Software Skills EV Shops Must Master by 2026
With 71% of fleets needing software fixes by 2035, shops must pivot from mechanical repairs to data access and battery triage to survive.
Priya Raman
12 min readAftermarket
Priya Raman
12 min read
Aftermarket reality: 38% demand cost help now
With OE holding 60% share, I analyze why aging fleets are forcing distributors to pivot strategies toward cost-effective independent alternatives.
Anna Petrova
12 min readAftermarket AI: Why Margins Are 4x Higher Now
With vehicle age hitting 13 years, I analyze how generative AI helps distributors pivot from reactive parts sales to proactive service ecosystems.
Anna Petrova
12 min read
Aftermarket strategy: Navigating the K-shaped demand split
Independent parts now hold 57% market share. Learn how income divergence drives this shift and what it means for your inventory.
Priya Raman
13 min read
Technician Shortage: Why a $60,000 Vacancy Beats a Slow Bay
A technician vacancy costs an average shop ~$60,000/month. Why protecting your bay beats chasing the aging-fleet wave in 2026 — plus a pre-promise checklist.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Aftermarket sales surge on aging vehicle demand
The U.S. light-duty aftermarket will grow 5.2% in 2026. I analyze how aging fleets drive nonwarranty parts demand for B2B buyers.
Dmitry Volkov
14 min read
Vehicle aftermarket growth hits 5.2% in 2026
With vehicles over ten years old hitting 50% of the fleet, I break down the 5.2% growth opportunity for distributors.
Priya Raman
13 min read
Aftermarket sales growth: Why 13-year vehicles matter
With vehicles averaging 13 years old, Michelle Allen takes the helm to navigate the 5.2% growth spike in independent repair demand.
Ray Donnelly
12 min read
Aftermarket Canada: 2026 new car sales drop 4.3%
With new vehicle sales dropping 4.3% in 2026, Canadian drivers are keeping old cars longer. Learn how to stock parts for this repair surge.
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
Aging vehicle fleets drive 5.4% aftermarket growth
With the fleet averaging 12.8 years, repair demand is outpacing new sales. I break down why stocking for older units is your safest bet.
Ray Donnelly
13 min read
Aftermarket EV Shift: Stock for the Labor Gap, Not the Hype
The EV aftermarket shift looks like a tire story but is really a labor story. A parts authority on stocking for the 3% technician gap, not the hype.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
HPX 2026 Show: Why 2,000 Buyers Chose This Expo
Anna Petrova breaks down how 2,000 decisionmakers used HPX 2026 to secure OEM diagnostic gateways and address labor gaps.
Anna Petrova
15 min read
Aftermarket 2026: Why a 5.4% Tailwind Is a Sourcing Trap
The 2026 aftermarket grows 5.4% on a 13-year fleet, but a $60k tech vacancy, Hankook's $1.6B ramp, and 3% EV-ready techs make it a sourcing test.
Priya Raman
11 min readGeolandar X-CV OE Fitment: One Name, Six Part Numbers
Geolandar X-CV OE fitment spans 23 sizes and clashing platforms. A category strategist on why one tire name is six part numbers, and how to stock it.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Jobbers face 2026: Balancing stock amid caution
With the CFIB Barometer at 58.5, jobbers must pivot inventory from maintenance to critical repairs as consumers delay spending.
Dmitry Volkov
14 min read
Fitment Intelligence: Mapping 5M Parts Right
With U.S. vehicles averaging 12.8 years, generic catalogs fail. Learn how precise fitment data stops costly returns and fixes invisible inventory gaps.
Ray Donnelly
12 min read
Canada aftermarket: Jason Herle's $44B repair plan
With Canada's fleet averaging 14 years by 2026, Herle must unify the $44B sector to secure vital repair data for independents.
Priya Raman
16 min read
AAPEX 2026 Strategy: Navigating 1,400 Categories
With only 3% of technicians EV-ready, AAPEX 2026 shifts focus to urgent workforce training and practical diagnostics for independent shops.
Priya Raman
12 min read
Aftermarket Tariff Shocks: Why 2025 Held and What It Costs Your Buy
Aftermarket tariff shocks held volumes in 2025 because trade reroutes — but your purchase order doesn't. A buyer's source-risk triage for single-origin SKUs.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read