AAPEX and the SEMA Show are underway in Las Vegas as part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week and the Auto Service World team is there.

In what promises to be an exciting and busy week as always, the team will keep this page updated with news, information and other notes as we come across them. Many companies are unveiling new products, making announcements and otherwise showing off their latest tools, technology and services for the auto care industry.

Many training sessions are scheduled for pros of all stripes, from solving vehicle issues, diagnosis strategies, selling strategies for service advisors and management advice for owners. You can check out our preview of both shows for some of the highlights of what’s taking place.

We’ll update as best we can here on this page — it’s a busy time with a lot happening so there may be delays.

You can also head to our Instagram page. Give us a follow there for more highlights straight to your feed.

Tuesday, Nov. 5

After last night’s opening reception, AAPEX’s opening day started off with the morning keynote. Bill Hanvey, president of Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, kicked things off with an industry update and another push for right to repair support.

NFL broadcaster Erin Andrews took part in a Q&A about how she got into broadcasting, being a woman in a male-dominated field — “If you’re a woman in this industry, you have to love it.”

Andrews then hosted a panel discussion with Ashlee Arnold, vice president, Arnold Oil Company, Brad Beckham, CEO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Randy Breaux, group president, GPC North America, Philip Daniele, president and CEO, AutoZone and Shane O’Kelly, president and CEO, Advance Auto Parts.

They talked about lessons learned, insights on how to be successful, the importance of putting customers first, dealing with change and more.

“This industry has changed and it’s incumbent on us to change,” said Daniele.

”The pace of change will never be slower than it is today,” O’Kelly, adding that change requires telling the people who are executing change and are impacted by it the why behind the change.

Breaux noted the opportunities AI brings, calling it another tool in the workshop.

Once the clock hit 9 a.m., the doors opened and attendees hit the show floor.

Tood Campau from S&P Global Mobility gave his annual chat on aftermarket trends, covering everything from buyer ethnicity trends, new vehicle inventories, prices, EV trends and more.

A joint forecast looking at EVs and another at e-commerce in the aftermarket were released during the show.

Canada Night was once again held but at a new location: Outside on the Palazzo pool deck. The industry gathered to celebrate, network and hangout.

Wednesday, Nov. 6

The day started off with two big events. The MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers hosted its media and member breakfast and Women in Auto Care held its annual breakfast.

At the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, the morning after the U.S. election, politics was a hot topic. Ann Wilson, its head of government relations, noted that vehicle repair costs are tied to concerns over cost of living — and all that ties into right to repair. President Paul McCarthy noted other issues like tariff evasion and further discussed right to repair.

Nathan Shipley from Circana took to the stage for the second general session for his annual Aftermarket Outlook presentation. One item he highlighted was to pay attention to work from home rules from companies and how it may impact leisure travel.

The Women in Auto Care held its awards reception where recognition was given to top women in the auto care industry. Julie Holmes, CEO of Virginia Tire and Auto, won the Women Shop of the Year. RepairPal’s Sheila Sarkozi won the Outstanding Leadership Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tina Hubbard, president and CEO of HDA Truck Pride.

Thursday night saw an 80s night themed party for the Young Automotive Newtowrking Group. Those under 40 from the aftermarket got together for the biggest meetup the group holds. YANG Mentors were also in attendance, partaking in food, music, dancing and good times.

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Heading to AAPEX and SEMA in Las Vegas this year? Do you have your calendar planned out? If not, here are some highlights to get you going.

Keynotes

AAPEX and SEAM each will have special keynotes, though at different times.

NFL sportscaster Erin Andrews will headline the opening keynote at AAPEX on Nov. 5. Starting at , she will be joined on stage by automotive aftermarket industry leader Kathleen Callahan, owner of Xpertech Auto Repair for a fireside chat

Then, Andrews will moderate a panel discussion with automotive aftermarket leaders who will share observations and perspectives on the industry. The industry titans participating in the discussion are: 

• Ashlee Arnold, vice president, Arnold Oil Company
• Brad Beckham, CEO, O’Reilly Auto Parts
• Randy Breaux, group president, GPC North America
• Philip Daniele, president and CEO, AutoZone
• Shane O’Kelly, president and CEO, Advance Auto Parts

The breakfast, which goes from 6:30-8:45 a.m., requires a separate ticket from the show. Contact, Chris Kalousek from AAPEX Event Management at chris.kalousek@aapexshow.com to inquire.

Over at SEMA, there will be a kickoff breakfast from 7-8:45 a.m. at the Paradise Event Center in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

Bear Grylls, host of Man vs. Wild, Running Wild With Bear Grylls and You vs. Wild, will be the event’s keynote speaker at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7. He will speak about the experiences that have shaped him and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Education

Both SEMA and AAPEX have a wide range of education seminars geared towards automotive service professionals. Session topics range from marketing to sales to business strategy and technical training.

You can view the full list of educational session from SEMA here and filter by track.

AAPEX is bringing back Joe’s Garage, which will have live demonstrations daily. Otherwise, you can go here and choose the type of training you want, based on job role, content level or session type.

Industry trends

There will be several sessions focused on where the industry is expected to go.

At AAPEX, two general sessions will be held. Trends Impacting the North American Aftermarket Todd Campau, aftermarket practice leader at S&P Global Mobility, will kick off with his annual overview of key industry trends impacting the North American aftermarket and new insights affecting the global aftermarket. You can catch this session will be held on Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to noon, at The Venetian, Level 1, Galileo Room 901.

He will also make the same presentation at SEMA at W311 from 11 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7.

At the Aftermarket Outlook 2025 session, Circana’s executive director and industry analyst, Nathan Shipley, will cover trends observed in general retail and the aftermarket over the past two years. This session will take place on Nov. 6, from 11 a.m. to noon, at The Venetian, Level 1, Galileo Room 901.

Joint EV Trends and Outlook Forecast and the Joint E-Commerce Trends and Outlook Forecast will provide EV sales forecasts, market trends and post-warranty EV part opportunities at 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 5. Then, from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m., Jefferies will present the 2024 Joint E-commerce Trends and Outlook Forecast, offering a view of aftermarket e-commerce growth through 2026. Both take place at the EV Experience Stage on Level 1.

showcase new forecasts for growth in electric vehicle sales, the share of vehicles in operation, and predictions for select EV-related parts categories. This session will take place on Nov. 5, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

At SEMA, 2025 Economic and Job Market Outlook With Smart Ideas to Solve for Workforce Shortages will be hosted by Jeff Korzenik, chief economist at Fifth Third Bank. He will look at external factors and trends that may impact your business in W311 on Nov. 5 from 3-4 p.m.

On Nov. 6 from 1-2 p.m., Gavin Knapp, market research director at SEMA, will present SEMA State of the Industry: Where We Are, Where We’re Going. He will look at the trends driving the market and influences on the specialty equipment sector.

Canada Night

What’s Industry Week without Canada Night? The Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s anticipated networking event provides Canadian businesses from the entire auto care industry an opportunity to connect with top leaders and experts from the Canadian automotive aftermarket.

It will be in a new location — the Palazzo Pool Deck at The Venetian on Nov. 5 from 5:30-8:30

Canada Night requires a separate ticket available to industry individuals or companies. Business attendees must currently have an office in Canada or a representative who works in the Canadian market. U.S.-based companies with a strong Canadian presence are also welcome.

You can purchase tickets here.

SEMA Fest

While AAPEX wraps up on Nov. 7, SEMA will continue into Nov. 8 and wrap up with the return of SEMA Fest.

A live music and automotive event will feature performances by Cage the Elephant, Sublime, Fitz and the Tantrums and Petey.

The event is open to the public as well as industry professionals, taking place at a new outdoor venue right at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), adjacent to the South Hall.

Separate tickets are required, starting at $49. They are available at www.semafest.com.

ATRA Powertrain Expo

The Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association has joined forces with AAPEX to bring its annual Expo to the Industry Week.

What was once a separate event can now be found on Level 1 of the Venetian this year and for every AAPEX following. All ATRA Expo vendors will be featured in the dedicated Transmission area, near Joe’s Garage.

Training opportunities can be found here, while additional details about the expo can be found at www.powertrainexpo.com.

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Today’s vehicles aren’t necessarily going be enough to attract young people into this industry and so a different kind of approach is needed, a shop coach recently advised.

Rather than trying to rely on young people developing a passion for automotive repair on their own, explain to them—and their parents—that a career in the trade is viable and stable while showing them just how they can be successful.

As the automotive industry grapples with attracting new talent, Jeff Furrow, owner of Wellsboro Automotive, addressed the challenges and solutions during a training session on apprenticeships at the Worldpac Supplier and Training Expo.

He highlighted the disconnect young people feel with modern vehicles compared to older generations and emphasized the need for structured career plans to draw them into the trade.

What’s shifted young people from coming to work on cars? Furrow suggested looking at what’s in a school parking lot.

Older generations had hot rods, Camaros or Mustangs that were easier to understand once you popped the hood.

“We worked on him at night, on weekends. But we can do that ourselves — we have the tools, we can find the knowledge,” he said.

Today, however, the complexity of new vehicles like the modern-day Mustang or offerings from Lexus, Tesla and BMW makes them inaccessible for DIY enthusiasts.

“They can’t work on this. There’s no way they can work on them,” Furrow explained. “So how do they fall in love with something they can’t do? How can they fall in love with an industry when they’re not able to be a part of it?”

So it means taking a different approach with young kids and their families. He offered a blueprint to show that there’s a viable, structured career path in auto care. By providing a clear plan the industry can begin to attract and retain the next generation of automotive technicians, he said.

Furrow noted that many parents are focused on the four-year university path without a clear plan, but they feel that a piece of paper after that time is nevertheless worthwhile. Suppose you go to those parents with a specific career path that you’ve created for their child that shows how they will progress and the career they will have once they get the education and training. In that case, you’re making a real difference to attract young people to the automotive service trade.

“Once I told them, ‘I have a plan for your child,’ they started listening to us,” Furrow said. He stressed that the plan must demonstrate structure and a real pathway to a career, and it must be in writing.

Luke Murray, a Worldpac Training Institute instructor, agreed.

“The attrition rate is terrible,” he said in the same session. “And when polled why [apprentices] left, the top two reasons [were] lack of a mentor … and lack of a career path.”

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The annual three-day Ride for the Future by the Automotive Aftermarket Riders Club (AARC) will kick off once again heading into AAPEX.

The event is supports the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF), which provides scholarships and educational resources to help develop future industry leaders.

“The AARC Ride for the Future offers an exciting and unforgettable experience,” said Mike Mohler, the leader of the pack. “While we are taking in incredible locations and having a blast, we are also giving back to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.”

He noted that Michael Rukov has been designated the head of “fun stuff” and is working on a mystery field trip that participants will enjoy. However, the location of the mystery excursion has not yet been revealed.

The scenic ride will begin at Eagle Rider Rentals and Tours in Las Vegas on Oct. 31. Riders will cruise through Nevada, Southern Utah and Arizona. Riders will head back to Las Vegas on Nov. 2 in time for the start of the Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) conference.

Interested riders can rent motorcycles from Eagle Rider Rentals and Tours with an advance reservation. For more information or to learn how to become a rider or sponsor, contact Mike Mohler, at mikem@thegroupapsg.com.

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The automotive aftermarket will have access to even more electric vehicle experiences, along with the usual industry trend insights at AAPEX this year during Industry Week.

AAPEX 2024 is expanding its EV experience to provide more expert-led training sessions and product spotlights on the show floor, ensuring all segments of the automotive aftermarket are fully prepared for the transition to EVs.

From Nov. 5-7 in Las Vegas, attendees can choose from more from 15 EV-specific training sessions held on the EV Stage in Joe’s Garage, which can be found back on Level 1 of The Venetian Expo. Topics will include profitable servicing of EVs and their batteries, electrified vehicle maintenance, diagnosing the 12V power system, EV and hybrid HVAC systems and upcoming technological advancements that will drive EV adoption rates.

In addition, the session “Joint EV Trends and Outlook Forecast” will showcase new forecasts for growth in electric vehicle sales, the share of vehicles in operation, and predictions for select EV-related parts categories. This session will take place on Nov. 5, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, attendees can head to the show floor and check out exhibiting companies highlighting the latest EV advancements, providing access to the products and specialized expertise needed to service the rapidly expanding EV market.

Furthermore, the popular AAPEX General Sessions, “Trends Impacting the North American Aftermarket” and “Aftermarket Outlook 2025,” will return with new data, insights and market research.

Todd Campau, aftermarket practice leader at S&P Global Mobility, will kick off with his annual overview of key industry trends impacting the North American aftermarket and new insights affecting the global aftermarket. He’ll go through how the automotive aftermarket continues to evolve with the changing new vehicle market, the path to electrification and the aging vehicle fleet. You can catch this session will be held on Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to noon, at The Venetian, Level 1, Galileo Room 901.

At the Aftermarket Outlook 2025 session, Circana’s executive director and industry analyst, Nathan Shipley, will cover trends observed in general retail and the aftermarket over the past two years. He’ll explain why understanding the drivers of sales performance during this period is crucial for predicting the near-term future of the industry. Shipley will also provide perspectives on how macro trends, both industry-specific and general, might influence future results. This session will take place on Nov. 6, from 11 a.m. to noon, at The Venetian, Level 1, Galileo Room 901.

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Vancouver played host to Bestbuy Distributors’ annual Buy & Sell event where shareholder members and vendors got together for a few days of work with some play.

With 200 people in attendance for the event from Sept. 15-18, the event kicked off with a welcome reception at the River Rock Casino & Resort, the home base for the event. Attendees networked with each other for the night on the resort’s marina as the sunset.

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The next day featured different activities for the group. One set headed to the Richmond Golf & Country Club while the other took a day tour through downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

Tuesday morning was dedicated to meetings between shareholders and vendors. Then the whole crew headed to Grouse Mountain for the group night out. Attendees got to take in scenic views of the Vancouver skyline during the cable car ride up to the mountain. They had dinner, networked and enjoyed each other’s company 3,800 feet in the sky in the chalet

The event wrapped up on Wednesday where more meetings were held before everyone headed home.

Check out the Instagram reel for highlights and the photo gallery below for more.

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As business evolves, shop members of the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario got up close to the latest changes and challenges taking place.

They gathered in Mississauga, Ontario, at the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West for the AARO Trade Show & Training Event to hear from industry leaders and get both business management and technical training.

The three-day event starting on Sept. 12 kicked off with Alan Beech from Beech Consulting and an occasional contributor to CARS magazine. He gave a training course on handling the busy season and the chaos that comes with it. He dove into strategies to improve your business and be better prepared for the fall and winter by offering strategies for better inspections, tire sales, customer service, labour rate and more.

After lunch, Murray Voth from RPM Training talked about the management process shop owners need to undertake. He gave insights during the program into how to take a measured approach and ensure processes are in place to meet customer expectations, including 14 points for management to run the business successfully. He outlined expectations for techs and service advisors — but also what they expect from their boss.

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Once that wrapped up, it was on to the tradeshow, which featured Cam Capriotto of Remarkable Results Radio as the opening speaker. Attendees then got to visit the booths exhibiting and take in the latest in products and offers.

The next two days featured Lindertech training. Scott Shotten gave two sessions, one on engine mechanical diagnosis with electronic equipment and a second on efficient and effective network diagnosis.

The final day on Sept. 14 featured Brenden Steckler, whose presentations included a focus on a streamlined approach to diagnostic dilemmas.

Many attendees commended the training program with some noting it was some of the best they’ve received in some time.

Check out the Instagram reel highlight above and the photo gallery below.

AARO Training & Trade Show 2024

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Members of the Ontario Aftermarket Retailers Association and the Ontario Automotive Aftermarket hit the links in support of AIA Canada’s High Fives for Kids Foundation.

When the day wrapped up, $10,500 was raised by more than 100 golfers at the Shelburne Golf & Country Club in Melancthon, Ontario, northwest of Toronto, on Sept. 5

The day saw pros from across the aftermarket come out, from shop owners to jobbers to manufacturers and supplier reps. They played 18 holes on a beautiful sunny day and then headed into the clubhouse for dinner and raffle draws.

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Bestbuy’s Andy Murphy hosted the post-golf dinner. High Fives’ chair Ray Proulx from KYB highlighted that the foundation’s goal is to raise money for various charities that support children, often those that don’t get government funding.

There were 43 hole sponsors, plus a hole-in-one competition hosted by Federated Insurance, though no one took home the prize.

The day itself raised $9,000 with Federated adding $1,500 to the fundraising pot. Rob Hollinger gave $450 of his 50/50 winnings back to the foundation.

Check out the event reel and photo gallery below

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Joe’s Garage is set to expand its offerings with new events, extensive hands-on training and an ADAS-focused presentation stage during the automotive aftermarket industry’s biggest annual event.

Located on Level 1 of The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Joe’s Garage will serve as a comprehensive hub for automotive professionals. It will host the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) Powertrain Expo, the largest gathering of transmission repair specialists globally. With around 100 exhibiting companies, the expo will offer an unparalleled showcase of innovation, expertise, and cutting-edge technology in the powertrain and automotive sectors.

AAPEX 2024 will debut a new event where student teams will compete to disassemble and reassemble an engine using only hand tools. The competition will feature eight pairs of students from secondary schools across the U.S., with quarterfinals and semifinals on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 5 and 6, culminating in the final on Thursday, November 7.

Returning will be a fully operational 10-bay shop equipped with lifts and vehicles for hands-on learning. Daily product and equipment demonstrations will be led by exhibiting manufacturers and suppliers. Additionally, AAPEX will offer live training sessions in Bay 6, covering advanced topics such as Tesla drivetrain problem-solving, electric vehicles (EVs), servicing the Mach-E and the advanced application of electrical theory.

The ADAS stage will feature product introductions, essential training and insights into the latest industry trends. The expanded EV Experience will spotlight products and services on the show floor, with focused presentations and training on electric vehicle repair and service occurring on the EV Stage.

Training partners ATRA and WorldPac/WTI have joined the lineup, offering about 20 specialized sessions. More than 100 technical and business management training opportunities will be available. ASE has also highlighted specific sessions within the AAPEX training schedule to assist attendees in preparing for ASE certifications.

Joe’s Garage will also include special sections dedicated to tools & equipment, diagnostics/telematics/shop management solutions, tire servicing, and transmission suppliers.

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MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers hosted the Remanufacturing Roadshow and Annual Conference last month.

From June 25-26 in Greenville, S.C., industry leaders and innovators came together for an event focused on the future of remanufacturing.

Attendees were treated to exclusive tours of Circuit Board Medics, Standard Motor Products and Bosch Rexroth facilities to take in cutting-edge manufacturing processes.

The conference featured sessions, including Innovations & Challenges in High Voltage Battery Life Cycle Management and Emerging Technologies and a Focus on Circularity: Driving Opportunities for Remanufacturing. These sessions offered insights into current trends and technological advancements in the industry. Discussions on effective marketing strategies and industry perceptions took place during Increasing Demand for Remanufacturing Starts with Understanding Perception and Reality.

Attendees took part in networking opportunities, including a dinner at Fluor Field where attendees took in a minor league baseball game. They also had the option to tour the graduate research labs at Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.

“The Remanufacturing Roadshow and Annual Conference truly showcased the important role of remanufacturing in the automotive and commercial vehicle aftermarket,” said John Chalifoux, chief operating officer of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. “The collaboration, innovation, and dedication of our members is inspiring and will drive our industry forward.”

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Bestbuy Distributors held its annual gala dinner and warehouse trade event last weekend.

The dinner was attended by shareholders and vendor partners at the Westin Toronto Airport Hotel for a night of camaraderie and celebration. Long-standing shareholder members were recognized. Awards were also handed out to vendor partners.

Milestone memberships were recognized, including:

• 747 Auto Parts: 10 years
• Auto Magic: 35 years
• McNeil Auto Supply: 35 years

Vendor awards were handed out as well.

• The Rising Star Award: Wilmar – Performance Tool Products
• Marketing Partner Award: Dorman Products
• Bestbuy Partner Award: Promax
• Cornerstone Award: Bosch
• Horace J. Pratt Vendor of the Year Award: Mevotech

The 2023 board of directors was also introduced. Back as chair is Doug Wilson of Fat Guys Auto Parts. Michael MacPherson from Down East Auto Parts will serve as vice chair while Scott Anderson of Peterborough Automotive will serve as treasurer. Others serving as directors are: Tony Racioppo from Fincham Automotive Supplies; John Brunelle of Parts Stop Auto & Industrial; Rob Dow of Jack Dow Auto Supplies; and Arthur Edwards from Northwest Auto Parts. Mark Haner joined the board as Gary Thibault stepped down. He was given a parting gift in recognition of his years of service.

Comedian and magician Bob Cates took to the stage to wrap up the night.

But that wasn’t all — the next morning, vendors set up booths at Bestbuy’s Mississauga office for the Warehouse Trade Event. Shareholder members fill the space to check out the latest offerings.

We have the highlights in our Instagram reel and the photo gallery below.

Bestbuy Gala & Warehouse Trade Event 2024

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Auto Care Connect brought together hundreds of auto care professionals to provide them with the latest insights, information and trends.

Attended by leaders in various segments from the auto care industry to foster innovation, collaboration and growth, the event featured multiple learning tracks tailored for different community groups.

Sessions were geared to specific areas of the aftermarket: the Young Auto Care Networking Group (YANG), Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES), Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) and the Auto Care Association membership as a whole.

 

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The event featured several keynotes, some geared to specific communities like Nick Bontis, director of the Institute for Intellectual Capital Research, who spoke to YANG members about leadership and the threat and opportunity of AI; The Classification Guru Susan Walsh for the ACPN group about the importance of clean data in parts information; and Peter Fader, a marketing professor from the Wharton School, who spoke as part of the Auto Care group.

