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 readVehicle
Priya Raman
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 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 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
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
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
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
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