The global automotive aftermarket is massive — and it’s only getting bigger. Valued at €502 billion in 2025, it’s projected to reach €756 billion by 2032, growing at a healthy 6% CAGR.
But behind this impressive growth lies a persistent problem: the difficulty of accurately matching the right parts across a fragmented, fast‑changing industry. Without solving cross‑referencing at scale, much of this growth will be lost to inefficiencies.
The Backbone of the Aftermarket: Cross‑Referencing
Every successful sale in the aftermarket depends on one thing: finding the right part.
- Distributors must manage 80,000+ SKUs per region.
- OE numbers change constantly, with as much as 15% turnover annually.
- Workshops need fast, accurate matches to keep customers satisfied and vehicles on the road.
Yet today, most cross‑referencing is still done manually. Teams of specialists painstakingly map OE, aftermarket, and competitor numbers — a process that is slow, expensive, and error‑prone. The result? 12% of all orders are wrong, costing the industry an estimated €15–20 billion annually.
Why AI Is the Game‑Changer
The aftermarket can’t afford to rely on outdated processes. That’s where AI‑powered cross‑referencing comes in.
- 99% Accuracy → Reduces costly wrong‑part returns.
- 30‑Second Lookups → Down from 10–15 minutes manually.
- Continuous Learning → Every lookup makes the system smarter.
- Scalable Growth → Capable of handling millions of cross‑references per year.
This isn’t just a digital upgrade — it’s a structural shift that unlocks new levels of efficiency, trust, and profitability.
Unlocking Growth Opportunities
By solving the cross‑referencing challenge, the aftermarket can:
- Cut Costs: Reducing errors saves billions annually in logistics and returns.
- Boost Productivity: Catalog teams can be redeployed to growth and customer support roles.
- Expand Markets: With reliable data, distributors can confidently enter new regions and channels.
- Build Trust: Delivering the right part every time strengthens long‑term customer relationships.
In real‑world pilots, AI solutions have already helped distributors cut cataloging workload by 60%, while achieving near‑perfect accuracy.
The Road Ahead
The €500B aftermarket is full of opportunity — but only for those ready to embrace change.
Cross‑referencing may seem like a back‑office task, but in reality, it’s the foundation of growth. Without accurate, scalable matching, the industry risks leaving billions on the table.
At Obsidian Labs, our vision is simple:
No More Wrong Parts. Ever.
By bringing clarity to catalogs and accuracy to every lookup, we’re helping the aftermarket scale into its next era of growth.
Want to be part of the aftermarket’s future? [Book a Demo] today and see how AI cross‑referencing can drive accuracy, trust, and growth for your business.