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By Counterman
The Auto Care Association announced the release of ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0, the latest updates to the industry’s data standards, along with supporting reference database schema updates. The new versions follow a comprehensive, yearlong industry review and introduce enhanced capabilities designed to support more accurate, flexible and scalable data exchange across the automotive aftermarket. Updated schemas in this release include VCdb 2.0, Qdb 2.0, PCdb 2.0, PAdb 5.0 and Brand Table 2.0.
Standardized data for evolving global and regulatory needs
ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) serve as the industry’s standardized, machine-readable (XML) methods for exchanging product fitment and product information data across the Americas. These standards are used by manufacturers, distributors, retailers, e-commerce platforms and solution providers across multiple sectors.
“ACES and PIES are foundational to how the aftermarket communicates product data,” said Jonathan Larsen, vice president, digital products and standards,
link hidden, please login to view. “These updates are focused on helping the industry to deliver richer content, improve data accuracy and adapt to evolving global and regulatory needs.” New in ACES 5.0
Support for vehicle- and part-specific non-diagram digital assets within the App Segment; Multiple descriptions for a single digital asset; and Expanded multilingual capabilities for the “MfrLabel” field. New in PIES 8.0
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging data to support regulatory compliance; Multiple package configurations at a single pack level; and Digital asset file hashing and record sequencing to improve data validation and organization. Increased accuracy and efficiency across the supply chain
Together, these updates to ACES and PIES make it easier to deliver richer product content, improve data consistency across partners and better support compliance and evolving market demands. The result is more accurate product listings, fewer errors and a more efficient flow of data across the supply chain.
Compatible with Catalog Assessment Reporting Tool
In addition, the AutoCareVIP.com Catalog Assessment Reporting Tool now supports ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0 files. This free tool helps users evaluate and improve the quality of their ACES and PIES data.
Full details on the ACES and PIES release are provided in the Auto Care Association’s latest
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By NAPA
Ron Capps and the
link hidden, please login to view Funny Car team turned chaos into a commanding victory Sunday afternoon at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The three-time world champion overcame a rocky start in qualifying and bounced back from an engine explosion in the quarterfinals to earn his 78th career national event Wally and his 10th since becoming a team owner in 2022. The veteran wheelman set low E.T. of all four elimination rounds, including the final, where he defeated second-year driver Spencer Hyde. Capps is now ranked third in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car points standings.
Capps’ weekend began with adversity in qualifying as he smoked the tires in both Friday sessions and went into Saturday outside the 16-car field. Crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli mastered the third session, guiding Capps to a 4.023-second pass at 317.79 mph to move into the top half of the field. It was also the second-quickest performance of the round, landing Capps two bonus points. Like almost every other Funny Car driver, Capps’ machine lost traction early in the fourth session and he locked in the No. 7 position for Sunday eliminations.
Capps kicked off race day in a big way, as he left first against three-time NHRA Heritage Series Nostalgia Funny Car champion Jason Rupert and set low E.T. of the round with a 3.980-second pass at 323.19 mph to advance. Capps then led wire-to-wire in his second-round match against Daniel Wilkerson, winning with a 4.144 E.T. to Wilkerson’s 4.157 E.T. But just as Capps crossed the finish line, a massive engine explosion split his Funny Car body in half and sent him into the wall. The incident was eerily similar to the one Capps suffered at this race one year ago, but he managed to scuff the wall, saving the chassis. The NAPA Auto Care team thrashed to rebuild the car fitted with a spare body and made it to the ready line just in time for a semifinal race against defending event winner Paul Lee. The two drivers left the starting line together before Capps pulled ahead to win with a 4.124-second pass at 303.09 mph.