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot and founder of Folds of Honor, gave the final keynote, touching on the importance of leadership and working together, inspired by military principles.

There were many panel discussions for each of the groups as well that ranged from crucial career conversations to industry talent to artificial intelligence to the future of automotive repair.

Attendees also had plenty of networking opportunities through the week, including a trade show.

See the full photo gallery below, highlight reel on Instagram and longer recap on LinkedIn.

Auto Care Connect 2024

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The Canadian automotive aftermarket lacks an important seat at the table to be part of the development of the coming electric vehicle industry.

This is an issue with both the mechanical and collision sectors of the automotive repair industry. As a collective group, we have such strength and ability to shape the EV future.

The EV & Charging Expo took place in Toronto from May 1-2, hosted by Electric Autonomy. The show consisted of a trade show, large stage presentations from industry personnel and many breakout seminars presented by industry experts.

While the event was well attended by many in the electric vehicle infrastructure and charging industries, it was noticeable how limited the participation was from the traditional automotive aftermarket in Canada.

As an industry, we have the opportunity to grab and shape the narrative on how the traditional aftermarket captures opportunity and market share moving forward.  Currently, many manufacturers and traditional wholesale distributors in Canada are looking to find ways to create and offer greater value and return on investment from their traditional business models.

 

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Why does the auto care sector need to wait until Year 5 of the vehicle’s age to start thinking about it? The need to rethink and alter the way we are doing business is paramount to long-term success.

The Canadian government has set 2035 as the date for 100 per cent of consumer vehicle sales to be fully battery electric. That is only 11 years away. But based on the participation and engagement from the automotive aftermarket at the recent expo, it seems like EVs in the aftermarket are a second thought, holding a ‘wait and see’ mentality.

Based on many speakers at the expo — including David Giles, president of Powered EV Training and Consulting Ltd. — the future of the shop business in Canada is bright for the owners and companies that plan and embrace the change. This involves modifying the traditional business model of a repair shop towards greater training and equipment investment, focusing on labour margin, service rates and customer experiences.

The EV industry is at an inflection point for demand and supply. The battery and charging infrastructure needs improving and people need to feel confident they can get to where they are going with battery-powered cars. But all of that will not matter if we as an industry do not continue to do what we have done for decades: Adapt and grow with new opportunities.

I look forward to next year’s expo so we can all see the increased industry involvement in the EV space. I hope that the aftermarket industry is not going to just have a seat at the table, but be a leader in the development of this exciting future.

Martyn Johns is a 20+ year veteran of the automotive aftermarket in Canada, most recently with NAPA Auto Parts as National Director. He specializes in service delivery networks and is a leader in electric vehicle deployment across Canada.

EV & Charging Expo 2024

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For three full days, shop owners, advisors and technicians gathered in Nashville for training of all varieties.

The Worldpac Supplier and Training Expo was held at the Gaylord Opry in Nashville April 24-28, offering plenty of educational opportunities, from technical knowledge to business management to customer service and more.

There were more than 400 hundred classes, of which nearly 2,400 attendees took part. In all, 3,355 people took part in the event, from service professionals to vendors representing about 400 companies in the two-day expo.

There were 211 attendees who made the trip to the show from Canada. Another 138 attendees were made up of students from Lincoln Tech in Nashville and multiple schools from the Metro Nashville Public School system, all of whom had their attendance sponsored by Worldpac.

 

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The event officially kicked off on April 25 with a morning keynote from executive vice president Bob Cushing, who highlighted the vast changes taking place in the industry, economic pressures on consumers, challenges to the industry and where the growth opportunities are.

Attendees then headed to training for the day, able to choose from a variety of classes that ran the gamut from the technical, such as specific vehicle issues, electric vehicle education, ADAS and more, to shop management, such as managing financials, marketing, social media marketing and more, to service advisor training that touched on various front-end customer issues and strategies. In all, there were 392 training classes — 80 business management classes, 52 hands-on classes with full vehicles or portions of vehicles in class and 203 classes focused on emerging technologies — led by almost 180 instructors.

Day 1 was highlighted by a dinner and keynote from retired Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell — whose story of serving overseas was turned into the movie Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg. He gave a passionate talk with Cushing in a fireside chat-style conversation.

The next two days were focused on more training. The nights featured the supplier expo where parts manufacturers, tool suppliers and shop management companies were able to meet directly with attendees.

A special lunch on April 27 focused on women in the aftermarket. Celebration Night featured a performance by Little Nog Town at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Walk of Fame Park.

The STX will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside of Washington, D.C., in National Harbor, Md., from Aug. 19-23, 2026.

View a quick highlight reel on our Instagram page and the photo gallery below.

Worldpac STX 2024

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Automotive aftermarket professionals from across Canada gathered in Toronto to hear from some of North America’s top experts who shared knowledge and insights.

The Automotive Industries Association National Conference was held on April 24 near Toronto’s main airport, speakers took the stage either in main session or breakout ones, analyzing how the industry is moving, how auto care professionals can take on change and more.

After opening remarks from AIA Canada’s outgoing chair Shannon Spano, president J.F. Champagne dove into many of the threats and opportunities facing the industry. Alana Baker followed to push the importance of right to repair in Canada.

James Channer, AIA Canada board member and COO of InMotion Brands then moderated a panel with Alan McClelland, dean of the school of transportation at Centennial College, Sylvain Seguin, president of Fix Auto Canada, Kevin Weaver, president and CEO of Georgian College, Spano and Mauricio Zelaya from EY Canada as part of a deeper dive into the Labour Market Research Report issued at the end of 2023.

Breakout sessions saw three topics discussed. Todd Campau, aftermarket product lead at S&P Global Mobility, looked at vehicle trends in Canada, how the number of vehicles on Canadian roads has remained steady and how kilometres travelled is shaping out post-pandemic.

Stacey Miller, vice president of communications at Auto Care Association explored not just gender diversity in the auto care sector, but diversity overall as a means to cast a wider net when attracting professionals into the aftermarket.

Daryl Benton, vice president of automotive aftermarket sales and marketing at Mann+Hummel, talked about leading change by understanding how to embrace change ad overcome resistance.

 

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Following lunch, Bill Hay was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, presented to him by Brad Shadick and Jason Yurchak. Patrick Verriet received the YPA Committee’s Young Leader of the Year Award. Both winners were announced prior to the event and given their awards at the conference.

A live episode of Curbside Chat was hosted at the conference. Host Lorraine Summerfield welcomed Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, Sabrina Thring, brand president of the collision group at Driven Brands, and Chris Kinghorn, vice president of strategy and growth at UAP. The panel discussed key issues affecting the aftermarket.

The day wrapped up with a special guest as Doug Stephens, founder and CEO of Retail Prophet talked about how AI and how it could impact the aftermarket by looking at applications in other industries.

The night before, a networking reception was held for attendees.

AIA Canada National Conference 2024

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Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, Canada’s zero-emission vehicles conference is returning to look back on the lessons learned and the results and achievements from actions undertaken by national, regional, and international communities.

Set to take place on May 1-2, 2024 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, the expo will continue to explore ways for further strengthening of the adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

What’s new and what to expect?

The theme of the 2024 event, hosted by Electric Autonomy, is “moving ideas into action.” Featuring a roster of Canada’s top EV influencers and decision-makers, this year’s programming includes 100 exhibitors and 70 speakers, offering business and government professionals everything they need to know to enable their organizations’ EV transitions.

Some of the speakers include:

• Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of energy,
• Chinmay Jaju, senior manager – strategy and business development at Uber Freight,
• Chris Henry, director – fleet at Purolator,
• Khuzaimah Chhil, director, property management – operations at CBRE,
• Scott Sharabura, vice president, electric vehicle charging at Parkland,
• Rebecca Moorey, senior manager of fleet and national HR programs at Loblaw
• Companies Ltd., among others.

The panels will cover a wide range of topics. From the workplace charging being an essential part of the return-to-office strategy, and why supermarkets are ideal electric vehicle charging sites, to the practical experiences and data-driven insights into how electric vehicles perform in cold conditions, the panels will be relevant to audiences from numerous sectors, including real estate, utilities, government, auto dealers, fleet operators, fuel retailers and supply chain logistics.

Apart from the knowledge-sharing sessions, the Expo will provide attendees with the opportunity to explore the latest solutions in electric trucks, charging technology, and participate in the on-site, on-road test drives of such vehicles as Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, Ford E-Transit, Lion Electric Lion6, Ford F-150. Attendees will not only have the opportunity to test drive various electric vehicles but also to get up-close looks at coveted models. These include a UPS truck from electric-first manufacturer Xos, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, a Zevo 400 from BrightDrop, an electric ice resurfacer, and more.

Exhibitor booths will showcase demonstrations of EV charging technology, with experts being available to provide information and consultations on navigating a zero-emission future. Some of the exhibitors include Volvo, SWTCH, Flo, ChargeHub, Petro-Canada, Cleo, Polara Energy, among others.

For more information on the EV & Charging Expo programming, the line-up of speakers and exhibitors, panel discussions, visit the event website.

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From left, Kumar Saha moderates a discussion with an aftermarket pro (Todd Campau, associate director of aftermarket solutions at S&P Global Mobility), government official (Elizabeth Clark, leader of the automotive team at the U.S. Department of Commerce) and Wall Street analyst (Greg Melich, senior managing director at Evercore ISI) during the 3 Dragons session at the Vision Conference hosted by MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers

One of the top conferences for automotive aftermarket professionals tackled key issues ranging from electric vehicles to supply chains to geopolitical to artificial intelligence and more.

The MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers annual Vision Conference was held at The Henry in Dearborn, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. Attendees included the top minds and professionals from across the industry and beyond.

This year’s event marked 120 years of MEMA under the theme “The New Aftermarket: Embracing Change to Drive Growth.”

A welcome reception was held at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation on April 9 before the jam-packed conference kicked off the next morning.

 

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Things kicked off with a drumline performance with a medley of upbeat music as performers donned glow-up outfits.

The always-popular ‘three dragons’ session featured an aftermarket pro (Todd Campau, associate director of aftermarket solutions at S&P Global Mobility) Wall Street analyst (Greg Melich, senior managing director at Evercore ISI) and government official (Elizabeth Clark, leader of the automotive team at the U.S. Department of Commerce) conversation that looked at industry issues from various perspectives. It was hosted by Eucon Americas vice president and Jobber News columnist Kumar Saha.

Barry Neal and Neury Freitas from Roland Berger gave a presentation based on results from the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers 2024 Landmark Study: Profitable Deployment of AI in the Automotive Aftermarket. The pair looked at how AI can help the industry in a variety of ways and offered real use case examples of where it would be beneficial.

John Baldwin, senior vice president of product at Discount Tire — with locations throughout the U.S. — went through what makes for a good customer experience as well as what they’ve learned about working with EVs.

The Advocacy Town Hall was hosted by MEMA’s Ann Wilson. She touched on significant legislative topics impacting the industry, including right to repair and trade issues.

Wilson, who will be retiring at the end of the year, was recognized by CEO Paul McCarthy on behalf of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers for her contributions to the industry.

After lunch saw a comedian magician perform for attendees before McCarthy then offered a Talk from the Top which featured pointed responses from customer leaders about how they feel their supplier partners are doing.

Prashant Iyer and Rob Pick from Bain & Company Discussed strategies for building a resilient aftermarket supply chain as geopolitical tensions rise.

As more suppliers look to Mexico as a nearshoring alternative, Gino Amador, president Snap-on Equipment, John Hanighen, CEO of Cloyes Gear & Products and Eric Sills, CEO of Standard Motor Products looked at the challenges and opportunities that stand in front of the industry.

Four ‘bulls’ then took the stage — Tim Albritten, director of business development from BG Products, Rosa Meckseper, head of automotive aftermarket in North America at Continental, Dave Miller, vice president of global product line management at Gates and Russ Stebbins, senior director of the global aftermarket business unit at Sensata — about trends that will boost aftermarket business, their thoughts on EVs and how they will supply the EV aftermarket.

The event wrapped up with a celebration networking reception to mark MEMA’s anniversary.

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Vision Conference 2024

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Lordco marked a major milestone at its annual trade show.

The B.C.-based Western Canadian automotive aftermarket parts distributor hosted its 34th annual show on the PNE grounds. Held Apirl 3-4, the Coliseum portion saw suppliers from hard parts to recreational products set up booths to not just educate attendees about their latest offerings, but offer limited-time show deals. Over at the Agridome, tool companies also offered hands-on demonstrations of their latest offerings for professionals.

 

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In all, there were more than 400 exhibitors taking part in the show. This year marked 50 years from the opening of the company’s first location. The show marked the occasion with not just a special 50-year logo, but highlights of the company over the years.

Check out the photo gallery below and catch the highlights in our Instagram reel. Auto Service World also had a special conversation with key members of Lordco’s leadership — stay tuned for that podcast episode coming soon.

34th Annual Lordco Trade Show

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Nearly 4,000 attendees filled the Overland Park Convention Center for the annual Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo from February 29 to March 5.

Attendees came from seven different countries to take in hours of available training, whether it was for shop owner, manager, service advisor or technician training. Attendees could learn the latest in diagnosing skills, how to manage their shop better, how to offer better customer service and much more.

 

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A pair of expos were held with 360 companies represented. The Hi-Tech Tool Expo featured tool manufacturers displaying the latest options for shops to help technicians get their work done more effectively. The main expo featured everything from tools to management software to shop equipment and more.

Stay tuned to Auto Service World for coverage of management sessions that covered topics on business transition, shop management, videos and social media, marketing and customer service.

Check out the photo gallery below.

MWACA Vision 2024

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Part of the Stellantis booth at the 2023 Canadian International AutoShow

The parent company of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram won’t be participating in any North American auto shows this year.

Setllantis, which also owns the Fiat and Alfa Romeo, told Automotive News Canada that slow sales amid the challenging market have forced it to reconsider its marketing strategy,

There will be a presence from the brands at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto next month, but the displays will be funded by local dealerships.

Last year’s booth featured a test track for its Jeep vehicles. It is expected to return. The 2023 Toronto show saw its third-largest attendance numbers ever. Organizers of the Vancouver International Auto Show announced its event would return in March of this year.

Stellantis skipped last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show and the SEMA Show where its Mopar division typically has a large display.

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Members of Young Professionals in Auto Care gathered in Toronto to celebrate the holidays.

The group, part of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, got together at the Amsterdam BrewHouse near the waters of Lake Ontario. They mixed, mingled and networked as part of YPA’s Holiday Networking Reception.

Check out the Instagram reel and photo gallery below for highlights.

 

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The YPA is open to automotive aftermarket professionals whose companies are members of AA Canada and under the age of 45. If you’re interested in joining the community, head to AIA Canada’s website.

YPA Holiday Reception 2023

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The Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto is set to return in a few months. Organizers announced plans for what visitors can expect.

Last year was the third-highest show ever — the first since the pandemic cancelled the event for the three years prior. Several automakers pulled out of the event, in addition to other shows across the country.

But organizers for the Toronto show said all of last year’s exhibitors are back, plus seven more. They did not say what those seven brands are.

The show is set to run February 16-25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Tickets went on sale at the end of November. It will feature new vehicles, concept cars and automotive technologies, with a spotlight on the newest developments and highlight how mobility is evolving.

It will also host an EV test track for a first-hand experience of driving an electric vehicle. Electric City will return to help attendees learn more about vehicle electrification, home charging and more.

“We are seeing a revolution in the automotive world, and at the centre of it all is the electric vehicle,” said David McClean, the AutoShow’s marketing director. “We are responding to that challenge with more presentations and more content to ensure consumers have all of the information they need in this new reality.”

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After a four-year hiatus, the Vancouver International Auto Show will return in 2024.

The show will return to the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC). Tickets to the show were released in late November.

The show is presented by the New Car Dealers Association of BC and will run March 20-24.

“The show will include a reimagined format with an elevated consumer experience at the forefront,” said Eric Nicholl. “Showgoers will find the latest technology-leading, environmentally focused EVs, coupled with lifestyle features and commercial vendors; this is a celebration of the automotive culture in B.C.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to test drive a wide variety of zero-emission vehicles. The “Indoor to Outdoor” test drives will feature the widest array of vehicle options ever offered at the event, including vehicles that qualify for provincial rebates.

There will also be an opportunity to take in a showcase of European luxury with EV technology from Audi, Mercedes and Volvo.

It will also feature supercars at Supercar Eleganza: A Symphony of Luxury Performance. It will showcase supercars from legacy high-performance auto manufacturers to rare, personal collections. Brands will include Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley and Porsche.

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If you missed out on Industry Week in Las Vegas, here are your highlights.

The week kicked off with an opening night reception at the Sands Expo, where AAPEX was being held. In the foyer of the second floor, hundreds of professionals from across the automotive aftermarket gathered to meet, network and catch up with colleagues before the real work kicked in the following morning.

Wakefield Canada hosted a reception at the Vegas Golden Knights game against the Montreal Canadiens. The group welcomed select partners and guests to take in the game from a private area at T-Mobile Arena.

What a morning it was on the first official day at AAPEX. Industry Week kicked off with Bill Hanvey, president of the Auto Care Association, and MEMA Aftermarket suppliers president Paul McCarthy. The two hammered home the importance of right to repair and why every person in the industry must get in touch with their elected official to ensure they understand the importance of the issue and vote in favour of its passage.

 

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Then legendary basketball player and entrepreneur Magic Johnson entertained the crowd, telling them his story of becoming a basketball star, getting wooed by shoe companies and transitioning from off the basketball court to the business world. For example, he proved Starbucks could work in areas the company never thought of simply by catering to the types of food and atmosphere they expect. He talked about learning lessons in losing and how no one gets where they are without some help. He fielded questions from the audience, ranging from how to cultivate a winning attitude to bringing a divided society back together. And without hesitation, called Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player to ever live.

AAPEX featured two general sessions. One was hosted by S&P Global Mobility’s Todd Campau, who looked at key aftermarket trends. Notably, it appears forecasts that suggested pent-up demand would see new car sales spike may not materialize as lingering economic factors hold back potential buyers — meaning average vehicle age will continue to climb and the aftermarket will be kept busy.

The other was hosted by Circana’s Nathan Shipley. He highlighted that high-income consumer spending is offsetting lower-income consumers deferring maintenance. He also noted that despite many people working in a hybrid environment, vehicle miles travelled is on par with years past, meaning many are still taking part in road trips, made easier by the fact that they can work from anywhere. And, overall, the aftermarket is near the top of the list when it comes to performance, despite economic headwinds.

Canada Night welcomed hundreds of Canadian attendees from AAPEX and SEMA. It was held at the Venetian for a dedicated space for Canadians to gather and network.

A coalition of TPMS manufacturers —Schrader, Bartec, ATEQ and Continental — held a press conference to put out the word about the importance of shops updating TPMS tools. They pointed to the potential service issues and delays that can happen when tools aren’t updated. They urged shops to take the time needed to update their tools, noting that poor Wi-Fi in the shop often holds back adequate updating.

 

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Women in Auto Care held its networking breakfast in the morning and then its annual awards ceremony where it recognized top women in the industry in the afternoon to close out the second day of Industry Week.

Company Ally of the Year was won by Standard Motor Products. The class of four Auto Care Women of Excellence winners were Susan Starnes of Genuine Parts Company, Ashlee Arnold of Arnold Oil Company of Austin, Tanya Hunt from BBB Industries and Jennifer Tio from Maximum Marketing Services, Inc. The Outstanding Leadership Award was won by Jill Trotta of TechForce. Jessica Carrino of Sparks Tire & Auto won Female Shop Owner of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tammy Tecklenburg from dott. April Williamson from NAPA was named Champion of the Year.

SEMA’s keynote was hosted by Tim Tebow, former athlete turned entrepreneur and philanthropist. He shared his life message of being “mission possible” as part of the show’s professional development experience. This was a new feature for the SEMA Main Stage, a program that will feature iconic personalities in the automotive industry, thought leaders and entertainers.

Check out our photo galleries

AAPEX 2023 – Day 1

AAPEX – Day 2

SEMA 2023

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Heading to AAPEX and SEMA this year? Here’s a brief rundown of some of the booths and events to check out.

Magic Johnson AAPEX Keynote

Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be in Las Vegas on October 31 this year to speak to attendees about “The Magic of Winning” and the real-life story of his remarkable rise, his philosophy for success and an empowering message on how to create the best possible future, said an announcement from show organizers.

Johnson has pursued several successful business ventures. Today, he is a renowned entrepreneur, owning multiple businesses in sectors such as entertainment, sports, and real estate. He has also been involved in philanthropy and has made significant contributions to various charitable causes.

General Sessions – Titan Ballroom 2204 (AAPEX)

On Nov. 1, Todd Campau, associate director, Aftermarket Solutions at S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit), will share his annual overview of key industry trends and new insight affecting the global aftermarket in “5 Automotive Trends Impacting the North American Aftermarket.” From the ever-changing new vehicle market to the aging of the fleet, the automotive aftermarket continues to evolve. Campau will cover how these new vehicle trends are impacting aftermarket repair opportunities faster than ever before.

On Nov. 2, Nathan Shipley, executive director and industry analyst for The NPD Group’s Automotive Aftermarket division, will lead “Aftermarket Outlook 2023.” Shipley will cover the trends observed both in general retail and the aftermarket over the last two years and why understanding what drove sales performance during that time is critical for predicting what the near-term future might look like for the industry. The presentation will also provide perspective on how macro trends – both industry specific and more general in nature – might play into future results.

Both will go from 11 a.m. to noon.

Tim Tebow SEMA Keynote (West Hall)

Athlete, entrepreneur and philanthropist Tim Tebow will share his mission-possible life message with attendees at the 2023 SEMA Show as part of the trade-only event’s professional development experience.

