Prestolite Electric

Prestolite Electric is a global developer, manufacturer and supplier of generators, starters, electrical equipment for industrial equipment of automotive and agricultural machinery, equipment for marine, agricultural, construction and other industries.  The company specializes and is rightfully considered one of the leading manufacturers of heavy-duty electrical equipment components, i.e. for machines and mechanisms designed to work in harsh conditions.

Prestolite Electric is a dynamic company with more than a century of history. Founded in 1911 as Electric Autolite, the company produced alternators to power automotive lamps. Among the first customers were such companies as Studebaker, Packard and Indiana Buggy Works. In 1927 Electric Autolite purchased the Prest-O-Lite Battery Company from the Union Carbide Corporation, which manufactured car batteries. Between the early 1920s and the 1960s, the company became a pioneer in the manufacture of batteries, ignition coils, and solid-state ignition systems. The product range was greatly expanded to include starters, alternator regulators, ignition systems, wiring and cable products, and spark plugs.

In 1963, after merging with Merganthaler Linotype Company and forming Eltra Corporation, the original Electric Autolite becomes Prestolite Motor and Ignition Company. In 1986, after being acquired by a group of investors, the name changes to Prestolite Electric Inc. In the 1980s, Prestolite Electric expanded through acquisitions of Leece-Neville Sheller Corp. and Butec Limited, England. In 1998, Lucas Electric was added, allowing Prestolite to expand its production to the Argentine and South African markets. In the same year, Motorola’s generator division, based in Arcada, New York, was acquired.

Today, Prestolite Electric is one of the world’s leading OEMs and aftermarket suppliers, producing the highest quality alternators and starters under the Prestolite, Leece-Neville and Indiel brands, combining advanced and proven technologies under the Lucas CAV, Leece-Neville, Butec, Motorola brands.

Thanks to modern innovative manufacturing and engineering facilities around the world (USA, Canada, South America, Europe, China), Prestolite Electric supplies products to the countries of North and South America, Europe and Asia, meeting the needs of both large manufacturers and small enterprises, offering a wide range of high quality and reliable starters and alternators for a wide range of applications. Prestolite Electric’s customers include the US Defense Department.

Iskra Inter Commerce Ltd is the official representative of Prestolite Electric.