. We need to identify those members of our team who are most capable of (and interested in) growth beyond just a narrowly defined job description. We need to encourage them to acquire new skills, and to remind employees who already possess those skills that having others trained in their role is a benefit, not a threat.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view was recognized by Hahn Automotive with the 2025 Outstanding Logistics Support Award at the annual Hahn Automotive National Sales Conference. Held last month in Rochester, N.Y., the conference prepares staff for the upcoming spring selling season and honors companies for their support and dedication to Hahn Automotive. WIX Filters Support for Hahn Automotive
link hidden, please login to view was honored for its service levels and order fill rates last year. The company has partnered with Hahn Automotive for nearly 30 years, providing a full line of filters. “Hahn Automotive stresses that service makes all the difference, emphasizing their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” said David Barraco, trade marketing manager at WIX Filters. “WIX Filters has supported Hahn Automotive and its customers for almost three decades, and this award demonstrates our exemplary drive to provide on-time deliveries of the highest quality filters on the market.”
Hahn Automotive Warehouses and Auto Parts
Hahn Automotive owns nine full-service warehouses and 28 pickup warehouses that distribute auto parts throughout the Midwest, New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The company operates Advantage Auto Stores, Car Parts/Motor Supply, Genuine Auto Parts, Norwood Auto Parts, Nu-Way Auto Parts and Speedway Auto Parts.
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By OReilly Auto Parts
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
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By NAPA
Chase Elliott qualified 18th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Elliott finished the first stage in 16th and followed that up with a 13th-place finish in stage two. In the final stage, the 30-year-old driver avoided damage after a late-race spin and ultimately finished 22nd. Elliott leaves Bristol fifth in the Cup Series points standings, 122 markers behind the leader. Chase Elliott and the No. 9
link hidden, please login to view team qualified 18th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 30-year-old gained ground on the initial start of the race but got stuck in the top lane before clearing down into the 21st position on lap eight. Elliott was running in that same spot when the first caution of the race came out on lap 62. The team ultimately decided not to pit in order to gain track position. With everyone ahead of him pitting, Elliott led the field back to green on lap 71. He held strong inside the top five until slipping to sixth on lap 106. As the run went on, Elliott fought hard for position before fading outside the top 10, ending the first stage in 16th place. Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott reported that he “overbuilt the right rear and was hanging on from there.” Crew chief Alan Gustafson called him to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel.
Elliott started stage two in 14th on lap 137 and improved to 13th before the yellow flag was displayed for an incident on lap 144. Staying out, Elliott opted for the inside of row six for the lap-152 restart. He continued to run inside the top 15 and was scored in 13th when the race was slowed for a caution on lap 160. Elliott relayed that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet was “borderline a little snug, especially on the bottom.” The team opted not to pit, along with a majority of the field, and Elliott restarted 13th on lap 169. The 2020 Cup Series champion worked his way to 11th on lap 188 before ending the second stage in 13th on lap 250. Elliott brought his No. 9 Chevy to the attention of his crew for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment to try to improve the handling.
A fast pit stop put Elliott in 11th for the choose. He opted to start the final stage from the outside of row six. He continued to run inside the top 12 until slipping to 13th on lap 271. Elliott reported a loose handling condition during the run. When a caution came out on lap 312, he was scored in 19th. The team reversed the air-pressure adjustment during the pit stop for four tires and fuel. Elliott restarted 17th on lap 321 and was running in the same position when the yellow flag was displayed on lap 381. He reported the handling was “in a better place.” Elliott visited pit road for four tires, fuel and a slight air-pressure adjustment under the caution. He was 15th to choose his lane, deciding on the outside. Elliott gained positions on the restart, advancing as high as 12th.
He was running in 14th when the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy got loose on lap 421, but Elliott was able to save it. Over the course of the run, Elliott faded to 18th and went a lap down on lap 447. He did manage to gain a position, but then got loose and spun on lap 477, bringing out the caution. Elliott was able to avoid damage in the spin. He brought the No. 9 Chevy to pit road for four tires and fuel. He restarted 22nd and was up to 21st when another incident slowed the race with fewer than five laps to go, sending the race into overtime. Elliott tried to gain ground in the closing laps before ultimately finishing the race in 22nd.
Elliott is now fifth in the Cup Series points standings, 122 markers behind the leader.
Start / Finish: 18 / 22
Points Standing / Total: 5th / 264 pts. (-122)
Next Race: Sunday, April 19, Kansas Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on FOX, SiriusXM or MRN
NAPA:
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