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 readKzmall
Priya Raman
12 min readCosmo Tires: How $141K Was Raised
Cosmo Tires and four ecommerce partners raised $141,000 for Blood Cancer United. I break down how this specific tire promotion outperformed vague CSR.
Mark Phillips
13 min readAuto tire aggregator models explained by Ray
Sun Auto's purchase of Highland Tire pushes the network past 575 locations. I break down what this aggregator model means for your shop's future.
Ray Donnelly
13 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 readZC Rubber's 2026 Shift: $8.4B Revenue Reality
ZC Rubber hit $8.4B revenue in 2026. I analyze if their Vietnam plant can offset rising raw material costs for Arisun and Westlake.
Priya Raman
14 min read
Perfect Stop Sweepstakes: My Take on the 2026 Brake Push
Ray breaks down the Perfect Stop sweepstakes where six techs win vehicles. See why the June 1 start date matters for your shop's brake strategy.
Ray Donnelly
15 min readFisher Award Winner Stokes Fixes Supply Chains
Stokes won the Fisher Award after 22 years leading Canadian Tire. He uses data, not sentiment, to stop big-box encroachment on independent shops.
Ray Donnelly
12 min readCalifornia tire rules: The tradeoff shops face
California's new tire rules force a hard choice between fuel and traction. With U.S. vehicles averaging 13 years old, affordability takes a hit.
Ray Donnelly
13 min read
Supply Chain Analyst Tactics: Cut Freight, Boost Turns
Jack Paruszkiewicz boosted item turns by nearly 50%. See how a sharp supply chain analyst uses freight consolidation to free up working capital.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Matco Tools shift: Richardson's NAPA playbook
Richardson modernized 6,500 NAPA stores; now he leads Matco Tools. I analyze how his $750.6M revenue mandate reshapes franchisee support.
Anna Petrova
10 min read
Longmarch tire expansion bypasses cost spikes
Longmarch's $190M Egypt plant bypasses rising rubber costs. I analyze how this $1.5B regional shift redefines tire supply chains.
Dmitry Volkov
9 min read
Winnipeg Distribution: Why 176k Sq Ft Matters
Groupe Touchette's 176,000 sq ft expansion proves regional hubs beat scattered depots for Western Canadian parts availability.
Priya Raman
8 min read
2026 Tire Innovators: Skip the Pilot Programs
The sector holds 329,527 jobs. Prove your tech works deployed, not in pilot mode, before the July 31 deadline.
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
Tyre capacity jumps as JK Tyre targets 26M units
JK Tyre's ₹4,980 crore expansion targets 26 million units by 2030. I analyze why running plants at 90% utilization forces this specific capital move.
Dmitry Volkov
9 min read
Left Lane's 90-store leap: Why local brands stick
Left Lane Auto just hit 90 stores by keeping local names. I analyze why this 20-state strategy beats total rebranding for loyalty.
Priya Raman
16 min read
Diesel supply chains: Why Winner's Circle joined
Anna Petrova analyzes how Winner's Circle joined the Diesel Pro Network on June 19, 2026, to secure EPA-compliant inventory for independent shops.
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
Yokohama Hill Climb: Why 2026 Matters
Yokohama uses the 2026 Pikes Peak race to validate sustainable materials, aiming for 28% usage in mass-market tires by testing thermal limits.
Dmitry Volkov
14 min read
Mixed attachment methods: The new Gold Class reality
Enrollment opens June 15, 2026. This course merges five techniques into one practical test, replacing legacy steel sectioning modules for Gold Class.
Priya Raman
15 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 readTamarock XR/T: Why 55K Miles Matters for Hybrid Tires
Arroyo backs the Tamarock XR/T with a rare 55,000-mile warranty. I analyze how its 12-ply build handles heavy towing without losing highway comfort.
