According to a Lang Marketing report, the car and light truck population continues to soar–there’s over 39 million vehicles between 1996 and 2006. However, there’s an interesting trend: there are actually fewer service bays to repair those vehicles. I’m guessing that this is due to the fact that the cars of today are getting more computerized and more reliable. For example, many of the things I used to have to change (fluids) aren’t supposed to be changed until you’ve driven 100,000 miles. You still need to change the oil on a regular basis, though.
Lang Marketing just released a report called the Aftermarket Annual 2006/2007, which details a lot of helpful and useful information about the automotive aftermarket industry:
Although the car and light truck population on U.S. roads soared over 39 million vehicles between 1996 and 2006, there were 44,000 fewer service bays to maintain and repair them. The number of vehicles per service bay in the U.S. soared between 1996 and 2006, creating a service bay crisis, reports Lang Marketing in its just-released Aftermarket Annual 2006/2007. The number of cars and light trucks per service bay will approach 200 by 2008 forecasts Jim Lang, President, deepening the service bay crisis in the vehicle repair market. Here are some of the details reported in Lang Marketing’s weekly marketletter, Aftermarket Insight™.
With the number of cars and light trucks on U.S. roads dramatically increasing over the past ten years, one would expect a proportionate expansion in service bay population to accommodate this expanding market. However, the opposite occurred. Dollar volume of products installed by mechanics rocketed more than $18 billion during this period, but the car and light truck service bay count plummeted.
There were fewer than 155 light vehicles in the U.S. for every service bay during 1996. However, with nearly one in twenty service bays closing over the next ten years coupled with a 22% unit gain in light vehicles on U.S. roads, the average number of cars and light trucks per service bay grew rapidly. In 2000 there were 166 light vehicles in the U.S. for every service bay, with that number jumping to nearly 180 during 2003. At mid-year 2006, there are over 190 cars and light trucks for every service bay in the U.S. Lang Marketing’s forecast of nearly 200 vehicles per service bay by 2008 underscores the growing scope of the service bay crisis.
“The growing service bay crisis has significant consequences for vehicle fuel efficiency, highlighted by skyrocketing gas prices, as well as vehicle safety,†said Jim Lang, President of Lang Marketing. “One solution to the growing crisis,†he pointed out, “is improving service bay productivity. Better mechanic training, enhanced tools and equipment, as well as sophisticated diagnostic techniques and shop management software are force multipliers,†said Lang, “which enable service bays and mechanics to handle more vehicles.â€
“How the aftermarket responds to the growing service bay crisis will play a critical role in determining the future of the light vehicle service market in the U.S.,†added Lang. The increasing number of cars and light trucks per service bay in the U.S. makes it less convenient for Americans to have vehicles serviced and reduces the relative repair capacity of the U.S. vehicle service industry. This growing service bay crisis has implications for vehicle fuel efficiency, underscored by record gas prices, and even vehicle safety.
About Lang Marketing
Lang Marketing Resources is an independent market intelligence company focusing on the car and light truck U.S. aftermarket. The Lang Report® provides monthly analysis of the car and light truck aftermarket. In addition to Aftermarket Annual 2006/2007, Lang Marketing publishes a variety of in-depth aftermarket reports on special topics. Aftermarket Insight™ is a weekly e-mail service provided free by Lang Marketing and covers trends and developments in the car and light truck aftermarket.