Auto Care Association, the voice of the USD 392 billion auto care industry, provides advocacy, education, networking, market intelligence, technology standards and communication resources to its member companies. The estimated global automotive aftermarket across all vehicle classes is USD 1.77 trillion. The United States accounts for USD 405 billion. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4 percent and reach USD 448 billion in 2022. This growth will be fuelled by the increase in the miles driven, the average age of vehicles and in the number of vehicles above 12 years which was 43 percent of all light vehicles in 2019. 

Challenges keep mounting with the multiplicity of disruptions in the automotive space, and with the OEM technologies that make customers depend on their supply chain, products or preferred service centres. Bill Hanvey, President and CEO of Auto Care Association, told T Murrali in an exclusive interview that “Just as the aftermarket continues to evolve through technology advancements, we will continue to help the industry to go forward. The moment we hear about potential new disruptions, our teams will gear up to get the right information, educate the industry, and work with partners to develop solutions, through standards, training, legislation, data and intelligence.” The excerpts:- 

Q: Globally, the automotive industry has been facing several disruptive technologies like the emergence of alternative and autonomous vehicles. How will these influence your members and how will Auto Care Association guide them to deal with the situation?

Hanvey: There have been disruptive technologies in our industry all the way from the key ignition rather than a crank start. Electronic fuel injection was also predicted to be our demise, but guess what, our industry has adapted and thrived with each technological challenge. Currently, ADAS systems, embedded and encrypted software, and telematics are the biggest disruptors on the horizon for our industry. Where some of these technologies differ from those in the past is that many of them require either legislation or regulation in order to standardize repair procedures.

The Auto Care Association has invested heavily on our government affairs and emerging technology teams to meet these and future challenges. We are developing and driving the adoption of the secure vehicle interface to access data cyber-securely utilizing ISO standards and working with industry experts to develop standards to align and repair ADAS systems.   

Q: With the popularity of electric vehicles, there will be far-reaching consequences. They will eliminate about 30 percent (in terms of value) of components that go into the traditional vehicles hauled by Internal Combustions engines. This will definitely affect the aftermarket and service centres. How do you see this emerging scenario and what do you think are the ways out for the industry? 

Hanvey: While EVs are certainly the wave of the future, they still represent less than 2 percent of the total vehicles in the US. Forecasts for 2030 show less than 5 percent of the VIO will be electric. Most of the changes will be seen in the adaptation of the internal combustion engine such as start-stop technologies and the use of turbochargers and upgraded transmissions to deliver power from smaller-sized engines. The maintenance and repair of true EVs will see a dramatic shift in the way we currently associate car repair and most of these repairs will be on the software updates and will require technicians with completely different skill sets.   

Q: How do you see the expansion of the DIY segment with the disruptions in the automotive industry?

Hanvey: No matter the disruptor, there have always been DIYers to find and implement solutions. That’s one of the things I love about this industry – where there are enthusiasts, there’s innovation. And there will always be automotive enthusiasts and people willing to tinker with their vehicles, which is great for us.

Q: The industry you represent has been facing threats from international free trade. Can you explain the current challenges on this front and your plan to interfere in favour of the industry?  The automotive industry in the US has also been encountering several challenges on account of wide ranging tariffs and regulatory shifts. What, according to you, is the way out for the industry? Can you share with us your initiatives to resolve these issues?  

Hanvey: Our priority is to ensure that the Trump administration does not move forward with the proposed Section 232 Tariffs on imported autos and auto parts. Such action would be disastrous for the US auto care industry. An Auto Care Association study has found that 25 percent tariff on auto parts would result in the loss of over 100,000 US jobs throughout the supply chain. Additional studies assert that the US consumers would pay USD 7,000 more for a new vehicle and their annual cost of ownership would increase by USD 700. We are an active member of the Driving American Jobs coalition, which has been pressurising the administration and Congress to ensure these tariffs never go into effect.

The auto care industry supports efforts to deal with China’s unfair trade practices, particularly related to intellectual property and forced technology transfer; however, China remains a critical trading partner in our global supply chain and the ongoing trade war only harms our members and the US consumers. Our distributor and retail members have already begun to pass the costs of these tariffs to consumers, raising prices and forcing drivers to defer critical safety-related service. Furthermore, while some members have been able to identify alternative suppliers in other countries, certain safety-related products such as aftermarket brake rotors are almost exclusively manufactured in China. Moving production back to the US or to another country is both time and cost-prohibitive. Supply chain decisions must be made with absolute certainty, and currently, given the volatility of our international trade policy, there is none.

