Anticipating the Automotive Aftermarket

Tommy Le, Show Manager of Automechanika Dubai, explains how aftermarket businesses can remain relevant as vehicle technologies and customer expectations change, why workshop and workforce readiness must advance together, and how industry platforms can support long-term collaboration across the region.

The GCC aftermarket is preparing to support a more diverse vehicle mix as electrification, connected systems and software-led technologies develop at different speeds across regional markets.

From your conversations with manufacturers, distributors and industry associations, what is the most significant transformation currently reshaping the regional aftermarket?

From our conversations with manufacturers, distributors and industry associations, the most significant change is the diversification of demand. It is not happening uniformly across the GCC, but businesses increasingly need to support conventional vehicles alongside hybrids, EVs, connected systems and a growing mix of brands. Dubai offers one indication of the direction: according to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, registered EVs increased from 37,486 at the end of 2024 to 47,944 at the end of 2025, a rise of nearly 28%. Each technology and brand brings different parts, software, diagnostics and servicing needs. Companies therefore need stronger market intelligence, flexible supply chains and closer collaboration. The businesses that remain relevant will respond quickly without compromising quality, safety or trust.

How are electrification, connected vehicles, advanced diagnostics and software-led technologies changing the requirements of aftermarket businesses?

They are changing both what businesses sell and the capabilities they require. A repair may now involve electronic diagnosis, sensor calibration, battery and thermal-system assessment, or access to

vehicle-specific technical information. The complexity is already visible: a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that about half of owners whose crash-avoidance systems were calibrated following vehicle damage reported continuing problems after the repair. That reinforces the need for correct tools, current procedures and trained technicians. Looking ahead, software-led servicing and predictive maintenance could create faster and more transparent customer experiences, but only where workshops have authorised data access, compatible systems and appropriate diagnostic infrastructure.

Internationally, software governance is becoming more formalised through measures such as United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 156 on software updates and software update management systems. The opportunity is significant, but capability cannot be assumed to be universal.

As the vehicle mix becomes more diverse, how must parts supply chains and service networks support conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles simultaneously?

Conventional vehicles will remain central to the regional fleet even as hybrid and electric adoption grows at different rates. According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the number of registered EVs in Dubai increased by nearly 28% during 2025, showing why the aftermarket must prepare for several technology cycles at once. Distributors need visibility of vehicle populations and demand to balance availability against excess stock, backed by traceable sourcing. Service networks must decide which

capabilities belong in every workshop and which can sit in specialist centres. Horizontal collaboration could let independent businesses share high-cost diagnostic or calibration resources, technical knowledge and regional support without duplicating investment.

Where are the most urgent workshop-readiness gaps, and what roles should manufacturers, training institutions and industry platforms play in closing them?

Skills are the most urgent gap because equipment creates value only when people can use it safely and accurately. Workshops need technicians who understand high-voltage systems, advanced diagnostics, software-led repair and ADAS calibration, supported by current technical data, safe working areas and clear procedures. The consequences of incomplete capability are tangible: according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, around half of respondents whose crash-avoidance systems were calibrated after vehicle damage reported continuing issues. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also advises that high-voltage work requires vehicle-specific guidance and properly trained personnel.

Manufacturers can provide recognised training pathways, vocational institutions can build foundations, and industry platforms can connect them. We also need to show young people that the aftermarket now combines engineering, data and software, offering credible technology-led careers rather than only traditional mechanical roles.

How has your commercial experience shaped your strategy, and what is your long-term ambition for Automechanika Dubai as it moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre in November 2026?

Working across commercial and exhibitor roles has shown me that different parts of the industry experience change in very practical ways. Manufacturers may focus on market access, distributors on dependable supply, and workshops on tools, training and technical support. My role is to find where those needs meet and build useful connections. The move to Dubai Exhibition Centre opens a new phase for the show, with opportunities to improve the visitor experience, connectivity and the way knowledge is shared. I want Automechanika Dubai, taking place from 10–12 November 2026, to develop as a

year-round industry platform where businesses exchange insight, understand emerging technologies and form partnerships. It must remain a commercial marketplace while helping the aftermarket anticipate change rather than react to it.