According to an analysis from The Lang Report as well as an in-depth study by Lang Marketing, Service Market 2004,

"Vehicle dealers, specialty repair shops, and foreign specialists produced 80 percent of the $7.5 billion increase in car and light truck service market product volume between 1997 and 2002". This was reported by Jim Lang, president of Lang Marketing Resources, Inc. (www.langmarketing.com), which recently published Service Market 2004, an in-depth study of the car and light truck professional repair market in the U.S.

"Vehicle dealers generated over 40 percent of light vehicle service market product expansion during this five-year period," noted Lang. "Repair specialists were responsible for 26 percent of service market product growth between 1997 and 2002; while foreign specialists accounted for 13 percent of product gain." Repair specialists are outlets conducting a limited menu of service jobs; while foreign specialists focus on the repair of foreign vehicles.

Tire stores ranked fourth in light vehicle service market product growth share and were responsible for 10 percent of product sales expansion between 1997 and 2002. Discount stores/mass merchandisers with bays tied tire stores, also generating 10 percent of service market product growth, says Lang.

"Service stations and garages were flat in service market product dollar volume between 1997 and 2002," added Lang, "while auto parts stores with bays diminished in service market product sales."

"Differences in outlet service market growth share reflect outlet differences in service market expansion between 1997 and 2002," indicated Lang. "Foreign specialists increased their service market product volume nearly 40 percent over this five-year span; while vehicle dealers and repair specialists each rang-up approximately 25 percent current dollar service market product gains."

"These service market trends will continue," predicted Lang, "with vehicle dealers, repair specialists, and foreign specialists generating the lion's share of service market product growth in the coming years. This will have substantial consequences for the relative strength of major distribution channels serving the light vehicle aftermarket over the next ten years," added Lang.

For more information, contact Lang Marketing Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 32, Wyckoff, New Jersey 07481, or call (201) 652-5220 or fax (201) 652-5324 or e-mail: info@langmarketing.com.