The Auto Care Association frequently testifies on the trade issue before Congress and the administration. In addition, we recently welcomed 300 of our members to Washington, D.C. to meet face-to-face with the members of Congress and communicate our industry’s trade positions. Due to widespread industry opposition to the US’ current strategy, our hope is that our ongoing efforts will scale back detrimental trade policies or at least prevent any future tariff increase.

Q: Auto Care Association has set up standards to enable exchange of information. How is it helping your members and the end-users?  

Hanvey: ACES (Aftermarket Catalogue Exchange Standard) is compiling an electronic catalogue with high-quality, consistent content about thousands of product-lines possible and efficient. Using ACES, suppliers can describe vehicle configuration with valid database values. Suppliers can define product terminology with a database of product names, all in a computer-readable format, for the exchange of this information from supplier to receiver.

PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) defines the rules for managing elements of product information, product images, product attributes and also the format of the information and the valid values. With PIES, customers and those in the distribution chain will know what a product looks like, what it weighs, the size of the box and how many are packed inside, the length of the warranty, the country of origin, the performance attributes, and much more.

Together, these standards enable auto care businesses across the globe get the right product, to the right place, at the right time, with predictable results, faster innovation and lower costs. The most widely used standards in North America, ACES and PIES, are now available in Chile and Colombia.

We have also introduced a new product called UniLink that allows you to map a part to a vehicle platform rather than a ‘year-make-model’ enabling you to determine globally what parts fit where and in what country. This significantly reduces product management time and effort for product research around the globe. 

Q: How do you see the growth of the US aftermarket vis-à-vis the global aftermarket industry?

Hanvey: We collaborated with Hanover Research this year to estimate the global aftermarket for passenger cars, light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. The estimated global automotive aftermarket across all vehicle classes is USD 1.77 trillion. With the US representing USD 405 billion and projected to be USD 448 billion in 2022, the US accounts for over 25 percent of the entire world’s aftermarket ecosystem.

Q: What are the initiatives taken by the Auto Care Association to support this growth trend?

Hanvey: Because we know that the industry and the businesses within it are not bound by walls, borders or even class of vehicles, the association expands its benefits and resources to help anyone in the auto care industry to take advantage of these trends:

a) Auto care businesses are looking for data to make better business decisions, particularly, how products are selling compared to the market, identifying shifts in demand, category performance and sales forecasting. In response, we launched Demand Index to help companies know how their products are performing against the market. autocare.org/demandindex  

b) Optimizing the supply chain, reducing costs and research time continues to be a need in the industry as well. Many businesses spend countless hours and dollars identifying which of the products they sell fit vehicles worldwide. In response, this year, we debuted UniLink to create those connections. autocare.org/unilink

c)     We know that many businesses don’t just dabble in light, medium and heavy duty classes, so we launched Off-Highway and Equipment Data in VCdb to help those businesses sell those parts more efficiently for segments like agriculture, construction, marine, railway, and more.

Q: What is your outlook for the growth of the aftermarket in the next five years?

Hanvey: This USD 405 billion industry in 2019 is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4 percent and reach USD 448 billion in 2022. This growth will be fuelled by a gradually increasing number of miles driven, the increasing average age of vehicles and the growth of vehicle population in the 12 year and older category, which represented 43 percent of total light vehicles in 2019. Motorists recognize that vehicles are engineered to last longer and are willing to take advantage of the cost of vehicle maintenance and repair vs the cost of purchasing a new vehicle. Interesting but not surprising to note is that the 5-year forecast of CAGR for most auto care sales show forecast in the high 2 and 3 percent, while electronic shopping is projected at 8.6 percent.

Q: Can you tell us about the ‘Be Car Care Aware’ campaign and how it has evolved since introduction in educating consumers? What are the products in focus now?

