2025 Year-End Sectoral Assessment Survey Results Published
OSS Association Assessed 2025: Aftermarket Maintains Production and Employment Despite Temporary Financial Challenges
The stagnation observed in the automotive aftermarket in 2024 continued in 2025. The sector maintained a broadly flat course in sales, exports, and employment during the final quarter of 2025, while maintaining a cautious outlook for 2026. According to the 2025 Year-End Sectoral Assessment Survey conducted by the Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS), domestic sales decreased by an average of 3.94% in USD terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same period of 2024. While 33.3% of manufacturer members had investment plans in the previous survey, this figure declined to 25.6% in the latest survey. The leading challenge observed in 2025 was “excessive increases in costs.” According to the survey, “cash flow problems” and “loss of business and turnover” also remained among the key challenges faced by members.
Describing 2025 as a year in which the impact of global and local economic conditions was felt across the automotive aftermarket, OSS Chairman of the Board Ali Özçete said: “However, it stood out as a year in which the sector managed to maintain production, employment, and operational continuity. Despite the limited tightening of financial conditions during the first part of the year, the aftermarket delivered a balanced performance throughout the year and achieved a strong close. The preservation of production capacity, stable employment levels, and continued demand demonstrated the sector’s financial resilience. In this respect, 2025 represented a ‘test of financial confidence and resilience’ for the aftermarket, and the sector successfully came through this period.”
The Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS) assessed the year-end performance of the automotive aftermarket through a survey conducted with the participation of its members. According to the OSS 2025 Year-End Sectoral Assessment Survey, the automotive aftermarket experienced a decline in sales during the fourth quarter of 2025. Domestic sales decreased by an average of 3.94% in USD terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024. During this period, distributor members recorded a 1.71% increase in sales in USD terms, while manufacturer members saw a 9.87% decline.
Negative trend in collection processes slowed!
The survey also included expectations for the first quarter of 2026. Accordingly, domestic sales in the sector were expected to increase by 0.5% in USD terms in the first quarter of 2026. While the proportion of members reporting that collection processes had deteriorated stood at 45.1% in 2024, this figure declined to 43.5% in 2025. Among OSS members, 13.8% stated that collection processes had improved, while 42.5% said they had deteriorated.
One in three companies increased employment in 2025!
A total of 31.3% of surveyed members increased their employment levels in 2025 compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, 37.5% of members maintained their employment levels during the same period. The proportion of members reporting a decrease in employment stood at 31.3%. Employment increased among manufacturer members, while the proportion of distributor members reporting a decline in employment stood at 29.3%.
Excessive cost increases were the biggest challenge of 2025!
Challenges facing the sector once again constituted one of the most notable sections of the survey. “Excessive increases in costs” ranked first among the problems observed by members in 2025, cited by 81.3% of respondents. “Cash flow problems” ranked second at 66.3%, while 52.5% identified “loss of business and turnover” as the third-largest challenge facing the sector. In addition, 43.8% of respondents pointed to “shipping costs and delivery problems,” 23.8% to “problems at customs,” and 21.3% to “employment-related problems.” Furthermore, 15% of participants identified regulatory changes as a significant challenge.
Manufacturer members’ investment appetite declined!
The survey also examined investment plans across the sector. According to the results, 23.7% of members were planning to make new investments over the next three months. While 33.3% of manufacturer members had investment plans in the previous survey, this figure declined to 25.6% in the latest survey. Among distributor members, however, the figure increased from 10.3% to 22%.
Compared with the previous survey, the proportion of distributor members expecting the sector to follow a more negative course over the next three months declined from 41% to 24.4%, while the proportion among manufacturers decreased from 42.9% to 25.6%.
Production increased, exports declined!
The average capacity utilization rate of manufacturers stood at 72.56% in 2025, compared with 78.15% in 2024. In the fourth quarter of 2025, members’ production increased by 2.56% compared with the same quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, members’ exports decreased by 4.23% in USD terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.
Aftermarket maintained production and employment despite temporary financial challenges!
Assessing the survey results and sharing his outlook for 2026, OSS Chairman of the Board Ali Özçete said:
“2025 stood out as a year in which the impact of global and local economic conditions was felt across the automotive aftermarket, while the sector nevertheless managed to maintain production, employment, and operational continuity. Despite the limited tightening of financial conditions during the first part of the year, the aftermarket delivered a balanced performance throughout the year and achieved a strong close. The preservation of production capacity, stable employment levels, and continued demand demonstrated the sector’s financial resilience. In this respect, 2025 represented a ‘test of financial confidence and resilience’ for the aftermarket, and the sector successfully came through this period.”
Record domestic vehicle sales secure the future of the aftermarket!
Pointing out that the dynamics of the automotive aftermarket have changed significantly, Ali Özçete continued:
“Relative stability in foreign exchange rates over the past two years has kept increases in spare parts prices below the rate of inflation. At the same time, however, labor costs have risen considerably above inflation due to both personnel expenses and rent and operating costs. For the first time in the sector, we are seeing labor costs surpass spare parts costs. This creates significant cost pressure that directly affects both service providers and end consumers.
“On the other hand, the relatively high average age of Türkiye’s vehicle fleet continues to sustain demand for maintenance and spare parts. This creates a strong and sustainable demand base for the aftermarket in the long term. In addition, the consecutive records in new vehicle sales over the past three years, together with the increase in the number of vehicles per capita, indicate that vehicle ownership is becoming more widespread and that the aftermarket will serve a broader customer base in the coming period.
“Furthermore, approximately 1.2 million vehicles sold in 2024 are expected to leave their warranty coverage in 2026, indicating that demand for maintenance, repair, and spare parts in the aftermarket will continue to increase.”
Aftermarket sector remains the backbone of Türkiye’s automotive exports!
Emphasizing the strong performance of the aftermarket export market in 2025, Ali Özçete said:
“Supply industry exports increased by 6% in 2025 compared with the previous year, reaching USD 15.77 billion and accounting for 38% of total automotive exports. This significant share demonstrates that the aftermarket sector continues to be the backbone of Türkiye’s automotive exports. The steady increase in demand in European Union markets, particularly Germany and France, confirms that the sector has maintained its competitiveness. This outlook stands out as one of the key building blocks supporting sustainable growth in the aftermarket in 2026.”