American auto parts manufacturers build their business on reliability and trust. You can produce fuel injectors, brake pads, or air filters, but success will always depend on these two things: the quality of your products and how well they reach the right hands and vehicles.

For years, auto parts manufacturers have relied on distributors and dealers to bring their products to market. As online sales skyrocket, many are discovering that their traditional methods no longer suffice. Dealers struggle with:

1. outdated systems;
2. inaccurate inventory data;
3. confusing catalogs, and more.

This mess results in lost sales, inefficiencies, and a growing sense that something needs to change. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers decide to go directly to consumers under their own brands.

And it turns out the online sales journey goes well for manufacturers. Today, 43% of Gen Z consumers prefer to shop directly with brands. Yet, time and again, manufacturers face obstacles with eCommerce that slow down sales, frustrate dealers, and eat into profits. Let’s break down these eCommerce challenges of aftermarket auto parts manufacturers and how to deal with them in 2025.

The Cost of an Outdated eCommerce Approach

Many dealers and aftermarket auto parts manufacturers still use spreadsheets, outdated ERPs, and manual data entry for catalog management. While manufacturers control the data, dealers often have to request updates from suppliers and wait for a response. All this leads to:

• Inventory mismatches. For example, a dealer may list a timing belt as in stock only to discover later that the manufacturer has run out. These mismatches result in canceled orders and lost sales, as 60% of customers expect the right products and would rather leave after a bad interaction.
• Slow product updates. New auto parts for diverse models and makes are released on a regular basis. That’s why keeping product information accurate for hundreds or even thousands of SKUs is a full-time job. However, many manufacturers and dealers lack the automation to handle these updates.
• Inconsistent pricing. This is another side of the product updates issue that deserves much attention. Dealers working from price lists often have discrepancies that confuse customers and lead to pricing disputes. The issue aggregates when the seller works through many sales channels. Inconsistency or even errors in pricing can turn back even the most loyal customer.
• Compliance issues. Selling directly to consumers, auto parts manufacturers must navigate a complex web of industry regulations, safety standards, and environmental laws. Failure to comply with these regulations—such as selling non-certified parts or failing to meet emissions standards—results in fines, legal action, and reputational damage.

These problems scale quickly. An inefficient system doesn’t just hurt one dealer or manufacturer. It affects an entire distribution network and, most importantly, profits. Yes, there is a price you pay for inventory errors and other bad data. They cost businesses an estimated $3.1 trillion annually worldwide. For auto parts manufacturers, the stakes are even higher in an industry where precision matters. These mistakes can’t be ignored.

Looking at these challenges from another perspective, however, reveals how many opportunities for growth American auto parts manufacturers still have.

Opportunity: A Better Way to Work with Dealers & Distributors

Instead of doing manual updates for products and dealers, aftermarket auto parts manufacturers can automate everything with the right automotive eCommerce solution. Dealers who once struggled with outdated catalogs and inventory issues will get real-time updates. On your side, you will push and pull clean and compliant data for aftermarket parts you produce by syncing with major distributors like Meyer Distributing or Wheel Pros and catalog providers like SEMA Data and AutoSync.

Such an approach opens doors even for the not-so-big names in the industry. Take a mid-sized brake pad manufacturer, for example. They’ve always had a solid product but couldn’t match big names like Bosch in speed and efficiency. Before, they had to send updates to each dealer manually—a process that took days. Dealers often missed these updates, causing delays, incorrect orders, and frustrated customers.

By automating their workflow, everything changes. Dealers see accurate inventory and pricing and reduce errors and returns. In addition, with a built-in automotive online store template, the manufacturer can sell parts directly to customers and create a whole new sales channel.

What platforms have everything under one roof?

Solution: X-Cart for Auto Parts Manufacturers in USA

X-Cart integrates with industry-standard catalogs like SEMA Data, ASAP Network, and AutoSync to let you manage everything from a single platform. If you’re launching a new brake rotor for a 2025 model or updating inventory levels across distributors, X-Cart will automatically keep your product specs, pricing, and availability in sync.

Let’s say a dealer needs to find that brake rotor. Instead of searching through outdated PDFs or calling multiple suppliers, they can look it up instantly with Make/Model/Year and VIN lookup. Need to filter by engine type, bolt patterns, or specific part numbers? No problem. X-Cart’s advanced fitment search ensures dealers find exactly what they need.

The YMM feature often defines the auto parts store’s success. A lack of such search makes it difficult for customers to find the right parts. You risk getting frustrated customers, lower sales, and higher returns. When it comes to smartphones, intuitive navigation and accurate search functionality become even more essential for conversions.

In addition to product listings, manufacturers gain a powerful B2B and direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy. With X-Cart, you can:

• Expand your dealer network with the Dealer Locator feature directly from the X-Cart store. Manage dealers and import their information in a few clicks.
• Automate inventory and order sync across all your partners to eliminate stock mismatches. 
• Sell directly to customers through your branded online store with prebuilt automotive themes. 
• Offer visual product previews with the AutoSync Visualizer so customers can see wheels and tires on their vehicles before purchasing.

And it’s all built with a mobile-first design (including flexible YMM search), that’s why dealers and customers get the same flawless experience on any device. You will keep up with the competition and set a new industry standard with automated workflows, effortless inventory management, and smart integrations.

Results: More Profit, Less Frustration

With automation in place, dealers no longer struggle with outdated data or manual updates. They get accurate, real-time inventory and pricing, and their sales process becomes smoother. As a result, manufacturers can see a 20% boost in profits and a 30% increase in dealer productivity.

Operational costs also go down. Integrating with industry catalogs eliminates costly errors and saves time. Plus, automatic data syncing with major distributors makes inventory management nothing like spreadsheets and outdated ERPs.

And it doesn’t stop there. With built-in eCommerce tools like Make/Model/Year and VIN lookup, dealers can find and sell the right parts online. In short, automation isn’t about saving time only. It’s about unlocking growth and new revenue opportunities.

Big Picture: Stronger Relationships with Dealers & End-Customers

At the end of the day, it’s all about the relationships between aftermarket auto parts manufacturers, dealers, and car owners. By offering a better, more efficient system, you will get more than just increased direct and dealer profits. You will build trust and loyalty with everyone from your customer base. And that’s what keeps your business growing.

Are you ready to stop struggling with outdated systems and start improving your operations? X-Cart can help. Join our free course today, and discover how easy it can be to transform your business. It’s time to start working smarter, not harder!