Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Explore Advance Auto Parts
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Explore Advance Auto Parts
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
Company History
Founded 1932 in Raleigh, North Carolina
Advance Auto Parts was founded by Arthur Taubman in 1932.
Arthur Taubman was an American entrepreneur who founded Advance Stores Company in 1932 in Roanoke, Virginia, during the depths of the Great Depression. Along with his brother Charles, Arthur opened a small store selling auto supplies, home goods, and hardware to residents of the Roanoke Valley. The business survived the Depression and World War II by serving a rural customer base that depended on affordable goods for both home and vehicle maintenance. In the 1970s, Arthur and the company's leadership made the strategic decision to focus exclusively on automotive parts, changing the company name to Advance Auto Parts in 1974. This pivot recognized the growing U.S. vehicle fleet and increasing vehicle complexity as sustainable demand drivers. Arthur's founding philosophy emphasized customer service, parts availability, and community relationships — principles that remained central to Advance's culture for 90 years. The company went public in 1968 under his leadership, raising capital for geographic expansion across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Arthur Taubman's legacy is the creation of a regional retail institution that grew into a national Fortune 500 company while maintaining its roots in the communities where it began.
Charles Taubman co-founded Advance Stores Company in 1932 with his brother Arthur in Roanoke, Virginia. During the company's formative years, Charles managed day-to-day operations while Arthur focused on strategic growth and community relationships. The brothers' complementary skills — Arthur's vision and Charles's operational discipline — enabled the company to survive the Great Depression and expand across Virginia in the 1940s and 1950s. Charles remained involved in the business through its evolution from general merchandise to automotive specialization, contributing to the operational systems that would later support national expansion. While less publicly visible than Arthur, Charles's role in establishing the company's operational culture and early store network was foundational to Advance's long-term success.
Advance Auto Parts was founded by Arthur Taubman.
Advance Auto Parts reported $8.60B in FY2025 revenue.
Shane O'Kelly is the current CEO or top executive context used in this profile.
Advance Auto Parts acquired General Parts International for $2 billion in cash in 2014 to create a national 'blended-box' powerhouse combining Advance's retail strength with Carquest's commercial distribution network and Worldpac's wholesale import parts business. General Parts, founded by Temple Sloan in Raleigh, North Carolina, operated the Carquest store network and Worldpac wholesale distribution. The acquisition was intended to accelerate Advance's Pro installer market share, add private-label brands, and create distribution scale that could compete with AutoZone and O'Reilly.
Advance acquired Western Auto Supply Company, a 1,000-store chain with a strong presence in the Midwest and Southwest, to expand its geographic footprint beyond the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Western Auto added significant commercial distribution capabilities and brought a customer base of independent repair shops and DIY enthusiasts.
Advance acquired the DieHard brand from Sears Holdings for $200 million in 2020, adding one of the most trusted and recognized names in automotive batteries to its proprietary brand portfolio. The acquisition included exclusive aftermarket rights to the DieHard name, battery testing technology, and related intellectual property.
Advance Auto Parts was founded in 1932.
Arthur Taubman founded Advance Auto Parts.
As of January 3, 2026, Advance operated 4,305 stores and served 809 independently owned Carquest branded stores.
The latest annual anchor is FY2025, when Advance reported $8.601 billion in net sales, positive comparable sales growth, and continued work on its strategic turnaround after selling Worldpac.
Advance Auto Parts's history explains its current business model, brand equity, competitive position, and strategic risks.