Used Car Sales Upswing Brings Promise to the Aftermarket

[Counterman]

Research by Carfax shows the used car market surging in both value and volume. The automotive aftermarket is positioned to benefit significantly—and among those who understand it best is

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, president of

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(APA). In an industry where profitability is boosted by the number of repairable vehicles on the road, the recent upswing in used car sales is providing tailwinds that aftermarket businesses are ready to ride. 

“An increase in used car sales as well as an increased valuation of those cars both have huge benefits for our business,” Tucker explains. “With more vehicles on the road in that sweet spot of being 4-12 years old, our opportunity for selling parts increases exponentially.” 

That “sweet spot” Tucker refers to is the prime range for aftermarket demand. These vehicles are typically out of warranty, increasingly in need of maintenance and repair, and owned by drivers more likely to invest in keeping them roadworthy—especially when used car values are holding strong. It’s a powerful combination that leads to increased part sales, especially in high-failure-rate categories. 

Data is the Differentiator 

According to Tucker, the key to capitalizing on this growing opportunity lies in one word: data. 

“Keeping track of what we need to have on the shelf to service this aging car parc is the number one driver in capitalizing on servicing these vehicles,” he says. “Also understanding how the types of repairs change as the vehicle ages is important. Here again, data is the driver to success.” 

From stocking the right parts for the right model years to understanding when customers shift from premium to value-tier products, every decision aftermarket businesses make should be rooted in understanding vehicle age trends and consumer vehicle repair behavior. “Understanding the brands and price points that change as the vehicle ages also must be top of mind,” he adds. 

Growth For Established Players 

With used car sales rising sharply, some might foresee a flood of new players entering the aftermarket to capitalize on that replacement parts demand. But Tucker doesn’t see it playing out that way. 

“Having an aging car parc also means expanding your inventory in order to cover those additional model years adequately,” he says. “Having inventory dollars invested in the right places is not something that happens overnight, and so new entrants into this space are few and far between.” 

Instead, he anticipates new investments going into existing aftermarket businesses. The industry’s resilience—especially during economic uncertainty—continues to attract capital. “I won’t ever say we are recession-proof as an industry, but we are recession-resistant,” Tucker notes. “Our space has proven to be an attractive one for investors and I don’t see that changing.” 

Vehicle Categories for Strong Sales  

While aging vehicles generally mean more part sales overall, Tucker is quick to point out that those sales fluctuate based on a variety of factors: vehicle miles driven, car parc composition and failure rates. 

“When you take all of those into account, we see categories such as brakes, ride control and chassis all having exponential growth,” he says. “Anything the vehicle must have to start, run and stop effectively are all areas of strong growth.” 

And as used car values rise, owners are more inclined to authorize discretionary repairs, reversing a trend often seen in older vehicles. “We will also see more of those discretionary repairs come into play on older vehicles as their value holds strong and steady,” Tucker adds. 

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