Who manufactures ACDelco brake pads?
ACDelco brake pads are produced by a network of suppliers under the General Motors-owned ACDelco brand; there is no single, publicly disclosed manufacturer for every model. The exact maker can vary by product line and region, as GM contracts with multiple manufacturers to meet demand and quality standards.
Brand origins and manufacturing model
ACDelco is General Motors’ aftersales parts brand, spanning original equipment (OE) replacement parts and aftermarket products. Rather than owning all production facilities, GM outsources manufacturing to a global network of contract manufacturers and, in some cases, to suppliers that also provide parts for GM’s vehicles. This setup allows ACDelco to offer a broad range of brake pads across markets while maintaining uniform specification and quality control.
How production is organized
The production of ACDelco brake pads follows a few common patterns in the auto industry: the exact supplier depends on the product line, regional market, and current supply arrangements.
- Product line and region determine the contract manufacturer. OE-grade pads may come from suppliers that also supply OEM braking components for GM vehicles; aftermarket variants may come from different certified makers.
- Global supply networks: GM maintains relationships with multiple manufacturing partners around the world, which can rotate based on capacity, cost, and quality compliance.
- Quality and compliance: all partners must meet GM’s quality standards and applicable safety certifications, such as ISO/IATF quality management standards and brake-safety specifications.
For consumers, this means that the specific factory that made a given ACDelco pad can vary, even for the same part number, depending on batch, region, and shipment.
How to identify your pad’s manufacturer
If you need to know the actual supplier behind your ACDelco brake pads, there are a few practical steps you can take to verify.
- Check the packaging and part number: ACDelco’s catalogs and the box labeling often list the part reference and, in some cases, a manufacturing partner or factory origin.
- Use the official parts catalog: ACDelco’s online parts lookup or GM Parts portal can link your vehicle’s VIN to the exact ACDelco brake pad product and its reported manufacturing source or supplier data.
- Consult the retailer or ACDelco customer support: If the packaging is ambiguous, request confirmation of the current manufacturing partner for your batch or product line.
- Be aware of product-line differences: OE-like replacement parts labeled as “ACDelco Original Equipment (OE)” may be sourced from different suppliers than general aftermarket “ACDelco Professional” or “ACDelco Gold/Advantage” lines.
In practice, most drivers won’t need to know the exact factory; however, for some automotive enthusiasts or fleets that require traceability, the supplier information is accessible through official channels.
Summary
ACDelco brake pads are not made by a single manufacturer. General Motors contracts with a global network of manufacturers to produce ACDelco-branded brake pads across OE and aftermarket lines. The specific supplier can vary by product, region, and batch, and you can verify the exact manufacturing partner through GM’s parts catalogs, packaging details, or by contacting ACDelco customer support.
Who makes ACDelco brakes?
GM ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
GM Genuine Parts and ACDelco Original Equipment are the true OE parts installed during production or validated by General Motors for GM vehicles. These maintenance, repair, powertrain and collision components are designed, engineered, tested to rigorous standards and backed by General Motors.
Who manufactures ACDelco?
ACDelco is a brand owned by General Motors (GM). It is a subsidiary of GM that provides both original equipment parts for GM vehicles and aftermarket parts for a wide variety of makes and models.
- Brand Ownership: ACDelco is a subsidiary and a premium brand of General Motors, alongside GM Genuine Parts.
- Product Range: It offers original equipment (OE) parts for GM's brands like Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, and premium aftermarket parts that are backed by GM for both GM and non-GM vehicles.
- Historical Context: The ACDelco name was formed in 1974 when GM merged its two existing parts companies: AC Spark Plug and United Delco.
Who makes brake pads for GM?
GM brake pads are made by ACDelco, which is GM's official parts brand for both original equipment (OE) and aftermarket options. ACDelco provides various lines, such as ACDelco Gold for high-quality aftermarket parts and ACDelco Silver for a high-value, aftermarket option.
- GM Genuine Parts and ACDelco: These are the GM-branded parts for both new vehicles (OE) and replacements.
- ACDelco Gold: This line offers aftermarket brake pads that are a high-quality alternative to OE parts, with strict requirements for factors like noise reduction.
- ACDelco Silver: This is a high-value, high-quality aftermarket option that is also backed by GM and engineered to fit many different vehicles.
Is Duralast the same as ACDelco?
Are Duralast batteries made by the same company as AC Delco? No, they're made by different manufacturers. Duralast is AutoZone's private label brand. ACDelco is owned by General Motors and manufactured by various contracted producers.
