From Clay to Combustion: The Geopolitical Tensions Inside a $5 Spark Plug
1. Assembly & Final Manufacturing The final assembly of spark plugs is a concentrated, capital-intensive process dominated by a handful of global players. Assembly involves inserting and welding the center electrode, attaching the side electrode, assembling the ceramic insulator, and hermetically sealing the metal shell — a process requiring precision, heat treatment, and multi-stage quality…