Amazon Auto Related Purchases up 16% YoY

[partsman]

According to the article below, Amazon's automotive related purchases are up big, trending at 16% YoY in 2017. The big 3 (Autozone, Advance, and O'Reilly) aren't enjoying increases like this and in some cases are barely making prior year sales with same stores. There is something to be said about eCommerce sales vs Brick 'n Mortar store sales and how there is a dynamic shift to online buying that's happening in the US driven by more and more people becoming accustomed to going online rather than running to the store these days.

Is Amazon hurting traditional retailers? I would think yes on their retail channel but not as much on the wholesale where service and delivery time are what accompany parts purchases. Amazon doesn't really have than figured out outside of the metro areas they are delivering same day and maybe they don't need to, because that carries costs in itself.  Check out the article: 

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By 

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|September 7th, 2017|

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The U.S. automotive market 

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 in 2016 with 17.55 million vehicles sold, putting an end to a decade of uncertainty and low sales. Even with all these new cars on the road, the average vehicle in the U.S. is at an all-time high of 11.5 years old and there are 

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. With so many aging vehicles, the automotive aftermarket is thriving and has become one of the fastest-growing segment in online sales.

Enter Amazon. The eCommerce juggernaut is not new to automotive sales, having originally introduced auto parts to the platform back in 2006. Last year Amazon expanded its automotive arsenal by launching its own 

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 and a parts marketplace, which allows shoppers to punch in their make and model to search for the correct parts. This and other conveniences reveal that the automotive aftermarket is not escaping Amazon’s notice and the impact of Amazon on the market is already disruptive.

 

The Numbers

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• $277 billion: Total 
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  .
• $2.4 billion: Amazon.com 2016 Automotive sales.
• $1.4 billion: Amazon.com 2017 YTD Automotive sales.
• 16%: YoY growth of Amazon.com Automotive sales.

*Figures reflect Amazon first-party sellers only

In 2017 so far, specialty auto parts companies such as O’Reilly Automotive, AutoZone and Advanced Auto Parts have underperformed in the stock market, 

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, despite expectations to the contrary. This has caused many investors to reassess the market and look elsewhere for disruptors. After long overlooking its ability to compete in the automotive aftermarket, industry analysts are finally starting to recognize Amazon as a serious player.

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U.S. Top-selling Automotive Categories 2017 Q1 & Q2

Category	Subcategory	Sales
Truck Accessories		$185M
	Towing/Towing Accessories	$70M
	Bedliners/Covers/Deflectors/Shields/Sun Protection	$40M
Replacement Parts -- Underhood		$165M
	Engine Management	$50M
	Wiper Motors/Blades	$25M
Automotive Equipment & Tools		$150M
	Battery & Electrical System Equipment	$55M
	Paint/Body Tools & Equipment	$20M
RV Parts & Accessories		$130M
	Appliances, Heating, A/C, Power, Electrical & Electronics	$35M
	Fresh Water & Waste Water Systems	$30M
Replacement Parts - Undercar		$130M
	Suspension/Chassis	$45M
	Brakes	$25M

Two major trends in automotive aftermarket sales are that owners of older cars exhibit desirable maintenance behaviors, while new car owners tend to invest in appearance products. With the fleet of vehicles on the road aging rapidly in the U.S., more and more car owners are turning to Amazon for their replacement parts, with Underhood and Undercar Replacement Parts generating nearly $300M in sales during the first two quarters of 2017 alone, a growth of 20% YoY.

Beating out both replacement parts categories is Truck Accessories with $185M. Sales are driven by Towing Accessories, making up over a third of the total category sales and responsible for the two top items: an electronic brake control from Tekonsha and a 9500lb capacity winch from Smittybilt. Growth in Truck Accessories is low, however, with most gains in the product group coming from appearance products such as Wheel & Tire Accessories (55%) and Appearance Chemicals (30%).

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U.S. Top Automotive Sellers 2017 Q1 & Q2

Title	Category
Stanley Jump Starter with Compressor	Automotive Equipment & Tools - Battery & Electrical System Equipment
Jump-N-Carry 12V Jump Starter	Automotive Equipment & Tools - Battery & Electrical System Equipment
NOCO Genius Boost Plus UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter	Automotive Equipment & Tools - Battery & Electrical System Equipment
Tekonsha P3 Electronic Brake Control	Truck Accessories - Towing/Towing Accessories
Optima Batteries BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine	Undercar Performance Parts - Electrical & Rotating Electrical
Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger	Automotive Equipment & Tools - Battery & Electrical System Equipment
Smittybilt Winch - 9500lb Load Capacity	Truck Accessories - Towing/Towing Accessories
Keeper Waterproof Roof Top Cargo Bag	Truck Accessories - Cargo Management, Interior/Exterior
Furrion Wireless High-Speed RV Observation System	RV Parts & Accessories - Appliances, Heating, A/C, Power, Electical & Electronics
X-Chock Wheel Stabilizer Pair - One Handle	RV Parts & Accessories - Leveling, Towing & Stabilization

UK/France/Germany Automotive

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In Europe, Amazon’s Automotive sales are driven by Equipment & Tools, the top category in both the UK and France and one of the top categories in Germany. In all three countries, Automotive Equipment & Tools is responsible for many of the best selling items in the first two quarters of 2017, with the top category item across the board being a car battery charger: a CTEK model in the UK and Germany and a Black & Decker model in France. The popular of Equipment & Tools, Car Care, and Wear & Tear parts across all countries indicates a rise in DIY car maintenance, with many hobby mechanics turning to Amazon for their tools and supplies.