Dmitry Volkov
13 min read
SmartBay platform cuts tire labor needs by two-thirds
See how the SmartBay platform triples capacity in a 12-foot bay, cutting total tire service time to roughly 30 minutes per vehicle.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Nexen's Guelph Warehouse: Why Local Stock Is Only Half the Win
Nexen's Guelph warehouse cuts winter lead times for Canadian distributors. Why local tire stock helps fill rate but only discipline turns it to margin.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Mr. Lube Acquisition: Why $235M Buys a Labor Problem
Diversified Royalty's $235M Mr. Lube acquisition trades a royalty check for 187 bays to staff. A technician's read on the real risk: a $60,000/month vacancy.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Don't Compete on Price: A Parts Buyer's Margin Read
Don't compete on price: a parts buyer's margin math on missed calls ($3,000-$8,000/week), the talent squeeze, and what cheapness really costs auto shops.
Priya Raman
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
Yokohama's OTR Plant News Is a Lead-Time Story, Not Capacity
Yokohama's $245M India and Mexico OTR plants don't ship until Q3 2028. Why the lead-time gap, not the capacity number, drives your sourcing.
Ray Donnelly
9 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
TGI Adds Hankook: What 300 Buying-Group Members Gain
TGI is now an authorized Hankook distributor. A category strategist on what 300 buying-group members really gain — assortment, turns, and the rebate trap.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Technician Hours: Why Your Shop Bills 4.2 of 8
Independent shops bill 4.2 of 8 paid hours per tech. The fix isn't hiring — it's the order you close the leaks. A bay tech on what actually drains margin.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Straightaway Auto Scales Without Buyout Pain
Straightaway adds 18 locations since June 2025 while keeping founders leading daily ops, a shift I see working for long-term margin.
Priya Raman
15 min read
Scorpion AS 4 Stocking Call: Where Pirelli's SUV Tire Fits
Scorpion AS 4 stocking call: where Pirelli's new SUV all-season fits on the price ladder, and the warranty fine print buyers miss.
Priya Raman
11 min read
Plaza Tire Collinsville Opening: A Catalog Test, Not a Real-Estate Win
Plaza Tire's 17th Illinois store opens in Collinsville. Why network expansion is a fitment-data and assortment test, not a real-estate win.
Priya Raman
11 min read
Left Lane Auto Buys Champs Tire: Why the Back Office Decides It
Left Lane Auto bought Champs Tire and kept the name. The real test of this tire-shop roll-up is back-office integration, not store count.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
Green apprentice plans fix the 65% calibration gap
With 65% of repairs needing calibration, building green apprentices internally beats waiting for perfect hires who often fail exams.
Anna Petrova
12 min read
Auto Parts Distribution Channels: The $30B Shift to 2028
Lang Marketing maps a $30B+ swing across five auto-parts distribution channels by 2028. Who gains share, who loses it, and what buyers should stock for.
Priya Raman
11 min read
Amazon Auto Parts: What the Millennial Ranking Means for Distributors
Amazon auto parts now top the Millennial brand ranking. A distributor's read on the o2o model, algorithmic pricing, and what to keep local vs. central.
Priya Raman
10 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
ADAS Calibration Credential: Stop the Guesswork
With 71% of vehicles adopting ADAS by 2035, Ray explains why the new unified credential is your only shield against liability.
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
Sensor Ready Truck Tires: An Empty Pocket Is Not a Feature Yet
Sensor Ready truck tires ship an empty pocket, not live monitoring. A technician's take on when the casing and the subscription each earn out.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Nexen Tire's N'Fera Supreme S cuts cabin noise
Hyundai picked Nexen for the Grandeur. See how AI data slashes road vibration and why 45% of new compounds miss the mark on noise.
Priya Raman
12 min read
America's Tire NY: 1,250 Stores Challenge Local Shops
Ray analyzes America's Tire entering NY with 1,250 stores. Can their free service model survive the Northeast's entrenched local competition?
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
America's Tire growth: aging fleet drives sales
America's Tire hits 1,276 stores as Reinalt-Thomas Corp leverages a 13.6-year-old vehicle fleet to drive steady replacement volume.
Anna Petrova
14 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
Shops expanding sourcing as trust fades fast
Trust is evaporating in a $489B market. Shops are expanding purchasing channels to survive volatile supply chains and pricing shifts.
