Quick lube group moving to AAPEX

A dedicated quick lube presence will be seen at AAPEX this year.

The Preventive Automotive Maintenance Association and APPEX announced that they will bring the International Fast Lube Expo to Las Vegas in 2026, creating a dedicated quick lube presence branded “iFlex @ AAPEX.”

The move shifts iFlex exhibitors from The Car Wash Show to AAPEX as the quick lube market broadens into preventative maintenance. With the average age of 291 million cars and light trucks in the United States now 12.8 years, operators see room to add services that keep older vehicles on the road longer.

“The quick lube industry is best served by aligning iFlex with the automotive aftermarket,” said Jenn Bochnowski, vice president of the board of directors at PAMA. “More than just a trade show, AAPEX is a partner that can help us provide our members with the education, networking and resources quick lube operators need to thrive in the automotive aftermarket.”

Many quick lube suppliers already exhibit at AAPEX, including Mobil 1, Shell and Valvoline. In a typical year, about 2,500 exhibitors spanning manufacturers, distributors and suppliers gather in Las Vegas each November to meet buyers and partners.

“AAPEX has earned a reputation for networking that leads to business deals, there’s a lot of opportunity for PAMA members and quick lube operators,” said Mark Bogdansky, vice president of trade shows and community engagement at the Auto Care Association. “Similarly, the participation of quick lube businesses at AAPEX will add value to the comprehensive mix of exhibitors who already attend the show.”

PAMA has 170 memberships ranging from single‑shop owners to multi‑store chains and franchises with several thousand locations.

“There’s a lot of private capital flowing into the automotive aftermarket,” said Liz Goad, vice president of events at MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, which co-owns AAPEX with Auto Care Association. “It’s widely seen as ‘recession resistant’ because vehicle repairs and maintenance are a necessity to keep vehicles operating safely, regardless of the economic outlook.”

Quick lube locations are also expanding service menus. The 2026 Auto Care Factbook reports the industry provided 5.1 per cent of the overall collision and parts market in 2024.

“It makes sense from a service perspective,” Bochnowski said. “If a quick lube station has a vehicle on a lift already, and can readily perform preventative maintenance services, that helps consumers keep the vehicles they own on the road longer and in better operating condition.”

The iFlex shift follows PAMA’s own evolution. Formerly the Automotive Oil Change Association, the group rebranded to focus more broadly on preventative maintenance and member support.

Quick lube operators arriving in 2026 will find an established oil, lubrication, wax and chemicals section with a concentrated mix of buyers and suppliers.

“Over a few days at AAPEX, buyers and sellers can meet, face‑to‑face, with 10, 20, or as many potential business partners as they want,” Bogdansky said. “We are looking forward to working with PAMA and the quick lube community and welcoming them to AAPEX this fall.”