A 65-year-old auto parts company closed a plant, shedding hundreds of jobs

Whenever consumers need to complete a common automobile maintenance task, such as replacing a windshield wiper blade or air filter, they run to a local Napa Auto Parts, Auto Zone, or O’Reilly Auto Parts store, purchase the product, and install it.

On a few occasions, I have found that one store may not have the part, but another may have it.

But on other occasions, when I’m repairing a car, the mechanic may not be able to find the auto part locally and needs to have it shipped from a manufacturer in Michigan or Ohio, which can take days.

The auto industry faced severe supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a shortage of auto parts. Unfortunately, the problems haven’t gone away since the pandemic subsided, as supply chain issues and shortages of parts and components continue to drag the industry down.

Issues creating parts and component shortages include material shortages, labor gaps, port congestion, geopolitical uncertainty, and increased development of electric vehicles, Supply Chain World reported.

Supply challenges have contributed to economic issues for the auto parts industry in 2025, as some suppliers need to file for bankruptcy protection or, in some cases, curtail operations.

Global giant auto parts company Marelli Holdings Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 11, listing the company with $4.9 billion in unfunded liabilities with plans to hand it over to its senior creditors.

The borrower blamed its woes on the effects of the Covid pandemic and post-pandemic market challenges and headwinds, including supply chain challenges, labor shortages, higher costs, inflation, rising raw material prices, and declining customer volumes. It also blamed the tariffs.

Another big auto parts company, First Brands Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 25 with about $6 billion in debt.

First Brands manufactures auto parts products, such as Michelin Licensed Wiper Blades, Rebestos Complete Brake Solutions, Centric Parts Replacement Brake Components, StopTech Performance Brakes, Fram Filtration Products, Airtex and Carter Fuel and Water Pumps, Autolite Spark Plugs, Lube-Finer Filter Wiper, Tricobla Wiper Products. Brake hardware, and Kardon new and remanufactured replacement parts.

• Michelin licensed wiper blades

• Raybestos complete brake solution

• Centered Parts Replacement Brake Components

• StopTech performance brakes

• Fram Filtration Products

• Airtex and Carter fuel and water pumps

• Autolite spark plugs

• Lube-finer filtration products

• Trico wiper blade

• Also the wiper blades

• Carson Brake Hardware

• Kardon new and remanufactured replacement parts

Another major auto parts and components supplier is not filing for bankruptcy, but is closing a major facility.

Cooper Standard Automotive Inc., a leading provider of automotive products for sealing, fluid handling, and specialty rubber and plastic components, will close its New Lexington, Ohio, manufacturing plant and lay off approximately 228 employees, the company disclosed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter sent to Ohio state officials.

A subsidiary of Northville, Mich.-based Cooper Standard issued a letter to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on Dec. 8 that it will lay off workers on Feb. 6, 2026, and will continue to lay off workers until the new Lexington plant closes on about July 1, 2027.

“Cooper Standard is continuously analyzing plant utilization and looking for opportunities to optimize our production footprint and overall operational efficiency,” the letter said.

“As a result, the company has made the difficult decision to close our New Lexington, Ohio, facility,” the letter continued.

Cooper Standard will notify the United Auto Workers Local 1686 60 days or more before the affected employees’ last day of work, according to the warning letter.

Bumping rights, which allow senior employees to take positions at a company from less senior employees, exist under the collective bargaining agreement between Cooper Standard and UAW Local 1686.

In addition, hourly employees and salaried employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Cooper Standard facilities based on certain eligibility requirements, the letter said.

The company currently employs 193 hourly workers and 35 salaried workers.

Additional closures:

Cooper Standard is a global leader in providing advanced sealing and fluid handling systems for transportation markets that include automotive, truck and bus, mass transit, electrification, and recreational vehicles, such as mobile RVs, marine, and powersports.

The company’s automotive products include fuel and brake delivery systems, fluid transfer systems, custom rubber and plastic seals, spliced ​​O-rings/corners, custom molded profiles, die-cut, rubber-to-metal bonding, overmolding, molded details, dual and tri-durometer seals, clip-on solutions and clip-on seals. to soak

• Fuel and brake distribution systems

• Fluid transfer system

• Custom rubber and plastic seals

• Cut o-rings/corners

• Custom mold profiles

• die-cut

• Rubber to metal bond

• Overmolding

• Mold details

• Dual and tri-durometer seals

• Clip-on seals

• Push-pin solutions

• Vibration isolation and dampening

It also offers products for industrial and consumer goods, such as appliances, electronics, renewable energy, food service, point-of-purchase, enclosures, and heavy equipment such as agricultural and construction applications.

Cooper Standard also offers building and construction products for HVAC, windows and doors, and lighting.

Founded in 1960, the company employs a total of 22,000 workers in 20 countries.

Related: Popular Furniture Store Brand Shuts Down, No Bankruptcy

This story was originally published by TheStreet on December 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Automotive section. Add TheStreet as a preferred source by clicking here.