The SEMA Show will highlight Tebow as a keynote speaker on the SEMA Show Main Stage, a new program that will feature iconic personalities in the automotive industry, thought leaders and entertainers sharing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas and strategies.

He’ll speak at 1 p.m. on November 2.

TPMS press conference — Booth J9034 (AAPEX, Joe’s Garage)

The coalition of TPMS Manufacturers — including ATEQ, Bartec TPMS, Continental and Schrader — are hosting a press conference featuring representatives from each manufacturer speaking on recent TPMS service issues that are severely impacting shops and parts retailers across the country.

The event, which will be held at Joe’s Garage on November 1 form 1-1:30 PST.

It will focus on the importance of technicians and shops keeping their TPMS tool software up-to-date. Having updated software is absolutely essential with the introduction of the latest generation of TPMS sensors. By updating their TPMS tool software, technicians can prevent TPMS service issues and avoid unnecessary delays.

Schaeffler — Booth #2232 (AAPEX)

Schaeffler will be demonstrating its aftermarket solutions under the theme, “Your business is our focus.” It will be hosting customers and industry partners at its booth, showcasing products and service solutions that enhance the vehicle’s life cycle, as well as technologies that support the transition to electric mobility.

The company will showcase its engine portfolio highlights by demonstrating valvetrain technologies as well as its expanding lines of timing chain kits and front-end auxiliary drive (FEAD) kits, and thermal management modules.

In its chassis portfolio, Schaeffler will demonstrate the progression of individual bearings, Gen1, that required specialized tools and extensive expertise to install, to Gen2 and Gen3 bearings. The company will also feature future chassis mechatronics which have more fully integrated components that improve performance and added modularity.

Its transmission portfolio highlights will include the LuK, which include the RepSet and Torque Converter product lines.

Schaeffler will have onsite Repxpert training, including training on timing chain installation and problem fixing for the GM high-feature 3.6L V6 engine, basic teardown and installation with step-by-step instructions, checking for proper timing alignment marks, and special tools required all at its booth.

Launch Tech USA – Booth 38101 (SEMA)

The X-881 PRO Wheel Aligner will be showcased at SEMA 2023 where pros can see for themselves the unprecedented convenience and performance this game-changing wheel alignment machine brings any shop.

Launcher and Launch Tech have collaborated to release the much-anticipated X-881 PRO Wheel Aligner, a groundbreaking innovation in 3D mobile wheel alignment technology. Thanks to a successful partnership between LAUNCHER and an OE database provider, this new mobile aligner is two-post lift compatible and provides OE-spec readings, setting a new standard for convenience, accuracy, and efficiency in wheel alignment operations.

Epicor — Booth A2238 (AAPEX)

Epicor will introduce several innovative solutions designed to help automotive businesses capture the “Insight Advantage” powered by the company’s vast set of vehicle, part, and service information and cutting-edge data science capabilities

The Epicor exhibit will feature live demonstrations of the next-generation, cloud-based Epicor Catalog for Automotive and Epicor Commerce for Automotive B2B eStore, and two advanced data analytics solutions that enable automotive professionals to predict and address future demand for parts and services.

The four solutions that will debut are:

• Next-Generation Epicor Catalog for Automotive: Epicor will demonstrate standalone, cloud-native electronic catalog products for customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The all-Spanish-language catalog for Mexico is already in use in several locations while the U.S./Canada catalog will be available in early 2024.
• Epicor Commerce for Automotive B2B eStore: Representing a comprehensive modernization of the existing Epicor B2B eStore, Epicor Commerce for Automotive is a powerful, highly flexible and user-friendly eCommerce solution that helps distributors and other users to increase sales and boost customer satisfaction.
• Epicor Predictive Inventory Assistant: Epicor Predictive Inventory Assistant is the automotive aftermarket’s first intelligent inventory management solution that provides stocking recommendations based on aggregated financial information from “stores like you.”
• Epicor Predictive Maintenance Assistant: Epicor Predictive Maintenance Assistant enables service providers to predict likely future repair needs for virtually any popular passenger vehicle, resulting in stronger customer relationships and increased revenue.

Dana — Booth A4026 (AAPEX); West Hall #60087 (SEMA)

Dana Incorporated will have a wide array of its premium products on display in its booth. Dana and Spicer aftermarket parts, including axle and drivetrain components for the Ford Super Duty truck and the Bronco SUV and Ranger truck, will be on display at AAPEX and SEMA along with axle and driveline components for the Jeep Wrangler.

Victor Reinz gaskets and sealing products will be featured, including Reinzosil. Wave-Stopper multi-layer steel (MLS) gaskets, Victor-Tech rubber molded gaskets, and MeshGuard intake gaskets will also be showcased as will Victor Reinz tools for engine repair.

Liqui Moly — Central Hall #23611, West Hall #57261 (SEMA); Booth #A3238 (AAPEX)

The Liqui Moly USA booths at SEMA will feature a wide array of automotive products, including its renowned motor oils, additives and car care products. This year they have a pair of special booth vehicles showcasing their commitment to their JDM focused “AA” oils.

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with Liqui Moly experts, learn about their products, and gain valuable insights into automotive maintenance and performance enhancement.

With two strategically located booths at SEMA, and one at AAPEX, Liqui Moly USA will have ample space to showcase their extensive product range, provide hands-on demonstrations, and connect with industry experts and enthusiasts.

Mahle — Booth #2661 (AAPEX)

Mahle will have a 10 a.m. press conference on Oct. 31 to unveil the “MAHLE: The Choice of Champions” grand prize, custom-built vehicles — a Casey Currie Jeep Gladiator and a Richard Petty Z06 Corvette. The four finalists from this year’s promotion are introduced

There will also be Remarks from Jon Douglas, president, MAHLE Aftermarket North America

At 4 p.m., the grand prize drawing will be done, followed by a VIP reception. Several motorsports icons will be in attendance to help select this year’s grand prize winner and chosen custom vehicle including “The King” Richard Petty, Casey Currie, John Force, and other notable names in the industry.

ZF Aftermarket – Booth #5057 (AAPEX), #81100 (SEMA Experience)

ZF Aftermarket will be at AAPEX and the SEMA Show showcasing its aftermarket brands including ZF, LEMFÖRDER, SACHS, TRW and WABCO with comprehensive solutions to support internal combustion, hybrid, fully electric and semi-automated vehicles.

ZF’s Lifeguard E-Fluids now available and TRW Brake Boosters and Master Cylinders will be introduced at AAPEX.

ZF Aftermarket will offer its ZF [pro]Academy technical training as part of the AAPEX EV Experience. Training will take place at the EV Experience Stage, Level 1 in the Electric Vehicle Section: Electronification of the Chassis (A Step into Autonomous Vehicles)will take place November 1 from noon to 2 p.m. Electrify Your Journey with ZF Aftermarket will take place November 2 from 10-10:30 a.m.

The company’s SEMA booth will showcase ZF Aftermarket products and services that support car care professionals as well as vehicle owners and enthusiasts. Attendees will experience first-hand technology expertise carried across domestic, European and Asian make vehicles. Musical artist and actor Ludacris will be at the booth for an autograph signing on November. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The post What to check out at AAPEX and SEMA appeared first on Auto Service World.

The Auto Service World team is in Las Vegas for Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, highlighted by AAPEX and the SEMA Show.

It will be a busy week with product announcements from suppliers and aftermarket pros getting firsthand looks are components and tools.

Many training sessions are scheduled for pros of all stripes, from solving vehicle issues, diagnosis strategies, selling strategies for service advisors and management advice for owners. There are two key general sessions to look forward to: Trends Impacting the North American Aftermarket and Aftermarket Outlook 2024, which will provide the latest trends and market research to help the aftermarket prepare for the future.

We’ll update as best we can here on this page — it’s a busy time with a lot happening. You can also head to our Instagram page. Give us a follow for more highlights straight to your feed.

 

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October 30

The opening night reception was held on the second floor outside the exhibition floor. Hundreds of aftermarket pros mixed and mingled as they networked through the crowd. It was an easy-going welcome before the next-day official opening.

October 31

The morning keynote kicked off with Auto Care Association head Bill Hanvey and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers leader Paul McCarthy pushing for urgent action on right to repair.

Then legendary basketball player and entrepreneur Magic Johnson entertained the crowd, telling them his story of becoming a basketball star, getting wooed by shoe companies and transitioning from off the basketball court to the business world. He fielded questions from the audience, ranging from how to cultivate a winning attitude to bringing a divided society back together. And without hesitation, called Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player to ever live.

The day’s general session featured S&P Global Mobility’s Todd Campau looking at key aftermarket trends. Notably, it appears forecasts that suggested pent-up demand would see new car sales spike may not materialize as lingering economic factors hold back potential buyers — meaning average vehicle age will continue to climb and the aftermarket will be kept busy.

Canada Night welcomed hundreds of Canadian attendees at both shows. It was held at the Venetian, giving a dedicated space for Canadians to gather and network.

 

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November 1

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers held a media and members breakfast where right to repair was a primary focus. Ann Wilson said momentum is on the industry’s side. A key strategy is to make the issue about the customer and how right to repair impedes them — buying a new vehicle is cost-prohibitive for many, so freedom to choose their repairer is critical.

Nathan Shipley from Circana led the day’s general session, looking at how the industry has performed this year. One highlight was that high-income consumer spending is offsetting lower-income consumers deferring maintenance. And, overall, the aftermarket is near the top of the list when it comes to performance, despite economic headwinds. “We should feel pretty good.”

A coalition of TPMS manufacturers —Schrader, Bartec, ATEQ and Continental — held a press conference to put out the word out about the importance of shops updating TPMS tools. They pointed to the potential service issues and delays that can happen when tools aren’t updated.

AAPEX 2023 – Day 1

AAPEX – Day 2

SEMA 2023

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The Empowering Auto Conference hosted hundreds of attendees to offer insights, guidance and other opportunities to women in the automotive industry last month.

With 550 attendees — almost half were students who were admitted free of charge — the conference looks to recruit, retain and empower women across the industry.

The event — the second time it’s been held — was hosted at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on Sept. 18. It included opportunities to get professional headshots done, have resumes edited and hear from leading women. Students took part in a workshop with event sponsors.

Sponsors included several automakers and UAP.

Attendees heard from negotiation expert and author Fotini Iconomopoulos, a fireside chat between Ford Canada president and CEO Beverly Goodman and Lauren Tedesco, senior vice president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association as well as discussions on career paths and personal branding from other leaders and experts from across the automotive industry.

“The automotive industry is exceptionally dynamic and fast-paced, with technology rapidly disrupting how we approach the business of manufacturing and selling vehicles. Empowering Auto raises awareness about how fulfilling working in auto can be, while attracting fresh new talent to keep this sector evolving,” said Aryan Habib, co-founder of Empowering Auto and manager of telematics and connected vehicles at Hyundai Auto Canada.

“The 2023 Empowering Auto Conference planted the seeds for a more diverse automotive industry of tomorrow, one that accurately reflects the diversity of the Canadian customer base, and we will continue to drive progress forward in years to come.”

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The annual Buy & Sell Event hosted by Bestbuy Distributors had attendees strap on their cowboy boots and get down to important business but also have some fun to celebrate 70 years of the company.

More than 200 attendees including Bestbuy staff, shareholder members, vendor partners and guests made the trip down to Nashville Sept. 17-20 where just about a little bit of everything happened.

The event opened with a welcome reception at the Skye Lounge, which gave attendees a 360-degree view of downtown Nashville.

 

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The next day, the group split three ways: One took off to Old Fort Golf Club in nearby Murfreesboro, Tennessee for the annual SickKids Golf Tournament. Another took in the Murals & Mimosas Day Tour — Nashville is known for its murals, which the city pro-actively had installed to the sides of various buildings to deter graffiti. A final group went on a BBQ & Bourbon Tour, which saw them visit the Nashville Barrel Co., a local distillery where they got to sample a series of bourbons and whiskeys before heading to Fat Bottom Brewing to sample some specialty beers and enjoy a barbeque lunch.

On Tuesday, it was time to get some important work done as two days of meetings kicked off. Vendors set up meeting spaces and Bestbuy shareholders rotated between the rooms for 20-minute meetings.

Then, it was time for the group event as all attendees headed down to the famous Honk Tonk Highway on Broadway to Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar. The rooftop was closed to the public, giving Buy & Sell attendees exclusive access to the bar and views. They were even treated to a surprise appearance from Ultimate Jason Aldean Tribute, who sang several of the artist’s popular songs.

Finally, the show wrapped up with a final day of meetings before everyone headed home.

See photos from the event below and check out the Instagram reel for more highlights.

Bestbuy Buy & Sell 2023

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Hundreds of high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs took part in the 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference last month in Concord, North Carolina

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of sessions conducted by the transportation industry’s leading trainers and instructors.

“This year’s instructor training conference was a huge success, from the instructional sessions to the networking opportunities to the informational resources that instructors can integrate into their automotive programs,” said Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation, which hosts the four-day conference. “The attendees heard from experienced OE and aftermarket trainers.”

In addition to training and motivational sessions, attendees were able to network with peers from across the industry and share best practices.

“Being together under one roof gave the attendees the opportunity to learn, interact and focus on the future,” said Coley. “We want to thank the subject matter experts who shared their knowledge and expertise with the instructors and the conference sponsors who helped make this exceptional educational event possible.”

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New tools, more power and better efficiency are what Milwaukee Tool is highlighting they’re bringing to trades professionals of all stripes, including automotive service professionals.

Milwaukee Tool held its annual Pipeline event on August 8, hosting media, trades pros and influencers who got to hear about the company’s latest innovations and product announcements before getting to test out tools for themselves.

Attendees were given a welcome package of Milwaukee gear before an evening welcome reception the night before at the company’s new head office in downtown Milwaukee. A large red ‘beehive’ style wall with a white Milwaukee logo adorns the entrance as well as the atrium inside. A classic motorcycle in Milwaukee’s red and white colours — and equipped with a Packout case — sits at the entrance

 

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Leaders from Milwaukee Tool officially kicked Pipeline off the event at a new space dedicated to the event. President Steve Richman kicked things off by talking about the company’s history, culture, focus on core users and the change the company has undertaken in the last 18 years.

It was Andrew Lentz, vice president of product management, who then unveiled the big announcement of the day: The new line of RedLithium Forge batteries. When released, they’ll be available for MX18 and MX Fuel tools.

On the M18 side, the batteries will offer a 15-minute recharge time to 80 per cent capacity. It also will offer more power and longer life. The battery was on display in the Automotive and Equipment Maintenance section of the show floor for attendees to strap to a tool and try it out for themselves.

 

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Following the morning presentations, everyone moved to the show floor to hear specific presentations about announcements in various trades. In addition to automotive, there was electrical, plumbing, HVAC, outdoor equipment, carpentry and general contracting. Booths were also set up for Packout equipment as well as workwear.

On the automotive side, torque wrenches and recently-announced Hex Impact Driver and Compact Brushless half-inch drills were on display and ready to be demo’d by attendees. Other products that are set to be released in the near future were also showcased, such as the new taps and dies and the upcoming torque impact wrench, insider ratchet, borescope and long reach, long reach hose grip and snap ring pliers.

 

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The event wrapped up with an evening dinner and entertainment.

It was the third edition of the Pipeline event. Two were held last year. Previously, the company held a New Product Showcase but adjusted the format in 2022.

Check out the various highlights on our Instagram page and the photo gallery below…

Milwaukee Pipeline 2023

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Attendees filled up the Centro Citibanamex convention centre in Mexico City for INA PAACE Automechanika.

The event was held from July 12-14 showing off the latest trends, innovations and education hot topics— from technical to management training —at the Automechanika Academy, Future Forum and other special feature areas.

Learning opportunities highlighted deep dives into critical industry changes, best business practices and new trends.

The show floor showcased innovation and developments in the automotive aftermarket.

While the event itself celebrated 25 years, the Overseas Automotive Council also marked 100 years as a group.

Check out photos from the event below…

INA PAACE Automechanika Mexico City

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The marquee annual charity golf tournament in the automotive aftermarket in Canada hit new heights at its recent event.

Shad’s R&R raised $180,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada, handing over the biggest cheque it ever has on June 22 at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ontario.

The 48th edition of the event, which includes a day of golf followed by a dinner event with a raffle and 50/50 draw, brought its running total of money raised to more than $5.5 million.

With 280 golfers in attendance, money was also raised by prizes donated by automotive aftermarket companies. The 50/50 draw was won by Matt Osborne of Kleen-Flo, who then donated his winnings back to the organization.

On hand to receive the cheque from the volunteer board of Shad’s was Stacy Lintern, chief executive officer of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Paralympic swimmer Danielle Campo, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, gave the keynote address.

Check out photos from the day in the gallery below…

Shad’s R&R 2023

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We’re less than five months away from the biggest North American gathering for the automotive aftermarket and a slew of training opportunities have been announced.

Joe’s Garage will return to this year’s AAPEX show, featuring training for shop owners, service advisors and technicians. The area will take up an entire floor at The Venetian Expo during the show, which runs from Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.

Technical training topics will cover advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibration, battery electric and hybrid vehicle services, electronification of the chassis, EVAP diagnostics, J2534 module programming, deciphering gas turbo driveability and communication breakdown: communication issues, U-codes and network diagnostics.

Business management topics include AI language ChatGPT, dealing with overwhelm, executing successful acquisitions, superior service advising, understanding Gen Z and attracting, hiring and retaining employees.

Some familiar names will be at the front of the room for these sessions, such as Bill Haas of Haas Performance Consulting, Greg Bunch of Transformers Institute, Jeremy O’Neal from Advisorfix and more.

The full schedule can be found through this link.

Service professionals can sign up for training when registering for AAPEX. For those already registered, log in to your registration and add the training. The fee per session is US$50.

The post Here’s what shop training will be at AAPEX appeared first on Auto Service World.

Perhaps the greatest point guard in the history of professional basketball will be at AAPEX this fall delivering the keynote.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be in Las Vegas on October 31 this year to speak to attendees about “The Magic of Winning” and the real-life story of his remarkable rise, his philosophy for success and an empowering message on how to create the best possible future, said an announcement from show organizers.

Johnson is a five-time NBA champion with three Most Valuable Player Award wins. He was also a member of the original Dream Team that represented the U.S. in basketball at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 With his unique skills, he’s credited with revolutionizing the way the game is played thanks to his playmaking abilities, bringing the term “triple-double” into common lexicon. He was a point guard even though he was much taller than those who traditionally played the position. His talent allowed him to play every position on the floor.

But his career on the court came to a halt in 1991 when he announced he tested positive for HIV, forcing his retirement from basketball. He also changed how people viewed the disease.

Johnson grew up in an automotive family in East Lansing, Michigan. His father worked in a General Motors plant.

Johnson has pursued several successful business ventures. Today, he is a renowned entrepreneur, owning multiple businesses in sectors such as entertainment, sports, and real estate. He has also been involved in philanthropy and has made significant contributions to various charitable causes.

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After four straight years of cancellations, organizers say the Vancouver International Auto Show is set to return in 2024.

Last held in 2019, the show is the top-attended auto show in Western Canada and the group is describing the return as “a fresh and re-imagined experience.”

The 2024 show will include luxury supercars, exotics, high-powered classics and more, an announcement said. Attendees will also get to see a lineup of electric vehicles, along with lifestyle and commercial vendors on hand representing automotive culture.

“Following a four-year hiatus, we have taken a step back, building on 100 years of experience, re-imagining an event that will result in a very unique and exciting experience for both our manufacturer
partners and our consumer guests,” says Blair Qualey, President, and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, which also owns the show. “I believe the that we have found the right mix of
elements that will appeal to traditional showgoers and those looking to experience the latest technology in a whole new way.”

The show is set for March 20-24, 2024 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

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From left, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers’ Ben Brucato moderates a discussion on supplier pain points with Gino Amador of Snap-on Equipment, John Lerner from Gojo and Cal Ganda of ContiTech Power Transmission Group

Supplier executives from across the automotive aftermarket gathered in Chicago last week to learn all about the latest challenges hitting the industry these days.

On April 11, the day before the official start of the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Vision Conference, the Business Technology Council (BTC) held its Spring Meeting while attendees also got to visit and experience I-CAR’s research and training capabilities for advanced driving assistance systems calibration and servicing EVs. They were also able to take part in its mixed reality. That evening, attendees got to mix and mingle during the networking reception that also featured a casino night.

The conference then kicked off on April 12 with an opening act of Blue Brothers impersonators — fitting as Chicago played host to the conference.

 

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Then it was down to business as Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, welcomed attendees to the premier event the group hosts.

The Three Dragons segment has been regularly viewed as the most popular segment at the event where a government, Wall Street and aftermarket observer give their differing views on aftermarket hot topics. Liz Clark, automotive team lead from the Office of Transportation and Machinery at the International Trade Administration (ITA), Bret Jordan, managing director of Jefferies, and Todd Campau, associate director of aftermarket solutions at S&P Global took part on the panel.

Aftermarket professionals got to hear from Kevin Schimmelmann, managing director and partner, and Harrison Xue, partner, from the Boston Consulting Group. They looked at the impact of software-defined vehicles on the aftermarket and who will gain the most — and who stands to lose.

There were a series of other interesting panels. One focused on supplier pain points, which included Gino Amador, president of Snap-on Equipment, John Lerner, chief commercial officer at Gojo and Cal Ganda, head of Americas automotive aftermarket at ContiTech Power Transmission Group.

Another looked at challenges being faced at the shop level and how suppliers can adapt. On the panel were Sheri Hamilton, executive director of the Midwest Auto Care Alliance, Dave Hinz, owner of Mastertek Auto Repair, Barry Neal, senior partner at consulting firm Roland Berger and Dave Smith, senior advisor at collision repairer Caliber.

