In the land of chrome and horsepower, the trusty American automobile is staying put longer than ever. The latest research suggests the average car on U.S. roads is now 12.6 years old, beating the previous record and — somewhat worryingly — pointing to a significant shift in consumer behavior.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on the automotive industry. Disrupted supply chains resulted in skyrocketing prices for new cars. Many new cars couldn’t be sold due to missing vital components, and the infamous chip shortage, coupled with other manufacturing woes, made it harder to get your hands on a new car. It’s not a surprise then that quite a lot of people decided it was a better idea to hold on to their existing vehicles.

Electric Vehicles Are Not Everyone’s Cup Of Tea

Another factor influencing consumer’s decisions is the rise of electric vehicles. EV adoption is increasing, sometimes quicker and sometimes slower, but many Americans remain hesitant to make the switch. Concerns about range anxiety, charging infrastructure, and higher upfront costs are forcing people to stick to what they know best – their current vehicles.

Unfortunately, as the cars get older, they require more maintenance and repairs. While this trend is great for the aftermarket industry, with all the mechanics, repair shops, and parts suppliers, customers are often forced to spend more money than planned.

Light Trucks Are More Popular Than Ever

One category of vehicles that is going against the trend is light trucks. While the registrations of new cars have been lagging behind, there has been a significant surge in new light truck sales. This is an exciting development in consumer preference for larger, more versatile vehicles. While fuel costs go up, the market usually responds by buyers shifting to smaller and more frugal cars. Still, pickup trucks are only gaining in popularity.

The adoption of EVs has slowed, but there is no escaping from the fact that the number of electric cars on U.S. roads continues to rise. Over one million new EVs were sold for the first time ever last year. It’ll be interesting to see if the market reaches the growth predicted by automakers this year or if the numbers really fall.

The growing average age of cars on our roads might come as a surprise to many, but it is the clearest indication of changing circumstances in our lives. The aftermarket sector is growing rapidly on the back of the new demand for parts and servicing while the EV market slowly matures. It’ll be a while before the automotive landscape settles and it’s good to see that the good old American engineering is here to help us through the changes.