Navigating Today’s Tech-infused Autos and Discovering the Super-mechanics Who Keep Them Running

Just like the inner workings of our businesses, challenges that arise in the automotive aftermarket are seldomly singular – they all have a cause, an effect and contributing factors. Today’s topic is no different. As we collectively work towards addressing the technician gap or adapting to new vehicle technologies, we must realize that these challenges can’t be talked about in a vacuum – they’re related and can enable us to address both more effectively! READ MORE  

ADAS: The Aftermarket Technology Growth Opportunity Happening Now

ADAS: The Aftermarket Technology Growth Opportunity Happening Now

By Paul McCarthy, President & CEO, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is the revolution that is here now for the automotive aftermarket industry. ADAS is the catch-all phrase for vehicle automation technologies that help make driving cars easier,… READ MORE  

EV Adoption Increasing, Boosted by Policy

Adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United States has increased substantially the past several years – BEVs accounted for 6% of new vehicle registrations in 2022 and are forecast to reach 56% of vehicles sold in 2035 and 81% in 2045. READ MORE  

Emerging Vehicle Technologies Show No Sign of Slowing

The rate of technological expansion can be hard to wrap your head around – a number of attempts to quantify this trend simply return charts with steep inclines resembling slopes more extreme than Mount Everest. One thing is for certain – the growth is exponential and there is no sign of it slowing. READ MORE  

ADAS Is Here and Growing … But There Are Headwinds

I attend many industry events every year, and the most-discussed topics and issues facing the aftermarket over the past two years are: Supply Chain Disruptions, Labor/Talent Recruitment & Retention, EVs & the Electrification of Tomorrow’s Vehicles, and Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS). READ MORE  

What Does AAPEX Have to Do with Right to Repair?

By Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association

As I receive the notification in my inbox for a THIRD delay in a decision regarding the Right to Repair court case the automakers filed against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it highlights how important it is for me to share with you what our industry is up against, and what to truly expect in the battle for maintenance and repair data.

READ MORE  

Turning 2020’s ‘We Missed AAPEX’ Into 2021’s ‘Can’t Miss AAPEX’

By Vic Tarasik, managing partner, Shop Owner Coach

Although we might look back on 2020 as the year to forget about many things, we can always find positives if we look closely enough.

And AAPEX is one of those things to take a look at.

The year 2020 was to… READ MORE  

How Did We Get Here?

By Brian Plott, executive director, Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI)

There is little need for me to reiterate the obvious that the industry is changing. It has been changing. It continues to change! Or maybe the better statement would be that it continues to evolve. We are all connected to this evolving industry, each… READ MORE  

Safe, Secure, Standardized and Direct Access to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Data on Display at AAPEX 2021

By Joe Register, vice president, Emerging Technologies, Auto Care Association

Our entire industry triumphed when we secured the Right to Repair vehicles in 2014. In 2020, the battle continued as the days of open access to the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port dwindled. Today, repair and diagnostic data is being transmitted… READ MORE  

AAPEX Shapes and Strengthens Our Collective Future Success

By Bill Long, president & CEO, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA)

I’ve lost count of the number of years I’ve attended the show, going back to the days at McCormick Place in Chicago. 

But what is clear is the significant transformation of AAPEX that I’ve seen over the years… READ MORE