The day wrapped up with one more panel, the Future of Aftermarket Distribution, which included Randy Buller, president and CEO of Parts Authority, Todd Leimenstoll, president and CEO of Auto-Wares and John Washbish, president and chief executive officer of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

Check out the Instagram highlight reel and photo gallery below.

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Vision Conference 2023

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It was a packed weekend for the Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo 2023, hosted by the Midwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA).

In partnership with the Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, Texas and Florida Auto Care Alliance groups, the event from March 2-5 saw thousands of shop owners, managers, service advisors and technicians gather in Kansas City at the Overland Park Convention Center to take in training, ranging from technical to management.

The show, one of the biggest annual raining events in North America, drew in many visitors from Canada as well.

 

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Apart from training, two expos were held. At the end of the first day, the Hi-Tech Tool Expo saw companies offering tools ranging from scan tools to scopes. The Vision Expo was held on the second and third days. Here, more than 140 exhibitors — representing tool companies, manufacturers, shop management software, business advisory services, marketing and distributors — were on hand to greet the crowds that packed the hall.

Training included technical courses like diagnostic strategies and communication systems operation and testing. Service advisors could take in sessions on sales and customer service training. For owners, there were courses on leadership, financials, fraud and more.

The event wrapped up with an awards dinner and comedy night party.

Stay tuned to Auto Service World for more coverage of the event as we will bring you highlights from the management sessions.

Please see our Instagram highlight reel, a larger video recap on LinkedIn and our photo gallery below.

MWACA Vision 2023

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NAPA’s associate owners from Ontario got together last weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for their annual conference.

About 35 owners plus managers representing more than 60 stores in the province members gathered at the Queen’s Landing hotel in the picturesque town. Attendees opened up the two-day event on February 24 and 25 with a session that featured Jeff Van De Sande, vice president of NAPA Auto Parts Ontario, Alain Masse, president of UAP, regional vice president of Ontario, John O’Dowd, vice president of marketing.

An associate panel of Gord Sewell or Sewell’s Automotive Supply, Tim Maille or Revere Solutions, Dave Ware of Ware’s Automotive and Industrial Supply, and Jeff Clark of Doug’s Truck & Automotive discussed various challenges the owners have faced and overcame them. Lisa McClelland, manager of associate store sales in Ontario, moderated the panel.

Then, the trade show opened up with more than 35 vendors taking the opportunity to meet with attendees.

The evening saw the group head over to Wayne Gretzky Estates for dinner and drinks. They were met by former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Doug Gilmour and three-time Olympic women’s hockey gold medallist Jennifer Botterill. Both posed for photos and signed autographs. The winery’s outdoor ice rink was opened up and spirited games of shinny were played.

 

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The next and final day saw Botterill provide the keynote speech after breakfast, where she discussed the importance of performing under pressure, coming together as a team, adjusting to changing circumstances, especially when things don’t go as planned, trust yourself and constantly evolve. She also noted that the little things could matter the most. Botterill said she’s often asked what her most memorable goal scored was. She tells people it was actually an assist that stands out in her mind — the one to Marie-Philip Poulin to score what would be the game-winning goal in the gold medal game between Canada and the United States in Vancouver.

Several breakout sessions were held, focusing on various aspects of helping associate owners run their businesses better. There was also a presentation on the upcoming NAPA High Voltage program, which will be supporting its NexDrive banners.

Following the final general session and a short break, attendees ended the conference with a gala dinner. Entertainment was provided by Bob Cates whose juggling abilities and comedy engaged the crowd. Before he took the stage, Michel Bibeau, director of sales force technology, process and development, performed a original song for the crowd, inspired by his Ontario colleagues.

Please photos from the event below and check out video highlights on our Instagram page.

2023 NAPA Ontario Associate Owner’s Conference

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The unveiling of Project Arrow at the 2023 Canadian International AutoShow

The Canadian International AutoShow returned to Toronto after a multi-year COVID-forced hiatus.

The 50th edition of the show celebrated its in-person return during Media Day on Feb. 16, the day before the show officially opened to the public.

While organizers were excited to be back in person, the absence of many key automakers was noticeable.

Despite its all-electric i4 winning the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s Car of the Year in Canada for 2023 — the first fully electric model to take home the title — BMW did not exhibit at the show. The list of no-shows included Honda, Mazda, Ford, Volkswagen and Mercedes.

Floor space was made up of larger-than-usual exhibits from those participating — such as an off-road-style track from Jeep that showed the capabilities of its electric sport utility vehicles in the Camp Jeep Exhibit.

 

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The day kicked off with the unveiling of Project Arrow, the all-Canadian electric vehicle that first debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month. It will be on a two-year tour around the world to showcase Canadian manufacturing strength as all parts and components come from Canadian suppliers. The project was put together by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association.

As mentioned, the BMW i4 won the Car of the Year Award. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 took home the honours for top utility vehicle for 2023. Both are fully electrified vehicles.

As expected, electric vehicles were front and centre throughout the show floor with every manufacturer showing off their latest offerings.

The show reported record attendance its first few days, including a record of more than 56,000 people on Feb. 19. The show reported the previous two days were also record-breakers with organizers calling it the biggest two-day opening in the event’s history.

The show runs until February 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto.

Canadian International Auto Show 2023

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The last issue of the year for 2022 of Jobber News has arrived.

It should have already reached your mailbox, where you can read all about the Jobber of the Year, Fortin’s Supply. If not, be sure to check out the digital edition.

 

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In this issue, you’ll find out usual sections, such as letters from industry professionals, the latest news from around the industry, By the Numbers and more.

We hope you enjoy this issue and wish you the best for the holiday season.

If you ever want to comment on a story or submit a topic of your own, reach out to us at any time.

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The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) has announced the cancellation of the Vancouver International Auto Show.

It was set to run March 22-26 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Organizers said the “difficult decision” was made due to continuing challenges in the supply chain that are plaguing the automotive industry.

“For the last several months, we have been working with vehicle manufacturers and other partners in anticipation of returning in person to celebrate the 100th edition in the traditional auto show in March,” said Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the NCDA. “Unfortunately, ongoing global supply chain issues mean that a number of manufacturers and distributors are not in a position to commit to participating in many North American auto shows, including Vancouver.”

The lack of participation from automakers means the group wouldn’t put on the type of show that would meet the expectations of organizers and automotive enthusiasts, he added.

“We want to extend our thanks to the many dealership members, partners, sponsors, industry partners — and especially auto enthusiasts from across this province, for their patience and understanding,” Qualey said.

Just the week before, Ford announced it wouldn’t participate in any Canadian automotive show. The Detroit automaker reasoned its decision by saying it is looking for new ways to connect with consumers following its investments in electrification.

The Montreal International Auto Show is scheduled for Jan. 20-29. A late-November announcement highlighted that upwards of three-quarters of the most popular brands and models would be on display.

“The shortage and lack of inventory [due] to the global supply chain issues [affect] the entire industry and our show as well,” said Luis Pereira, the show’s executive director. “Some manufacturers will not be present, but those who will be with us are very excited to present their products to the enthusiasts.”

Toronto’s Canadian International Auto Show is set to run Feb. 17-26. Tickets recently went on sale for the 50th anniversary show.

The post Vancouver auto show scrapped for 2023 appeared first on Auto Service World.

It was a day full of engagement with the aftermarket for students from Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada.

The 15th edition of Student Aftermarket Day was hosted by the Young Professionals in the Aftermarket, a branch of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada. It featured YPA leaders, such as chair Patrick Verriet and YPA Young Leader of the Year winner Shannon Spano talking about their paths to the aftermarket and how they’ve grown their careers through the many paths available.

A panel of Verriet, key account manager at Mann+Hummel, Shannon Tardiff, general manager of field operations in eastern Canada at CSN Collision, and Jeff Auston, regional sales director at Uni-Select, took a deep dive into their aftermarket careers. They told moderator J.F. Champagne, president of AIA Canada, about what the aftermarket has offered them in their career and the many opportunities available as students from the school listened in.

 

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Students also got to hear from Martyn Johns, a national director with NAPA Canada, about emerging vehicle technology. He explained how the aftermarket is responding to the transition to electric vehicles and the challenges that lie ahead. There was also a presentation from Jessi Kessel, co-founder of Beepzz, a talent advisor for the automotive industry, who gave advice on boosting your exposure on LinkedIn to grow your career.

Students crowded around tabletop booths to speak with exhibiting companies to learn about opportunities in the aftermarket and to ask questions about what the industry had to offer.

Check out photos from the day in the photo gallery below.

Student Aftermarket Day 2022

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Both AAPEX and SEMA Show were more or less back to normal.

At AAPEX, attendance was 94 per cent of that of 2019, no doubt buoyed by the nearly 2,000 members of the Auto Value community, made up with the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Alliance. Stores invited shop partners to the event so they could explore what was offered between the two shows.

Trade shows for both events — AAPEX at the Venetian Expo and SEMA at the Las Vegas Convention Center — saw shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. AAPEX ran Nov. 1-3 and SEMA lasted one extra day. Attendees were able to make show-only deals, take in the latest offerings from manufacturers and explore what was being worked on as future solutions in a changing world.

Please enjoy the photo gallery below and the video highlights above

Management and technical training were also available, everything from diagnosing common issues under the hood to managing your shop better. The high-popular 5 Automotive Trends Impacting the North American Aftermarket — formerly known as 5 Trends in 5 Minutes — highlighted what the aftermarket can expect in the coming years, as did the session, Aftermarket Outlook 2023.

The event kicked off with a keynote from political experts James Carville and Karl Rove, moderated by government affairs leaders from the AASA and Auto Care Association, Ann Wilson and Lisa Foshee, respectively. Heads of both association, Paul McCarthy and Bill Hanvey kicked off the morning with a state of the industry update.

Many networking events took place, such YANG, the networking group for those under 40. Canada Night returned to the schedule, hosting hundreds of Canadians with food, drinks and the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues.

 

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SEMA Fest

Because the SEMA Show couldn’t get any bigger, the group announced it would turn the event into a week-long festive event to coincide with the tradeshow.

In an announcement, SEMA said the expansion would see SEMA Fest become a full-week celebration across Las Vegas, commemorating all things automotive and more open to the public.

SEMA Week, the announcement said, would kick off a five-year vision to grow the four-day show to be an experience that creates a passionate and exciting automotive event.

Everything participants know and love about the SEMA Show will remain, such as the show itself with the tradeshow component, SEMA Auction, Ignited Cruise and the show’s afterparty.

“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said SEMA chairman James Lawrence.

“By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.”

SEMA Fest 2023 will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, up the road from the show’s home at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Unlike the show, which is only open to industry professionals, it will be open to the public. Attendees can take in music, featuring music, car shows, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities and motorsports. The group will announce more details soon.

AAPEX & SEMA 2022

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Check this page out for updates as they happen at the biggest automotive aftermarket event of the year.

The team from AutoServiceWorld.com, CARS and Jobber News are coming at you live from AAPEX and SEMA all week long.

Check back in this space to stay on top of what’s happening. We’ll post photos and news tidbits that we come across during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.

After being cancelled last year, Canada Night is back on the calendar events, returning to its usual slot of Tuesday night. A full Canadian contingent is expected after most skipped out on the event last year due to travel and health restrictions.

Check this space daily for new updates and below for a photo gallery.

Updates

• AAPEX has 94 per cent of its pre-pandemic attendance back for 2022.
• Vehicles in operation are increasing even as new sales dip. Why? Scrappage rates are at all time lows.
• One in five parts go through and online channel — it will soon be one in four.
• Aftermarket leaders continue to press right to repair as an important consumer issue
• Business leaders play a key role in communicating right to repair concerns
• Check back for more updates!

AAPEX & SEMA 2022

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Automechanika 2022, Messe Frankfurt, Germany

The turning point has been reached: Automechanika Frankfurt’s new formats and extensive programme were very well received by international automotive professionals.

With 78,000 attendees visiting from 175 countries, they attended the industry’s leading platform in Frankfurt to experience products and services from workshops, industry and retail live and in person.

The show’s five days are the fullest the exhibition grounds have been since the restart in Frankfurt.

More than 2,800 companies from 70 countries exhibited their products and services across 19 hall levels and in the outdoor exhibition area.

Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt: “Things are clearly heading in the right direction. Together with our customers and our international partners, we are optimistic about the future: nothing can take the place of trade fairs. The strong international component amongst exhibitors from 70 countries and visitors from 175 countries alike makes it clear that the international automotive aftermarket is back in Frankfurt. Participants also took full advantage of the new networking opportunities to finally meet with one another in person and make new business contacts.”

The high level of visitor satisfaction of 92% clearly demonstrates that the areas of focus at this year’s Automechanika are exactly what the industry was looking for: increasing digitalisation, remanufacturing, alternative drive systems and electromobility in particular present automotive workshops and retailers with major challenges. For the first time, there were more than 350 events on offer, including presentations given by new market participants and free workshops for automotive professionals. C

EOs from leading key players put on a strong showing at the CEO Breakfast event sponsored by ZF Aftermarket on the first day of the trade fair. In a ‘fireside chat’ format, Formula One professionals Mika Häkkinen and Mark Gallagher supplied fascinating insights for an industry that is changing faster than ever.

“In these turbulent times, the industry needs fresh insights and new ideas. After all, the goal is to ensure that it will be possible for everyone to enjoy the safest, most sustainable, climate-friendly mobility in future,” Braun explained.

Peter Wagner, Managing Director, Continental Aftermarket & Services: “Automechanika made two things very clear. Firstly, even in an increasingly digital world, everything comes down to people. Speaking to someone in person, visiting a stand, making your way through the exhibition halls, even shaking hands – none of these things can be replaced. Secondly, the industry’s transformation has continued to accelerate. Fields like digital services for workshops and alternative drive systems, for instance, are more important than ever. As a forum for promising fields like these, Automechanika will be even more important in future, because expertise is absolutely essential if workshops and dealers are to continue playing a major role.”

Visitors showed a great deal of interest in the new ‘Innovation4Mobility’ showcase, which covered such topics as battery technology, alternative drive systems, hydrogen, solar technology, e-commerce and connected vehicles. It was striking just how many young visitors came to the trade fair to find out more about the training and career opportunities on offer in the automotive aftermarket.

This year marked the first time that the recently established Talents4AA association, a non-profit organisation that aims to attract talented specialists and newcomers to the automotive aftermarket, has appeared at Automechanika Frankfurt. And their appearance was a big success: the association significantly increased its membership rolls during the five-day event.

Stéphane Freitas, General Secretary of Talents4AA: “The trade fair was an excellent opportunity for networking, and the association received excellent feedback from its industry members. ADI, Bilstein Group, Continental, Misfat Group, NRF and SKF are some of the companies that officially joined the Talents4AA initiative during Automechanika Frankfurt. I am certain that we will be welcoming many more new members after the trade fair is over.”

German company GelKoh GmbH, whose new recovery system for damaged e-cars won both an Automechanika Innovation Award and the Green Award, participated in the trade fair for the first time this year. As Markus Kohten, Technical Director of GelKoh GmbH, put it: “The trade fair went really well for us. We were able to meet a lot of our customers here, including major corporations like insurers, car dealers, recovery companies, even people from the fire brigade – 90% of our target groups, in other words. We are very particular about which trade fairs we take part in, and we are already considering participating in the next Automechanika.”

Tiemo Sehon, Managing Director, Innovative Lackieranlagen GmbH: “In partnership with Premiotherm, we presented one of our systems at Automechanika. This system makes it possible to achieve carbon neutrality in painting and bodywork centres with painting systems – systems that often use a great deal of energy. In light of the current energy supply situation, this is an important issue for all workshops. The trade fair has been a complete success for us: we met visitors from every country imaginable, and thanks to these new contacts we can move full speed ahead with our international expansion.”

What other exhibitors had to say

Jens Schüler, CEO Automotive Aftermarket at Schaeffler AG:  “We believe that Automechanika’s restart has been a complete success. Numerous elements worked very well together this year: not only was the new ‘CEO Breakfast’ format a hit, but there were lots of good events and considerably more visitors in the exhibition halls than we had expected. We were also happily surprised by the internationality and quality of the visitors. Many visitors took advantage of the opportunity to get a feeling for the challenges that lie ahead for the aftermarket.”

Philippe Colpron, Head of ZF Aftermarket, Executive Vice President ZF Friedrichshafen AG: “The spirit of our industry has been very positive; we sensed that the Aftermarket has grown closer together. We all understand that we have big tasks ahead of us and we are collectively open to talk and work with each other – perhaps more than ever before. Those personal talks with our peers and partners were a great highlight.”

David Mosch, Key Account Management, Professional Sales Automotive, Alfred Kärcher Vertriebs-GmbH: “Automechanika is especially important to Kärcher both in Germany and internationally. Our new concept for this year’s trade fair, in which we appeared with two separate stands for the first time, allowed us to precisely tailor our approach to different target groups – and this is reflected by the quality of the leads we generated. There were also large numbers of international visitors, something that enabled us to make valuable new contacts for exports. We are especially pleased by the two awards that we won: we were chosen as the best brand for both ‘cleaning and care’ and ‘car wash technology’. We appreciate the confidence everyone has placed in us. The event has been a complete success for us. Following five intense and exciting days, we are already looking forward to the next Automechanika.”

Ferdinando Imhof, Chief Product Officer, LKQ Europe: “Automechanika is one of the most important trade fairs for LKQ Europe, as it offers the perfect platform for sharing views with our partners. After dealing with all the restrictions put in place during the pandemic, I’m delighted that Automechanika 2022 has welcomed so many visitors and that it has been such a big success for LKQ Europe.”

Jeroen Beterams, Group Marketing Manager, NRF: “In a way, Automechanika and NRF are very similar. We always try to be creative, innovative and think one step ahead. This year, for the first time, we had two stands. One in hall 3.0 and one outside with show cars and live training sessions. We launched four new product groups, which were attended by very special guests. In one week, our team of 40 colleagues met more than 500 customers from 80 countries worldwide. Thank you Automechanika for your support in making our presence at the show a great success.”

Ulrich Bethscheider-Kieser, Head of Product and Brand Communication, ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland GmbH: “We presented the battery electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV at Automechanika. The vehicle attracted huge interest from visitors and many people were eager to take advantage of this opportunity to test drive the vehicle around the exhibition grounds. Automechanika was an excellent platform for us to present our electric vehicle and its practical assistance systems to people from the industry and let them try them out for themselves.”

Dr. Florian Forster, Country Manager Germany, Alibaba.com: “The automotive aftermarket is an important category for Alibaba.com and is likely to continue expanding further in the coming years. On our platform, we have a selection of auto parts and accessories from 40,000 industry suppliers. As a professional B2B sourcing platform, Alibaba.com offers a suite of digital sourcing solutions throughout the entire value chain of global sourcing. We hope to spread that message through Automechanika to let German SMEs know that we are their trusted part global B2B sourcing.”

Jörn-Bo Hein, Managing Director, Jutec: “We are amazed by the positive reception we’ve had at Automechanika. In fact, we’ve already signed up for the next Automechanika. Why is this? Automechanika brings together various sectors of the automotive aftermarket. This is the place to go for all the companies that make it possible for car manufacturers to build their vehicles in the first place. They are also the place to turn when an e-car has to be repaired or shipped, when its condition is unclear, or when the battery needs to be replaced. It is for just these events that our safety and security concepts are designed – such as our quarantine hangar for workshops and our fire blankets for car parks and charging stations.”

Alan Medcraft, Vice President, International Detailing Association (IDA): “Thank you, Automechanika, for putting on a much-needed event. The International Detailing Association (IDA) came here to get exposure in Europe and give our European Chapter presidents an event to meet and collaborate. Automechanika Frankfurt over-delivered!

Automechanika Frankfurt is returning to its biennial rotation and will once again be held every two years. This means that the next trade fair for the international automotive aftermarket will be taking place from 10 to 14 September 2024 on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds.

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Another virtual NAPA XPO is in the books. The six-week nationwide event saw 5,000 attendees take advantage of discounts and promotions at 100 different online exhibitor booths.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

This was the second event of its kind. It allowed technicians from across Canada to have the opportunity to stock up on products, equipment and tools ahead of the fall season. They were also able to have their pick from more than 160 rewards by redeeming XPO points earned through their purchases. In all, four partners — Malga, Centre Hi Fi, Global Tourisme, and Briggs & Riley — saw 3,000 rewards ordered by attendees.

“We are extremely proud of the success of the 2022 NAPA XPO Sale,” says John O’Dowd, NAPA Canada’s vice president of marketing. “Like last year, many installers turned out for the event, and they really appreciated this format. We were also fortunate to have the support of a dedicated, customer-focused team, which guaranteed the success of the event. We would also like to highlight the remarkable involvement of our stores as well as our suppliers, without whom this event would simply not be possible.”

The event also provides technicians with additional content, such as podcasts, articles and videos.

The show was developed specifically by Victoire Events & Web. It offered a secure, user-friendly environment where suppliers were able to showcase their products and attendees could shop and make purchases with confidence

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Image credit: Depositphotos.com

With part shortages causing delays for shops to cycle through customers, be sure to give “silly” extended timelines to your customers, advised a shop coach.

Clint White, a service advisor coach & shop consultant with CWI recommended always adding a ridiculous amount of time to the end of any job. If you know a job will take four hours, tell the customer it’ll take a full day, even two. If something takes a few days, tell them a week.

That’s because, White noted during his session Delivery: Reselling the Value of the Repair at the recent Midwest Auto Care Alliance’s Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in Kansas City, things can — and often do — go wrong.

Especially these days with supply chain issues, parts could be delayed. And when the part comes, it could be broken or wrong or missing a piece. You just never know. And customers these days are generally more understanding of delays because they’re seeing them in many places.

