10/29/2026

New Technology Reshapes Aftermarket Parts and Service Demand

Source: aftermarketNews

As vehicle technology evolves, so does the opportunity for the automotive aftermarket. Advanced systems, sensors and electronic components once found primarily on newer vehicles are increasingly entering the repair cycle, creating new parts and service demand alongside traditional maintenance opportunities.

For aftermarket manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, counter pros and repair professionals, understanding these technologies and the systems surrounding them will become increasingly important as today’s advanced features become tomorrow’s everyday repairs.

That opportunity is already taking shape across today’s aging car parc. The average vehicle on the road is now around 13 years old, creating demand that extends well beyond traditional maintenance parts. As components deteriorate and increasingly complex systems enter the repair cycle, new parts and service opportunities are emerging across the aftermarket.

According to Lester Kovacs, director of ideation at Dorman Products, several repair categories stand out as vehicles age.

Steering and suspension is one of them. Kovacs, who connects insights from technicians in the field with new product development, noted that many vehicles may be reaching their second replacement cycle for these components. At the same time, other vehicles are reaching an age when their original steering and suspension components need replacement.

Kovacs also mentioned another vehicle system that stands out.

“The other big category is coolant system repair,” Kovacs said. “The hoses have gotten a lot better, but we’re seeing a lot of failures with the actual plastic connectors and tees whenever you introduce coolant. It is system wide.”

Those failures include heater-hose connectors and thermostat housing assemblies. A coolant system repair can provide an opportunity to consider what other aging components may be involved in the repair.

Gaskets and seals also become increasingly important as vehicles pass the 10-year mark. Kovacs pointed to oil-pan and intake-manifold gaskets among the components that can begin leaking.

Growing Category

Electrical repairs present another growing category. After more than a decade of exposure to heat, cold and moisture, wiring harnesses can become brittle. Connectors and grounds can also develop problems.

“So, in those four key areas, you’re seeing a lot more demand from consumers at the CounterPro level,” Kovacs said.

That doesn’t mean traditional maintenance is going away. Motor oil, oil filters, air filters and cabin air filters remain important. Instead, counter pros can expect a broader and more complicated parts mix.

“There are more and more modules on the vehicles that control things that were all mechanical before,” Kovacs said. “So as a result, there is a lot more of a demand for complex parts.”

Mileage isn’t the only factor counter pros should consider when dealing with an older vehicle. A 13-year-old vehicle with relatively few miles has still spent 13 years exposed to environmental conditions.

“A lot of the misconception is, well, this vehicle isn’t driven a lot. It’s not going to need repairs,” Kovacs said.

Heat, cold, humidity, moisture, UV exposure and corrosion don’t stop affecting a vehicle because it sits in the garage. Rubber components can deteriorate, plastics can become brittle and electrical connections can develop problems.

Bigger Opportunity Coming

Looking ahead, Kovacs sees an even bigger opportunity coming to the aftermarket.

“100% ADAS.”

Blind-spot modules, lane-departure systems, cameras, sensors and automatic emergency braking components are appearing on more vehicles. As those vehicles age, these technologies will increasingly move into the aftermarket repair cycle.

The same evolution is happening under the hood. Engines and powertrains that once relied heavily on mechanical components now incorporate more sensors, modules and complete assemblies. Kovacs noted that even a basic thermostat can now be part of a complex thermal-management system.

An aging car parc creates plenty of opportunity, but the parts behind that opportunity are changing. Understanding the systems surrounding the requested component will become increasingly valuable as today’s technology becomes tomorrow’s everyday repair.