Capps went into the final round with lane choice over No. 1 qualifier Spencer Hyde. The NAPA Auto Care Funny Car led the way from starting line to finish line, posting another 4.124 E.T. at 303.23 mph for the win. It was Capps’ 77th Funny Car win and fourth at Phoenix, but this time, he hoisted a special diamond edition Wally to commemorate NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
“This is the coveted one right here,” Capps said as he held up the trophy. “You just think of the legacy and what’s gone into this. This is unbelievable. Thank you to Wally Parks, first of all. Katherine (Wooten) and everyone at NAPA, all the NAPA Auto Care people. We knew this was going to be a battle of attrition and dropped cylinders today. A couple of those runs, there was no way I would imagine that would have got us lane choice, but it did. It was like a bracket car. This win reminded me a lot of first my win in St. Louis [1997] because it was hot and we had 150-degree track temps there and we dropped cylinders all day but still won the race.
“You want to just take these (trophies) and chop them up into 6,000 pieces for all the different NAPA stores and NAPA Auto Cares,” he continued. “Carlyle Tools came on board and has done so much fun stuff with Maddi and me. NHRA, 75 years, it’s so awesome to win here. Everybody said I had bad luck, but look, we ended up winning. Monster Energy coming on board has been so much fun. Ron Capps Motorsports, we’re having fun right now.”
Next up for Capps and the NAPA Auto Care Funny Car team is the NHRA Winternationals, April 10-12, at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif., where he will also compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge. As a California native, it’s one of the tracks Capps calls home. He’s also won the Winternationals four times, most recently in 2021.
Start / Finish: No. 7 / winner in final round
Points Standing / Total: No. 3 / 151 pts. (-23)
Next Race: April 10-12, NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
How to Watch or Listen: FS1,
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By Counterman
Six in 10 automotive businesses expect demand for aftermarket parts and services to grow this year. That’s according to
link hidden, please login to view by the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo ( link hidden, please login to view). Open-ended commentary points to higher new vehicle prices, which are causing consumers to hang onto their existing vehicles longer, as the driving force for rising demand in the aftermarket. “The price of new cars is high, so people are purchasing, repairing and maintaining older vehicles,” wrote one respondent. “People are keeping their cars for longer periods of time,” noted another. “Price of new cars justifies repairs on older vehicles,” noted a third.
One caveat to that finding is that price sensitivity shows up in the aftermarket, too. The majority (53%) have observed more interest in lower-cost parts and services. However, customer motivation appears to be focused on value, rather than pure cost savings. Respondents said quality (34%) was the top influence of buying preference, followed by price (25%) and availability (20%).
Perhaps as a consequence, respondents said their business’s sales expectations for this year are flat, compared to sales performance the year prior. This reinforces the aftermarket’s reputation for stability no matter what’s happening with the economy.
Uncertainty is the Top Challenge
Respondents identified the top challenge as “uncertainty” (45%), which was a recurring theme throughout the findings. Many aftermarket businesses are engrossed in supply chain diversification initiatives, carrying higher inventory levels, and struggling to find skilled labor.
Among the other key findings are the following:
Customer service is the top AI initiative. About one-fifth (21%) of respondents have implemented enterprise-grade AI tools and another 20% are in the planning stages. Of those implementing enterprise AI, the top areas of AI investment are customer service (60%), inventory management (42%) and product development (36%). Supply chain diversification. 70% of respondents have completed diversifying their suppliers (6%), are in the planning stages (18%), or have plans in progress (46%). Inventories are on the rise. 38% of respondents are managing higher inventories of parts, compared to 20% who say they are managing fewer parts. Electric vehicle (EV) investments. More respondents (26%) said they will invest less in the EV segment, compared to 17% who will invest more. Another 27% said they will invest about the same as last year. Notably, the largest share of respondents (29%) remains uncertain about EV investments. Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage
Attracting skilled talent ranked second on the list of the top three challenges. Repair shops struggle with this because automotive technicians are retiring faster than the industry can replace them. The problem is compounded by the fact that demand for repair and maintenance services is rising.
When asked about the steps their business is taking to address the shortage, respondents pointed to an array of enticements. These include offering more training (30%), boosting compensation (27%) and improving benefits (22%), among other steps.