“We’ve got to stop promising when we think it’ll be done and put a buffer on it,” White said. “How much of a buffer you say? A silly one — a ridiculous silly buffer.”

Yes, there’s something to be said of service speed. But customer experience is much more important. So you want to under-promise and over-deliver. You can tell them it won’t be ready for two days. But when it’s instead done in one day, or less, the customer is ecstatic. They see you as a hero for getting it done faster than you promised.

Still, White recommended keeping the vehicle overnight just to make sure nothing leaks or breaks after installation. Have a look at it again to make everything is in place and working as expected.

He calls that “comeback prevention.”

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Canadian automotive repair chain Mister Transmission brought back its Classic Car Show for a second year.

Held at its head office in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the event featured 35 classic cars — from a 1963 Chevrolet Stingrays to a 2019 Corvette Z-06 — and 75 guests.

The event was open to the community. Attendees poured in to check out the cars, enjoy the music, grab some lunch and take part in prize draws, which included, gift cards, gas cards and a Bose speaker sponsored by SirusXM. Some even brought their own classic cars, which were welcomed to be part of the show.

Franchisees at the show were asked to judge the classic cars on display and pick their favourite 12 — the top picks will be featured in the company’s 2023 calendar. Two cars chosen are from the general public.

All the funds raised from this event were donated to the Mister Transmission Charitable Fund, which supports local children and youth from a health, hardship, education and community perspective.

Please see photos from the event in our gallery below…

Mister Transmission 2022 Annual Classic Car Show

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Political strategist Karl Rove speaks at AAPEX in 2018

Two political heavyweights will be front and centre at AAPEX this fall.

Top political consultant James Carville and political strategist Karl Rove will take the stage on Nov. 1 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas to kick off the week-long event.

The keynote discussion is titled Differing Opinions Discuss the 2022 Midterms and Beyond — and is timely as the United States heads into its midterm elections. The Democratic majority House will look to stay in power against the Republicans.

An announcement from AAPEX noted that the discussion will provide insights into what to expect going forward. Carville, who has earned the nickname “The Ragin’ Cajun,” and Rove will provide points and counterpoints in a moderated conversation about where to look for trends across the country and the impact of the elections on the U.S. and the world. Both will take questions from the audience.

The AAPEX Keynote Session is a ticketed event that includes breakfast. It will go from 6:30-8:45 a.m., in the Palazzo Ballroom, just ahead of AAPEX’s opening ceremonies.

Carville may be best known for helping Bill Clinton win office in 1992. He has been a television commentator for many years. Rove, meanwhile, was the architect of George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 White House victories. He also to the AAPEX stage in 2018 ahead of the last midterms.

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A much anticipated but delayed NAPA Expo finally happened in Las Vegas last month.

The entrance to the show floor of NAPA Expo 2022

The event was supposed to take place in April 2022, but the COVID-19 pandemic squashed the event. With the green light, Expo 2022 was held at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas from July 18-21.

The event featured repair shop and store owner attendees from 15 countries, 280 exhibitors on the show floor and 50 management and training seminars. About 400 attendees representing Canada made the trip.

Attendees were able to take in management training that ranged from succession to financial success to finding talent. Vendor booths spread throughout the show floor to give hands-on demonstrations and information. Attendees also heard from a variety of keynote speakers during general sessions. And the event was capped off with a concert that featured the Goo Goo Dolls and Keith Urban.

Stay tuned to AutoServiceWorld.com for stories and features from the session, which were led by some of the top names in shop management training.

Please take a look at the photo gallery below…

NAPA Expo 2022

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The 2022 SEMA Show will feature an expanded SEMA Electrified section that will include the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology

This fall’s SEMA Show is going to highlight the latest in electric vehicle technology. The show will feature an expanded SEMA Electrified section with growing specialty-equipment options in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

New products, the latest advancements and solutions for EV platforms and conversions will be showcased.

“The EV aftermarket is evolving quickly and continues to change; we’re curating a unique collection of the latest products related to electric vehicles and the aftermarket,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA Electrified will help businesses see the latest trends and understand how the EV market has evolved. Visitors will gain an understanding of the advancements and opportunities for the future.”

Noting that alternative powertrain options are growing in popularity and interest despite making up just 1 per cent of the car parc, SEMA noted several areas of growing opportunity. It highlighted the development of parts and products to aid in the conversion of older internal-combustion vehicles; building and modifying new project, racing, and purpose-built vehicles; and expertly accessorizing new OEM electric offerings.

“SEMA is dedicated to helping its member companies identify those opportunities and adapt to the growing segment of the industry,” the announcement said.

The 2022 SEMA Show takes place Nov. 1-4.

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Featuring a new format, which included a more intimate setting, Milwaukee Tool hosted professionals from various trade industries as part of its first in-person Pipeline event recently.

Pros from automotive, construction, electrical, plumbing and heating, cooling and air conditioning gathered from across North America in Milwaukee. The event featured a tour of the company’s global headquarters in nearby Brookfield where trades professionals learned about Milwaukee Tools’ history, evolution to cordless technology and how it works to be innovative.

Guests were then brought to Redline, where they saw presentations from Milwaukee Tool experts who gave further industry-specific information about how particular tools are helping pros in those trades. For example, a colour match light was featured, along with a tire inflator, polishers and ratchets. There were also demonstrations comparing Milwaukee Tool products to competitors. Attendees were also able to test out tools for themselves.

The event also featured various social events at local establishments where pros could network with Milwaukee Tool leaders, experts and those working in other trades.

The company emphasized its battery technology evolution as well as its “disruptive innovation” where it introduces new tools to help professionals. It has more recently placed an emphasis on growing in the automotive space.

As a way to help with the shortage of professionals in the trades, Milwaukee Tool notes it invests money into working with trade groups and invest in attracting, training and working to retain the next generation of workers.

The Pipeline format was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in a virtual format. This was the first in-person version. Previously, the event was known as the New Product Showcase, which was a single, large showcase event. Pipeline is designed to be more intimate and vertical-focused, and will happen multiple times a year.

Please see photos from the event below…

Milwaukee Tool Pipeline 2022

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Image credit: Depositphotos.com

The NAPA XPO Sale from NAPA Canada is set to return as a virtual format for a second year.

The event will run Aug. 29-Oct. 7 and will be held nationwide.

The event is geared for auto centres from across the country to take part in virtual booths set up by exhibitors. Here, they can make deals for products, tools and equipment thanks to special pricing and rewards. Last year, 5,474 rewards were handed out.

The company noted that attendees will be supported by NAPA representatives throughout the event to help with advice and purchase assistance.

New features have been added to assist attendees — they will have access to the full product and price list, preselected products and improved product categorization.

“These new features will improve the user experience and allow us to host a unique event in the industry,” NAPA Canada’s announcement said.

The pandemic forced the launch of NAPA XPO in only Quebec in 2020. It became a Canada-wide event last year and will be so again in 2022.

“The goal of the NAPA XPO Sale is to give auto service centres a chance to stock up on products and tools at unbeatable prices,” says John O’Dowd, vice president of marketing at NAPA Canada. “The virtual format allows us to achieve this goal more easily and reach service centres across the country. We’re also fortunate to have our valued suppliers working with us to provide quality products, making this a can’t-miss event for the aftermarket industry in Canada.”

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Image credit: Depositphotos.com

Shops have to stop allowing customers to haggle over prices when coming in for service and repairs, says a shop coach.

The price of a job should never waver — the price is the price is the price, said Cecil Bullard, chief executive officer of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence and RLO Training.

Your shop has to maintain its margins to be profitable, he said during STX 2022, the Supplier and Training Expo in Orlando hosted by Advance Auto Parts and its wholly-owned subsidiary Worldpac.

“More profit can be made in your business by the pen than by any tool that you have in the shop,” Bullard said.

Holding firm on parts margins is one of the easiest things a shop owner can do, he added.

“Stick to the matrix. Do not get emotional about the parts price,” Bullard recommended. “The price of the job is what it costs.”

With his tongue in his cheek, he asked everyone in his session, Diagnosing and Repairing Your Business – Finding and Fixing Your Biggest Problems, to go to their local grocery store on their way home, pick up a carton of milk, walk to the register and make the following case to the cashier: Because you always shop at this store and are a good customer, you should only pay $3 for the carton instead of $5 as displayed on the shelf.

What will happen? Of course, the cashier will call the manager who will then explain that the milk is $5 and you will indeed need to pay $5 for it or it can go back in the fridge and you can go on your way.

“They will not discount the milk because you spent a bunch of money in their grocery store or you put pressure on them,” Bullard said. “They do not even have the authority to do that. So they won’t do it.”

But that’s not how it works in the automotive aftermarket.

“So why in the automotive industry will we not do this? Why do we think that because the customers are having hard times or they’re telling us they have a hard time [that they should get a deal]?” Bullard asked.

“So don’t get emotional about it. Do not allow your staff to get emotional about it. This is what the price is.”

And customers know there’s wiggle room on prices. That’s why they call around to see who is starting off at the lowest point.

“Everyone in this room knows when you put a price on the phone, other than like an oil change or a service or something, you’re never going to stick to that price,” Bullard said. “It’s never going to be that when the car leaves your shop. So why did we do this? Why do we shoot ourselves in the foot?”

So he reiterated a key piece of advice: Don’t get emotional about price.

“I am not taking out my wallet and paying for this stuff. The customers taking their wallet out and paying for it,” Bullard said. “So don’t get emotional about it. Do not allow your staff to get emotional about it. This is what the price is.”

And if you do have to drop the price for some reason, do it carefully. “Make sure you do so as a part of a well-thought-out pricing plan,” Bullard said. “You have balance — always balance. If I’m lowering the prices for this stuff, I’m raising the prices over here.”

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An annual highlight on the automotive aftermarket calendar returned in fine form and bigger than ever.

Shad’s R&R, the aftermarket’s annual charity golf tournament, teed off once again on June 21 after a two-year hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic at Station Creek Golf Club in Gormley, Ont. It drew 270 golfers — the most ever Brad Shaddick, son of the tournament’s namesake, Fred Shaddick, told attendees during the dinner portion of the event.

And it crossed another milestone in its pursuit of finding a cure for muscular dystrophy — it has now raised more than $5.3 million since its first event in 1973. This year’s donation totalled $170,000.

Stacey Lintern, chief executive officer of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, accepted the cheque from the Shad’s board members.

Shaddick noted that despite worries that companies may not budget for such an event coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the response was huge. Golfers, made up of professionals from across the aftermarket, came from across Canada for the event — plus some from the United States. Even those who have retired from the industry came out for the day to show support. In all, the event had 53 sponsors and 10 double sponsors.

Shad’s was founded by a group of executives from major parts companies. It’s Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s largest single-day fundraiser.

Please see photos from the day below…

Shad’s R&R 2022

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Demand for electrification, especially in fleets, is growing. So the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario gathered shop and other aftermarket leaders together to learn more about the area and how to support customers.

The day featured speakers from charging equipment manufacturers, OEMs, suppliers and energy companies.

With about 75 attendees at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel, the program focused on how the aftermarket can help their fleet customers invest in going electric. As one speaker pointed out, fleet doesn’t mean having a dozen vehicles — any vehicle that is being used a lot every day, such as a ridesharing vehicle, can be considered fleet because of the wear and tear it takes.

Attendees heard about strategies on how to support electrification efforts, how to get started, avoid mistakes, why electrification is enticing from a financial perspective and a look at how the aftermarket can help shops find repair solutions as more EVs appear on roads.

The event also featured a display of the Ford F-150 Lightning, an electric pick-up truck, and the electric Ford E-Transit van.

Please see photos from the day below…

AARO Fleet Day 2022

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Niel Hiscox of Universus Media Group, speaks at the 2022 AIA Canada AGM

With gas prices sitting around record highs across the country, it’s natural to think that people will opt to park their cars, right?

No, says an industry analyst. In fact, Niel Hiscox, president of Universus Media Group Inc., doesn’t think there will be any change to driving habits and that the trend of increasing kilometres travelled coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic will only continue.

But he did hedge his bet. “Anecdotally, intuitively, we would expect, it’s going to be quite dramatic. It turns out the picture is far more complicated than that,” Hiscox said.

During the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s Annual General Meeting in May, he pointed to research that showed that increased gas prices will result in decreased driving so long as high prices persist for the long term.

In the consumers’ eyes, the spike in gas prices isn’t expected to be one that lasts forever, he said.

“That notion of persisting for the long term is really important because there’s actually a lot of research out there that says, in fact, that kilometres driven, is actually quite inelastic, relative to gas prices, and that in fact changes in gas prices don’t impact miles driven that much,” Hiscox observed.

For example, people generally don’t go for a Sunday drive. People are busy driving for employment, due to parental responsibilities and other tasks that they are unable to curtail.

DesRosiers Automotive Consultants recently released a survey where it found that about one in five (22 per cent) said they were driving a lot less in response to rising gas prices while 41 per cent said they would drive a lot less. More than a third (37 per cent) said there was no chance in their driving.

But if gas prices remain high through the summer, those who said there would be no change to how much they drive shrunk to 33 per cent while a quarter (26 per cent) said they would drive a lot less.

While some drivers may be unable or unwilling to change how much they drive, they will instead look to change how they drive. Instead of driving excessively above the speed limit, they may come back closer to it because it would reduce the amount of gas they use. “I can achieve a mileage saving that’s actually greater than the increase in the price of gas,” drivers will tell themselves, Hiscox said.

Unemployment is at the lowest level since data was tracked. Canadians’ household savings are better now than they were going into the pandemic.

“And so we put all this together in a stew pot, we mix it up and that’s really where we ended up with a projection that we think 2022 is going to show some growth over 2021,” Hiscox said.

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It was an event that wasn’t going to happen at first. But once restrictions eased and allowed for it, Hamilton Discount Auto Parts welcomed hundreds of customers to the return of its annual tradeshow last week.

“We planned it to have it. Late at the end of the year last year, we cancelled it,” said Khal Abudagga, owner of Hamilton Discount Auto Parts, which has 12 locations from St. Catharines to Toronto.

But once restrictions started easing recently, the jobber saw the opportunity to have an event for its customers.

“I think it’s very important for us and the customers, as well as the suppliers, to mingle and see each other and to get some normal life back; just be out there,” Abudagga said.

He again highlighted the customers and how it was great to be back in person with them again after having to hold off on the show the last two years. He also noted excitement among suppliers who jumped at the chance to be at the show.

“The support was amazing,” Abudagga told AutoServiceWorld during the show on May 12. “The minute we sent the email out, everybody replied ‘Oh, finally we’re actually going to do something.’ That was really nice to see, that support from these guys and have them here back [at] somewhat normal.”

Hamilton Discount Auto Parts Tradeshow 2022

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Always stay in touch with your customers, an automotive aftermarket trainer urged shop owners.

Bryan Stasch, vice president of product and content development at the Automotive Training Institute, is a big believer in the ’10 and 2’ rule. Not the driving technique, but for contacting your customers in the morning and again in the afternoon.

“At 10 a.m., where they’re at; at 2 p.m. where they’re at,” he said during his presentation Master the Chaos — Art and Science of a Successful Service Advisor at the Midwest Auto Care Alliance’s Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in March in Kansas City. “And then when they’re finally ready; it’s finished. Just to keep them informed.”

He used an example that many shops have probably experienced. A customer, who he dubbed Mrs. Smith, said they need their vehicle by 5 p.m. But the car is still in the bay at that time. She shows up at 5:15 and is livid because her car isn’t ready. Did anyone call her to let her know it was going to be late? Or, as Stasch pulled out his phone, what about texting the customer?

“How many of you utilize this — texting? Quick information. Quick communication. And you don’t have to deal with all the pleasantries of a phone call. Pretty cool tool,” he said. “They have the ability to quickly update Mrs. Smith on progress.”

The service advisor is essential for that customer returning in the future, Stasch stressed.

“You’re also responsible to make sure that Mrs. Smith walks out of that door not feeling price tag, but feeling value of what they just spent their hard-earned money,” he said.

“When you have customers drop off a car the night before, how many of you give them the ‘It’s in good hands’ call in the morning or evening? ‘Just to let you know, I got your car, Mrs. Smith. I just want you to know it’s good hands.’”

When you are keeping the customer’s vehicle for a few days — whether it’s a big job or because parts are delayed — tell them that you will contact them in X number of days to keep them informed on the progress of their vehicle. Or better yet, he recommended, ask them how often and at what time they would like updates. They might say to just let them know when the job is done or they want a call every day at noon to let them know what’s happening, even if no work has been done.

Furthermore, the task of keeping customers informed extends beyond just telling them what’s going on with their vehicle. For example, Stasch recommended keeping on top of recall information. When the customer brings in their vehicle, look up if there are any announcements. Better yet, when you hear of a recall, look through your list to see who owns that vehicle and give them a call.

“Share everything you know. Everything. All the good, as well as all the areas of concern,” he said.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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In an age where more and more is being done digitally, don’t forget about the human touch, a shop coach advised during a recent conference.

What makes the human touch even more important is, as we emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the lack of human interaction and consumer desire for speed. Technology has reduced those old touchpoints that are still valuable to the customer experience, observed Clint White, a service advisor coach & shop consultant with CWI.

“In fact, I’m actually really a big fan of technology. I have used the text-to-pay, I have used the text-to-approve estimating process. There’s great things to be done with technology,” he said during the Midwest Auto Care Alliance’s Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in March.

“But the challenge is that we lose the human touch. I think there’s a place for it … maybe [we] have gone too far.”

Clint White speaks at the Midwest Auto Care Alliance’s Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo

It’s important for shops to not lose sight of the fact that they’re looking to create successful, profitable and lasting relationships with clients, White said.

Though an advocate for change, he noted that he believes is wise to look back on things that have served the industry well and see how they can be adapted to today’s society and expectations. In an age where anything can be digital — yes, a paperless business can help a business run efficiently, reduces waste and may satisfy a customer’s desire for less paper — those human touchpoints are also reduced, and possibly eliminated.

So he asked shops to think about ways that they could give something tangible to a customer who comes into their shop.

“The tangible touchpoint is very, very important. … Customers can’t always see and feel the repairs. Very little of what we do changes the dynamic of the vehicle,” he noted.

He used the example of the conference. Attendees plunked down thousands of dollars each to attend. They’ll go home with a tote bag and notepad. Nothing too expensive, but it’s something they can hold in their hand as a reminder of the experience.

“It gives you something. it’s a tangible touchpoint. And when we don’t give anything to our customers, I think we lose,” White said. “It’s something that lets them know they were there. Our customers should always clearly understand their investment.”

One could argue the customer came in with a car that didn’t start and they’re leaving with one that does. But they also often come in for maintenance — an oil change, fresh fluids and so on. And it drives exactly the same when they leave the shop as it did when they arrived.

“Where’s the value?” White asked. “People complain … about price because they don’t feel they received the value they paid for.”

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The first major live tradeshow in Canada took place in Vancouver last week. Lordco Auto Parts welcomed back customers, suppliers and guests to the PNE Coliseum and Agridome.

It was the first live and in-person show for the company since 2019. COVID forced the cancellation of the show for the last two years.

Managing editor Adam Malik had a chance during the show to sit down with Sarah Durant, vice president of marketing, and Daniel LePage, marketing manager, to talk about the show’s return.

“We’re just excited to get back to doing what I think Lordco does best. And that’s building relationships with these great people that come to our show,” Durant said.

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It felt so good to be back.

That was the consensus among attendees at Lordco’s 32nd Annual Tradeshow this week. It was the first live and in-person event held in the Canadian automotive aftermarket in more than two years.

For Lordco, it was the first time since 2019 — three years — that its event was held in person. The 2020 edition was called off as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. It was cancelled again last year as pandemic-related restrictions forced events to shut down.

It was in mid-January that Lordco decided this year’s show was going to happen, according to Sarah Durant, the company’s marketing vice president.

“It was something that was really important to my family, something that we had decided no matter what happened, we were going to do an in-person show,” she told AutoServiceWorld.

Thousands of people packed the Pacific Coliseum and the Agridome at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver to attend the show. And it felt like old times. Suppliers re-connected with Lordco customers, showing them the latest tools, equipment, products and software available.

Please see the photo gallery below.

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There’s plenty of money on the sidelines and everyone from banks to private equity firms don’t want to sit on it. So some of that money could be used to fund acquisitions, suggested an expert.

Furthermore, interest rates are low — for now, anyway. This presents an opportunity for businesses to get their balances sheets straightened out and make a splash if one comes available, said Sig Huber, senior managing director at Riveron, a business advisory firm.

“The banks don’t want to be sitting on piles of cash, but they are right now. They want to deploy the cash into the right situations,” he said. “There’s still a lot of money available, and potentially an interesting play to go and get your refinancing now, even if your loans aren’t due, because we know the rates are going to be going up in the future. So we have several clients that have been very successful in getting new loans in place now, even though their expiration dates weren’t for 12 months out or even 18 months out.”

For private equity firms, they are very much interested in the automotive sector, especially as electrification and advanced driver-assistance systems gain in prominence. But they’re not deploying their cash just yet.

As a recent example, Tenneco entered into a deal to be acquired by an investment management firm. It is valued at more than US$7 billion.

“However, that money is on the sidelines for two reasons,” Huber explained. “Number 1, they’re waiting for enterprise values to drop as distress increases. And Number 2, they’re waiting for the supply chain issues to work themselves out because there’s still uncertainty as to how long the supply chain issues are going to be lingering through the industry.”

Of course, the best time to put money to work is strategically in moments of distress on the side of the other company. And some are in that position now.

“So we think there’s going to be an increase in M&A activity,” Huber predicted. “And something to consider for some of you in this room that are doing well financially: Are there any strategic companies out there that you may want to look at, say this coming year, as potential acquisition targets?”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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Cost-saving measures like lean manufacturing are dead, according to a leading expert.

