Auto Care Association Expands Demand Index Data with Addition of Three New Product Lines
BETHESDA, Md. – February 18, 2026 – The Auto Care Association today announced the addition of three new product lines to the Demand Index, the industry’s leading tool for aftermarket performance benchmarking. The update to the Demand Index now including product category data for Switches, Relays, and Connectors. The Demand Index, part of the Auto Care TrendLens® platform, provides real-world point-of-sale data to help manufacturers, distributors and retailers understand how their products perform compared with broader category trends.
“These new product lines represent essential components in modern vehicles,” said Daniel Zenko, senior director, data innovation, at the Auto Care Association. “Including switches, relays and connectors in the Demand Index gives industry partners deeper insight into these categories and helps them make more informed strategic decisions.”
The Demand Index now covers more than 160 product lines across the automotive aftermarket, including drivability, chassis, and electrical components, providing detailed performance trends and competitive benchmarking. The interactive tool empowers manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with actionable market intelligence by providing both unit sales and dollar sales data side by side. This enables users to:
- Benchmark performance: Compare product lines and categories against industry-wide trends, removing distortions caused by external factors.
- Gain clarity on seasonality: Identify how seasonal shifts impact sales and plan accordingly.
- Speak the same language as trading partners: Use standardized metrics for more effective communication with buyers and retailers.
- Optimize marketing and product strategies: Make informed decisions based on comprehensive, real-world data from over 80% of U.S. aftermarket hard part transactions.
For more information about the Demand Index, including a full list of product lines and demo requests, visit autocare.org/demandindex.
Demand Index categories are only available for purchase by manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other qualified industry professionals who are members of the Auto Care Association.
