The Parts Business Is Changing. Here's What 2026's Biggest Headlines Mean for Your Department.

The aftermarket is growing, vehicles are getting older, and dealerships are sitting on more obsolete inventory. Here's what Parts Managers should know heading into 2027.

You were probably too busy running your Parts Department to follow every automotive headline this year.

But a few stories from 2026 are worth your attention.

Here are the biggest headlines of 2026 and what it means for your Parts Department in 2027.

October's inventory warning: Dealership obsolescence has more than doubled

An October report from PartsEdge found that the average dealership was sitting on more than twice as much obsolete inventory as dealerships studied about 12 to 13 years ago.

And it's not hard to see how that happens.

A special order nobody picks up. A repair that gets canceled. A part that used to sell but hasn't moved in months. Suddenly, you've got money sitting on a shelf, and your manufacturer isn't necessarily taking it back.

Just because nobody in your area needs that part doesn't mean nobody needs it.

AAPEX reports a record 12.94-year vehicle age. That's a lot of replacement parts

According to AAPEX, the average vehicle on the road is now 12.94 years old, and nearly 30% of vehicles are at least 16 years old.

For Parts Departments, that's good news. Older vehicles need more repairs and replacement parts, which means more potential parts sales. It's one reason the automotive aftermarket keeps growing.

Here’s the catch: Plenty of those vehicles aren't showing up in your service drive anymore. Their owners are going to independent shops, fixing things themselves, or shopping online for parts.

That business hasn't disappeared. It's just going somewhere else. Somebody's still selling those customers brakes, sensors, belts, and everything else that wears out. Why not your department?

Independent shops are winning more service business. They still need parts.

An April study from Cox Automotive found that dealership service and parts revenue has grown 33% since 2018, but dealerships' share of service visits dropped from 33% to 29%.

Meanwhile, the number of independent auto repair businesses grew 12%, reaching nearly 299,000.

Dealer fixed ops revenue +33% Since 2018

Dealer share of service visits 33% 29% 2018 to study period

Independent auto repair businesses Nearly 299,000 Up 12% since 2018

For your service department, that's not great news. For your parts department? That's a whole lot of potential wholesale customers.

Those shops have plenty of suppliers to choose from. Competitive pricing, accurate availability, and reliable delivery are what keep them coming back. Nobody wants to chase down a parts order when they've got a car sitting on a lift.

ACA's aftermarket forecast shows there's more parts business to win

According to the Auto Care Association and MEMA, the U.S. light-duty automotive aftermarket was projected to grow 5.2% in 2026.

And a whole lot of that business is happening online. The Auto Care Association projected approximately $44.6 billion in online aftermarket parts sales in 2025, including third-party marketplaces, with continued growth expected through 2030.

5.2% in 2026

$44.6B in online aftermarket parts sales in 2025

Online aftermarket parts sales (billions)

$32.2B

$37.8B

$44.6B

Continued Growth

2023202420252030

That's billions in parts business happening beyond the traditional parts counter.

Your department already has access to genuine OEM parts, supplier relationships, and the expertise to help customers find what they need. The question is whether you're reaching the people shopping for those parts.

A 2026 shopping report shows how parts customers are changing

According to Mintel's 2026 automotive shopping report, nearly half of recent automotive-product buyers have purchased online and would do it again.

And they're not just browsing. They expect accurate fitment, competitive pricing, clear availability, and reliable delivery.

Sound familiar? That's what a good Parts Department already does. The difference is that customers increasingly expect to get it without walking through your doors.

Your dealership has the OEM parts and expertise they're looking for. But if they can't find you online, they're probably buying from someone else.

The biggest story of 2026: There's more parts business out there, but you have to go after it.

Older vehicles, a growing aftermarket, more online shoppers. The demand for parts isn't slowing down.

You already know how to sell parts. The opportunity in 2027 is reaching more customers, keeping more orders, and putting more gross profit on the books.

And you don't have to reinvent your department to do it.

Want to see what's possible? Read how dealerships of all sizes are building profitable online parts operations, and what they've learned along the way.

5 Different Parts Departments. 5 Online Success Stories

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