Lean manufacturing, which is also referred to as just-in-time manufacturing or just-in-time production, has long been a popular production method for manufacturers. It not only reduces time in the production cycle but in response times from across the supply chain down to the customer.

It is supposed to be an efficient method of production. Products are received only as needed. This reduces inventory costs and potential waste. Productivity and profit get a boost.

But COVID-19 has shown significant cracks in the foundation of lean manufacturing to the point where Tom Cook, managing director at supply chain consultancy Blue Tiger International, believes it is a dead concept.

“Lean manufacturing, lean inventory, just in time is gone. Doesn’t exist anymore,” he said during the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s 2022 Global Summit. “It’s gone. Doesn’t exist. And I’m not sure it’s going to come back.”

That’s because lean manufacturing relies on accurate forecast demand. Delays in the supply chain can cancel out any benefits.

“We have to rethink this whole system and this process. That’s part of what’s going on now,” Cook observed. “We’re working with Corporate America in thinking through what they need to do. Not just [for] the balance of 2022, but beyond that point in time [and] how they’re going to distribute [goods].”

What is happening now is more companies moving to nearshoring. So instead of having manufacturing operations overseas, they’re bringing that process closer to home. Given the delays in getting products to ports in North America, this is an obvious solution to Cook.

“A lot more companies are what we call the nearshoring, which is they’re bringing a lot more of the manufacturing here, or closer [such as to] Mexico, Canada, other countries, because of the exposures,” he said.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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The Automotive Communications Council will gather again in person at its 2022 Annual Conference in August.

Marketing and communications from across the industry will be in Savannah, Georgia, from August 9-11.

Passes to the conference are available now at $550 for ACC members and $650 for non-members.

Conference sessions include

• Samantha Stammet, client solutions manager at Meta (formerly Facebook), discusses Delivering Customer Convenience Across Digital to Drive Loyalty and Retention.
• Peg Stookey from Max Potential U will discuss how to Build a Brand Tsunami! Integrate Personal and Organizational Brand Marketing For Faster, Longer-Lasting Results!
• A media panel focusing on how to leverage partnerships in our industry that drive growth.

There will also be networking opportunities for attendees. More information on registration, memberships and agenda is available from the conference website.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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Some suppliers in the automotive industry are in financial distress moving forward this year, an industry expert warned.

Despite increasing revenues and proclamations of it being a period of “boom” for the automotive aftermarket, notably jobber stores and repair shops, Sig Huber, senior managing director at Riveron, a business advisory firm, warned of financial distress among aftermarket and automaker suppliers.

Specifically, suppliers are not getting any relief from the original equipment manufacturer clients as they face increasing cost pressures for raw materials and shipping costs, for example.

“And there’s a real financial pressure on tier-one suppliers right now,” Huber explained at the February Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association 2022 Global Summit in Florida. “But where we’re seeing it even worse is the tier two [and] tier-three levels. Because what’s happening is, the tier-ones aren’t giving price relief to the tier twos because they’re not getting it from the OEMs.”

So companies get squeezed to the point where they tell partners that they’re not making parts for them anymore. Suppliers are losing money and the company doesn’t want to fund money-losing jobs.

For an industry like the aftermarket, those cost increases can be passed on to the customer, Huber acknowledged.

“Now the question is, when is the tipping point for when, all of a sudden, that’s going to cause a demand problem because there are alternative parts available or something like that?” he wondered. “But for now, this group in this room has been able to weather the storm a lot better than your production counterparts. But that’s something to definitely keep an eye on.”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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Carlos Straetger of Super Repuestos at the AASA 2022 Global Summit

Automotive aftermarket suppliers and distributors need to do a better job of working together, urged a leader of a distributor.

Specifically, when it comes to pricing, said Carlos Straetger, supply chain manager at Super Repuestos, based in Central America.

“We need to work hand in hand,” he said during the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association 2022 Global Summit in Florida last month. “My dream is that you could tell me, ‘This is our pricing strategy for the next 18 months. We’re going to be raising prices every quarter by 3 per cent just to keep up with what our costs are.’”

If suppliers would do that, it would alleviate many headaches for aftermarket distributors and retailers, Straetger emphasized.

“That is what we actually need because we have to synchronize our commercial strategy and our pricing strategy to yours. Because if we don’t, we will end up with a lot of expensive inventory that no one is going to be willing to buy,” he said.

In a recent survey of service and repair shops, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants found that almost all respondents noted price increases from their jobber.

In the fall, Adam Brody, director at aftersales strategy and insights firm Carlisle & Co., noted that companies can’t do once-a-year price increases anymore.

“You need more frequent price research because companies are reacting so much more quickly and out of the normal cadence in today’s economy that once-annual pricing research doesn’t always work,” he advised during the webinar Managing Pricing In A Complex Multi-Channel Sales Environment, as part of the AASA’s Supply Chain Webinar Series.

Nevertheless, Straetger stressed, whenever price increases are being planned, everyone needs to be involved.

“We have to share the insights and we have to share the risks,” he said.

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The automotive aftermarket is naturally worried that as electric vehicles gain traction, the fallout will be fewer maintenance and repair opportunities for the industry.

That’s not quite reality, explained Paul McCarthy, president and chief operating officer of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

It won’t necessarily be fewer but rather different opportunities for the aftermarket. There will continue to be many pieces of an EV that require attention. They just may not be the ones many are used to seeing in a traditional internal combustion engine.

“There’s been so much talk about electrification, it’s kind of sucked all the oxygen out of the room. We need to think about this in broader terms. And one of the broader terms and trends we think about in the aftermarket is the increasing vehicle content,” he said.

Even with an ICE vehicle, increased vehicle content has been a trend in recent years — notably as consumers shift away from passenger cars to light trucks. With EVs, there’s more technology in those vehicles, they’re getting bigger, are heavier and there are, generally speaking, more components with vehicles these days.

“And that bodes well for the aftermarket and for the future of the aftermarket,” McCarthy said during the AASA Global Summit in Coral Gables, Florida, last month. “There’s more stuff. Every one of these things breaks. [They will need to come in for] repair, for calibration, for maintenance.”

Yes, the engine parts aren’t there. “[EVs] don’t have that complexity. It’s true. And this [leads to the] worry that means we won’t need an aftermarket,” McCarthy acknowledged.

However, that’s not what the stats bear out. Back in 2012, estimates of costs to maintain EVs was about half that of ICE vehicles. But as the years moved on, that gap narrowed. As more electric vehicles become in operation and a bigger sample size exists, research has found that, in 2021, there’s just a 15 per cent gap between the cost to repair an EV and an ICE.

“And actually, some of the studies are showing that EVs are costing more in the warranty period than equivalent ICEs,” McCarthy noted. “And it’ll be very interesting to see how this develops. We still have very few of them in the aftermarket.”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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The biggest automotive aftermarket tradeshow in Western Canada is back live and in-person.

Lordco Auto Parts announced yesterday that its Annual Tradeshow is taking place April 4-5 at the Pacific Coliseum and PNE Agrodome in Vancouver.

The event will run each day from 1-10 p.m. Customers are encouraged to register before Friday, March 18 to avoid long lines at the show. This will ensure delivery of show packages, including name badges, before the show start date, the company said in an announcement.

Upwards of 20,000 people attend the show — before COVID-19 shut down all events. For the last two years, Lordco has held its tradeshow in an online format with month-long promotions.

 “Knowing how much our customers, suppliers, and our team look forward to the show, we spend months preparing and planning to ensure each year’s event is bigger and better than the last,” said Sarah Durant, vice president of marketing, in the announcement. “After not being able to have our traditional live show in 2020 and 2021, we are excited to welcome everyone back to the Pacific Coliseum and PNE Agrodome this year. We can’t wait to see familiar faces and do business in a fun and energetic atmosphere again.”

At the show, Lordco customers can visit supplier booths, view new products and take advantage of limited time deals. For those unable to attend in person, an online component will be available.

“At this year’s show, we have hundreds of partners representing the best parts, tools, equipment, and chemical lines in the industry attending,” Durant said. “After two years, they are eager to connect with our customers, introduce new items from their lines, and answer any questions our customers have.”

Registration is available by visiting tradeshow.lordco.com or by contacting your Lordco Auto Parts sales representative.

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A debate of sorts broke out during a recent conference over whether or not inflation was a good or bad thing for the automotive aftermarket.

To kick off the Global Summit hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association and the Overseas Automotive Council, AASA president and chief operating officer Paul McCarthy argued that increased inflation was helping propel the industry.

“Inflation has also been very nice for us,” he said during his opening presentation, 2022 Aftermarket Outlook: North America and Beyond.

He presented a graph that showed the Consumer Price Index for motor vehicle parts and equipment spiking from the third quarter onwards in 2021.

“And inflation has been very good for aftermarket revenue. It also points out one of the underlying strengths of our marketing, which is that elasticity of demand,” he said.

McCarthy explained that while other products may see a volume decline as price goes up, that doesn’t happen with motor vehicle parts.

“When you need your vehicle repaired, you need it to be repaired,” he said. “You need to go to work. You need to get your kids to practice or to school. And that price elasticity is one of the fundamental appeals of our industry.”

But as the day moved on, several speakers pointed out they disagreed with McCarthy’s views.

One was Tom Cook, managing director of Blue Tiger International, a supply chain management consultancy.

The aftermarket is resilient and sustainable, he said. These are key components of any successful industry. But if companies can’t supply products on time and at a competitive price, that impacts profitability and growth.

Furthermore, while inflation is up, so, too, are costs related to running your business.

“I would take issue with [the suggestion that inflation is positive] to some extent because the cost to get where we are and running our supply chain is significantly more expensive, not only in terms of what we have to pay to move something but of the human cost that’s involved in each company,” Cook said.

Another was Carlos Straetger, supply chain manager of Super Repuestos, a distributor in Central America.

He pointed out that if left unchecked, inflation will affect the average consumer enough that they may end up choosing cheaper parts for repairs. If cheap enough, those won’t be long-lasting solutions. Furthermore, those cheaper brands could gain a foothold in terms of brand awareness and take market share from better quality lines.

“And it’s not something that anyone of us want. So we need to act together in this and more than ever before, I think in my opinion,” Staetger said.

Finally, Alexander Gruzdev, CEO of Russia-based consultancy Gruzdev-Analyze, also noted that inflation is bad for everyone involved. Maybe it’s a positive from an American point of view, but not in Eastern Europe, he said.

“Drivers today just have less money. When income does not increase as much as the price is, you have less money,” he said.

“You need to spend more money on your groceries, you need to spend more money on gasoline or petrol or diesel, doesn’t matter. So you have less money to spend on parts. So this is destructive to see.”

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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AASA president and COO Paul McCarthy speaks at the AASA’s 2022 Global Summit in Coral Gables, Florida in February

As many governments locally and around the world phase in plans to ease pandemic-related restrictions, that is the starting flag of good and positive times ahead for the automotive aftermarket, a prominent leader suggested.

“So after so many false starts — painful false starts — it does look like we may be moving beyond the pandemic stage,” observed Paul McCarthy, president and chief operating officer of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

He spoke at the Global Summit, hosted by the AASA and the Overseas Automotive Council, in Coral Gables Florida in February. McCarthy also noted that even if new variants come along, COVID-19 overall may soon be seen as something that is less dangerous to society as a whole thanks to precautions already in place.

“Something we can learn to live with [at] this level of risk,” he explained. “It’s certainly a reason to be positive.”

Indeed, many executives are feeling positive. McCarthy cited a PwC survey of global CEOs that showed 77 per cent of them were projecting positive economic growth around the world as we emerge from the Omicron wave.

And considering how well the aftermarket has performed in the last couple of years, that’s only encouraging moving forward. “It is pretty astounding how well the aftermarket has performed in this environment,” McCarthy noted.

If you had told him the industry would put forth strong financial performances despite lockdowns, restricted movement and changing consumer habits, he wouldn’t have believed it.

“The performance of the aftermarket has been extremely impressive and we’ve seen it around the world — at least stronger than any of us could have imagined,” he said.

He pointed to a McKinsey & Company Global Mobility Survey from last August. In there, it found that consumer intent to maintain or repair vehicles went up 11 per cent.

“When there’s desire for the automobile, the aftermarket tends to do well.”

Driving up aftermarket business is the growing appeal of individual transportation. Whether for safety concerns, such as not wanting to rideshare or take public transit and share space with other people, or for personal freedom, such as taking a road trip, consumers were increasingly preferring to have their own vehicles.

“And we would submit that some of that appeal, that attraction of personal transport, that will probably have some persistence as we move past the pandemic,” McCarthy said.

Indeed, people around the world may be shifting towards living a more auto-centric lifestyle. Apple Mobility Trends, he pointed out, shows a stronger demand for mobility now than pre-pandemic.

“People want to move [and] people want to move even more than we saw before,” McCarthy said. “So we can submit that in many countries around the world that the cultural shift we’re seeing as a result of the pandemic, they lead us to an environment where we’re leaving this pandemic with a more auto-centric lifestyle than we had before. When there’s desire for the automobile, the aftermarket tends to do well.”

And that’s why AAPEX predicted the global automotive aftermarket — including light, medium and heavy-duty — is projected to be a $1.6 trillion business.

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Working with electric vehicles means automotive service and repair technicians need to up their training and pack their patience.

If the thought of electrical knowledge “makes you sweat,” then Ben Johnson, director of product management at Mitchell 1, recommends you get some training under your belt.

“You need to understand the relationship between voltage current and resistance. You need to understand how current flows and how to isolate circuits and how to measure things,” he said during his presentation Preparing for Electrification — What Shops Need to do to Get Ready. “You need to be familiar with your basic tools, like your multimeter, maybe your digital oscilloscope [and] maybe your scan tool.”

Johnson was speaking at AAPEX 2021 as part of the Let’s Tech on the AAPEX Stage at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

Furthermore, he added, technicians are going to have to get familiar with wiring diagrams. “These things are getting much, much more complex because there’s much more electronic content on the vehicle.”

Yes, there will be opportunities for traditional service and maintenance in an EV. Things like brakes, suspension and HVAC — things that aren’t tied to a traditional internal combustion engine. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to be easier to deal with.

“These things are not getting simpler — they’re getting more complex to deal with,” he said.

Take wiring diagrams. An ICE vehicle would have about one, maybe two pages of content. Johnson then showed the diagram for a Toyota Prius.

“There’s nine pages of diagrams just for that circuit,” he said. “So it can be pretty daunting to try and find a particular circuit that you’re interested in within those nine pages.”

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The automotive aftermarket has been through a number of evolutions. That means the growing rate of electric vehicles is just another one of those moments, a panel of experts recently observed.

This is an exciting time for the industry, noted Kevin Herron, president and chief operating officer of the U.S. automotive parts group at Genuine Parts Co. But it will also be the industry’s greatest challenge.

“I think you have to be excited about the evolution of our industry, right? We’ve all seen that industry evolve. This will be the biggest change, there’s no doubt about it,” he said during the Buyer’s Panel keynote session at AAPEX 2021 in Las Vegas.

Red Dot / Unsplash

The industry, he noted, was effectively written off in the carburetor, points and condensers and other eras.

“But this is a bigger change. And it’s the evolution of the aftermarket. And I think we need to embrace it. Will categories change? Absolutely. There’s no doubt about it,” Herron said.

That said, new categories will be added to the marketplace. Technician training will be immensely important as well, he continued.

“And probably the biggest opportunity for us going forward. But you really have to be excited. This industry is resilient. It’s made its way through many, many changes over decades. And I think the next 20-30 years can be more exciting,” Herron said. “It will absolutely look different. But there’s still going to be a consumer driving a vehicle. And they’re still going to be an aftermarket 20, 30, 40 years from now.”

Still, electric vehicles are a threat to the aftermarket, noted Sue Godschalk, president of Federated Auto Parts.

“I think that the original equipment automakers are going to program those vehicles to entice the consumer to take that vehicle back to the OEM for repair. That’s just a fact,” he said on the panel.

“It will absolutely look different. But there’s still going to be a consumer driving a vehicle. And they’re still going to be an aftermarket 20, 30, 40 years from now.”

Aftermarket shops will lose out on those regular visits, like oil changes. But battery maintenance will be a new category for shops to work with clients on. Shocks may be another area that may get more attention, Godschalk noted.

“It’s going to be a challenge and we need to be prepared for that challenge,” she said.

And these new challenges mean the aftermarket needs to ensure they have the technicians to handle the new technology.

“We also need to make sure … that we have the technicians that are trained to repair those vehicles,” Godschalk said. “We need to make sure that we can get the equipment for those technicians to repair these vehicles. So we need to be very, very proactive and make sure that we still have the opportunity to work on these vehicles.”

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So much can change in just a few years.

It wasn’t that long ago when autonomous vehicles were all the rage. About three years ago, many figured we would see start seeing fully autonomous vehicles on our roads by now. But that’s no longer the case, according to some experts.

“We are not seeing that and we see that the promise of fully autonomous vehicles continues to fade,” said Akshay Singh, partner with Strategy&, during the presentation Impact of New Technologies in the Automotive Aftermarket at AAPEX 2021. “Some of the hurdles, especially around technology, become clearer because the technology in the autonomous vehicle is just not ready today. There are a lot of companies that have come out and say we may never see fully autonomous.”

A January report from Lang Marketing echoed those thoughts.

“Regarded as inevitable just a few years ago, large numbers of driverless cars on U.S. roads seem more distant than ever before,” it said.

Fully autonomous, or Level 5, means the vehicle is in full control and the driver is now a passenger as there is no steering wheel. Singh did note that maybe we see Level 4, which is autonomous vehicles in a geo-fenced area, but that may be only as robo-taxis.

Lang pointed out the many benefits of driverless cars, such as reduced traffic congestion, saved lives and freed up time for people who can do other tasks while in their vehicle.

“While these goals are laudable and, perhaps, attainable at some future time, they have clouded the immense difficulties involved in putting driverless vehicles on the road that can match the skills of human drivers,” said its report, Driverless Cars in Wide Use Are Decades Away.

Part of the reason the technology isn’t ready is because of the shift to electric vehicles. Automakers put their investment dollars in that area. The global COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in how automakers spent their money.

“And if you look at like what we are projecting, yes, there will be a lot of Level 1 to Level 3 automation. But very limited L4 L5, at least in the next 10 years or so,” Singh said. “And it’s really difficult to project, what those numbers will look like in 2040 just because the technology is just not ready. That’s why we don’t actually extend it until 2040 because we don’t know [where technology will be].

“The L1-L3 vehicles will come packed with plenty of ADAS sensors,” Singh noted. “By 2030, almost 40% of the vehicles on the road will have some level of performance capability between L1 and L3.”

“Finally, passengers must have confidence in their safety in order for driverless vehicles to gain wide acceptance.”

Other reasons can be found on a long list of challenges, Lang noted. For one, roadway mapping is a significant barrier as only a small amount of roads have been adequately mapped for driverless vehicles.

“Second, there are many inconsistencies in road conditions,” the report continued. “Even if the roads are adequately mapped, lanes on roads must be clearly marked, something that does not exist for most roadways.”

Other barriers include the abilities of a human driver that a software program would need to figure out, such as unique driving situations and variations in traffic configurations. Also, the weather can impact how driverless vehicles operate. Many areas of the country have almost 100 days during which driverless cars cannot operate with their current technology. And there are other legal issues to be sorted out, such as where liability issues belong in case of a malfunction.

“Finally, passengers must have confidence in their safety in order for driverless vehicles to gain wide acceptance,” Lang observed. “Consumer confidence and acceptance could be difficult to obtain and would be easily shattered if hacking occurs or faults are found in the ability of cars to properly function under conditions that might be commonly faced.”

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While aftermarket retail sales may not hit the highs they saw in 2021, the industry is in a good place going forward, according to industry analysis.

This past year was probably the peak of aftermarket retail sales, suggested Nathan Shipley, executive director of The NPD Group, a market research company.

Reporting on the first half of 2021, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants found that retail sales at Canadian automotive parts, tires and accessories stores hit about $5.5 billion. In 2020, that number didn’t reach $4.5 billion. None of the three prior year numbers even hit $5 billion.

While 2022 doesn’t appear poised to beat those numbers, Shipley pegs the automotive aftermarket still finishing ahead of 2020 and 2019, up 8.5 per cent.

“This is a bullish forecast,” he pointed out. “This is suggesting that ’21 was the peak and things are going to keep trucking right along. But absent those big pushes that have pushed things higher, higher, higher, we’re going to settle in a little just underneath where we were this year.”

Keep in mind, growth of 2 or 3 per cent was considered a good year pre-COVID. To predict the industry will be up 8.5 per cent over 2020 and 2019 is a very good sign. “That’s a very healthy environment,” Shipley said.

The supply chain may dictate how things actually play out. However, Shipley suggested that some experts believe there isn’t necessarily a problem with the supply chain — it’s demand that is the problem. So as demand slows down, that should help alleviate the supply chain challenges being seen. But he couldn’t offer a guess as to when that may happen.

“I think the big takeaway is that the fundamentals of this industry are very, very strong. We and you should feel very, very good about where we are as an industry,” he said.

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Mitchell 1’s Ben Johnson speaks at AAPEX 2021

Rome wasn’t built in a day and automotive technicians won’t become experts in servicing electric vehicles overnight, advised an industry expert.

The best tool in the toolbox of a technician is their experience, said Ben Johnson, director of product management at Mitchell 1.

“When we look at a problem on a car, the first time we see a symptom on a particular vehicle, it might drive us crazy figuring it out,” he explained during his presentation Preparing for Electrification — What Shops Need to do to Get Ready at AAPEX 2021.

