Transparency, efficiency key to aftermarket future, says report
4 November 2024 
A new report on the auto repair industry suggests garages must amplify transparency, technology and efficiency to meet modern driver demands.
According to Making Tracks: The Auto Repair Report by car maintenance marketplace FixMyCar, this year alone has seen several significant events disrupt the status quo of auto repair — including “sustainability pressures and skyrocketing repairer job vacancies”.
The report, released on October 29, said EVs remain a lucrative opportunity for mechanics and garages, with EV repair requests having grown by 98% on the platform in the last 12 months.
This also highlights a growing second-hand market for EVs, the report said. Drivers increasingly leave OEM servicing cycles and turn to group or independent garages for repairs and maintenance.
Consumer demand for speed and efficiency seen in other service industries has also reached auto repair, according to the report.
‘Historical strength’
More than 70% of jobs posted on FixMyCar by drivers are confirmed with a chosen garage within 24 hours, with 63% confirmed within the first hour. This race to win work intensifies the competition and demonstrates a need for garages to innovate.
Embracing digital tools and technology that streamline operations and make garage bookings more convenient for drivers is increasingly becoming a “must-have” for auto repair businesses to remain competitive.
The report also finds evidence that drivers are looking to become more informed about their cars.
FixMyCar said the report raised the question of whether it is time for change in the aftermarket.
Interim CEO Amanda Webb said: “If the auto repair industry is to maintain its historical strength, our new report finds that garages and mechanics must amplify transparency, technology and efficiency. The data analysis suggests a need for mechanics and garages to modernise and innovate for a new generation of drivers or risk falling behind the competition.
“By elevating their standards, improving efficiency and building driver trust with transparent communication, garages can turn the challenges facing the auto repair industry into opportunities for growth.”