Maintenance

3M Car Care’s “Elbow Grease Economics: A Study of American Driving Trends” Shows that Car Owners Are Driving Less and Tackling More Repair Projects

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2008 -- With fuel prices still on the rise, American car owners are rolling up their sleeves to save money on their driving and car maintenance expenses.

While Americans have abdicated much of their car maintenance and even cleaning to automotive service providers over the past two decades, a new study from 3M Car Care finds that the current economic environment is causing a dramatic shift in how Americans care for their cars.

3M Car Care for Consumers Provides Education, Reliable Solutions, Trusted Brand for Car Appearance, Performance and Maintenance

October 26, 2007, ST. PAUL, Minn. (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today's car owners are a diverse group – from Baby Boomers restoring their favorite cars of the 1960s and 1970s to Millenials creating their own custom rides and everyone in between. But one thing is consistent – their need for reliable solutions for their car care challenges, time-tested advice and trusted products for their vehicles.

October 15, 2007, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Unperformed maintenance grew to be $53 billion in 2006, up from $52 billion in 2005, according to new research from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). A detailed analysis of the market is included in the 2007-2008 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report.

“While this represents a sizeable untapped market,” said Steve Handschuh, AASA president and COO. “The safety implications are the primary concern, as some neglected maintenance has a direct relationship with vehicle safety and drivability,” he continued.

Unperformed maintenance reached its peak in 2002 at $62 billion and has hovered in the $52 to $55 billion range in the four years that followed.