The Future of AI in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry

This article on the future of AI in the automotive aftermarket was written by a real human and published in April, 2025.

What does the future of AI in the automotive industry look like? Here’s a hint: Other than the beginning of the internet, the meteoric rise of AI (artificial intelligence) is changing the aftermarket industry like no other technology has before.

Whether it’s Google’s AI Overviews, AI-driven customer support, automating an auto parts PPC ad campaign, or making your product images a work of art, AI has already changed how the automotive aftermarket does business.

Don’t be like Bobby.

Impact of AI in the automotive industry

Whether you’re a small aftermarket upstart or a large automotive corporation, integrating AI into your daily operations is a trend that will continue for generations to come.

Fair warning: If you’re set in your ways and aren’t adopting AI, you will struggle to keep up with your competition and the automotive industry. Your competitors are embracing the future benefits and adaptations needed to stay profitable and continue growing.

In this article, we’ll examine the trends, stats, and predictions for the future of AI in the automotive aftermarket:

• We’ll examine how AI affects how consumers find your products;
• We will look at how search is no longer a typed string of keywords entered in a search engine;
• And we will dig into how AI is replacing traditional customer support avenues, often the gateway to a customer’s first contact with your company.

How AI is changing how consumers buy auto parts & accessories

It used to be so simple. You put an ad for auto parts in Hot Rod magazine, buy a fancy listing in the Yellow Pages, or send a catalog to your mailing list of customers, and they would beat a path to your door (or phone) to help you stay in business for one more year.

This singer doesn’t exist. He’s AI.

As Bob Dylan said, “The times, they are a-changin’ “.

The first and most obvious change is what you see when you search on Google. You no longer see the 10 blue links of organic search results like in the past. Now, you are presented with what Google calls AI Overviews.

A new term has become common among SEO pros: the zero click search.

What is a zero click search?

AI Overviews on Google have resulted in a rapid decline in click-through rates from organic search results. Zero click searches are common in an AI world.

Google in 2015, when times were simpler.

On Google, a consumer used to click an organic link to your website to learn how many cars there are in the world, and they now get the answer right at the top of the search results. When a consumer gets the answer and doesn’t click to your site, those are examples of zero click searches.

(And of course, today there are ways to do zero click search optimization to prevent them, in auto parts SEO.)

NOTE: Also see AI Search Optimization Case Studies for Auto Parts and Auto Parts: How to Optimize for AI Search.

Future of AI in automotive product discovery and recommendations

In the past, when consumers were at the very early stages of the buying funnel, they typically used a search engine to find “the best” of something. Examples: “best camshaft brands” or “best off-road tires.” Consumers saw a combination of paid ads, videos, local resources, forum posts, articles and products (either from paid ads or organic product listings).

Now that AI is involved, consumers using Google get recommendations from Google Gemini. Consumers also ask questions inside ChatGPT or Perplexity. Ask any of those what the best off-road tires are, and you’ll get several recommendations. In addition to those suggestions, you’ll get information about the best tires for different applications.

Do you need tires for on- and off-road use? The list of recommendations begins with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2. For rock crawling, you should check out the Maxxis Trepador M8060.

“Where is the ICP sensor on a 7.3L Powerstroke?” in ChatGPT.

Future of AI in automotive: Conversational AI replacing search engines for informational search

Before AI, a DIY mechanic would ask, “Where is the ICP sensor on a 7.3 Powerstroke?” and finds an article in the search results that your SEO guru wrote that answers this question. Now, they use a chatbot and the result is an instant answer without ever having to make a click.

But not everyone uses a chatbot, and the smart business owner knows how to optimize for AI search. Or at least hires someone to optimize for AI search and zero click search optimization.

Impact of AI in automotive industry from the rise of voice search and AI assistants

Many automotive parts and accessories searches are no longer typed, but spoken. Consumers find automotive products and services by asking AI questions. Is your local auto parts business showing up as an option for consumers searching for specific auto parts or accessories in their area? If your website is optimized for AI, it will.

Are you an online parts retailer trying to compete with Amazon? If a consumer wants to buy a lift kit for their 2020 Ford F150, you need to optimize your lift kits to show up when someone uses AI search.

AI-powered customer support and chatbots in the aftermarket

Do your customer support representatives spend time answering the same questions repeatedly every day? Wouldn’t it be easier to have a chatbot answer that same question and have your reps answer other questions?

“But people don’t like to talk to robots; they want the personal touch that only our support personnel can provide,” you say. What if using an AI chatbot freed up a person to double the number of people they helped in a day? Wouldn’t that be even better for overall customer satisfaction? That would be a positive impact of AI in automotive industry.

Future of AI in the automotive industry: retailers and manufacturers

Do you sell a parts or accessories product line that no other automotive business does? Do you offer a unique service in the automotive aftermarket? If you do, congratulations! You are in the minority. Steady growth is the cornerstone of any successful business. Having something unique is one way to achieve steady growth.

Competition is fierce for the auto parts and accessories consumer. Competitors are showing up in droves to take away your hard-earned customers. How do you adapt to compete?

Impact of AI in the automotive industry conclusion

AI is rapidly changing how consumers search for and purchase auto parts and accessories. It is influencing everything from AI-driven product discovery and recommendations, to the rise of voice search and AI assistants in both B2B and B2C interactions.

This shift requires retailers and manufacturers to adapt. This means optimizing content, integrating AI tools, and rethinking SEO strategies. Companies must optimize their product listings for AI, utilize AI for inventory management and demand forecasting, and enhance customer experience with AI chatbots and virtual assistants.

In addition, to stay competitive, they need to invest in AI-optimized auto parts advertising and marketing. Businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry must invest in AI-powered solutions now to stay ahead. In fact, if you haven’t even started, you’re behind.

Those who embrace these changes will be best positioned for future success and growth.

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