Independent service stations, known as STOs, are facing a significant hurdle in Canada and the United States: a shortage of spare parts catalogs for Chinese-made vehicles. These catalogs—digital or offline tools—help technicians select the correct parts quickly. Industry observers from the Automobile Services Association and the Fit Service network, which encompasses more than 300 service centers, emphasize that many STOs still lack ready access to reliable repair data and parts catalogs for Chinese cars. This gap is not just about parts; it affects the entire repair workflow and the customer experience.
There has been a noticeable rise in Chinese car ownership among service centers’ clientele, with owners seeking maintenance and repairs increasing by about 35 percent over recent periods. Yet independent stations report a persistent problem: the information needed to carry out modern repairs—repair techniques, up-to-date parts catalogs, and modification data—remains hard to obtain. Representatives from Fit Service underscore that this disconnect slows down service operations and can lead to inefficiencies in diagnosing and fixing vehicles.
The consequence is a longer turnaround time for servicing and repairs. Ilya Plisov, a member of the board of directors at the Automotive Services Association, notes that a single car model may come with different factory equipment or optional configurations. When technicians cannot confirm the exact specifications of a customer’s vehicle, parts compatibility risks rise, and the result is a mismatch that delays the repair and adds friction for customers. This issue highlights the need for standardized, accessible catalogs that reflect the diverse configurations seen across markets.
Analogies from other markets illustrate the broader stakes. In one example from Germany, a vehicle incident involved a vehicle owner carrying eight bottles of beer in the car, underscoring how even small variables in vehicle use and configuration can complicate routine maintenance and safety assessments. The takeaway is clear: accurate, readily available data about a vehicle’s trim, equipment, and repair requirements is essential for efficient service and safer driving.