Not all major repair outlet groups, however, will share equally in the foreign nameplate DIFM market growth that is underway
Fort Wayne, Ind.—From now through 2030, foreign nameplate Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) market growth will top $32 billion in products and purchased services at user-price, according to the latest Lang Aftermarket iReport.
Over those five years, foreign nameplates will generate virtually all light-vehicle DIFM expansion and over 90% of total aftermarket growth. Not all major repair outlet groups, however, will share equally in the foreign nameplate DIFM market growth that is underway.
“Independent (non-dealer) repair shops must recognize the dynamic changes underway in the repair market and position themselves to compete effectively for this unprecedented foreign-nameplate DIFM market growth,” states the analysis.
The following are highlights from the report.
Stronger Dealership Competition
Lang projects that an increase of more than $32 billion in foreign nameplate DIFM products and purchased services at user-price from 2026 to 2030 will drive overall aftermarket growth.
The report anticipates that the 2026 new vehicle market will fall short of the record-high average annual sales of 17.3 million cars and light trucks from 2015 to 2019 by about 1 million units. The new vehicle market could remain below those high annual sales levels through the end of the decade, keeping dealerships focused on the repair market.
The extended new vehicle ownership cycle (buyers keeping new vehicles longer) provides dealerships with a growing opportunity to establish strong repair relationships with new vehicle buyers, most of whom now select foreign nameplates, according to Lang.
Foreign Specialists First in Growth Rate
Foreign specialists will achieve the highest annual growth rates in product and purchased service volume in the foreign nameplate DIFM market in 2026 and beyond. 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 Sales Dollar Growth
Repair specialists (outlets that focus on a limited menu of repair jobs) are also well-positioned to compete effectively in the foreign nameplate DIFM market. Lang projects that repair specialists will capture the largest dollar share of the increasing foreign nameplate DIFM market in 2026 and for the foreseeable future.
Service Stations and Garages Face Challenges
Service Stations and Garages have experienced the most loss of outlets since 2020, but they still operate the largest number of repair facilities. Despite their nationwide outlet footprint, they face significant challenges in competing with leading independent (non-dealer) repair groups 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. They must acquire the training, tools, and repair data to compete effectively in the rapidly expanding and diverse foreign nameplate DIFM market.
Competitive Advantages of Large Outlets
Larger service stations and garages conduct an above-average share of their business with foreign nameplates. Lang expects a growing disparity among service stations and garages based on their repair volume, which will be a factor in their ability to adapt to the changing nameplate mix within the light-vehicle DIFM market.
Dealerships Up Their Foreign Nameplate DIFM Share
Led by foreign nameplate operations, dealership will expand their DIFM market share. In 2026, dealerships will capture a greater share of the foreign nameplate DIFM product and purchased service volume than they did last year. This trend will continue.
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