The passenger car aftermarket consists of sales of passenger car aftermarket parts and services. Companies operating in the passenger car aftermarket (parts and services) provide manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of replacement vehicle parts, equipment, service repair, and automotive accessories. The market includes the sales of the tires, batteries, brakes parts, filters, lightings, and electronic components.
The global passenger cars after market market is expected to decline from $245.5 billion in 2019 to $239.1 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.6%. The decline is mainly due to economic slowdown across countries owing to the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures to contain it. The market is then expected to recover and grow at a CAGR of 4% from 2021 and reach $269.4 billion in 2023.
North America was the largest region in the passenger car aftermarket (parts and services) market in 2018. The passenger car aftermarket (parts and services) market in Asia Pacific is forecasted to register the highest CAGR during 2018-2023.
Increasing average lifespan of a car is one of the major drivers of the passenger car aftermarket as it leads to an increase in consumer’s regular maintenance and scheduled servicing of the vehicle. The lifespan of the car describes the maximum service life in terms of mileage and time. Changing of wheels, batteries, spark plugs, air filters plays a significant role in prolonging the life of a vehicle. According to IHS automotive survey, in 2017, the typical car on the road in the US is 11 years old. Addition to that, based on an article by USA Today, in 2015, the number of vehicles on the road that are at least 25 years old totaling up to 14 million increased from 8 million in 2002.
Many companies are offering extended warranties to third parties on vehicle parts or services which in turn is hampering the growth of independent service providers. Extended warranties are given on a vehicle part/service to increase the lifetime of a vehicle which leads to free service or discounts towards the consumer. Since all warranty repairs are performed by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) only, the aftermarket sales and services market which is generated majorly from dealer service centers suffers a loss. According to Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), in California for all light-duty vehicle extended warranties did not have an effect on independent repair shops from 2002 to 2005, however from 2008 (which concluded that all vehicles would have 100% PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) onward, the revenue of independent repair shops dropped at a rate of 7.7.
The passenger car aftermarket is using 3D printing technology also called as Additive Manufacturing (AM) to make high-quality off-the-shelf car parts using 3D printers that are capable of printing in metals and alloys. 3D printing works by making a virtual 2D object in the software and constructing the 3D framework by using the printer. The use of 3D printing in producing automobile parts increases the efficiency and raises the production standards of the companies. Companies (original equipment manufacturers) such as General Motors, BMW, Ford and Porsche have already started investing in this trend. In 2018, General Motors announced its collaboration with Autodesk, a US-based multinational software corporation to produce lighter vehicle parts through 3D printing technique.
The industry is regulated by several regulations governed by multiple international and country-specific agencies. One of the examples of such regulatory body is National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of U.S. The Standard number 108 of section 571 under Title -49 Transportation mentioned in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), states the requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated lighting equipment for passenger cars as well as other multipurpose passenger vehicles. As defined in CFR, the purpose of section 571 is to set regulatory standards relating to lighting equipment in vehicles to be followed by motor vehicles including passenger cars. The standards also specify points where the equipment such as Headlamp should be mounted in vehicles so as to make it easily visible in public roads both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility thus reducing traffic accidents and deaths and injuries.
In 2018, Tenneco acquired Federal-Mogul for $5.4 Billion from Carl Icahn. The purchase included $800 million cash payment and 29.5 million shares of Tenneco, including non-voting stock. Federal-Mogul Corporation was established in 1899 and is headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, United States. It is a company which develops, manufactures and supplies products for automotive, commercial, aerospace, marine, rail, and off-road vehicles. Federal Mogul has a strong position in manufacturing and supplying of various auto parts all over the globe. The acquisition benefitted Tonneco with an increase in its auto parts portfolio in the global vehicle aftermarket. Through the acquisition, Tonneco plans to provide engineered solutions addressing fuel economy, power output and criteria pollution requirements for diesel, gasoline and electrified vehicles.
