Mobileye led everything down with a 9% drop, but the whole board was red, auto and tech stocks both took a hit today.
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Traffic is up, the aftermarket is growing 5.2% this year, and shops are swamped. But here's what matters for your bay: I-CAR's apprenticeship program is moving the needle on certified talent, and calibration work keeps accelerating.
INDUSTRY
1. Aftermarket grows 5.2% in 2026; aging fleet and ADAS drive demand
The U.S. light-vehicle aftermarket is expected to grow 5.2% this year, driven by an aging vehicle fleet, rising vehicle complexity, and sustained consumer reliance on cars. Traffic volume was up in April over 2025, and used-vehicle prices have climbed to levels not seen since mid-2023. Demand is real and structural.
Mark says: Staffing and capacity are your bottleneck now, not incoming work. Lock in training and retention plans before summer ends.
2. I-CAR apprenticeships boost Gold Class certifications 7.1% year-over-year
I-CAR's Registered Apprenticeship Program, launched in 2025, drove a 7.1% year-over-year increase in new Gold Class shop certifications in 2025. The program is proving it can move the needle on certified technician supply and shop-level quality metrics. This is the pipeline working.
Mark says: If you're not enrolled in the RAP, your competitors are closing the talent gap faster. Check eligibility and onboard apprentices before Q3.
3. Massachusetts appraiser board reaffirms licensed-requirement for repair shops
The Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board is moving to reaffirm its requirement that registered repair shops employ a licensed appraiser, even after the state's Division of Standards removed the mandate. Public comment is open through July 1. This tightens regulatory pressure in a key market.
Mark says: If you operate or estimate in Massachusetts, verify your appraiser licensing now and flag any compliance gaps before the July 1 ruling takes effect.
4. Calibration economy is real; every suspension and windshield job triggers ADAS recal
A recent BodyShop Business feature confirms what shops are seeing on the floor: windshield replacement, suspension adjustment, bumper repair, and mirror R&I all trigger ADAS recalibration on equipped vehicles. This is no longer edge case work. It is standard scope on most incoming vehicles.
Mark says: Train every estimator and check-in staff to flag ADAS systems on every intake. Document and price every calibration before estimate handoff.
A Minneapolis nonprofit repair shop is raising labor rates for the first time in years, citing inflation pressure and a backlog of incoming work. The shop reports being swamped with demand. Rate pressure is real across the country as material costs climb and work volume stays strong.
Mark says: If you haven't reviewed labor rates this year, do it now. Demand supports it, and material costs are climbing faster than most shops adjust.
Got a denied calibration or supplement claim sitting in your queue? Run it through our free Calibration Denial Audit. You upload the claim, we send back an OEM-cited rebuttal in 60 seconds, no charge, no pitch.
Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.
👀 Tomorrow: Massachusetts shops have until July 1 to comment on the appraiser licensing fight, we'll have the board's next move and what it means outside the state.