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Tendeco Hires Scott Howat As National Sales Manager
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By Counterman
A Grand Kickoff in National Harbor, Maryland
The sun glinted off the bay as thousands of automotive aftermarket professionals gathered at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center for the
link hidden, please login to view (The Group) National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The event drew 442 member partners with more than 4,600 one-on-one meetings scheduled throughout the week.
Leaning into the conference’s theme, “We the People,” attendees were treated to inspiring appearances from unexpected guests, historical reenactors portraying Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. The two “former presidents” entertained the crowd with tales of America’s founding and the importance of fair business practices. Their appearance was followed by a performance from a troupe of “newsies” advocating for national Right to Repair legislation.
Following the lively kickoff, attendees enjoyed dinner, drinks and the opportunity to explore 150 booths hosted by select vendor partners. The event set the stage for several days of meetings and deal-making.
Leadership Champions Unity and Innovation
Jeff Koviak, CEO of
link hidden, please login to view, underscored the need for collaboration in today’s market. “Now more than ever is a time for shared innovation and collaboration,” Koviak said. “Organizations and people should be looking for creative, mutual opportunities for growth.”
JC Washbish, president and CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, added that agility remains a key strength for the independent aftermarket.
“One thing that makes us unique in the independent aftermarket is that we are so nimble and agile and we can react quickly,” Washbish said. “That’s why we’re here this week. Let’s work together and continue to execute on what has made us successful.”
That flexibility is increasingly important as industry leaders gather just miles from Washington, D.C., amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Strength in Numbers and the Power of Partnership
“It pulls us together as a team. We never want any of our members to feel like they’re fighting anything alone,” said Sue Godschalk, CEO of Federated Auto Parts. “We are so much more effective in numbers. We are always eager to share, and we want people to know that we’ve got your best interests at heart, and we’re here for you.”
Robert Roos, president and CEO of the Pronto Network, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the power of collaboration in a highly competitive marketplace.
“We compete with the Big Four retailers, and those guys are tremendous competitors — very good at what they do,” Roos said. “That just requires us to be better at what we do. The more we can bring groups together, whether through mergers, [or] partnerships like our joint venture with APSG, Federated and The Alliance, it’s critical for us to work together, buy together and sell together.”
The Group’s National Conference runs through May 1, with deals expected to be struck until the final booth closes. Koviak added that while the event ends this week, the follow-up work and opportunity will continue long afterward.
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By 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
link hidden, please login to view, president of link hidden, please login to view (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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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view N.A. announced the promotion of Scott Howat to director of sales and marketing. In this new role, Howat will oversee all sales channels across the region, driving strategic growth and market expansion, the company said. Howat joined Litens in 2022, bringing over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and product management. Most recently, he served as national sales and marketing manager.
“As Litens Aftermarket continues to grow across North America, we are committed to ensuring our leadership team reflects our vision for the future,” said John Lussier, president of
link hidden, please login to view “Scott’s extensive industry experience and strategic approach to sales and marketing make him the ideal leader to drive our continued success and growth.” Over the past two years, Litens Aftermarket said it has experienced significant growth, and this promotion—along with other upcoming leadership changes—is part of the company’s strategic effort to align its internal talent with the areas in which those individuals can deliver the most value. By positioning leaders like Howat in key roles, the company added it is strengthening its aftermarket team and ensuring continued success in an evolving market.
Throughout his career, Howat made a notable impact while working at the Auto Care Association, Affinia Group, Dana, Echlin and Gates Corporation. Howat holds a Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designation from the University of the Aftermarket. Additionally, he has served in leadership roles with various industry associations, including as a member of the Automotive Communications Council, member of the Auto Care Association Marketing and Communications Committee, and Chairman of the Marketing Executives Council for the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (now known as the Motor and Equipment Manufacturing Association), among others, according to Litens.
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By Counterman
Frenkit, a European brake hardware supplier, is expanding coverage for the North American aftermarket. Featuring proprietary rubber components manufactured at its facilities in Spain and India, the company said it now offers U.S. customers nearly 4,500 different brake hardware kits, covering 95% of U.S. aftermarket sales.
link hidden, please login to view said its program includes hardware kits for both disc and drum brakes, caliper pistons, brake caliper repair kits, electronic parking brake kits and more. The company said its portfolio is comprised of more than 12,000 different components covering 50,000 parts cross-referenced to OE. Frenkit added that its catalog is fully ACES and PIES compliant and FMSI-indexed. The post
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By AutoZone
MEMPHIS, Tenn. , March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) today reported net sales of $4.0 billion for its second quarter (12 weeks) ended February 15, 2025 , an increase of 2.4% from the second quarter of fiscal 2024 (12 weeks). Same store sales, or sales for our domestic and
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