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 readIndependent
Anna Petrova
12 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
REPAIR Act Software Access: What 270,000 Shops Actually Get
The REPAIR Act software access debate, read past the headline: which of the 270,000 shops' diagnostic and module-programming layers the bill actually opens.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Plaza Tire Network Acquisition: What an Owner Trades for Fill Rate
Plaza Tire Service acquired Main Street Tire in Virden. The real story for an owner: pooled fill rate bought with surrendered control of the shelf and margin.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Tariff costs hit shops hard: $60k gaps
A single vacancy costs $60,000 monthly. Don't let tariff-driven parts inflation kill your margin while labor gaps widen.
Ray Donnelly
8 min read
Service programs stop EV obsolescence now
Yves Racette warns shops face exclusion without high-voltage capacity. With 69% ADAS adoption by 2035, structured service programs are your only survival path.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
Independent Shops and EV Repair: 15-Minute Fix vs 32-Day Wait
Why independent shops beat 32-day dealer EV waits with a 15-minute software fix — and the access, tooling, and staff-retooling costs the panel skipped.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read