According to recent data, Canadians’ penchant for driving continues to grow even as the vehicle fleet evolves, adding fuel to aftermarket performance.
DesRosiers Automotive Consultants recently offered that while overall fuel sales, a key indicator of driving habits, is growing only slightly, changes in the vehicle fleet mask increases in kilometres driven, a key driver for the aftermarket.
“In broad strokes, more gasoline used means a greater total driving volume, leading to rising demand for parts and services. For 2024 as a whole, gasoline consumption saw a minor increase of 0.6% over 2023, rising to 43 million cubic metres. This figure represents a 1.7% increase over 2019, just before the start of the pandemic.”
It should be noted that direct data on driving habits has been notoriously difficult to pin down with precision. Data contained in the AIA Canada 2025 Outlook Study–supplied by INRIX Trip Trends–put vehicle mileage in 2023 below prepandemic levels. (It did not contain 2024 data.)
As noted, the Canadian vehicle fleet is always changing, a point emphasized by DesRosiers.
“One of the long-term structural shifts has been the rising prevalence of BEVs and PHEVs, which for 2024 accounted for 14.6% of new vehicle sales,” reports DAC.
“While these vehicles have seen sharp growth in new sales,” it continues, “they remain relatively small parts of the overall fleet of vehicles on the road, accounting for less than 3 percent. In addition, the fuel efficiency of the ICE fleet is also improving.”
Considered together, even in the face of slight increases in vehicles in operation, the lower usage by more efficient ICE/HEV vehicles and zero consumption of BEVs present downward presssure on total fuel consumption.
Accordngly, the fact that fuel usage continues to increase indicates that vehicle use is also steadily climbing.
“DAC tracks a wide range of vehicle usage variables, and all indicate that Canadians continue to rely heavily on their vehicles,” commented Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC.
“This demand will continue to supply the automotive aftermarket with the opportunity for growth and room to adjust to a slowly shifting market.”
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