Hanvey: The Car Care Council (and its `Be Car Care Aware’ campaign) announced early this year an agreement with the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) and the Asociación Nacional de Representantes, Importadores y Distribuidores de Refacciones y Accesorios para Automóviles, A.C. (ARIDRA) to create Car Care Council North America to direct the ‘Be Car Care Aware’ consumer education campaign in the US, Canada and Mexico. Car Care Council North America builds on the positive reputation and image of the current Car Care Council that has been funded and directed by the Auto Care Association for nearly 20 years as a credible source of information about the benefits of vehicle maintenance, care and repair. As everyone working in the global auto care industry knows, proper vehicle maintenance is a universal issue and a challenge that has no borders. Expanding the Car Care Council initiatives in Canada and Mexico was a logical next step in educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle upkeep.

Q: A Few years ago the 15 year or older vehicles were the fastest growing segment in the US. What is the current status and how has it changed the business for your members?  

Hanvey: Evidence of the aging light vehicle continues. Vehicles in the 12+ year old category now comprise 44.3 percent of total light vehicles (up from 32.3 percent in 2009) and is growing at a five-year CAGR of 4 percent.

Q: Could you update on Auto Care Association’s working model of the secure vehicle interface that allows access to the vehicle’s data at a point in the vehicle?

Hanvey: The automakers have pushed back on the aftermarkets need to access vehicle data and state that we need to come up with a safe, secure and standardized method for access to vehicle data. Well - guess what - talk about meeting the tech challenges of our industry today; we had working examples at AAPEX 2019 in the Emerging Technologies booth. There, attendees were able to view a demo of the Secure Vehicle Interface, implementations of recently-approved international standards and how consumers could control to whom their vehicle data was sent.

Q: What is the update on the association approaching OEMs to share telematics data?

Hanvey: Despite attempts to negotiate a settlement by the Auto Care Association and others, no such agreement has been reached to resolve the data access/control issue with the OEMs. 

Q: Emulating the tagline, ‘Independence Drives Us,’ your members have been independent and did not rely on the OE to perform vehicle repairs. With lot of disruptions in the automotive space, do you see this as a challenge? If so, what are the initiatives taken by Auto Care Association to mitigate these issues?

Hanvey: It continues to be a challenge as OEMs create technologies that create dependence on their supply chains, products and preferred service centres. But just as the aftermarket has continued to evolve throughout technology advancements, we will continue to help the industry do the same, now and in the future. The moment we hear about potential new disruptors is the moment our teams  mobilize to get the right information, educate the industry, and work with partners to develop solutions, whether it’s standards, or training, or legislation, or data and intelligence. This is why we do what we do; we want to allow free competition, choice, and a fair playing field for generations to come. (MT)

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Uno Minda has launched its next-generation 2-Way and 3-Way Car Dash Cam DVRs in the Indian aftermarket. The launch meets the growing demand for in-car safety technology and reliable evidence in the event of accidents.

The new DVRs offer multi-channel recording with up to 4K Ultra HD resolution, aiming to provide smarter and safer driving experiences for consumers.

The new dash cams feature advanced capabilities for comprehensive road coverage:

The two new Car Dash Cam DVR models feature a Gravity Sensor that automatically locks footage during impacts. The top-tier 3-Way Car Dash Cam DVR, available for INR 14,999 (including a one-year warranty), offers Triple Channel Recording with up to 4K/2K Ultra HD for the front camera and 1K resolution for both the in-cabin and rear cameras for all-round coverage, alongside a 120degree–140degree Wide Field of View to minimise blind spots. In contrast, the 2-Way Car Dash Cam DVR, priced at INR 12,999, provides Dual Channel Recording with 4K Ultra HD from the front and 1K from the rear camera for journey coverage, and features a 160-degree Wide-Angle Lens that captures a broader view of the road.

Karna Markan, Head – Sales & Distribution (Accessories), Uno Minda (Aftermarket), said, “At Uno Minda, our mission is to bring advanced automotive technology into the hands of everyday consumers, making driving safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable. These advanced DVRs are designed to offer multi-channel recording with upto 4K Ultra HD resolution, view recorded videos wirelessly on mobile phone, and advanced safety features, ensuring a smarter and safer driving experience. These products represent a significant step forward in providing consumers with reliable and easy-to-use aftermarket solutions that enhance both safety and driving confidence.”

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Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM), a circular economy solutions platform, has announced the launch of India’s first circularity-linked carbon credits from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). The company expects the project to achieve 2 million tonnes of CO2 savings by the end of the decade.

