Trends In The Auto Repair Industry: Looking Up

Do-It-Yourself Auto Repair Vs Auto Mechanic Services

As a car owner, would you spend time trying to learn to repair your vehicle yourself and save money? Or would you rather opt for the services of auto repair shops and get on with your life?

Let’s look at some statistics. Entering 2018, there are 258,416 businesses currently operating within the auto repair industry theater, employing 565,110 people. The total revenue generated by the auto repair industry in the United States in 2017 is $64 billion, growing at 2.5% from 2012-2017. Growth is predicted to continue for at least five years. Profitable? Yes, it is. Ibis World is the source of these figures.

Other reports are backing this data. A report published by V12Data found that the average age of the U.S. vehicle fleet has increased by 17% over the past decade. It means that people are looking to get more life out of their cars. There is also observed a shift away from dealership repairs, which now account for only 25% of aftermarket auto repair.

The auto repair industry has been trending upwards in recent years. This can be due to an increase in disposable income as well as corporate profit. The average American has seen an increase in disposable wealth and hence, more likely to spend money on automobile repair and maintenance rather than spend time to learn how to repair their vehicles themselves.

Again, the average lifespan of cars today is longer than it has been before. Overall, vehicle owners are holding on to their transport longer, hoping and expecting to get more mileage. This requires regular maintenance and more repairs as the vehicle ages. Hence, we see an increase in the demand for auto repair shops.

Regarding fleet vehicles, which companies buy in bulk, their behavior can really dictate the trends within the auto repair industry. V12Data found that the average age of the U.S. vehicle fleet has increased by 17% over the past decade. So this means, even corporations and not just private owners are trying to get more mileage out of their autos. Also notable, is that the industry is experiencing a shift away from dealership repairs, which now account for only 25% of aftermarket auto repair. Good news for auto repair franchises, which are gaining more and more of the market.

A Wise Option in Seattle

Need an auto repair shop now? Then rush to Greenwood Collision and leave the headache to us. Why try fixing it yourself when it’s more practical to leave that to the experts at Greenwood Collision in Seattle.