How is the automotive repair industry pie divided? That's a question posed to me several times this month. So, after re-searching the U.S. Department of Commerce and the files of the National Automobile Dealers Association, the slices of the pie became apparent.

If you concentrate specifically on general mechanical repair businesses, such as Tom's Automotive and Mitch's Imports, independents make up 56.4 percent of the automotive mechanical repair market. Dealership service centers have the remaining 43.6 percent.

If you add in the “specialty shops,” such as Jim's Muffler and Amy's Air Conditioning, then independents register 68.6 percent of the market and dealerships shrink to 31.4 percent.

The collision industry pie is a bit easier to slice, with independent businesses such as Tammy's Auto Body holding onto 74.5 percent of the collision repair market. Dealerships garner the remaining 25.5 percent.

Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.

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