• Brand Name: ACDelco
• Founded: 1974 (established through the merger of AC Spark Plug aftermarket operations and United Delco)
• Parent Company: General Motors
• Headquarters: Warren, Michigan, United States
• Industry: Automotive Parts & Aftermarket
• Products: Batteries, filters, spark plugs, engine oils, lubricants, brake components, suspension parts, electrical components, wiper blades, belts, fluids and maintenance products
• Markets Served: Global (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Oceania)2

The history of ACDelco spans more than a century and is intrinsically linked to the development of General Motors.

Early Origins (1916–1973)

The company’s origins trace back to United Motors Corporation, established in 1916 by William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors. United Motors consolidated several automotive component manufacturers, including:

• AC Spark Plug, founded by Albert Champion
• Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO), known for electrical systems
• Other component manufacturers supplying early GM vehicles

In subsequent decades, these entities became primary suppliers of automotive ignition systems, batteries, starters, generators and electrical equipment for General Motors vehicles. Their technologies also contributed to aviation, military equipment during World War II and NASA’s Apollo space missions.3

Formation of ACDelco (1974)

In 1974, General Motors merged the aftermarket operations of AC Spark Plug and United Delco, creating the AC-Delco brand. This consolidation unified GM’s replacement parts business under a single identity whilst maintaining the engineering standards associated with GM vehicles.4

Modern Branding

In 1995, GM simplified the brand name by removing the hyphen, officially becoming ACDelco. The company simultaneously introduced updated branding and expanded its global aftermarket presence beyond GM vehicles.5

ACDelco manufactures and distributes thousands of automotive replacement parts and maintenance products, including:

Batteries

• Automotive batteries
• AGM batteries
• Maintenance-free batteries
• Commercial batteries

Engine Components

• Spark plugs
• Ignition coils
• Fuel pumps
• Oil filters
• Air filters
• Cabin air filters
• Timing components

Lubricants & Fluids

• Engine oils
• Automatic transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Coolant/antifreeze
• Power steering fluid
• Gear oil

Brake System

• Brake pads
• Brake rotors
• Brake drums
• Brake shoes
• Brake hardware

Suspension & Steering

• Shock absorbers
• Struts
• Ball joints
• Tie rod ends
• Control arms

Electrical Components

• Alternators
• Starters
• Sensors
• Relays
• Fuses
• Switches

Maintenance Products

• Wiper blades
• Belts
• Hoses
• Chemicals
• Sealants
• Cleaners6

ACDelco organises many of its products into distinct quality categories:

GM Original Equipment (OE)
These are genuine GM-engineered parts designed, tested and validated specifically for GM vehicles, matching the components installed during original vehicle production.

Gold
Premium aftermarket parts designed to meet or exceed original equipment performance. They are suitable for both GM vehicles and many other makes.

Silver
Reliable, value-oriented replacement parts intended for routine maintenance and repairs across a wide variety of vehicle brands.7

ACDelco serves as the official aftermarket parts brand of General Motors. Whilst it supplies original-equipment replacement parts for GM vehicles, it also offers products engineered for many non-GM manufacturers, functioning as a multi-brand aftermarket supplier rather than a GM-exclusive marque.

ACDelco has expanded into markets worldwide, with operations and distribution networks across:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Europe
• Middle East
• Australia
• China
• South Korea
• Japan
• India
• Philippines
• Taiwan
• Numerous countries in Africa and Southeast Asia

Its global strategy emphasises providing maintenance and replacement parts for both GM and non-GM vehicles.8

ACDelco is widely recognised for:

• OE-quality replacement parts
• Extensive product selection
• Strong compatibility with GM vehicles
• Global distribution network
• Rigorous engineering and testing standards
• Broad support for professional repair shops and consumers

Due to its long association with General Motors, ACDelco has earned a reputation as one of the automotive industry’s most trusted replacement-parts brands, particularly among owners of Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac vehicles.9

• 1916 – United Motors Corporation established.
• 1920s–1930s – AC Spark Plug products contribute to major aviation achievements, including aircraft used by Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.
• 1940s – DELCO batteries and other components support Allied military equipment during World War II.
• 1960s–1970s – AC and DELCO technologies contribute to NASA’s Apollo lunar missions and the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
• 1974 – AC-Delco brand officially created.
• 1995 – Rebranded as ACDelco.
• 2000s–Present – Expanded into a global aftermarket brand serving over 100 countries with tens of thousands of automotive products.10

ACDelco is one of the automotive industry’s oldest and most established parts brands. Backed by General Motors and rooted in more than a century of automotive engineering, it supplies original-equipment and aftermarket replacement parts for millions of vehicles worldwide. Its portfolio spans batteries, filters, lubricants, braking systems, electrical components and other maintenance products, making ACDelco a prominent name in both professional automotive service and consumer vehicle maintenance.11

1. ACDelco
2. About – ACDelco
3. ACDelco
4. Brand Details| ACDelco
5. ACDelco 소개
6. About Us: ACDelco Auto Parts, Auto Repair & History
7. ACDelco Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand
8. 關於我們 – 汽車零件專家ACDelco
9. 關於我們 – 汽車零件專家ACDelco
10. ACDelco | Peças Automotivas e Soluções para seu Veículo
11. ACDelco – Automotive Parts and Service Centers