US auto-parts buyers move online as tariffs bite, opening door for China's e...
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by ZHANG XilongUS auto-parts buyers are increasingly turning to online channels as tariffs... by ZHANG Xilong
US auto-parts buyers are increasingly turning to online channels as tariffs lift in-store prices, vehicles age and repair bottlenecks intensify. The shift has opened an opportunity for exporters from Guangdong, China's largest manufacturing and export base, even as broader trade tensions continue to cloud the outlook.
"We formed a dedicated team for the US market in March, and sales there more than doubled this year," said JIANG Zhenyang, chief executive of Shenzhen Xinshengshang Technology Co., in an interview with Jiemian News during an auto-parts seller event hosted by eBay on December 23. Tariffs have discouraged some competitors, he said, while underlying demand has remained resilient.
Xinshengshang, founded in 2012, now sells automotive electronics and a range of auto-parts products after starting out in consumer electronics. The company expects its US business to keep growing next year.
Other exporters say longer-term shifts in the US aftermarket are outweighing short-term trade frictions. LI Haoyu, deputy general manager of Shenzhen Suncent Auto., said sales stayed steady over the past year as bulkier, higher-value components increasingly moved online. Many exterior parts are relatively easy to install, while brick-and-mortar prices are high. As a result, online fulfilment has become more attractive, particularly for Chinese suppliers with cost advantages.
"Tariffs have pushed up prices across US retail, including major auto-parts chains," Li said. "That adds to consumers' costs and pushes more demand online."
Labor shortages are accelerating the shift. The US is expected to face a shortfall of about 400,000 automotive technicians by 2026, lengthening repair times and prompting more car owners to source parts themselves online.
North America's online auto and motorcycle parts market is expected to reach $45 billion in 2025, supported by a large vehicle base and a strong do-it-yourself culture. Data from eBay show rapid growth in higher-barrier categories: Chinese sellers' engine assembly sales on its US site rose fivefold year on year, while differential assemblies grew by more than 60% and bumpers by 45%. Commercial-vehicle parts are another bright spot, with heavy-truck steering knuckles posting a two-year growth rate above 56%.
Guangdong remains a key export hub. Customs data show the province exported 4.98 trillion yuan in the first 10 months, up 1.7% from a year earlier. Electromechanical products accounted for 3.41 trillion yuan, a rise of 6.7%.
HUANG Bujin, South China general manager at eBay China Cross-Border Trade, said Guangdong's strength lies in automotive electronics concentrated in Shenzhen, as well as higher-end modification products from Guangzhou that can support brand premiums overseas.
Ageing vehicles are another tailwind. Data released at the event by YI Peng, head of eBay China's auto and motorcycle category, show the average US vehicle age has reached 12.8 years, with 29.3% aged 16 years or more. US e-commerce penetration in auto parts, by contrast, is only about 15%, among the lowest of major retail categories.
Brand recognition is increasingly shaping competition. Suncent operates lighting brand SEALIGHT and parts brands KYX, KAX and SHOCKFLO, while Xinshengshang has launched ESSGOO. Jiang said recognition in the US and Europe helps lift prices in Latin America and Southeast Asia, pushing average order values above $60.
Logistics remains a constraint for bulky items. PAN Zhehu, East China general manager at eBay China Cross-Border Trade, said last-mile truck delivery in the US has limited some categories, such as tires, which often require multiple local warehouses to control costs. Overseas warehousing also cushions policy risk, as auto parts are less exposed to the rollback of low-value parcel tax exemptions because their size and time sensitivity already favor local fulfilment.
Globally, the automotive aftermarket exceeds $2.3 trillion, supported by more than 1.6 billion vehicles on the road. Electrification and smart features are expected to add another trillion-dollar source of demand over time. US new-energy vehicle sales have topped 1 million units a year since 2022, gradually feeding through into demand for EV components.
China's carmakers expanding overseas are adding to the momentum. Guangzhou's Panyu district, home to GAC Group, exported new-energy vehicle parts for the first time in November 2023, supplying overseas aftersales networks. As BYD and Great Wall Motor gain traction abroad, aftermarket demand is expected to follow within one to two years, Huang said.
