According to the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) the Canadian automotive #aftermarket hit a record C$38.8 billion/US$29.14 billion in 2019 according to @AIAofCanada Click To Tweet aftermarket parts in Canada reached a record C$38.8 billion/US$29.14 billion of GDP in 2019. That figure includes C$10 billion/US$7.51 billion in product sales. This represents an annual 2% growth rate according to AIA Canada.
The aftermarket was reported at C$20.4 billion/US$16 billion in 2014. It was reported at C$21.3 billion/US$16.4 billion in 2016. (All Canada/US dollar equivalents are using the October 2020 exchange rate).
In July 2020, digital marketing agency Hedges & Company reported aftermarket eCommerce in Canada will reach CA$4.9 billion/US$3.7 billion in 2020. That figure, CA$4.9 billion, was echoed in a report published by AIA Canada in October 2020, titled “Outlook 2020: A Resilient Industry.” Ernst & Young LLC worked with AIA Canada on the October report.
Auto industry in Canada
There are over 4,600 automotive parts & accessories retailers and over 23,000 auto repair and maintenance business locations in Canada. Over a third of all Canadian auto repair businesses are located in the province of Ontario, followed by Quebec.
Retail sales of aftermarket auto parts reached C$3.0 billion/US$2.36 billion in the do-it-yourself (DIY) market in 2015, the second highest recorded figure in five years. The Canada DIY market has had 1.1% average annual growth since 2011. However, the do-it-yourself (DIY) market has been outpaced by the Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) parts market. The DIFM market grew an average of 3.6% per year over the same period.
The automotive DIY market in Canada is approximately 14% of total retail sales and with the growth pace of the DIFM market that share will continue to shrink over the next several years.
Aftermarket parts in Canada imports/exports
The overall value of Canadian automotive parts imports from the United States decreased by 26 percent in 2020 due to the global pandemic. The total value of imports from the US in 2020 was C$26.963 billion/US$21.515 billion.
The peak year for imports from the US was 2017, when it was C$39.561 billion/US$31.568 billion. That was a 1.6% increase from 2016.
There was an increase in 2016, including a 9.6% increase in automotive parts imports and a 5.8% increase in total motor vehicle imports. In 2016, the total value of Canadian imports value of vehicles from the United States (cars, medium and heavy duty trucks) totaled C$42 billion/US$33.7 billion, including a 9.3% increase for light vehicles imports offsetting an 11.9% decrease in medium and heavy duty truck imports. Canadian automotive parts imports totaled US$30.1 billion/C$38 billion in 2016 (source: US International Trade Administration).
Canada Vehicles in Operation (VIO)
Canada’s robust aftermarket is partially due to strong light vehicle sales over the past several years. 1.9 million vehicles were sold in 2015, up 2.6% from the 1.85 million sold in 2014. The most popular vehicle type is CUV, which recently replaced compact cars as the most popular. On the other hand, kilometers driven has been slightly declining, according to Transport Canada. As of July 2016, there were 26.3 million light vehicles in operation in Canada, increasing at an annual average of 2.9% per year since 2007. The light vehicle fleet is expected to grow to 29.9 million registered vehicles by 2021 (source: US International Trade Administration).
The automotive industry in Canada employs nearly 400,000 people.
According to AIA Canada the average age of a light vehicle in Canada is 9.6 years. That is newer than the average vehicle in the US, which is over 11.5 years old.
Canada automotive parts exports
Here are some example statistics showing exports of automotive parts from Canada.
| NAICS 326193 - Motor Vehicle Plastic Parts Exports (2017) | Shown in C$ | Shown in US$ |
|---|---|---|
| United States | C$2,025,628,390 | US$1,551,631,347 |
| Mexico | C$98,471,484 | US$75,429,157 |
| United Kingdom | C$20,526,222 | US$15,723,086 |
| China | C$6,523,274 | US$4,996,828 |
| Germany | C$6,377,701 | US$4,885,319 |
| Japan | C$3,039,808 | US$2,328,493 |
| Australia | C$2,191,557 | US$1,678,733 |
| United Arab Emirates | C$585,734 | US$448,672 |
| France (incl. Monaco, French Antilles) | C$368,644 | US$282,381 |
| Saudi Arabia | C$84,294 | US$64,569 |
| Sub-Total | C$2,163,797,108 | US$1,657,468,585 |
| All other countries | C$16,166,892 | US$12,383,839 |
| Grand total | C$2,179,964,000 | US$1,669,852,424 |
| NAICS 336110 - Automobile and Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Exports (2017) | Shown in C$ | Shown in US$ |
|---|---|---|
| United States | C$56,997,726,006 | US$43,660,258,121 |
| China | C$1,233,757,649 | US$945,058,359 |
| Mexico | C$285,674,560 | US$218,826,713 |
| Germany | C$116,134,399 | US$88,958,950 |
| United Arab Emirates | C$85,938,245 | US$65,828,696 |
| Saudi Arabia | C$53,932,171 | US$41,312,043 |
| Australia | C$22,781,618 | US$17,450,719 |
| France (incl. Monaco, French Antilles) | C$12,970,396 | US$9,935,323 |
| United Kingdom | C$12,902,314 | US$9,883,173 |
| Japan | C$11,441,505 | US$8,764,193 |
| Sub-Total: Top 10 | C$58,833,258,863 | US$45,066,276,289 |
| All other countries | C$342,484,137 | US$262,342,849 |
| Grand total | C$59,175,743,000 | US$45,328,619,138 |
For more information visit AIA Canada.
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North America accounts for the most significant region in the automotive aftermarket and is closely followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific. With over a third of the global share, North America is a major contributor to the market with high sales of premium and luxury vehicles which require careful maintenance and upkeep.