# Automotive service and maintenance industry trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/automotive-service-and-maintenance-industry-trends
> Updated: 2026-09-08T06:05:08.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

The automotive service and maintenance sector is navigating shifts in consumer demand, rising costs, and evolving quality control measures.

Businesses are adapting to changing ownership trends, including increased interest in specialized vehicles like recreational vehicles (RVs). For commercial vehicle buyers, there is a growing emphasis on due diligence, specifically regarding maintenance histories and professional inspections to mitigate financial risks.

Concurrently, service standards are being monitored through undercover workshop testing by organizations such as Dekra, TÜV Nord, TÜV Rheinland, and ADAC. These tests help manufacturers ensure authorized workshops meet required standards. 

Economic pressures are also evident as maintenance costs have risen by approximately 25% over the last five years. In certain markets, such as Switzerland, data suggests that repairing damaged components is significantly more cost-effective than replacing them, with replacement costs for parts like doors or bumpers being several times higher than repair costs.

## Claims

- Maintenance costs have increased by approximately 25% over the last five years, reaching an average of 542 euros in 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- In 2024, workshops charged an average of 202 euros per hour for mechanical, electrical, and bodywork. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Dekra organizes between 4,000 and 5,000 undercover workshop tests annually. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A Comparis analysis of 7.3 million car repair processes shows that repairing parts is generally cheaper than replacing them. (single source)
- Replacing a car door costs an average of over eight times more than repairing it. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-08: Automotive service costs and workshop testing trends

Automotive organizations are conducting undercover workshop tests amid rising maintenance costs, while new data suggests repairing car parts is often much cheaper than replacing them.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/automotive-service-costs-and-workshop-testing-trends

### 2026-09-04: Automotive businesses adapt to changing vehicle maintenance and ownership trends

Businesses in the automotive sector are navigating changing needs, from rigorous maintenance checks for used commercial vehicles to adapting service offerings for rising trends like RV ownership.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/automotive-businesses-adapt-to-changing-vehicle-maintenance-and-ownership-trends

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Cite as: Automotive service and maintenance industry trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/automotive-service-and-maintenance-industry-trends