LKQ Corporation

LKQ Corporation stands as the global leader in automotive parts distribution, specializing in alternative aftermarket, specialty, salvage, and recycled auto parts and services. Founded in 1998, the company has grown from a single acquisition in Akron, Ohio, to a multinational enterprise operating more than 570 facilities across North America, Europe, and Taiwan. With over 46,000 employees worldwide, LKQ serves repair shops, body shops, and consumers with a comprehensive range of replacement parts, components, and systems used in vehicle repair and maintenance.

The company operates through four distinct business segments: Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self Service. Its North American wholesale operations include aftermarket and recycled parts distribution, while the European segment has achieved record performance with double-digit EBITDA margins. LKQ's subsidiary Keystone Automotive Industries stands as the United States' largest aftermarket auto parts supplier, offering bumper covers, automotive body panels, lights, paint, and mechanical parts. The company's recycling operations have made it the world's largest automotive recycler, processing vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner with over 90% of materials diverted from landfills.

LKQ has built its success through strategic acquisitions, completing approximately 300 acquisitions worldwide over its 25-year history. Major milestones include entering the United Kingdom market in 2011 with Euro Car Parts, expanding into specialty aftermarket equipment through the 2014 Keystone Automotive acquisition, and acquiring Pittsburgh Glass Works in 2016 to become a leading global manufacturer of automotive glass. The company went public on NASDAQ in 2003 and has consistently expanded its product offerings from recycled parts to include aftermarket, remanufactured, and specialty components.

In 2024, LKQ generated $14.36 billion in revenue, demonstrating continued growth despite macroeconomic challenges. The company has implemented significant operational improvements, achieving $125 million in cost reductions and targeting an additional $75 million in savings. Under the leadership of CEO Justin Jude, who assumed the role in July 2024, LKQ continues to focus on operational excellence, sustainability initiatives including solar installations at European facilities, and strategic portfolio optimization, including the 2025 sale of its Self Service segment to sharpen focus on core wholesale and specialty operations.