PLM buys CarTablet and MotorTablet to add infotainment to performance parts
What's the deal? Private Label MFGDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (PLM), a South San Francisco maker of aftermarket automotive performance parts, has acquired CarTabletDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and MotorTablet, moving into vehicle technology and infotainment. Terms were not disclosed. Both brands will keep operating independently.
What do they do? Founded in 2005, PLM makes performance products — exhaust systems, turbo components, suspension, and engine mounts — for platforms including Honda, Acura, Toyota, Subaru, BMW, and Nissan. CarTablet sells vehicle-specific infotainment systems, digital dashboards, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades, while MotorTablet extends similar technology into motorcycles and powersports.
What's the endgame? PLM wants to build a diversified automotive enthusiast platform spanning performance, technology, and premium products. The deal pushes it beyond hardware into OEM-style multimedia, navigation, and connected vehicle technology.
Why now? "Today's vehicles blend performance with technology, and this acquisition allows us to better serve those evolving needs," said founder and chief executive officer Frank Wu. The company is also expanding elsewhere, including a new Performance Program for the 2026 Honda Prelude.
What changes for customers? CarTablet and MotorTablet gain access to PLM's engineering resources, product development, global sourcing, fulfilment, and customer support, while retaining their own brands.
The signal: As cars increasingly combine performance with software and screens, aftermarket suppliers are broadening from mechanical parts into digital and connected products to capture a wider slice of enthusiast spending.
Read more: AP News
