The automotive aftermarket industry needs coordinated action to keep vehicle repair reliable, sustainable and commercially viable.
That’s according to LKQ Europe, which argues that the industry’s future needs to include increased use of reused, recycled and remanufactured parts.
The part supplier has published a whitepaper, Safeguarding the future of vehicle repair: How Europe can keep mobility cost-effective and sustainable, which it says brings together expertise from across its aftermarket, remanufacturing, salvage, EV repair and public affairs operations.
Ensure you always get AM insight. Make us a preferred source of news on Google.
The whitepaper cites industry estimates that show remanufactured and reused parts can cost between 30% and 60% less than equivalent new OEM components, while recycled OE parts can deliver savings of up to 60% in some repair scenarios.
It argues that wider adoption will depend on improving availability, traceability, warranty consistency and integration into insurer and repair workflows – helping alternative parts to become a routine specification choice rather than a secondary option.
Greater sustainability focus wanted
Alongside increased use of reused parts, the whitepaper calls for the industry to treat cost-effectiveness and sustainability as inseparable goals, professionalize alternative parts supply chains across Europe, and improve quality, warranty and traceability standards.
The whitepaper also calls for expanded access to vehicle and parts data, accelerated EV and battery repair capability, and investment in technician training and workforce readiness.
It also calls for greater collaboration across the repair ecosystem, support for repair-first decision making, and the building of greater trust and transparency across the automotive aftermarket.
Andy Hamilton, president and executive managing director at LKQ Europe, said: “European vehicle repair is approaching a critical turning point. Workshops and bodyshops are under pressure from rising costs, increasing vehicle complexity, electrification and growing sustainability expectations – all while motorists and insurers continue to demand affordable repair outcomes.
“The central argument in this paper is that economic sustainability and environmental sustainability can work together. Done properly, sustainable repair should help reduce costs, extend vehicle life and improve repair viability across the aftermarket.
“But no single business, insurer, repairer or policymaker can solve these challenges alone. The future of repair will depend on the entire ecosystem working together – alongside commercially workable regulation and better access to repair and vehicle data – to build a more connected, circular and economically sustainable repair model.”