Aftermarket Industry Projected to Reach $600 Billion by 2030, $800 Billion If You Ever Finish Your Project Car
Industry Executives Advise That Just Because You Won’t Finish Your Car Doesn’t Mean You Should Stop Buying Parts
DETROIT—The global automotive aftermarket is projected to reach $600 billion by 2030, with analysts noting the figure could climb as high as $800 billion if even a small percentage of project car owners were to “actually follow through.”
Industry leaders, however, were quick to reassure enthusiasts that finishing their builds is not only unnecessary, but potentially harmful to long-term economic stability.
“We want to be very clear here,” said aftermarket executive Daniel Thompson. “Completion is not the goal. Continued purchasing is. The moment your car runs, that’s revenue we lose.”
According to a recent study conducted by the Useless Technicals Institute, 94% of project cars are currently classified as “almost done,” a status defined as requiring “just a few things and it will run,” typically including a full suspension overhaul, wiring correction, interior reassembly, and an entirely different motor.
Researchers found that most owners enter a well-studied cycle: initial excitement, rapid parts accumulation, temporary progress, and then a prolonged period of inactivity during which additional parts continue to arrive, demonstrating aggressive levels of denial.
“It’s a beautiful system,” said lead researcher Sarah Roberts. “The car doesn’t run, but the packages never stop showing up. From an earnings standpoint, it’s perfect. From a mechanical standpoint, what are you doing?”
Many owners defended their progress, insisting their builds are closer to completion than they appear.
“I’m right there,” said local enthusiast Marcos Silva, gesturing toward a car on jack stands that has not moved since 2021. “I just need to finish the wiring, bleed the brakes, install the fuel system, mount the drivetrain, and figure out why it doesn’t start. After that, it’s riding clean.”
Executives are less motivated about the finish line and warn that any shift toward actually finishing project cars could have devastating consequences for the industry.
“If people start driving their cars, it means they work and they stop buying parts,” Thompson explained. “And if they stop buying parts, we’re forced to rely on maintenance. Nobody makes money off that. Look at that abandoned Jiffy Lube.”
For now, the aftermarket industry remains confident that project car owners will make them billionaires by continuing to spend money, make plans, and insist they’re “just waiting on their engine builder to be done.”