Auto Detailing Trends & Stats.

According to IBISWorld, the United States car wash and auto detailing industry:

• is served by 66,708 businesses

• produced $12 billion in revenue in 2019

• employed 224,874 people in 2019

• has had a 4% annual growth rate over the last 5 years

Cars are lasting longer and need more care.

The statistics show that Americans are keeping their cars longer and new car sales have been stagnant or declining over the past few years. According to a study by IHS Markit, the average car on the road in the U.S. comes in at a record-high 11.8 years old. To help put that into perspective, the average age of cars on the road 20 years ago was only 9.6 years. This means that cars today are being driven more than 20% longer.

It’s clear that consumers are prioritizing longevity for their vehicles over wanting new cars. Choosing to get regular reconditioning and detailing services may be a way that consumers decide to take good care of their cars. A car that’s well taken care of is more likely to last.

More people want professional car washes and details.

According to a study by the International Carwash Association, consumers increasingly prefer to get their cars washed professionally versus doing it at home. In fact, more than 2 billion cars are washed each year in North America. In the US, the percentage of drivers that report most frequently getting professional car washes increased from 47% in 1994 to 72% in 2014.

People are paying more for sustainable services.

Many recent consumer studies have shown that people are increasingly interested in buying from brands and companies whose mission and values align with their own. One value that intersects with the car wash and detailing business is water and sustainability. According to a survey conducted by CGS, 35% of consumers are willing to pay considerably more for eco-friendly services.

At Stevens Auto Detailing, we have partnered with Norwex to use environmentally friendly products to reduce waste, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, and give our customers the saftest, chemical free experience.