Company history
Bud Glassman and Art Lankin started Safelite in a junkyard in Wichita, Kansas in 1947. [3]
The company declared bankruptcy in 1997, after which it became owned by its largest creditor, J.P. Morgan & Co. [4]
In 2007, Safelite was acquired by U.K. based Belron, which is in turn owned by the D'Ieteren group. [5] Belron is the world's largest vehicle glass company, providing service in over 32 countries.
Thomas Feeney became the president and CEO in 2008. [6] In late 2021, Renee Cachillo became the President and CEO as Thomas Feeney moved into a leadership role for Belron North America.
On 5 January 2023, Safelite and two of its business units were sued for insurance fraud in a lawsuit brought by a former employee, product development and strategy manager Brian Williams, on behalf of himself and the people of California. The lawsuit alleged that the company used less expensive universal moldings, but billed insurers for more expensive part-specific units instead. [7] A motion to strike this whistleblower complaint was denied in 2024, [8] and the trial date has been set for September 2025. [9]
Safelite is the largest provider of windshield replacement services in the United States. In 2009, the company implemented a warehouse management system (WMS) from Cambar Solutions to enhance logistics and inventory accuracy across its distribution centers. The system replaced paper-based processes and introduced real-time tracking, resulting in a 73% reduction in shipping errors and achieving 99.98% inventory accuracy at its Enfield, North Carolina facility. [10]
Following its acquisition of City Auto Glass, Safelite continued several community engagement initiatives previously led by the regional provider. Local events such as fishing tournaments, which historically supported charitable causes, are now organized by Safelite’s teams to maintain continuity in regional outreach efforts. [11]
In May 2025, Safelite partnered with TRICON Garage and NASCAR driver Corey Heim to support Foster Love, a nonprofit focused on improving the foster care experience for children in the United States. The collaboration coincided with National Foster Care Awareness Month and featured Foster Love branding on Heim’s No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro across four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. Heim’s vehicle was redesigned in blue—the official color of Foster Care Awareness Month—to honor foster families, volunteers, and child welfare professionals. The campaign also celebrated Foster Love’s milestone of serving its one-millionth child in foster care. Safelite Foundation President and CEO Renee Cacchillo highlighted the company’s commitment to the cause, noting that associates had embraced the partnership and shared personal connections to the foster care system. [12]
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