It’s been quite the year for the automotive aftermarket and we’re not even halfway through. Bill Hanvey joined Auto Service World Conversations to discuss what’s been happening, what’s top of mind and what’s ahead for the industry.
The president and CEO of the Auto Care Association outlined the industry’s complex landscape of economic uncertainty and technological transformation with host Adam Malik. He highlighted the ongoing impact of global trade tensions, particularly surrounding tariffs, which have created substantial disruption for aftermarket businesses.
“Companies are struggling to make long-term plans,” Hanvey explained, noting that uncertainty is preventing strategic decision-making across the industry.
The association has responded proactively, developing tools like a tariff calculator to help members understand rapidly changing trade environments. Hanvey emphasized the global nature of the auto care industry, stressing that domestic suppliers often cannot meet specialized parts requirements, making international sourcing critical.
“We always promote our industry as being global — and we are,” he said. “One of the education points that we make when we’re talking to the [federal] administration is that there’s not a lot of domestic suppliers that want to produce a run of 1500 brake rotors that fit a 2012 Dodge Caravan. So we are a global industry and we rely upon manufacturing around the world to to fulfill our supply chain.”
A bright spot remains the right to repair movement, with recent legal victories providing momentum. A federal court in Massachusetts recently ruled in favour of right to repair legislation, and new bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate.
“We’re feeling very positive,” Hanvey said, noting that there’s greater legislative understanding of right to repair these days.
Consumer behaviour remains a key concern, with economic caution potentially driving purchasing decisions. Hanvey anticipates consumers might opt for “good” rather than “best” automotive solutions, which could impact aftermarket sales strategies.
Looking forward, Hanvey sees significant potential in artificial intelligence, particularly for inventory management. He believes AI could help address the industry’s chronic over-inventory problem by creating smarter, more efficient supply chain strategies.
The association is leveraging its extensive data collection, including dozens of economic indicators, to develop more sophisticated forecasting models. With this information at hand, industry stakeholders can make more informed decisions in an increasingly complex global marketplace. Hanvey said.
With AAPEX just a few months away, Hanvey expects global sourcing to be a main talking point between now and then — and beyond.
“I think that we’re going to see a lot of different exhibitors there that we’ve seen in the past. I think people around the globe are seeing an opportunity,” he said.
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