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$28 billion in foreign nameplate products and repair to boost aftermarket

Foreign nameplate DIFM products and services will drive overall growth in the next 5 years; dealerships expected to capitalize

Fort Wayne, Ind.—The foreign nameplate Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) market will top $28 billion in product and purchased service growth at user-price from 2025 to 2029. During those five years, foreign nameplates will generate all light vehicle DIFM aftermarket expansion and over 90% of total market growth, according to the latest Lang Aftermarket iReport.

“Not all major repair outlet groups will share equally in the massive foreign nameplate DIFM market growth largely due to the significant shifts in the population of repair outlet groups and the nation’s vehicle mix since 2020,” states the analysis. “Independent (non-dealership) repair shops must recognize the dynamic changes underway in the repair market and position themselves to battle effectively for this unprecedented foreign nameplate DIFM market growth.”

The following are key takeaways from Lang’s report.

Foreign Nameplate Repair Increase

Lang Marketing projects that an increase of more than $28 billion in foreign nameplate DIFM products and purchased services at user-price from this year to 2029 will drive the overall aftermarket growth. Foreign nameplates will generate all DIFM aftermarket growth in product and purchased service during these five years.

Stronger Dealer Competition

Dealerships reevaluated their position in the changing DIFM market following the impact of the 2008 economic downturn. Accordingly, dealerships have become much more aggressive in the light vehicle repair market. Lower new vehicle sales following COVID-19 have sharpened the service bay focus of many dealerships.

Lang Marketing projects that the 2025 new vehicle market will fall short by about one million from the record-high average of 17.3 million cars and light trucks sold annually from 2015 to 2019. The new vehicle market will continue below these high annual sales levels for at least a few more years.

Furthermore, the extended new vehicle ownership cycle provides dealerships with a growing opportunity to establish strong repair relationships with new vehicle buyers, most of whom select foreign nameplates.

Foreign Specialists: Tops in Growth Rate

Foreign specialists (outlets focusing on repairing foreign nameplates) will achieve the highest annual rates of product and purchased service growth in the foreign nameplate DIFM market in 2025 and beyond. According to Lang, this reflects their concentration on foreign nameplates and the high ratings consumers give foreign specialists for their expertise in foreign vehicle repair.

Repair Specialists: Tops in Dollar Gain

Repair specialists (outlets focusing on a limited menu of repair jobs) are well positioned to effectively compete in the foreign nameplate market for the repair jobs in which they specialize. Lang Marketing projects that repair specialists will capture the largest dollar portion of the expanding foreign nameplate DIFM market during 2025 and for the foreseeable future.

Service Stations & Garages: Big Challenges

Although “service stations and garages” operate the largest number of repair outlets, they face the greatest challenges among leading independent repair groups in competing for the fast-growing foreign nameplate DIFM market.

Most service stations and garages are repair generalists and lack the focus of foreign specialists and repair specialists, Lang states. They must acquire the training, tools, and repair data to effectively compete in the rapidly expanding and diverse foreign nameplate DIFM market.

Larger Outlets Have Competitive Advantages

Larger service stations and garages conduct an above-average share of their business with foreign nameplates. Accordingly, they are best positioned (within this outlet group) to expand their portion of the foreign nameplate DIFM surge.

Higher Success and Survival

There will be a growing disparity of business success (and survival) among service stations and garages based on their repair volume, which will be a significant factor in determining their ability to adapt to the changing nameplate mix within the light vehicle DIFM market.

Over 60% of Foreign Nameplate DIFM Growth

Foreign specialists and repair specialists will generate over 60% of the more than $28 billion growth in foreign nameplate DIFM products and purchased services over the next five years.

Dealers Up Their Foreign Nameplate DIFM Share

Led by foreign nameplate operations, dealerships will expand their share of the DIFM market. In 2025, dealerships will capture a greater share of the foreign nameplate DIFM product and purchased service volume than they had accomplished last year. This trend will continue, according to Lang.

Brand Impact of Growing Foreign Nameplate DIFM

The foreign nameplate domination of DIFM market growth from 2025 to 2029 will have important implications for the strength of the five major types of product brands across the foreign nameplate DIFM market. OE-supplier, OE and foreign brands will increase their 2025 product sales in the fast-growing foreign nameplate DIFM market. This trend, too, will likely continue.

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