“But once we figure it out, it’s up here,” he added, pointing to his head. “And the next time we see that vehicle, which is inevitable, we’ll do it that much faster. And the next time that much faster.”

He reminded technicians as part of the Let’s Tech on the AAPEX Stage at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas that you may lose a little money on the first new vehicles you see, but then you quickly make it up and then some through the repair process.

So with electric vehicles, it’s going to be the first time technicians see a number of issues.

“So don’t try to be the hero,” Johnson warned. “Make sure you look at that repair information to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

One important piece of advice he gave was to make sure EVs are in a mode where they can be serviced. It may seem like common sense but techs need to remember that they’re not dealing with internal combustion engines.

“So don’t try to be the hero Make sure you look at that repair information to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

“We’re used to walking through a car, hearing the engine run — or not —  and if the engine is not running, we pretty much assume we can pop the hood and do what we want because it’s not fired up,” Johnson observed.

With EVs, the vehicle could still be active unbeknownst to the technician.

“Maybe the car still active. Maybe if I … tap that accelerator pedal, it’ll just start moving. And we don’t want that,” Johnson said. “It seems like, ‘OK, dummy, you deserve what you get.’ But it’s going to take us a while to get used to making sure that the key’s off and that everything’s in the mode that it needs to be so that I can service that vehicle safely.”

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People have spent money fixing up their homes, on new entertainment options at home, fixing up their vehicles and more during the COVID-19 pandemic. But will they continue with these behaviours and money-spending habits after the pandemic subsides and other opportunities arise?

That remains to be seen. But, says Nathan Shipley, executive director of The NPD Group, there are signs pointing to consumer spending habits during the aftermarket outlasting the pandemic.

“There [are] definitely a lot of these new behaviours that are sticky,” he said during his presentation Retail and Aftermarket Outlook at AAPEX 2021. “A lot of consumers have invested in equipment, whether that is equipment to cook more at home, tools to work on their car, tools to exercise at home. A lot of folks have invested in equipment to be at home. And so does that behaviour shift back to the gym, shift back to restaurants? Some of it but a lot of it does end up staying [at home].”

People are spending money on things that will directly benefit the aftermarket. Boat sales are up, as too are recreational vehicles, which is forecasted to see sales 15 per cent higher than its best-ever year four years ago, Shipley reported. People are investing in these purchases and are turning to the aftermarket to care for their equipment.

“This is a very big story. A lot of folks that don’t want to be in hotels and don’t want to be on airplanes, they’re getting out and they’re travelling his country holding a trailer behind them or driving in an RV,” Shipley said. “This is a nice tailwind for us. They’re driving; whether they’re maintaining that RV, maintain that trailer or maintaining the tow vehicle that they had to buy to pull the trailer. All a great story.”

Many invested in what Shipley calls “fun vehicle ownership.” Basically, anything with a motor in it — an ATV, dirt bike, RV, jet ski and the like.

NPD’s research found that 40 per cent of people either bought one of these items during the pandemic or already owned one. And 86 per cent of those who already owned one were using it more or as often than before the pandemic.

“Again, when you start breaking down all the ways that the aftermarket has grown, this is another part of the story. A lot of folks spending that extra time on a project car or RV or that boat,” Shipley said.

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Automotive aftermarket companies need to think about women in their marketing, especially if they want a more diverse workforce, female shop leaders recently urged.

In particular, look at your marketing materials, said Kim Auernheimer of CS Automotive when asked what she would ask of aftermarket leaders.

“Think about your marketing and how you’re marketing the industry and how you are reflecting and what reflection you’re making on women in general and being just being a diverse a diverse industry,” she said during the panel discussion Women Techs Rock: Filling the Workforce Gap and Readying for the Revolution at AAPEX 2021.

For example, calendars that objectify women. Auernheimer can recall in 2020 seeing a calendar like that. “And we were all taken aback — like, this is 2020 and what is this in a main aftermarket industry magazine?”

It’s part of an image change the industry needs, particularly if it wants to draw in more women as labour shortages plague many companies.

“Just the image of the industry, I think, is first and foremost [a concern], which will make it easier for us to talk to these young women and their parents about considering this industry,” Auernheimer added.

For Jill Trotten, vice president of sales and industry at RepairPal, she would like companies to give serious thought to an application that comes from a woman. There aren’t enough opportunities given to women in the hiring process. Instead, companies hire people who look and sound the same.

“Our resume might not look like it’s spot on for the position,” she admitted. “But look at it and consider the holistic view of what you’re hiring and the diversity of thought that you’re bringing into your organization when you’re not hiring the same person over and over and over again.”

Messaging and actions matter, observed Dana Rapoport, chief of diversity and inclusion at TechForce, and moderator for the panel on the AAPEX Stage in Las Vegas.

“If we don’t show women in those positions, they can’t identify that as a possibility for themselves,” she said. “So remember that when you are out there creating your marketing or your messaging or whatever it is, that they need to be able to identify with what they see and hear. So what you say matters.”

The post How the aftermarket can market to women appeared first on Auto Service World.

For electric vehicles to reach their potential and be commonplace on roads, there are three key drivers, according to industry observers: Regulations, consumer behaviour and infrastructure.

Without regulations to drive economics, EVs face a higher hill to climb, suggested Akshay Singh, partner with Strategy&.

“If the government comes in and provides incentives, then it makes economics much more favourable for electric vehicles,” he said during the presentation Impact of New Technologies in the Automotive Aftermarket at AAPEX 2021. “If government comes in and imposes taxes on fuel, then that will make the economics really good for electric vehicles. So regulations play a role, but they really impact economics to a certain extent.”

Michael Fousert/Unsplash

He spoke alongside Carlos Thimann, director at Strategy&, at the Las Vegas event. The company released a forecast by the same name as the presentation for the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

Consumer behaviours will also need to change to support EV adoption. For example, it takes just a few minutes to fill up a gas tank at the gas station. An electric vehicle will need at least 10 minutes to recharge.

“So those kinds of things, actually, we need to monitor — whether the consumer will accept those things or not, how their behaviour will change, how they actually drive the vehicle [and] how they operate the vehicle,” Singh said.

Tied into that is vehicle charging stations. Having the proper infrastructure will be essential on the path to EV adoption among consumers.

“Charging infrastructure, one, is very, very expensive to install. And we believe that 80 per cent of charging will be done by consumers at home,” Singh observed. “Today, consumers don’t fill up their gas vehicles at home because we don’t have all the equipment in our backyard, but we all have access to electricity.

“So it remains to be seen whether you know what kind of returns charging infrastructure providers can actually generate on their investment,” he added.

The post The three drivers for EV success appeared first on Auto Service World.

Gas consumption is on par with pre-2020 levels and miles driven is back at or above pre-pandemic levels. But that doesn’t mean the industry is back to business the same way it used to, according to an industry expert.

Nathan Shipley, executive director of The NPD Group, a market research company, spoke at AAPEX 2021 about how changing consumer behaviours could impact the way the automotive aftermarket does business going forward.

Short version: It’s going to be different. How much different, however, remains to be seen, he said during his presentation Retail and Aftermarket Outlook.

Nathan Shipley, executive director at The NPD Group, speaks at AAPEX 2021

“We’re estimating that somewhere around 20 million people [in the U.S.] will continue to work from home next year — that’s full-time, part-time, whatever that looks like,” Shipley reported. “And those are folks that did not work from home, pre-pandemic. I think that the takeaway … is that the return to office is still very, very much a moving target.”

According to Statistics Canada, nearly one-third (32 per cent) of Canadian employees worked most of their hours from home at the start of 2021. That’s compared with only 4 per cent in 2016.

How work-from-home plays out will make a difference in how consumers use their vehicles. For example, less rush hour driving potentially means less wear and tear on a vehicle, particularly brake components.

Shipley called work-from-home “a moving target” because not all companies have implemented work-from-home policies or dictated all employees return to the office. While many expected to have plans sorted out by now, the Delta variant pushed things back to sometime in the early part of this year. The Omicron variant will likely further complicate matters.

“Obviously, this has implications for us as well as an industry — both positive and negative,” Shipley said.

Positive because if people are working from home, they are not commuting. They’re potentially putting that time towards other money-spending activities like road trips and working on restoring an older vehicle. It could be negative because then fewer people are driving and wearing down their vehicles to require service at their shop.

“Obviously, this has implications for us as well as an industry — both positive and negative.”

When looking at gas consumption, those levels are at fairly normal levels. However, in a city like New York, subway traffic is down 43 per cent. People appear to not want to be in crowded spaces like subways and are opting for their own vehicles where they feel safer.

That would explain the increase in gas consumption and miles travelled levels. “You have more people that didn’t own cars in the city [who] have bought cars because they want to get on the subway,” Shipley said. “They’re driving to see their folks, driving to work. And then there’s other folks that aren’t getting around.”

That also points to the fact that how people are using their vehicles is different than it was before.

“How we’re getting around and where we’re going, it’s all very, very different,” Shipley said. “Some people are driving more to go to an office, taking road trips. Others, not so much.”

The post The impact of work-from-home on the aftermarket appeared first on Auto Service World.

There is no doubt in the minds of a number of automotive aftermarket leaders that the industry is going to get bigger as we transition farther away from the pandemic.

Why? Because of the key role the industry took in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the performance seen over the last nearly two years, said executives during the Buyer’s Panel keynote session at AAPEX 2021.

“These last two years have been a challenge. You’ve seen what our industry has been able to do and the performance of our industry overall,” said Gregory Johnson, chief executive officer and co-president at O’Reilly Auto Parts. “A lot of the key indexes and drivers for our industry — obviously, miles driven, vehicle age, and those things — are now starting to turn again. Miles driven, it’s improving; I think that will continue.”

People are driving again. They’re taking road trips for vacations or visiting family, Johnson added. Those are just some of the good signs of a prosperous industry going forward.

“I think we continue to see that improve,” he said. “With the lack of new vehicles entering the car parc this year, I think you’re going to see [average age of vehicles increase]. All those are very positive for our industry. And I’m just very, very optimistic about the future of the industry as a whole.

Corey Bartlett, president and CEO of Automotive Parts Headquarters agreed. Furthermore, the aftermarket attracted millions of new people — four million, specifically, according to The NPD Group — during the pandemic.

These were “people that were inspired by the pandemic to buy a [utility task vehicle], buy a boat, by an RV, by all the trailers to haul those things,” Bartlett said. “And so expansion and maybe a little diversification of customers that are coming to see us because, all of a sudden, they’re more excited about and dependent on some of the vehicles for fun, that they weren’t enjoying previously.”

Tom Greco, president and CEO of Advance Auto Parts called these new behaviours picked up by consumers “sticky,” meaning those new customers will spend their money in this industry for years to come.

“People took on projects on their vehicle or in their own that they haven’t been doing. And we believe some of those behaviours are going to be sticky.”

“People took on projects on their vehicle or in their own that they haven’t been doing. And we believe some of those behaviours are going to be sticky,” he said.

The big challenge, noted Bill Rhodes, president and CEO of AutoZone, will be ensuring the supply chain can keep up. At the start of the pandemic, aftermarket business dropped 25 per cent, he noted. Then, it not only regained that ground but went up 25 per cent above previous benchmarks.

“Our supply chain wasn’t built for 25% growth overnight, sustained for 20 months,” he observed.

So it will “be a long journey” to get the industry caught up and able to serve consumers at a level they demand.

“In some respects, we played a game of whack a mole for the last 18 months,” Rhodes said. “I suspect it’s going to continue to be that way for an extended period of time. And it is imperative that we get our teams together [to face the next 18-20 months of challenges].”

The post Why the aftermarket is only going to grow appeared first on Auto Service World.

There are too many shop owners who prefer the feeling of a job well done over a financial reward when it comes to repairing vehicles, shop coaches suggest. That’s why they hesitate to raise their shop’s rates.

While that’s a nice thought, it’s no way to run a business observed Cecil Bullard, CEO of The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, and Vik Tarasik, managing partner of Shop Owner Coach.

“The shop owner, in a lot of cases, is a guy who gets satisfaction out of fixing the car,” Tarasik said during the Shop Coach AMA (Ask Me Anything) panel at AAPEX 2021. “To him, the reward is not financial — it’s in a job well done.”

He admitted that he was one of the shop owners he just described until his own coach turned him around. He equated the idea to losing weight — most would like to lose weight but they won’t want to do the workout. If you want a better shop, are you willing to put the work in?

Bullard agreed. He sees that, for many, the reward is in the finished product. “I fixed that thing. It came in, it didn’t run or it ran poorly and I put my hands on it. It’s magic. I am ‘the man,’” is how he described the mindset of some shop owners.

Bullard went on to describe some shop owners as those who believe they’re doing good in the community by offering vehicle maintenance and repair at low prices.

“I think sometimes we think, ‘Well, if I’m making a profit, then that’s a dishonest thing. It’s not a good thing,’” he said. “That it’s morally corrupt to make $300,000 a year.”

He pressed the fact that it’s not wrong or corrupt to make a good living, especially doing something you enjoy.

“If you’re taking care of your customers and taking good care of your employees and their families, then you’re doing an honourable thing,” Bullard said.

What is dishonest is not telling a customer the whole story of their repair because you feel back about them spending money on their vehicle, he noted.

“I think it’s dishonest to tell the customer about $1,000 worth of work because you think they’re going to buy that when the car needs $5,000,” Bullard said.

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A rush to buy larger vehicles a few years ago is going to pay greater dividends to the automotive aftermarket, according to an industry expert.

Furthermore, with consumers buying fewer new vehicles, the young end of the average vehicle age spectrum will shrink while the other end grows.

All of that means plenty of dollars for the automotive aftermarket.

“The ‘new to five’ is going to shrink somewhat,” explained Todd Campau, global aftermarket solutions associate director with IHS Markit. “We believe that just this shift in age is already going to lead to as much as three to four billion new dollars coming in just as the fleet moves through the age spectrum.”

Todd Campau,of IHS Markit speaks at AAPEX 2021 in his session “5 Trends in 5 Minutes”

Remember the consumer movement to buy bigger cars and, in particular, crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) almost a decade ago? Those vehicles are now entering the aftermarket sweet spot. That means they’re going to start entering repair bays on a more frequent basis, Campau noted.

He wondered if CUVs will behave like typical light trucks, where they last longer, generate more miles and maintain a higher residual value. If so, “those vehicles are going to be with us for a long time.”

Don’t forget, CUVs have a lot more content than smaller passenger cars, Campau pointed out.

“There’s a lot of all wheel drive CUVs; there’s a lot more things that can break for the aftermarket to repair,” he said. “So this will be interesting to watch and see: Will it stay there? Will it behave like a car or will behave more like its big brothers up there at the top; the pickup trucks and things like that?”

Talk of average vehicle age raised some questions for Campau: Just how high could average age go? Will it always go up? At what point will it come back down?

“Pickup trucks average almost 14 years of age in [the U.S.],” he said. “So I think there is room for continued average age growth. And I think it is good because our average age is growing people are seeing value in their vehicles for a longer period of time. Once that vehicle passes, three or four years, all those repairs come to us. So I think it’s really good news for the aftermarket.”

The post As sweet spot grows, these vehicles will boost your business appeared first on Auto Service World.

Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center at SEMA 2021

From SEMA Show seminars to exclusive content, automotive professionals will be able to access educational content only from the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

The group announced the launch of the new library in late December. It is accessible year-round online.

Available content in the library includes technical details about advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), advocacy updates and best practices and tips on common business skills. There will also be behind-the-scenes conversations with industry leaders, celebrities and icons.

The SEMA Virtual Education website is available at www.sema.org/education. Everything that is available is specifically geared to the automotive aftermarket.

All sessions are available to anyone in the industry, whether or not they’re SEMA members. But employees of member companies will be able to access library contents fee or at a reduced cost. Recording from the 2021 SEMA Show will be free to everyone.

“The SEMA Virtual Education website provides the automotive aftermarket with a one-stop-shop of industry-leading education and resources that will support the industry throughout the year,” said Gary Vigil, SEMA senior manager of professional development. “The website is user-friendly and provides businesses and employees a convenient way to learn best practices and increase their knowledge in order to advance in their careers.”

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A sign touting electric vehicles at the 2019 Canadian International Auto Show.

Price disparity can be a sticking point for consumers when deciding between an electric vehicle and one with an internal combustion engine. But if things play out as some industry experts predict, price gaps would narrow and be equal in about six years.

“From the vehicle economics, what we think, over the next six years, you would see the total cost of ownership parity between internal combustion engine and electric vehicles in North America,” said Akshay Singh, partner with Strategy&, during the presentation Impact of New Technologies in the Automotive Aftermarket at AAPEX 2021.

He authored a report by the same name as the presentation along with Carlos Thimann, director at Strategy&.

Price parity could be reached sooner in Europe and China because of higher fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

And when price parity hits here, sales will pick up so long as one important factor falls into place. “That’s when probably we’ll see rapid adoption [of EVs], provided there’s enough investment in the EV infrastructure,” Singh said. “We believe that there will be, but that’s going to take some time — probably by 2030 you will see sufficient development of EV infrastructure.”

He and Thimann predict EV adoption will hit 20 per cent come 2030. That number could get as high as 25 per cent. These figures come in a little less than the 30 per cent figure other prognosticators have put up. And that’s well below the target of 50% from the U.S. President Joe Biden administration.

“I think that’s just too ambitious but we’ll see,” Singh said of Biden’s goal. “We think that because of the developments in the industry, how vehicle economics are trending, how the charging infrastructure has been.”

A 20 per cent penetration translates into just 6 per cent of the total car parc being electric. That means 94 per cent of all vehicles on the road 10 years from now will still be an ICE, Singh pointed out.

“Even if you extend it further, say, to 2040, when 65% of [sales] vehicles will be electric — and we believe that’s going to happen — even then, only 25% of the vehicles on the road will be an electric vehicle,” Singh said. “So even by 2040, 75% of vehicles on the road will be internal combustion engine vehicle, because it’s going to take you a long time to transition to electric vehicle unless government steps in to say, ‘OK, we want consumers to just get rid of their internal combustion engine vehicles.’”

At that point, governments may have to pay consumers to switch over. That’s an expensive proposition, one that Singh doesn’t see happening.

For the aftermarket, it will be a slow transition to working on EVs, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t the urgency to start preparing now.

“It’s going to take some time before the aftermarket converts to electric, but aftermarket companies need to be prepared for this transition,” Singh advised. “[They] probably need to think about how they make this investment because this transition is going to be slow, at least when it comes to the automotive aftermarket.”

The post Here’s when EV and ICE vehicles will cost the same appeared first on Auto Service World.

Shops are not female-friendly and haven’t been for decades. In the face of a massive technician shortage, the industry needs to change its image to appeal more to a broader talent base, a group of female shop leaders advised.

During the panel discussion Women Techs Rock: Filling the Workforce Gap and Readying for the Revolution at AAPEX 2021, the leaders spoke about how the perception of the industry from the outside and attitudes within are only holding the aftermarket back, especially shops.

“There are times that I can tell you that this is not a friendly industry for women,” said Jill Trotten, vice president of sales and industry at RepairPal. “The imagery that is sometimes in the shops — the pictures, the comments that are normalized in that sort of environment — are really exclusionary for women. Comments about bodies and things like that are not appropriate in any workplace. But somehow, at some point, those kinds of things became normalized in shop environments. So we need to take that out.”

From left, Dana Rapoport of TechForce, Jacqui Hower of Zimmermans automotive, Jill Trotten of RepairPal and Kim Auernheimer of CS Automotive

Women don’t generally see a job as a technician as a career option when they’re younger, she added.

Indeed, what if your daughter came up to you and said she wanted to be an automotive technician — what would your first thought be, asked Kim Auernheimer of CS Automotive.

Take a phrase like ‘grease monkey,’ she highlighted. A term like that is a turnoff for women.

“I think that’s something that we in the industry need to take a hold of and take responsibility and correct,” Aurenheimer said.

“That just sets another image of the industry and having a woman or a young woman coming in, that doesn’t paint the right picture.”

Trotten explained that she was a recreational therapist and hated the job. An ad got her interested in being a technician. Her father hated the idea.

“He was like, ‘They’re not going to accept you, they’re not going to help you and it’s not a safe place for you,’” she recalled.

Things didn’t play out exactly as her father said but that doesn’t change the fact that things haven’t changed much in the industry overall in the last 30 years, Trotten noted.

“The image of the industry first has to be corrected. And I think, in general, that’s a start,” Aurenheimer said.

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Julius Silver/Pexels

There are more potential shortage and supply chain issues coming down for automakers and that could mean more good news for the automotive aftermarket, according to an industry analyst.

These days, the chip shortage is getting all the attention. But, according to Todd Campau, global aftermarket solutions associate director with IHS Markit, there’s another shortage that starting to take its toll.

“Now there’s also a potential magnesium shortage that they’re starting to deal with that could lead to an aluminum shortage that could further delay in the supply chain,” he said during the ever-popular 5 Trends in 5 Minutes session at AAPEX in November.

On top of that, there are shops waiting at ports all over the continent trying to get products onshore.

“And all these things are contributing to making it very difficult for new vehicle sales to realize the demand that consumers have,” Campau observed.

“As the ripple effects continue,” he later noted, “and as the challenge gets more stiff and the supply of microchips even gets more difficult, we’re seeing that they’re really running out of levers to pull to manage the demand.”

And this demand will be delayed at least a couple of years, Campau said. There will be pent-up demand from consumers as the delays go on. “And we believe that the chip shortage is not only going to affect this year, but it’s going to affect next year.”

The supply chain is fragile. While the Omicron variant hadn’t yet been discovered during Campau’s talk, he did note that risks like an outbreak or new variant will impact the supply chain.

