Dorman Products, Inc. supplies replacement and upgrade parts in the motor vehicle aftermarket industry, serving passenger cars, light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks, as well as specialty vehicles, including utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
As of December 31, 2024, the company marketed approximately 138,000 distinct parts, many of which were designed and engineered by the company. This number excludes private label stock keeping units and other variations in how...
Dorman Products, Inc. supplies replacement and upgrade parts in the motor vehicle aftermarket industry, serving passenger cars, light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks, as well as specialty vehicles, including utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
As of December 31, 2024, the company marketed approximately 138,000 distinct parts, many of which were designed and engineered by the company. This number excludes private label stock keeping units and other variations in how the company markets, packages, and distributes its products, includes distinct parts of acquired companies, and reflects distinct parts that have been discontinued at the end of their lifecycle. The company’s products are sold under its various brand names, under its customers’ private label brands, or in bulk.
The company is one of the leading aftermarket suppliers of parts that were traditionally available to professional installers and consumers only from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or salvage yards. These parts include, among other parts, leaf springs, intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil filters and coolers, window regulators, radiator fan assemblies, tire pressure monitor sensors, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers, driveshafts, UTV windshields, and complex electronics modules. For 2024, approximately 81% of the company’s products were sold under brands that it owns, and the remainder of its products were sold for resale under customers' private labels, other brands, or in bulk. The company generates most of its net sales from customers in North America, primarily in the United States. The company’s products are sold primarily through aftermarket retailers, including through their online platforms; dealers; national, regional, and local wholesale distributors, and specialty markets; and salvage yards. The company also distributes aftermarket parts outside the United States, with sales primarily into Canada and Mexico, and to a lesser extent, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.
Segments
The company operates and reports its results in three business segments, Light Duty, Heavy Duty, and Specialty Vehicle, consistent with the three sectors of the motor vehicle aftermarket industry in which the company participates.
The Light Duty segment designs and markets replacement parts and fasteners primarily for passenger cars and light trucks with sales to retailers and wholesale distributors who primarily serve passenger car and light truck customers.
The Heavy Duty segment designs and markets replacement parts primarily for medium and heavy trucks with sales to independent distributors, independent component specialists and rebuilders, and auto parts stores that focus on the heavy-duty market.
The Specialty Vehicle segment designs, markets, and manufactures aftermarket parts and accessories for the powersports market with sales through direct-to-consumer, dealers, and installers.
Brands and Products
The company markets its products under the Dorman, Dayton Parts, and SuperATV names, along with several sub-brands, which identify products that address specific segments of the motor vehicle aftermarket industry. Some of the company’s most popular brands include:
DORMAN – Reliable replacement automotive parts and components. A brand that mechanics have trusted for more than 100 years.
DORMAN OE FIX – Dorman products that are designed to be better repair solutions than the OE alternative. These parts are made to help save the service technician time and money, and increase reliability and serviceability.
HELP! – Parts and components designed to help the automotive do-it-yourself customer, or DIYer, save time and money. A fixture in auto parts store aisles for decades.
Conduct-Tite – Electrical tools, materials, and accessories designed to help DIYers fix and customize vehicles. This brand includes the Builders Series line of premium wiring solutions.
Dayton Parts – An extensive product offering of heavy-duty commercial vehicle repair solutions, from cab to trailer.
SuperATV – UTV and ATV parts and accessories designed by riders for riders.
Keller Performance Products – High-quality ball joints for specialty vehicles.
Assault Industries – West Coast-style powersports products built for the cool factor and designed with an edge.
Gboost – Clutching products for specialty vehicles.
GDP – Premium quality transmission, portals, differentials, and more for UTVs and ATVs.
The company offers bumper-to-bumper aftermarket solutions covering everything from engine, undercar, steering and suspension, body, electronics, and hardware. The company’s engine products include intake and exhaust manifolds, oil filters and coolers, fans, thermostat housings, and throttle bodies. The company’s undercar products include fluid lines, fluid reservoirs, connectors, 4-wheel drive components and axles, drain plugs, and other engine, transmission, and axle components. The company’s steering and suspension products include control arms, ball joints, tie-rod ends, brake hardware and hydraulics, wheel and axle hardware, suspension arms, knuckles, links, bushings, leaf springs, and other suspension, steering, and brake components. The company’s body products include door handles and hinges, window lift motors, window regulators, switches and handles, wiper components, lighting, electrical, and other interior and exterior vehicle body components, including windshields for UTVs. The company’s electronics products include new and remanufactured modules, clusters, and sensors. The company’s hardware products include threaded bolts and auto body fasteners, automotive and home electrical wiring components, and other hardware assortments and merchandise.
