According to OSS Association’s third-quarter 2026 survey, domestic sales in the automotive aftermarket remained broadly flat in US dollar terms, while cash flow emerged as the sector’s biggest challenge. The share of companies planning new investments over the next three months fell to 14.7%.
The Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS) has announced the results of its sectoral assessment survey for the third quarter of 2026. According to the survey, domestic sales in the automotive aftermarket increased by just 0.03% in US dollar terms compared with the same period last year, remaining broadly flat. Sales among distributor members declined by 2.61%, while manufacturer members recorded a 3.18% increase.
The results point to mounting financial pressure across the sector. Cash flow problems were identified as the leading challenge by 80.9% of respondents. Excessive cost increases ranked second at 70.6%, followed by loss of business and revenue at 52.9%.
Collection Challenges and Declining Investment Appetite
Payment collection conditions also deteriorated. A total of 54.4% of respondents reported that collection conditions had worsened compared with the previous quarter. This points to increasing pressure on companies’ financial planning.
Investment appetite also weakened. The share of members planning new investments over the next three months fell from 20.3% in the previous quarter to 14.7%. The figure stood at 22.6% among manufacturers and 8.1% among distributors.
In terms of employment, 52.9% of respondents maintained their workforce, while 22.1% increased their headcount and 25% reported a reduction.
Capacity Utilization Rate Falls to 68.06%
The average capacity utilization rate among manufacturer members declined to 68.06% in the third quarter of 2026, down from 73.93% in the previous survey. Compared with the same period last year, manufacturers’ production decreased by 0.68%, while exports declined by 0.16% in US dollar terms.
Expectations for the final quarter of the year also point to a cautious outlook. Members anticipate a 1.30% decline in domestic sales in US dollar terms compared with the same period in 2025. While 41.2% of respondents expect conditions in the automotive aftermarket to deteriorate over the next three months, 44.1% anticipate no significant change.
Ali Özçete: “Cash Flow Management Has Become Critical”
Commenting on the third-quarter results, OSS Chairman of the Board Ali Özçete said the findings highlight the growing impact of financial conditions on the sector. He emphasized that cash flow and collection problems directly affect companies’ financial planning and operational capabilities.
Drawing attention to the decline in investment appetite, Özçete also stressed the importance of enabling companies to maintain their investments so they can expand capacity, adapt to technological transformation and preserve their competitiveness in international markets.
Noting that the sector has significant potential thanks to its production infrastructure, accumulated expertise and international competitiveness, Özçete underlined that keeping costs under control, improving access to finance and strengthening economic predictability are essential for sustainable growth.