“With the ongoing shortages with a few more shutdowns, this is how volatile it really is — that if a plant gets shut down or the country goes back on lockdown or other raw materials start to ripple and have issues, it’s really impacting the fleet,” he said.

Fewer new vehicles mean more older vehicles on roads. That means more maintenance needs for longer periods of time.

“[This] is all positive for the aftermarket,” Campau noted. “We do think that it is going to drive average age up. So that’s one of the reasons we think this is good. We’re already seeing an impact on average age from this.”

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Ford F-Series trucks at the 2019 Canadian International Auto Show.

Organizers of auto shows in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal have called off their events due to the increasing spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and related uncertainty.

The Montreal International Auto Show was set to run Jan. 21-30. Toronto’s Canadian International AutoShow usually starts mid-February and runs for two weeks. Vancouver’s was to run in March.

Montreal’s group said the decision was made following the analysis of the latest effects of the rise of the variant, along with uncertainties around sanitary measures related to the organization of indoor events.

“It is with a heavy heart that we made this decision,” said Luis Pereira, executive director of the show. “Montreal being the first major auto show in the Canadian circuit, we feel it would be irresponsible to hold a major public event with COVID cases on the rise again. We are disappointed for the public and for our partners who supported us: the Palais des congrès, the manufacturers and exhibitors, our media and organization partners.

“We were really confident that the event would be held this year. Omicron came along and muddied the waters. But it is our corporate responsibility. All visitors who have purchased tickets will be refunded.”

The situation at the time of the announcement was a little different in Ontario. The provincial government announced capacity limits on indoor venues that can accommodate more than 1,000 people starting Dec. 18. No end date was announced, creating uncertainty if restrictions would be listed, allowing the show to go on.

“We had been working hard in recent months for the AutoShow to return in a big way, but in light of the recent developments, and in consultation and agreement with our manufacturer and sponsor partners, we have agreed that it’s best to set 2022 plans aside to best support the health and safety of our community,” said Jason Campbell, general manager of the Canadian International AutoShow.

Toronto’s show will be celebrating 50 years in 2023.

Like the others, organizers of the Vancouver show are turning their attention to 2023 and putting making “a triumphant return” next year.

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Finding capable people throughout the entire automotive aftermarket is the biggest change needed, according to executives in the industry.

Speaking during the Buyer’s Panel at the AAPEX 2021 Keynote Session, the leaders were asked what was something that they’d like to see changed in the industry.

For Kevin Herron, president and chief operating officer of the U.S. automotive parts group at Genuine Parts Co., it was the need to embrace the technician shortage that only promises to get worse if it’s not tackled.

“Well, I think the biggest change that we all need to embrace going forward is the shortage of technicians,” he said. “As you think about where we are today, and where we’re headed — the complexity of vehicles — as an industry, we have to embrace the next generation of technicians.”

For example, that means staying aligned with trade schools to ensure they’re teaching students about the latest in vehicle technology so they’re prepared for the vehicles of tomorrow.

“We need to change the image of the technician going forward. We need to create apprentice-type programs … and develop that next level of technician that’s going to keep our industry going forward,” he added.

For Tom Greco, president and chief executive officer of Advance Auto Parts, he sees talent as a broader issue. The aftermarket has to adapt to what people want in order to draw them in.

For example, flexibility is top of mind for employees. “We have to adapt to that world to get those talented people into the key jobs,” he said.

And those key jobs are helping transition the industry from being so reliant on brick-and-mortar building to offering more online, Greco pointed out.

“It’s a very competitive environment … I think we’re all going to have to be very cognizant of the environment that’s out there to get great people into our organizations,” he said. “We’re going to have to be very cognizant of how we have to compete in those environments and make sure we get the best people that we can into our industry.”

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John R. Washbish, president and CEO of the Alliance, at the 2021 Winter Meeting

Shareholders and channel partners were in Miami last week as part of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance’s Winter Shareholder Meeting.

With almost 100 shareholders and more than 300 channel partners in attendance, the event included a Latin America shareholder meeting, department updates, networking, a joint general session for shareholders and channel partners, and engagement opportunities.

For some in attendance, it was the first in-person meeting since before the global COVID-19 pandemic was declared in early 2020.

The event concluded with a Tuesday evening banquet where supplier awards and the Channel Partner of the Year winner were announced. And the top prize went to BBB Industries.

“The BBB team is honoured to receive this award from the Alliance group,” said Kim Nolan, senior vice president of sales at BBB Industries. “Our partnership with the Alliance members is stronger than ever and we look forward to continued excellence as we work together in the future.”

“The Winter Shareholder Meeting is a great opportunity to get together and be in person conducting business with our industry peers and friends,” said Danny Chessin, co-president and co-CEO of Hahn Automotive Warehouse, Inc. “The networking and blending of Alliance shareholder members with our valued channel partners [are] important to our group and it is a chance to plan and build for the coming year.”

John R. Washbish, president and CEO of the Alliance, called the past year “fantastic” as he reflected on successes for shareholders and channel partners.

“It is important that we celebrate together as we wrap up the year and acknowledge the industry partnerships who have helped us be so successful,” he continued. “More importantly, we are preparing for the future, leveraging our industry-leading information technology resources, and getting ready for a very special 2022.”

Other channel partner awards were handed out those winners were:

• Training: Standard Motor Products
• Marketing: DRiV
• Diamond: Century Drill
• Technology Support: Dorman
• Manpower: Gates
• Logistics: DuraGo
• Customer Service: Mevotech
• Lone Star: Valvoline
• Exclusive National Brand: Perfect Stop by Bosch
• Difference Maker: GCommerce

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Negative Space/Pexels

Desperate times call for desperate measures, it seems.

Some jobbers these days are getting regular calls from people they may not usually hear from looking for parts to repair customer vehicles, said industry experts. Namely, their competitors and automotive dealerships.

The supply chain has been compromised so much that dealers are turning to the aftermarket to send parts their way so they can take care of their customers, they noted.

In a presentation at this year’s AAPEX in Las Vegas, Nathan Shipley, executive director of The NPD Group, a market research company, noted that some of the strong demand for aftermarket products is coming from non-traditional sources, such as dealerships.

“I’ve talked to dealerships that say, ‘Look, I’ve got a Ford dealership, I’ve got a cash-paying customer in my bay. I don’t have the parts I need — the OE parts — to put on their car. So I’m calling the local auto parts store, which I would never do. I’m calling them to get it. Because I can either turn the customer away or I can call the store or the DC down the street,’” he said during his annual Retail and Aftermarket Outlook session during the week-long event.

“So all of a sudden we in this industry, we’ve got demand coming from non-traditional resources.”

This trend was noted by Bill Hay, president and chief operating officer at Bestbuy Distributors. He was speaking virtually during Student Aftermarket Day at Georgian College’s Automotive Business School on Nov. 18. In the keynote session entitled Disruptors, Opportunities and the Future of the Automotive Aftermarket, he noted that everyone is looking everywhere for parts.

“A lot of the supply chain right now is saying, ‘Hey, we’d love to sell you something, but we can’t even supply our existing customers right now. So we don’t have an opportunity to supply you right now with parts,” he told moderator J.F. Champagne, president of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada.

Shareholders within Bestbuy are turning to competitors to get parts when the distributor doesn’t have it, Hay noted.  “And the competitors are also coming to our place to buy parts. That includes the dealership network. They’ve been struggling getting parts as well. And so everybody is going everywhere they can right now to try and find a source on a part for sure.”

A question Shipley raised in his presentation was how much longer demand from dealers would last. For now with the supply chain having issues, dealers are doing their part to keep aftermarket demand up. So the increase in sales jobbers are enjoying may fall back a bit once things normalize.

“So does that start to settle back down?” he asked.

The post The unusual places calling jobbers these days appeared first on Auto Service World.

Electric vehicles pose new dangers to technicians and one mistake could be costly, warned an expert from Mitchell 1.

Dealing with EVs is going to be new for everyone. But with all the extra voltage flowing around, Ben Johnson, director of product management at Mitchell 1, advised that technicians practise a little extra care when poking and prodding around such vehicles.

“We don’t need to be scared, but we should be respectful,” he said during the presentation Preparing for Electrification — What Shops Need to do to Get Ready at AAPEX last month. “There is a lot of voltage in certain areas of these vehicles. There’s a lot of areas that are perfectly safe and you can muck around with.”

Mitchell 1’s Ben Johnson speaks at AAPEX 2021

Johnson’s presentation was part of the Let’s Tech series on the AAPEX Stage at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. He warned that SAE created a standard around orange sheathing which basically means to not mess around with it.

“Don’t do what I used to do. We think, ‘It’s fine. Here’s my very sharp test light. Let me just puncture that and see if there’s a reading.’ Well, first of all, it’s probably going to pop your bulb. Second of all, you might have up to 800 volts there that’s going to try to find a path to ground. And if that’s through you, then so be it; that’s where it’s going to find it,” he told attendees. “Just need to have some common sense.”

As for his biggest advice to technicians, he recommended getting to know your service information. The original equipment manufacturers “have done a pretty good job” of telling technicians to disable the high voltage systems before they do a particular task.

“Sometimes it’s not just pulling that connector,” he explained. “It’s waiting some period of time, usually around 10 minutes, for the supercapacitors to settle down and to discharge so that you’re not going to get an unwanted surprise when you start probing a circuit.”

The post What techs need to ‘be respectful’ of with EVs appeared first on Auto Service World.

A new program to empower skilled trades advocates will launch in the summer, announced the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF).

The National Leadership Development Program for Women in the Skilled Trades will take place at the next Supporting Women in Trades Conference, which runs June 2-3 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The program is being developed in partnership with the Office to Advance Women Apprentices and will be available to all tradeswomen including Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, immigrants, persons with disabilities and those from racialized groups.

Those taking part in the program will be guided by subject matter experts. They will learn effective strategies and gain practical tips to empower them as leaders in their workplaces and the broader community, the CAF said in an announcement. There will be special attention placed on how the learnings can be applied in a skilled trades workplace.

The idea is that with better knowledge about strategies to mentor, take on leadership roles on the job site and within their unions, communicate, resolve conflict and speak with confidence, tradeswomen can be leaders in their industries. They can also inspire young girls and other women to thrive in the skilled trades.

The program will be offered at no cost to tradeswomen and offered in a safe and respectful setting, the CAF noted. The group and the Office to Advance Women Apprentices will work with industry, trades unions, government, and training institutions to support development, it added.

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Fill rates have been cut in half thanks to supply chain challenges, according to the head of one of Canada’s largest parts distributors.

Speaking virtually during Student Aftermarket Day at Georgian College’s Automotive Business School on Nov. 18, Bestbuy Distributors president and chief operating officer Bill Hay noted that fill rates have plummeted, especially this year.

The supply chain has “certainly struggled” to provide a consistent supply of product, he observed.

From left, J.F. Champagne of AIA Canada and Bill Hay from Bestbuy Distributors

“Typically, we look for suppliers to be in the mid-90% range in terms of fill on a daily and regular basis. Through COVID — in the last six, eight months in particular — boy, we’ve seen some pretty scary numbers, I would tell you: 40 per cent fill rates, 50 per cent fill rates.”

It’s been a grind for suppliers, Hay said during the keynote session entitled Disruptors, Opportunities and the Future of the Automotive Aftermarket.

“They’ve really struggled. They’ve been struggling getting raw materials. They’ve been hit with COVID outbreaks in their plants and warehouses. They’ve had to shut down for periods of time,” he said.

They’re also being hit by major increases in costs. Hay estimated that the cost of getting a container shipped from overseas was between $2,500-$3,000.

“Today, that same container is $25,000, or even $30,000,” he reported. “I think the good news is COVID is hopefully mostly behind us and the suppliers are catching up. But they’re still struggling.”

The automotive aftermarket was not immune to the challenges that hit many other industries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hay noted. Many people initially stopped driving. Vehicles were parked in driveways for extended periods of time. That’s never good news for this industry.

“No secret in our business when cars are not moving around, they’re not using parts, they don’t need service. And so that certainly has affected our business opportunity,” Hay said.

That said, the automotive aftermarket was handed some good news as it was deemed an essential service early on. That was a positive, Hay said.

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Another major technology player has now seemingly opened up to the concept of ‘right to repair.’

One month after Microsoft announced it would go ahead with plans to allow for the independent repair of its devices, Apple confirmed last week that it was introducing what it called Self Service Repair.

The program will allow customers to access Apple genuine parts and tools to complete repairs on their own. It will be first available to its iPhone 12 and 13 lineups and certain Mac computers. It will be available to U.S. customers starting early next year and then to other countries later in 2022.

Arnel Hasanovic/Unsplash

Apple has long stood against third-party repairs. For example, in 2019, unofficial — or aftermarket — batteries were flagged by the company. Then it was unofficial displays. iPhone users would receive a message on their phone notifying them that Apple was unable to verify the phone has a genuine Apple display. Industry analysts noted that this was a clear position from the company that it didn’t want users to use non-Apple products on their phones.

That said, the repair program it is starting up is to only use products it identifies as genuine parts. It doesn’t appear third-party products will be sanctioned.

Nevertheless, this is a positive sign in the greater right to repair battle. The automotive aftermarket has been waging a battle against automakers to ensure the industry has access to the data and software to repair vehicles as technology speeds ahead.

In the automotive aftermarket, as was pointed out at AAPEX during the opening keynote from Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, things may get worse before they get better.

“And if you don’t think that the automakers aren’t ramping up to take a bigger and bigger piece of that pie, you are sadly mistaken,’ Hanvey warned.

He demonstrated this by having 270 people stand during the session. They represented 54 tables of attendees. This visual was to show how many lobbyists the automakers have fighting for them to keep access to data out of the hands of the aftermarket.

By contrast, aftermarket lobbyists can be illustrated by just a single table. “We may be smaller in number, but we are fearless,” Hanvey said.

Listen now: Bill Hanvey talks right to repair in an episode of AutoServiceWorld Conversations

“We need a strong voice. We need a unified voice. And one that includes manufacturers, shop owners, retailers distributors…,” McCarthy added.

The two rallied for stronger engagement from the aftermarket in the fight for right to repair.

“These days remind us that if we aren’t able to access information directly from the vehicle, we will be beholden to the carmakers for that information,” Hanvey said, And they have proven time and time again, that they will be restrictive. And you will hear more and more often: ‘You will have to take that to the dealer.’ And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the death knell of our industry.”

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The Vancouver International Auto Show is revving up again after two years of being shut down due to COVID-19.

Organizers announced that western Canada’s best attended trade and consumer event will mark its return to the Vancouver Convention Centre West from March 23-27, 2022.

The theme of the show will be “EVerything EV” and feature the largest electric and advanced technology showcase in the history of the event. The exhibit will include a significant electric vehicle display with EV’s from the world’s most important manufacturers, technology displays, electric charging displays and information, test drives of a wide range of electric vehicles, as well as a stage featuring leading experts, panelists and industry specialists.

COVID-19 event restrictions have been lifted allowing for full capacity at venues such as the convention centre for double-vaccinated attendees. The announcement noted that organizers will ensure strict compliance with provincial health orders. They will also prioritize the health and safety of all visitors and participants during the event.

“After detailed planning and in-depth discussions with our valued partners, we are extremely excited to welcome back visitors to the Vancouver International Auto Show,” says Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C., which also presents the annual Show. “This has been a few years coming, so we are finally counting down the days until we can welcome guests to the show, which will spotlight a host of new models, features and other exciting developments in the industry.”

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It was almost just like old times.

After two years apart, much of the automotive aftermarket reunited in Las Vegas to take part in AAPEX and the SEMA Show. For many, it was their first trade event since the global COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Many people remarked that attending the show was the first time they had been on a plane since then. Still, you could see smiles and genuine excitement behind the masks and face coverings.

Attendees of AAPEX make their way to the exhibit hall of the Sands Expo.

Final crowd numbers have not yet been tabulated. SEMA did note that with more than 1,300 exhibiting companies and 51,000 buyers confirmed, its show was the first full-capacity event at the Las Vegas Convention Center since the pandemic started. AAPEX show organizers did note that domestic registrations were generally on par but international attendees were drastically down.

And the drop in numbers was noticeable. Floors of both shows were smaller — whether that was the size of booths or the number of people on the exhibit floor. Foot traffic at AAPEX was noticeably thinner. The usual expansive international section of the first floor was not there. While SEMA appeared to be jam-packed early on, crowds seemed to dissipate later in the week.

Nevertheless, it was a success to pull off both shows with a strong turnout considering the circumstances. The lighter crowd may not have allowed for the usual number of conversations but it did create opportunities for deeper conversations.

AAPEX kicked off with its usual Opening Keynote session. The annual State of the Aftermarket presentation by Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. Both talked at length about the need for upping the urgency around right to repair.

They were followed by the Buyer Panel, which featured Tom Greco, president and CEO of Advance Auto Parts, Kevin Herron, president and COO of Genuine Parts Co., Gregory Johnson, CEO and co-president of O’Reilly Auto Parts, Bill Rhodes, president and CEO of AutoZone, Corey Bartlett, president and CEO of Automotive Parts Headquarters and Sue Godschalk, president of Federated Auto Parts. Karyn Schoenbart, CEO of The NPD Group, moderated the discussion.

They also hammered right to repair as a key issue going into 2022. Other issues identified included the talent shortage plaguing the industry.

Other sessions throughout the week included a panel on coaching, a presentation on the outlook on aftermarket retail, how shops need to prepare for electric vehicles, getting more women as technicians, the ever-popular 5 Trends in 5 Minutes and more. There was also Joe’s Garage, which was a look in the future of vehicle repair.

Stay tuned to AutoServiceWorld.com for more from these sessions and more. And please enjoy the photo gallery below.

AAPEX/SEMA 2021

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Stay on top of what’s happening at the biggest automotive aftermarket event of the year.

The team from AutoServiceWorld.com, CARS and Jobber News are coming at you live from AAPEX and SEMA all week long.

Check back in this space to see photos and news tidbits that we come across over Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.

The AAPEX and SEMA shows are being held live and in person for the first time since 2019 and the industry is excited to be back together again.

But it’s not all the same. Masking is required at both shows, per local health regulations. AAPEX is further requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result for entry.

The Canadian contingent is expected to be smaller. Furthermore, Canada Night was cancelled by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada.

According to show organizers, international registration, which typically accounts for 22 per cent of AAPEX registration, was down drastically compared to 2019. But that was expected given COVID-related protocols to enter the U.S. from other countries. Domestic registration, on the other hand, was on par with 2019.

Still, it is expected to be a busy week with plenty of news and insights coming out of the shows. Check this space daily for new updates.

Updates

• AAPEX kicked off the annual ticketed keynote session where the importance of right to repair was stressed. It was also revealed that four million people made their first-ever purchases in the aftermarket during COVID.
• NPD Group’s Nathan Shipley shared consumer insight data. Numbers show that while consumer purchases in the aftermarket are trending down from their pandemic-related highs, they’re still above 2019 levels.
• Mitchell 1’s Bill Haas talked about what shops need to do to prepare for EVs, especially when it comes to respecting electricity.
•  While there was no official Canada Night, Canadians who are in Las Vegas gathered at The Dorsey for some mingling.
• Joe’s Garage proved to be a hit. This setup added value to technicians attending the show by having a series of bays showing off what new tech, tools and business solutions are available to shops.
• In a preview of a forthcoming study from the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Supplier’s Association, it was revealed that electric vehicles will slowly grow to 2030 before taking off after that. The aftermarket is expected to grow at a 2 per cent pace through to 2045.
• During her speech for winning Female Shop Owner of the Year from the Women in Auto Care, Tara Topel, owner of Topel’s Service Center paid tribute to Bob Greenwood and credited his leadership and guidance and being keys to her success.

The post Live updates from AAPEX appeared first on Auto Service World.

The biggest challenge for supply chain leaders in the automotive aftermarket is the unknown. That is, unknown around when shipments will move, unknown about what problems will pop up next and unknown as to when things may start to get better.

Sure, they have ideas as to what the answers may be. But anything can change at any given moment, they said during a recent roundtable discussion.

Leaders in the automotive aftermarket took part in an hour-long discussion as part of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s Supply Chain Webinar Series.

When discussing pain points, Jay Murphy, supply chain director at MotoRad, pointed to the fact that just when they think they’re moving along nicely, something comes along and upsets the apple cart.

“You think you’ve got control of it and then you wake up the next morning and something unknown is fallen into the mix,” he told the group.

He used the example of a supplier’s raw materials not coming through as expected and his company not finding out until the last minute.

“It’s becoming very, very high risk right at this moment,” he added.

NordWood Themes/Unsplash

For Darren Judd, supply chain director at NGK Spark Plugs, he couldn’t nail his pain points down to just one issue. For him, even if he solves a problem, up pops another.

“I think for us right now, the suffering really boils down to a confluence of global logistics delays, labour issues locally [and] the raw material suppliers having issues affects us in certain areas,” he said. “All of these things together are things we have to manage on a daily basis.

“So, literally, we’re playing whack a mole with all of these different issues. If I solve one, then I got to worry about the other.”

It’s almost like firefighting, Murphy commented in the context of putting out issue after issue.

“We’re now starting to come up with strategic ways to give our suppliers a better look, a longer look, so they can procure more raw materials and they can look out further,” he said. “But you still end up with a firefight from time to time and which causes chaos and causes the supply chain internally to not be trusted.”

There was a discussion around a lack of transparency. There was a comment made about the fact that there’s great reporting post-issue — after the fact. But transparency ahead of time that’s forward-looking to prepare for issues is virtually non-existent.

“The transparency we do have is, it’s limited and it’s wrong,” Judd observed. “So we’ll have an ETA of when one product is supposed to hit our dock. But that ETA depends upon the rail line not sticking our container under five others and leaving it there for four weeks. So the data we have don’t know that it’s any better than not having the data sometimes.”

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