There are several reasons why selling parts online during this time was successful, but it was primarily due to fewer people shopping in person. However, as people began to return to their normal lives, consumers continued to shop for parts online because it became their preferred shopping method.
Online shopping is convenient and allows consumers and small repair shops to easily research and compare products.
Simply put, if a dealer is not selling parts online, they will never reach the large threshold of online shoppers that eCommerce businesses cater to. In 2022, there are expected to be more than 266.7 million online buyers in the U.S. alone—more than ⅓ of the country’s population.
Over the past two years, the parts department wasn’t the only department to be negatively affected by the pandemic.
The shortage of semiconductors significantly impacted the production and availability of new vehicles. The cost of both new and used cars rose to keep up with demand during that time.
If a recession hits in 2023, this trend will likely continue, and consumers will keep their current vehicles for longer.
While this has and will continue to impact the sales of new and used vehicles, it will likely result in more buyers for the parts department. The current age of the average vehicle on the road is over 12 years and rising. This rise in older vehicles means the need for maintenance and repair parts will also increase.