01/09/2025

More miles on older vehicles to boost 2025 aftermarket repair

Source: aftermarket MATTERS

Over 12 million fewer new cars and light trucks have been sold in the U.S. since 2020 compared to the average-annual sales during the previous five years (2015 through 2019). At the same time, older cars and light trucks, particularly those over 12 years, expanded their share of vehicles in operation (VIO), according to the latest Lang Aftermarket iReport. This dynamic will increase aftermarket repair and product sales.

“Anemic new vehicle sales and the growth of older vehicle-age groups are changing the age mix of cars and light trucks on the road and shifting billions of annual miles from newer to older vehicles,” states Lang. “Since older vehicles generate more repair per mile than newer models, this is boosting aftermarket volume.”

The following are key takeaways from the analysis.

12 Million Vehicles Not Sold

Lang Marketing estimates that over 12 million fewer new cars and light trucks have been sold in the U.S. since 2020 compared to the record-high 17.3 million average annual sales between 2015 and 2019. It expects that annual new vehicle sales in the U.S. will remain below 17 million for at least two more years, and “probably much longer.”

Annual Miles and Vehicle Age

Americans drive new vehicles “harder” than older cars and light trucks. Vehicles five years and newer average about 14,000 miles per year on U.S. roads compared to fewer than 8,500 miles by higher vehicle age categories.

However, with the significant decline in new vehicle sales since 2020, miles that would have been recorded by newer cars and light trucks have shifted to older models. Lang Marketing estimates that since 2020, over 420 billion miles have shifted from vehicles under six years to older cars and light trucks. The growth of cars and light trucks topping 12 years of age has also increased the total annual mileage of older cars and light trucks.

More Repairs Per Mile for Older Vehicles

This shift in annual milage from newer to older vehicles has caused a redistribution of aftermarket product use across vehicle age groups. Not all miles are equal in their generation of auto repair. As older vehicles are driven “harder,” they require more aftermarket repairs per mile than newer cars and light trucks. This mileage shift is increasing aftermarket repair.

Future Aftermarket Growth

Lang Marketing projects that approximately 270 billion additional annual miles will shift from younger to older cars and light trucks during the next two years, bringing the total mileage shift to nearly 700 billion miles between 2020 and 2026. This will increase the repair of older vehicles (more product and service volume required per mile) and help increase car and light truck aftermarket product and service sales through 2026.