Safelite

{{infobox company

| name = Safelite Group, Inc.

| logo = Safelite Logo.png

| num_locations = 832{{cite web |title=Safelite Shop Near You {{!}} Our Auto Glass Locations {{!}} Safelite |url=https://www.safelite.com/store-locator/store-locations-by-state |website=www.safelite.com |language=en}}

| area_served = North America

| key_people = Renee Cacchillo (President & CEO)

| industry = Automotive, Insurance

| assets =

| num_employees =

| parent = Belron

| foundation = {{start date and age|1947|paren=yes}} in Wichita, Kansas, United States

| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Bud Glassman|Art Lankin}}

| location_city = Columbus, Ohio

| location_country = United States

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

}}

Safelite Group, Inc. is a Luxembourg provider, operating in America, of automotive glass repair and replacement services, wholesale automotive glass sales, along with insurance claims management, based in Columbus, Ohio. Safelite was being sued by the state of California and Illinois for alleged insurance fraud but settled for $31 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2025/03/11/safelite-and-former-employee-settle-alleged-insurance-fraud-lawsuit-for-31-million |title=Safelite and former employee settle alleged insurance fraud lawsuit for $31 million |website=repairerdrivennews.com |date=2025-03-11 |access-date=2025-04-12}}

History

Bud Glassman and Art Lankin started Safelite in a junkyard in Wichita, Kansas in 1947.{{Cite web|url=https://www.safelite.com/about-safelite|title=About Safelite {{!}} Safelite Reviews {{!}} Safelite AutoGlass|website=www.safelite.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}}

The company declared bankruptcy in 1997, after which time, the company became owned by its largest creditor, J.P. Morgan & Co.Database (undated). [http://www.bankruptcydata.com/brdsDispCoReports.asp?Task=ListReports&ID=165&Company=Safelite+Glass+Corporation "Safelite Glass Corporation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182106/http://www.bankruptcydata.com/brdsDispCoReports.asp?Task=ListReports&ID=165&Company=Safelite%20Glass%20Corporation |date=September 23, 2015 }}. BankruptcyData.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.

In 2007, Safelite was acquired by Luxembourg based Belron, which is in turn owned by the D'Ieteren group,{{Cite news |date=2007-02-06 |title=UPDATE 2-D'Ieteren's Belron buys U.S. market leader |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/dieteren-belron-safelite-idUSL0683917020070206 |access-date=2023-07-21}} Belron is the world's largest vehicle glass company, providing service in over 32 countries.

Thomas Feeney became the president and CEO in 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.safelite.com/windshield-auto-glass-technology/our-leaders|title=Safelite AutoGlass Leaders {{!}} Safelite AutoGlass|website=www.safelite.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}} 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 former SAG product development and strategy manager Brian Williams, on behalf of himself and the people of California. The lawsuit alleges that the company used less expensive universal moldings, but billed insurers for more expensive part-specific units instead.{{cite web|url=https://glassbytes.com/2023/08/safelite-sued-for-insurance-fraud-in-california/|title=Safelite Sued for Insurance Fraud in California|website=Glassbytes.com|date=August 28, 2023 |accessdate=12 February 2025}} A motion to strike this whistleblower complaint was denied in 2024,{{cite web|url=https://glassbytes.com/2024/07/whistleblower-complaint-remains-unstricken-safelite-lawsuit-heads-to-trial/|title=Whistleblower Complaint Remains Unstricken, Safelite Lawsuit Heads To Trial|website=Glassbytes.com|date=July 23, 2024 |accessdate=12 February 2025}} and the trial date has been set for September 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.cpmlegal.com/news-California-Court-Orders-Safelite-Auto-Glass-to-Answer-Whistleblower-Complaint|title=California Court Orders Safelite AutoGlass to Answer Whistleblower Complaint Alleging Rampant Insurance Fraud; Case Set for September 2025 Trial|website=CPMLegal.com|accessdate=12 February 2025}}

Operations

Safelite operates in all 50 states. The company is composed of three major business operations:{{cite web| author = Staff (undated) | title = Safelite AutoGlass® Companies |url=http://www.safelite.com/about-safelite/safelite-autoglass-companies | publisher = Safelite Group | access-date = July 4, 2015}}