What’s underpinning aftermarket resilience

The automotive aftermarket continues to show steady growth despite economic pressure on consumers, supported by an aging vehicle population and ongoing demand for maintenance and repair.

Michael Chung, senior director of market intelligence at the Auto Care Association, said one of the most important long‑term drivers for the industry is the increasing age of vehicles on the road.

“The longer people keep their cars, it necessitates service and repair,” he said during the presentation Why Consumer Behavior and Market Shifts Matter Now at Auto Care Connect in Atlanta.

With new vehicle prices remaining high and financing costs elevated, many consumers are choosing to hold on to their vehicles longer rather than replace them. As a result, a growing share of the vehicle fleet is now out of warranty, creating increased demand for aftermarket services and parts.

“The vehicle age keeps incrementally increasing, and I would expect that to continue increasing, not just for 2025 but for the next several years. That’s my expectation,” Chung said, noting that the majority of vehicles on roads these days are well past warranty.

That trend is contributing to steady demand for repairs, even as consumers scale back spending in other areas. While discretionary purchases may be delayed, vehicle maintenance remains a necessary expense for most drivers.

“The longer people keep their cars, it’s further out of warranty. It necessitates service and repair, and that’s good for our industry,” Chung noted.

In addition to higher vehicle age, continued levels of vehicle use are also supporting the aftermarket. Chung said overall driving activity has remained stable, providing consistent demand for maintenance and replacement parts. Together, these factors are helping offset broader economic challenges, including inflation and reduced consumer confidence.

Industry performance has remained relatively consistent as a result, with moderate growth continuing across the aftermarket, Chung observed. He noted that the sector has historically shown resilience during economic slowdowns, as maintenance and repair needs persist regardless of broader spending trends.

The result is a market environment where demand remains stable, even as consumers become more selective about how they spend.

So while growth may be moderate, the underlying fundamentals of the aftermarket remain strong. And looking ahead, he said the combination of aging vehicles, steady usage and limited new vehicle replacement will continue to support the industry.

“Overall, we continue to see this steady increase in vehicles, steady increase in mileage, steady increase in spend,” he said.

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