Automobile Parts Wholesale-Retail Industry Profile

The US automobile parts wholesale and retail industry includes about 35,000 companies with combined annual revenue of $200 billion. Top companies include Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Genuine Parts, O'Reilly Automotive, and The Pep Boys. The wholesale segment of the industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies have more than 50 percent of the segment's sales. The retail segment is fragmented. Many large companies operate both wholesale distribution centers and retail stores.

The industry includes wholesalers and retailers of used as well as new automobile parts. Tire wholesalers and tire dealers, which are not part of the industry, are covered in separate profiles.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for aftermarket parts is driven by the age and mileage of vehicles in use and generally increases when fewer new cars are sold and older cars are kept on the road longer. The profitability of individual companies depends largely on inventory management and marketing. Large companies have economies of scale in purchasing and distribution. Small companies can compete effectively by carrying specialized parts or providing extra services such as machining or fast delivery. Average annual revenue per employee for wholesalers is more than $650,000, meaning the segment is capital-intensive. Average annual revenue for retailers is about $140,000, meaning the segment is labor-intensive.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

The automobile parts wholesale and retail industry sells parts and other products used to maintain and repair cars and trucks. Because products are used on vehicles after ...