However, 25% of respondents aren’t taking any of those actions. In open-ended comments, respondents offered a variety of answers ranging from hiring retired people part-time to employing temporary help. One respondent commented [that we] “just stopped looking for help.”
It’s important to note that it’s not just repair shops that need skilled labor in the aftermarket. Respondents who work in manufacturing comprised the second largest demographic in this survey, following repair shops.
One manufacturing respondent wrote in to offer a solution, calling for “a national apprenticeship program that is deeply integrated into the manufacturing sector.” That person later added that technical institutes should synchronize their curricula with the “real-time needs of the factory floor.”
The full report is freely available for download (no registration required) on the AAPEX blog:
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By Counterman
Applications are now open for the Federated Car Care Scholarship Program. Applicants can apply at
link hidden, please login to view. The application deadline is March 31. Qualified candidates must select “Federated” on the online application. Federated Car Care Scholarship Program Details
Fisher Auto Parts funds the Federated Car Care scholarships in memory of Art Fisher. Art Fisher founded Federated Auto Parts and the Federated Car Care program. The program offers scholarships to active Federated Car Care Centers. Eligible centers must purchase from a Federated member.
“We are very pleased to continue offering scholarships to the children and employees of Car Care Center members, supporting their pursuit of higher education,” said Bo Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher Auto Parts. “The University of the Aftermarket Foundation makes the application process easy and efficient, and we urge interested students to submit their applications as soon as possible. We are excited to recognize a new class of deserving
link hidden, please login to view scholarship recipients for the 2026-27 academic year.” Eligibility and Award Administration
The
link hidden, please login to view administers the scholarships. The foundation will award several scholarships to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include employees and children of active Federated Car Care Center members. Applicants must attend accredited two- or four-year colleges. Eligible programs include ASE/NATEF certified automotive, heavy-duty, or collision training programs. Licensed and accredited vocational schools also qualify. High school students graduating in 2026 may also apply. Application Process and Consideration
Federated participates along with more than 30 scholarship organizations. These organizations award scholarships through the foundation’s central website. Each completed application receives consideration for every matching scholarship. Applicants only need one application at AutomotiveScholarships.com.
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By Counterman
The Auto Care Association has opened entries for its 2026 industry awards as the 2026 awards season begins across the automotive aftermarket. The awards recognize achievements in marketing and communications, workforce development and industry education.
The association will announce winners during a ceremony at Auto Care Connect, May 11-14, 2026, in Atlanta. Nearly 1,000 aftermarket executives are expected to attend the event.
All award submissions are due by Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. The association provides eligibility rules and entry requirements on its website.
Event Details for the 2026 Awards Season
The association will reveal award recipients at Auto Care Connect 2026. The event serves as a cross-segment conference for manufacturers, suppliers and distribution executives.
The awards program includes four categories. These categories include Marketing and Communications Awards, Impact: 4 Under 40 Awards, Auto Care Education Awards and the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award.
Marketing and Communications Awards Eligibility
link hidden, please login to view recognize business-to-consumer and business-to-business campaigns. These campaigns must have run in the automotive aftermarket during the past year. Eligible campaigns must have launched between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025. Applicants must hold Auto Care Association membership.
Companies may submit entries in multiple categories. Each entry requires a $149 fee. Program information appears at
link hidden, please login to view. Impact: 4 Under 40 Awards
link hidden, please login to view recognizes four professionals under age 40. These individuals must demonstrate meaningful contributions within the auto care industry. The association’s Marketing and Communications Committee and the Young Auto Care Network Group manage and present the awards.
Auto Care Education Awards
The
link hidden, please login to view honor three member companies. The categories include small, midsize and large organizations. These companies must prioritize education, training and career development as strategic investments. The Auto Care Association Education Committee selects the winners.
Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award
The
link hidden, please login to view recognizes an individual who advances education or continuing education. The award focuses on the North American auto care industry. Nominations should highlight innovation, program development or scholarship fundraising efforts. The Auto Care Association Education Committee selects the winner.
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