British motorists spend £21.1b on servicing and repair, research finds

UK aftermarket has the largest share of work carried out by independent businesses in Europe at 64 per cent

British motorists spend £21.1b on servicing and repair, research finds
The UK aftermarket sector generates £12.2 billion for the economy and supports 345,000 jobs repairing and maintaining Britain’s 30 million-plus cars.

British cars are among the best maintained in the world, with UK motorists spending a collective £21.1 billion a year on servicing and repair.

That’s according to a new report – the first official industry analysis of the UK automotive aftermarket – published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The report, the Importance of the Aftermarket to the UK Economy, commissioned by SMMT from independent research consultancy Frost & Sullivan, reveals that UK consumers spend an average £695.39 on car maintenance every year – that’s 12 per cent more than the global average.

UK aftermarket

With more than 42,500 vehicle service and repair locations of all types, the UK aftermarket is a huge, diverse and highly competitive industry.

With a strong franchised dealer network and the largest share of work carried out by independently owned businesses in Europe at 64 per cent, it offers consumers a wide choice of where and how they have their cars serviced – and how much they spend.

Parts and labour costs at independent outlets can be up to 65 per cent and 45 per cent lower respectively.

The report also reveals the significant economic contribution made by the UK automotive aftermarket, which delivers an annual £12.2 billion direct to the UK economy and supports more than 345,000 British jobs.

Industry growth

By 2022 the UK aftermarket is projected to be worth some £28 billion with an employee base of around 400,000.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “The UK’s aftermarket is one of the most competitive in the world and plays a critical role in keeping Britain’s 30 million-plus cars roadworthy.

“Robust competition and a strong independent sector have helped reduce the cost of vehicle ownership in the UK and provided greater choice to consumers.

“For this growth to be sustained, however, the sector must stay abreast of evolving vehicle technologies and changing mobility patterns.”

The UK aftermarket is already the fourth largest in Europe by car parc size, with more than 30 million vehicles in use requiring regular servicing and maintenance work, and it is set to overtake France to take third place by 2022.

By the same measure, it is also the eighth largest sector of its kind in the world; bigger than those in Brazil, Korea, Canada, and even India.

Aftermarket opportunities and challenges

The way people buy and use cars is also changing rapidly which, according to the report, presents the aftermarket with both opportunities and challenges.

The report calls for a greater emphasis on investment in skills and equipment to ensure the aftermarket responds to increasingly complex vehicle technologies, as well as maintenance of competition regulation to ensure consumers continue to benefit from choice, convenience and competitive prices.

The report’s findings come as the first ever Automechanika aftermarket trade show in the UK opens today at Birmingham’s NEC.

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