Findings from a trio of surveys describe how technicians prefer to learn; the parts shops are buying; where AI could add the most value to the aftermarket

LAS VEGAS – August 4, 2026 – Surveys offer a structured way to understand what’s actually happening across any given market – and solid analysis turns individual perspectives into measurable trends. 

To that end, a trio of recent industry surveys offers a window to key automotive aftermarket trends. Below is a news roundup of surveys that have made headlines in aftermarket trade publications.

Technicians have “a strong preference for instructor-led classroom sessions paired with workshop lab time, demonstrating that practical experience remains critical for skills development and confidence building in increasingly complex vehicle systems.”

1. Techs prefer hands-on, instructor-led training

That’s according to the 2026 Training Benchmarks Survey by the ASE Training Managers Council (ATMC), as reported by Professional Technician. The survey polled more than 2,600 technicians, including those who work for dealerships (71%), aftermarket (11%) or a fleet (2%).

Overall, just shy of 7 in 10 technicians (69%) polled said they have access to the training they need. That’s about a 10% improvement over the same survey last year; however, there are differences based on where those techs are employed:

“When broken out by the type of workplace respondents are in, 72% of original equipment technicians said they have access to the training they need. That compares to 55% of aftermarket and independent technicians and 49% of fleet techs.”

What are the barriers to training? The survey found:

• 53% said the right type of training was not available;
• 38% said quality training was not available;
• 29% said they cannot take time off;
• 22% said it costs too much; and
• 17% said they would have to travel too far. 

The survey also found that most employers, but not all, pick up the tab for training. That’s an important consideration, given that prior research performed by ASE finds paid training is among the top five benefits techs want from employers. 

We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that there’s a healthy lineup of high-quality training being offered at AAPEX 2026. 

Read more: ASE training managers’ survey finds how much time techs train and what training they seek

2. Jobber survey raises concerns about parts quality

There’s a “disconnect between what shops say they want and what they actually buy.” That’s according to the 2026 Annual Jobber Survey by CARS, which polled Canadian distributors.

“While many shops say they are focused on quality, distributors report customers often choose lower-priced options when it comes time to place the order,” according to a summary of the survey written by editor Adam Malik. 

When the survey asked distributors about the “single most common mistake made by repair shop customers,” the “tendency to buy cheap parts” (50%) was at the top of the list. 

A follow-up question provided some further insight. When respondents were asked “What kind of parts are you selling most often?” – mid-quality parts ranked highest:

• 11% said “the best” parts;
• 67% said “the better” parts;
• 0% said “the good” parts; and
• 11% said “private label” parts.

These findings are more or less in line with the State of the Aftermarket Survey published by AAPEX earlier this year. That survey, which included U.S. and Canadian-based respondents, suggested customers were seeking the best value – the highest quality part at the lowest cost. 

Read more: Distribution tension (PDF, starts on page 17)

3. Trade workers want AI to help them find mistakes

Nearly half (49%) of 1,000 skilled trade workers across the U.S., UK, Germany, and France say they get called back to fix mistakes. Moreover, that’s the top use case respondents to this survey want AI to help them solve. 

The survey was conducted by Bourne and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

Among the top use cases for AI identified in the survey were – in order of precedence – as follows:

• “Reducing mistakes and callbacks on the job”;
• “Speeding up jobs that require code or spec lookup”;
• “Documented work for customer or for compliance”;
• “Training newer workers more quickly”;
• “Handling tasks outside my main specialty”;
• “Handling unfamiliar equipment, models or brands”; and
• “Helping experienced workers move into supervisor/trainer roles.”

The survey also revealed that the most-used “tool” among trade workers isn’t a tool at all – it’s “asking a colleague or supervisor” for help with a “difficult task.”

Read more: Survey finds 49% of trade workers say mistakes caught by AI 

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AAPEX 2026 will be held from Nov. 3–5, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at The Venetian Expo & AAPEX Forum. See the exhibitor prospectus for exhibiting details. Complimentary passes are available to the media; email: [email protected].

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