If you plan to enter the aftermarket auto parts industry, there’s good news. The industry is all set to grow rapidly in the coming years.

One of the main reasons behind this growth is a massive increase in the average lifespan of a vehicle. According to experts, vehicles of the future will last even longer thanks to their high quality and the advanced technologies embedded in them.

However, to succeed in this industry one must stay acquainted with its future trends. You will also learn how to cope with those trends and increase sales.

Emerging Trends in the Auto Parts Industry

The section below talks about trends you must watch out for to make the most of the growth potential of the aftermarket auto parts industry.

The Market Will Be Mostly E-commerce-Based

This is the current trend and will stay as it is even during the next ten years. Buyers looking for auto parts prefer to buy products from trusted e-commerce platforms. That’s because these platforms make a wide variety of products available for highly competitive prices.

One of the biggest hurdles buyers face when buying auto parts is ensuring that the items they are buying will fit their respective vehicles perfectly. They will not need to deal with such issues when shopping from trusted online stores. This has been possible due to the availability of auto parts fitment data.

More Users Will Choose Electric Vehicles Over Standard Ones

The coming years will witness a significant rise in the number of electric vehicles on the road. Experts believe that this rise will have a positive impact on the aftermarket vehicle parts industry.

Indeed, there’s a myth, which suggests that as electric vehicles (EVs) come with fewer moving parts and require less maintenance compared to their gasoline counterparts, they can prevent the aftermarket auto parts industry from growing.

However, the fact is that EVs are constantly boosting auto parts sales by increasing demand for specialized products such as battery management units, charging accessories, advanced electronics, and electric motors.

Another reason why EVs are a big boon for auto parts sellers is the availability of customization options. Most EV owners love customizing their cars with aesthetic enhancements and performance upgrades. These customizations often require users to buy aftermarket products like body kits, wheels, and various accessories. Many EV users also rely on aftermarket auto parts sellers for buying replacement batteries.

More and More Vehicle Will Feature Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS are meant to assist drivers in completing tasks like avoiding crashes, parking, and maintaining their position precisely.

ADAS makes driving a safer and less tiring job. As a result, most modern-day drivers want their vehicles to have these features.

So, it’s obvious that the demand for ADAS in the aftermarket auto parts industry will increase. A recent survey revealed that between 2024 and 2034, the ADAS aftermarket will experience a compound annual growth of 9.4%.

Supply Chain Automation Will Become More Common

The next five years will see almost every auto parts seller shift to supply chain automation. Supply chain automation in this industry typically involves streamlining processes like order management, packing, inventory tracking, and overall order fulfillment using technology like robotics, warehouse management systems, data analytics, etc.

Implementing these changes reduces errors and makes order management less complex. It helps achieve maximum customer satisfaction and makes the process of supply chain management more cost-effective.

Preparing for the Future of Aftermarket Sales

If you see yourself sticking to the business of selling aftermarket auto parts, you must learn how to keep up with the latest trends. Some of the things you must do include:

Start selling your products online. Selling auto parts on top e-commerce platforms will help you build a bigger consumer base. These platforms are equipped to support inventory management of auto parts. Searching for auto parts also becomes a lot easier for customers when buying from an e-commerce store.
As a seller, make sure you submit fitment data for all the auto parts in your collection into the platform you are selling them on. This will make online purchases more seamless for your customers. To ensure you submit accurate data you can use a trusted fitment tool like the ones offered by PCFitment. These tools automate the submission process eliminating the possibility of human error. They also reduce the time required for fitment data submission significantly.
Sellers must consider adding aftermarket parts of electric vehicles into their collection. That’s the need for the hour as the coming years will only see the number of EV users increase. The same stands true for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. More vehicle owners will want their cars to have ADAS. So, your aftermarket auto parts collection should also include related units.

Final Words

Aftermarket auto parts sellers are all set to face even stiffer competition in the coming years. It makes adapting to the trends even more crucial. If they manage to follow the trends and offer quality products building a loyal consumer base will not be difficult.