Autolite History

Founded in 1911 to produce horse-drawn carriage lamps,

the Electric Autolite Company was a thriving automotive parts manufacturer by the 1930s. The company’s signature product was developed in 1935 when a new laboratory was equipped and staffed specifically to engineer the first Autolite spark plug. Success came quickly, and soon Autolite was supplying spark plugs and ignition components to original equipment manufacturers such as Chrysler, Studebaker, Packard and Willys. • 1936: Autolite produces its first spark plug in Fostoria, Ohio • 1948: Autolite introduces the Resistor spark plug • 1956: Autolite produces first Power Tip spark plug • 1976: Autolite produces first Suppressor spark plug • 1987: Autolite produces first Platinum spark plug • 2003: Autolite produces the first High Thread (HT) spark plug for Ford Triton® engines • 2005: Autolite produces first 0.6 mm finewire XP Xtreme Performance® spark plug • 2007: Autolite produces its 10 billionth spark plug • 2007: Autolite introduces coil-on-plug insulator boots, and Xtreme Sport® and Xtreme Start™ premium small-engine spark plugs Today, the Autolite brand continues to grow, providing the automotive aftermarket and OEMs with high-quality ignition products, including spark plugs, ignition wire sets and coil-on-plug boots. State-of-the-art process control and automated inspection helps ensure that quality Autolite products meet rigorous internal and customer demands. Autolite is a unit of the UCI/Fram Group, which also manufactures and markets: • FRAM® oil, air, transmission and fuel filters • Prestone® antifreeze/coolant and car care products • Airtex® fuel pumps • Wells vehicle electronics • ASC water pumps