Under the Cercarbono standard, MMCM said it has introduced a global solution by integrating circular economy principles into carbon markets. This establishes a verifiable mechanism that links carbon reduction with material recovery.

The credits are expected to see demand, positioning India as a supplier of high-integrity, circularity-linked carbon assets. The project has the potential to unlock INR 10 billion in climate finance for the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) ecosystem.

MMCM has partnered with over 20 RVSFs nationwide, including Tata Re.Wi.Re and Mahindra CERO.

For every one tonne of ELV responsibly scrapped and recycled, approximately 0.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions are saved. These credits not only capture avoided emissions but also the recovery of materials such as steel, aluminium and plastics, which are reintroduced into manufacturing cycles. This creates a dual advantage for India Inc – credible Scope 3 emissions offsets and the development of low-carbon supply chains.

Nitin Chitkara, CEO, MMCM, said, “Circularity-linked carbon credits open a new paradigm where India can decarbonise while simultaneously creating value from recycling. This model not only supports India’s net zero ambitions but also strengthens industrial ecosystems with sustainable resource recovery. As COP30 nears, India is ready to showcase carbon innovation with global impact.”

Yashodhan Ramteke, Head of Carbon BU, MMCM, added, “By quantifying and trading ELV-linked carbon credits, we are demonstrating how emission savings and circularity can work together, setting the stage for India to become a leader in next-generation carbon finance.”

The initiative aims to reimagine ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy by turning automotive waste into an economic opportunity, strengthening industrial supply chains and accelerating progress on the Net Zero pathway.

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Ola Electric has scaled up its Hyperservice into an open platform, making its proprietary service infrastructure and technology available to the wider industry. This move, the company said, will extend access to genuine spare parts, diagnostic tools and service training modules to independent garages, mechanics and fleet operators across India.

Starting now, genuine Ola Electric spare parts can be purchased directly through the Ola Electric Customer App and website. The company aims for this to mark a new era of service freedom for its customers, allowing them to choose where and how to service their vehicles.

In the initial phase, key spare parts are available, with subsequent phases during the quarter planned to extend access to diagnostic tools and technician certification programmes.

The company states that its Hyperservice scale-up will further strengthen its unit economics by expanding its high-margin parts and accessories vertical, which scales organically with its customer base. By opening access, Ola Electric aims to drive higher volumes through its supply chain, creating a scalable and profitable model.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Ola Electric, said, “We have built our service ecosystem from first principles, using technology to make it fast, transparent and efficient. With Hyperservice scale-up, we are opening this capability to everyone. Every garage, fleet, and customer can now access the same high-quality tools, parts, and systems that power Ola’s own network. Genuine parts, full transparency and no middlemen. This is true service freedom, only possible in a D2C model.”

The initiative is also designed to create an opportunity for India’s garage ecosystem, allowing mechanics to self-train and become Ola-certified on EV technologies, potentially creating new income streams and skilled EV technicians nationwide.

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Shriram Automall India (SAMIL), one of the leading platforms for pre-owned vehicles and equipment, generated business worth over INR 1 billion during its Diwali Auction 2025. This result was achieved across more than 135 live auctions conducted nationwide, despite recent price cuts on new vehicles under the new GST rates.

The company said over 11,000 pre-owned vehicles and equipment were transacted from various sellers, including NBFCs, Banks, OEMs and insurance firms. Approximately 13,000 buyers participated in the auction across the country.

The auction was powered by SAMIL’s 'Phygital' model, which seamlessly integrated live, on-ground auctions at Automalls with real-time digital bidding via the MySAMIL App and its website.

Sameer Malhotra, Director and CEO, Shriram Automall India, said, "The SAMIL Auction 2025 was a celebration of India’s entrepreneurial spirit and the power of its festive joy. Hosting 135 auctions simultaneously and achieving over INR 1 billion in transactions in a single day is not just a milestone; it’s a testament to trust, technology, and teamwork. Our auction model, AI-powered bidding, and real-time dashboards have redefined how Indians buy and sell pre-owned assets.”

As part of its corporate social responsibility, SAMIL awarded Junior Einstein Scholarships to children of individuals from the automotive industry. Additionally, the company conducted tree plantation drives at every auction location to support environmental sustainability.

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