Priya Raman
12 min read
Purcell RDH Deal: The Cost-Per-Mile Math on Fleet Retreads
Purcell Tire's RDH acquisition explained through fleet cost-per-mile economics: why retreads win on miles-per-dollar, and what to ask before you sign.
Priya Raman
9 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
The 5.4% Aftermarket Forecast Reads as a Margin Warning to a Buyer
The 5.4% aftermarket forecast looks like a green light. With carbon black up 25% and 80+ price hikes, it's a margin warning — and a sourcing test.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Sustainable Tire Manufacturing: The 85% Number Is a Feedstock Bet
Hankook's 85% sustainable-tire goal is an R&D feedstock target, not a stockable product. A buyer's read on supply, certification, and pricing.
Priya Raman
9 min readBFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+: Reading the Fleet Spec Sheet
BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+ delivers 25% longer wear and 10% better wet traction — a fleet buyer's read on when it's the right tire and when it isn't.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Sun Auto Network's 575-Location Shift
Sun Auto now runs 575 locations. I analyze how their acquisition strategy pressures independent shops on tire pricing and service standards.
Priya Raman
16 min read
Sun Auto's 37-Store Year: The Sourcing Bet Behind the Footprint
Sun Auto Network acquisitions read as sourcing events: what 575 shops and a tech shortage mean for parts buyers, coverage, and demand.
Priya Raman
9 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 Expansion: Sun Auto's Bottleneck Is Catalog Integration
Sun Auto crossed 575 stores by buying chains, not building them. The hard part is not real estate — it is merging dirty catalogs and finding crews.
Priya Raman
9 min readReplacement Tire Rules: California's 55M Unit Shift
California's new rules impact 55M tires yearly. Ray breaks down the EV load conflict and why compliance costs may limit your inventory options.
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
Michelin X Line Grip D Retread: The Casing Is the Asset
Michelin's X Line Grip D retread promises 4 retreads and a million-mile casing. Here's why that's a ceiling you control, not a tire spec, plus a fleet decision
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
Installer Advantage: 5,000 SKUs Fix OE Flaws
Driv's new label covers 5,000 SKUs, embedding shop data into part design to eliminate specific OE flaws and reduce comebacks.
Priya Raman
15 min read
Hankook Tire Tennessee Plant: What the $1.6B Build Means for Buyers
Hankook's $1.6B Tennessee tire plant adds on-site validation. A parts buyer's read on lead time, the iON EV mix, and where Hankook sits vs the majors.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Firestone retail network: Beyond tire rotation
Mark Phillips analyzes how Firestone's 1,800-location network adapts its service model as battery costs drop and maintenance intervals shift by 2029.
Mark Phillips
9 min read
Mighty PREMA Canada Acquisition: A Build-vs-Buy Read
Mighty Distributing buys its way into Canada through PREMA, a tire-and-wheel-supply distributor. A parts-category strategist reads what the deal actually buys.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Pressure-Proof Your Team: Calm in Chaotic Shops
Vehicles now average 12.5 years on the road, increasing complexity. Learn how regulated thinking stops stress contagion in your shop's workflows.
Priya Raman
13 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
Linglong Brazil Plant Canceled: Cost Reality
Linglong scrapped a $1.1 billion Brazil plant as crude oil surged 50%. I break down why volatile input costs now override global expansion plans.
Ray Donnelly
17 min read
Kumho Road Venture HT: Read the Warranty Split Before the EV Pitch
Kumho Road Venture HT review: the 75k/50k warranty split, two separate savings offers ($305 store-card vs $80 rebate), and what the EV pitch really means.
Ray Donnelly
11 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
Toyo Tires Q1 2026: Read the Price Letter, Not the Profit Line
Toyo Tires Q1 2026 profit rose on a forex swing, not tire margin — here's what the 5% truck-tire hike means for your buy.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Rolling resistance testing must track thermal
Room temperature data fails EVs. Anna Petrova explains why ISO 28580 misses the thermal lag that kills 2027 compliance and real-world range.