The company warrants its products against certain defects in material and workmanship when used as designed on the vehicle on which it was originally installed. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty on most of its products in the light- and medium-duty parts categories, with more limited warranties for its heavy-duty and specialty vehicle products. The company’s standard warranties provide for the repair or replacement of the non-performing part.
Product Development
The company is committed to product development and innovation with a customer-first approach, keeping owners and installers in mind. The company’s engineers and designers focus on solutions designed to help save repair technicians time, save vehicle owners money, and provide sought-after vehicle enhancements and differentiation.
The company has dedicated teams devoted solely to ideation and innovation in the support of its objective to develop new products, many of which are first to the aftermarket. The company’s teams of researchers, field analysts, and product specialists visit repair shop technicians and spend time with customers to listen to and understand their repair challenges and vehicle needs.
The company categorizes its product development opportunities across three different spectrums: alternative parts - direct aftermarket replacements for factory parts, upgraded parts (including its ‘OE FIX’ line) – parts with enhanced design, functionality, or features based on identifying what made original parts problematic and developing new solutions that address the original failure modes, and new parts - identifying parts that are not available from the OE or in the aftermarket that can enhance vehicle performance and user experience. Some of these opportunities are new to the aftermarket, whereas others continue to expand its portfolio offering.
In 2024, the company introduced a range of first-to-the-aftermarket repair solutions for the light-duty vehicle sector, designed to fit a wide variety of vehicles. The company’s product launches included ‘OE FIX’ solutions, such as loaded magnetic strut assemblies, turbo line replacement kits, and fully loaded knuckle assemblies. The company also expanded its investment in its emerging technology solutions portfolio to support repairs for complex automotive electronic components. This included the release of transmission control modules, electronic power steering racks, and various other control modules and sensors. Additionally, the company made significant additions to its industry-leading lines of turbo accessories, coolers, and chassis components.
In 2024, the company significantly expanded its heavy-duty product portfolio, introducing a comprehensive range of brake components—including drums and rotors—along with a new king pin program for connecting trucks and trailers and enhancements to its leaf spring coverage. Additionally, the company launched several aftermarket-exclusive products, including EGR coolers, after-treatment injectors, and engine sensors. Most notably, the company proudly debuted its Dayton Exhaust components line, delivering innovative solutions for both above and below-chassis applications for Class 7 and Class 8 trucks.
In the specialty vehicles sector, in 2024, the company released many first-to-the-aftermarket products covering accessories and nondiscretionary repair parts, including a complete line of geared reverse direct replacement transmissions for multiple makes and models of ATVs and UTVs. The company expanded its Ready Fit winch line, which is designed to significantly reduce installation time for the customer. The company also continued its investment in innovative solutions to enhance the rider experience, like a rear steer kit, driver-adjustable electronic power steering, and creature comfort items that provide improved heat and air flow within the cab, such as its electronic thermostat bypass heaters and roof-mounted fan system.
Sales and Marketing
The company markets its products to purchasers, many of whom, in turn, supply individual consumers and professional installers. The company’s products are available in its customers’ retail stores, on its website and its customers’ websites, and through dealers and warehouse distributors.
As of December 31, 2024, the company had a sales and sales support team of approximately 300 people selling its products either directly to its customers or, for certain select customers, indirectly using independent manufacturers’ representative agencies worldwide.
The company’s sales efforts are not directed merely at selling individual products, but more broadly towards selling its entire product portfolio. The company’s sales strategy includes increasing sales not only by securing new customers, but also by adding new product lines and expanding product selection within existing customers in an effort to make its customers a destination for its aftermarket products.
Among other things, the company uses digital advertising, social media, email, catalogs, and brochures to describe and promote its products. The company’s websites include DormanProducts.com, DaytonParts.com, and SuperATV.com.
As of December 31, 2024, the company serviced approximately 10,000 active accounts. During 2024, two customers each accounted for more than 10% of net sales and in the aggregate accounted for approximately 39% of net sales.
Seasonality
Extremely hot or cold weather generally results in an increase in parts failure at an accelerated rate, which generally leads to an increase in the company’s sales for the duration of the extreme weather event.
Patents, Trademarks, and Other Intellectual Property
As of December 31, 2024, the company held 127 patents and 94 pending patent applications worldwide. In addition, the company holds numerous trademarks in the United States and other countries.
Competition
The company competes against a large cross-section of aftermarket companies and brands, including, but not limited to, Cardone Industries, Inc., Standard Motor Products, Inc., Tenneco, Inc., Bosch Auto Parts, First Brands Group, LLC, Gates Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (VDO), MevoTech LP, ACDelco (owned by General Motors Company), Motorcraft (owned by Ford Motor Company), Cummins Inc. (following its acquisition of Meritor, Inc.), Automann Inc., WARN Industries, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, and numerous category-specific competitors.
Research and Development
The company’s research and development costs were $32.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.
History
Dorman Products, Inc. was founded in 1918.