The automotive aftermarket has continued to wrestle by way of the primary half of 2025, with each gross sales and income falling year-on-year, in response to new information from market intelligence agency Issue Gross sales.
Figures masking the primary 22 weeks of the 12 months reveal a 4.83% drop in unit gross sales and a 5.82% fall in income in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.
The downturn follows an already sluggish begin to the 12 months, which noticed a 3.1% dip in quantity and a 3% income decline throughout the opening 9 weeks.
Nonetheless, the image appears to be like extra secure when benchmarked towards 2023. In comparison with the identical timeframe two years in the past, unit gross sales are down simply 2.16%, whereas total income is just about flat, exhibiting a marginal 0.03% improve.
The divergence between quantity and worth figures is essentially as a result of value will increase, Issue Gross sales stated. The common unit value has risen to £21.01 – up from £20.12 in 2024 and £19.36 in 2023 – thanks partly to development in higher-value segments comparable to bodywork and exhaust parts. In the meantime, demand for lower-value gadgets has softened.
Issue Gross sales stated these shifts are serving to to offset wider pricing pressures brought on by aggressive discounting and intensified promotional exercise amongst main distributors.
Regardless of the general market slowdown, a number of product classes are exhibiting indicators of resilience.
The cooling and heating section continues to carry out strongly, whereas engine and repair half revenues at the moment are down simply 1.5% and 1.3% respectively, having recovered from early-year lows.
Notably, engine parts have seen a 2% rise in unit gross sales.
In distinction, braking stays the sector’s weakest performer, with income down 9.5% and unit gross sales falling by 11%.
Issue Gross sales’ enterprise improvement supervisor Alex Jenner stated: “This newest information is regarding and whereas it’s troublesome to pinpoint precisely why, trying again to 2023 when the market was broadly flat by way of worth, the latest value will increase would point out that they’re now taking part in a big function.
“Regardless of the broader decline, some areas are exhibiting resilience, and I hope that different element classes will do the identical as we transfer into the second a part of 2025. We’ll proceed to observe the tendencies and supply our newest report in Q3.”