Anna Petrova
14 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
Canada's Aftermarket Split: Repair Jobs Rose as Retail Shed Them
Canada's aftermarket split: repair employment rose 1.9% as parts retail fell 2.1%. A category strategist's read on what to stock and source next.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Bridgestone's Q1 Beat: What the Price-Hike Letter Doesn't Say
Bridgestone's Q1 2026 profit beat came from price hikes and premium mix. A distributor's read on what the price-hike letter means for your margin and stock.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Bridgestone Taiwan Plant Closure: What Buyers Stock Next
Bridgestone's Taiwan plant closure signals price/mix over volume. What parts buyers should stock, dual-source, and cut as inputs surge 25-50%.
Priya Raman
9 min readTire makers dominate North American supply chain
With 20.9M replacement tires shipped vs 10M OE, I analyze how top tire makers profit from this massive aftermarket gap.
Anna Petrova
12 min read
Nexen Seltos OE Fitment: One Model, Three Tires
Nexen supplies three different OE tires for the Kia Seltos by region. Why the model name won't order right, and how to confirm size, type, and load index.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Tire Brands in 2026: Why the Aging-Fleet Tailwind Is a Sourcing Test
Tire brands in 2026: the 13-year aging fleet is real demand, but labor, tariffs, and fill rate — not market share — decide what to stock.
Priya Raman
10 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 read
Service Advisor Training: Why Technical Confidence Sells Repairs
Service advisor training works when it teaches the product, not the pitch. Why technical confidence drives repair sales, why the gains fade, and how to keep the
Ray Donnelly
10 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
Victory Tire's 29th Shop: What a Roll-Up Means for Parts Buyers
Victory Tire's 29th Minnesota shop (Service Garage, Blaine) is a PE roll-up. A parts buyer's read on procurement, the EV-cost myth, and the sell decision.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
Potenza Sport EVO: When the UHP Upgrade Earns Its Price
Potenza Sport EVO delivers 5% wet braking, 6% rolling resistance, EU "A" gains — but the $409.99–$756.99 buy only pays off when duty cycle matches the UHP tier.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
GT Radial Adventuro RT: The Made-in-USA Pitch Hides a Warranty Call
GT Radial Adventuro RT review: why the made-in-USA pitch is a logistics win but a weak durability claim, and how the 60k-vs-80k warranty really decides the buy.
Ray Donnelly
9 min read
Fitment standards prevent costly marketplace returns
Anna Petrova explains how ACES standards reduce the 34% fitment error rate plaguing global auto parts marketplaces today.
Anna Petrova
13 min read
Toyo Open Country H/T CX-5 OE: Order the Passenger Tire
Toyo Open Country H/T is CX-5 OE — but order the passenger size, not the LT/10-ply truck casing. Match construction off the door-jamb placard first.
Priya Raman
9 min readTariff 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 readRolo Tires Price: Beating the $192 Average
With average tire prices hitting $192 in 2025, I analyze how Michael Welch's Rolo Tires uses automation to bypass distributor markups and lower costs.
Anna Petrova
10 min read
EV Tires: Consumer Reports Says the Premium Often Doesn't Pay
EV-specific tires win on rolling resistance and noise, not wet braking. See where the 15–25% premium pays and where it stocks dead.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Yokohama Advan at Velocity Invitational: A Buyer's Margin Read
Yokohama Advan at the Velocity Invitational: a parts buyer reads the UHP margin gap, price-to-score ratio, and the real stocking risks behind the festival.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Dunlop Subaru Uncharted OE Fitment: Don't Order by Model Name
The Subaru Uncharted's Dunlop OE fitment is two models, not one. How to order by load index and sidewall, and why Nano Black is just paint.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Tire Brand Equity vs Volume: What a Distributor Should Stock
Brand equity now beats raw tire volume — but only the right tier does. A distributor's read on what to actually stock as the fleet ages and costs rise.
Priya Raman
10 min read
ContiTread HDR 5 Retread: You're Buying the Casing, Not the Tread
ContiTread HDR 5 retread review: why the casing, not the tread spec, decides your regional fleet payback — plus a casing-sourcing checklist before you buy in.
Priya Raman
10 min read
ADAS Calibration: Why 38% of Cars Need It Now
With ADAS hitting 38% adoption, precise sensor alignment is mandatory. Learn why ASE certification is now the baseline for shop survival.
Ray Donnelly
8 min read
Yokohama Hangzhou R&D Center: What Buyers Should Read Into It
Yokohama's Hangzhou R&D bet, decoded for parts buyers: the premiumization shift, 2026 input-cost hikes, and how to source around the value-tier squeeze.
Priya Raman
10 min readRalson tire hits 1M units: What nitrogen curing means
Ralson hit 1 million TBR tires in just three years. See how nitrogen curing drives the casing integrity fleets need for retreading.
Priya Raman
12 min readTechnician shortage costs shops $60k monthly
With just 3% of staff proficient in EVs, shops face a severe crisis. I analyze how this gap drains $60,000 monthly and threatens service capacity.
Anna Petrova
13 min read
GreatWater Buys Holly Tire: What 154 Shops Mean for Parts Buyers
GreatWater bought Holly Tire and kept the local name, but the parts decision moved to a corporate desk. A supply-chain read on what consolidation does to covera
Priya Raman
11 min read
Tire Shop Acquisitions: What 575 Locations Hide From a Seller
Tire shop acquisitions transfer procurement control, not just the sign. A supply-chain read on Sun Auto's Service Street Tire deal and the sell-or-hold math.
Priya Raman
11 min readLinglong Tire's Vegas Event Proves Offroad Claims
Linglong's May 7, 2026, Vegas event proved Atlas Priva R/T tires handle rugged terrain, shifting their North American strategy from brochures to real proof.
Priya Raman
15 min read
Magique 2026 update kills tab shuffling for shops
AB Magique 2026.003 embeds NAPA ProLink, ending the tab shuffle. I analyze how this MDI architecture beats single-page cloud rivals for complex estimates.
Priya Raman
14 min read
Service advisor tactics for AI-driven customers
With 58% of users swapping search for Gen AI, the service advisor must validate algorithmic guesses with physical proof.
Priya Raman
13 min read
Plastic repair center cuts waste with zero-waste model
With plastics hitting 8% of vehicles by 2027, this Dallas center proves zero-waste repair works where replacement fails.
Dmitry Volkov
14 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
Delivery orchestration cuts shipping zones by 15%
Anna Petrova shows how delivery orchestration cut shipping zones 15% for retailers, turning stores into active fulfillment nodes.
Anna Petrova
11 min read
Jobber loyalty dies as shops seek 7+ suppliers
With availability at 39.5%, shops now use 7+ suppliers to cut warranty risk. Ray explains why single-source loyalty is dead.
Ray Donnelly
14 min read
Repair shops must train staff or close doors
With 64% of vehicles now sporting ADAS, static skills won't cut it. Learn why dual-track training is the only path forward for shops.
Priya Raman
12 min read
Front counter split: Why shops need two roles
With ADAS hitting 65% of repairs, splitting front roles prevents errors and secures the loyalty needed for a $200/hour labor rate.
Priya Raman
14 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
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
Sailun tire shift: Local Egyptian manufacturing
Sailun's $1.14 billion Egyptian plant targets 10M units, shifting global tire supply chains away from export-heavy Asian models.
Dmitry Volkov
10 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
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
EV Labour Rates: Why Three Ontario Shops Split Their Pricing
EV labour rates are splitting from conventional work: three Ontario shops show $35-$65/hr premiums as 80% fewer parts break the old parts-markup model.
Ray Donnelly
10 min read
Tire efficiency facts: The 30km Twingo upgrade
Ray breaks down how the Continental EcoContact 7 adds 30km of range to the Renault Twingo by slashing rolling resistance for EVs.
Ray Donnelly
15 min read
Dealer DIFM Share: The Parts-Coverage Bet Behind the Comeback
New vehicle dealers clawed back DIFM repair share with all-makes service and used-vehicle reconditioning. The real lever was parts coverage, not marketing.
Priya Raman
10 min read