A new aftermarket parts trend has emerged among consumers
AI-powered modding platform MOTORMIA has found that their U.S. users’ demand for European aftermarket parts — specifically from Germany, Italy, France, and the U.K. — has declined significantly following President Trump’s tariffs on vehicle and auto parts imports. MOTORMIA, which focuses on aftermarket performance parts, noted that this decline is “worth billions of dollars.”
The rate of MOTORMIA users adding German parts dropped from 5.7% during December 2024 to May 2025, to 4.3% from May to August, representing a 24% drop. During this same period, users’ demand for aftermarket parts from France declined from 0.39% to 0.21% — signaling a 45% decrease — and from 3.4% to 1.9% for Italy, marking a 46% drop. Additionally, demand for aftermarket parts in the U.K. decreased from 1.8% to 1.1%, representing a 37% reduction.
Isaac Bunick, CEO of MOTORMIA, told Autoblog: “MOTORMIA insights show a significant drop in European aftermarket car parts among U.S. auto enthusiasts since May 2025. This coincides with the month in which Trump imposed tariffs on cars and parts. Beyond price sensitivity among auto enthusiasts, this can also be attributed to uncertainty among European manufacturers. With fluctuating tariffs and legislation, the industry inevitably becomes more cautious to avoid deadstock. This bearish approach means less inventory will be available, which leads to enthusiasts looking for U.S.-manufactured alternatives.”
Last week, Reuters reported that the U.S. is considering new national security tariffs on auto parts, which would likely lead to an increased decline in Americans’ demand for European aftermarket parts. In response, groups on Tuesday, including the Chamber of Commerce and associations representing U.S. and foreign automakers and auto parts firms, urged the Commerce Department “to eliminate further unpredictable expansions,” according to Reuters. Tariff uncertainty can affect part import rates, make manufacturers question whether they can get their parts over the line, and stagnate the supply chain. If the supply chain experiences disruptions, triggering a lower European parts inventory, Americans can turn to U.S. alternatives.
MOTORMIA data on Japan differed significantly from the study’s handful of European countries
In contrast to many European countries, MOTORMIA found that demand for Japanese parts among the platform’s users has been stable after tariffs, and the nation has even reflected a 3% increase (13.1% to 13.5%) during the study’s aforementioned examination period. Consumers’ loyalty to Japanese aftermarket car parts may soon increase as the U.S.’s lowered 15% tariff rate on Japanese vehicle and auto part imports takes effect. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance on implementing the deal said the tariff rate will take effect for “Passenger vehicles and light trucks (automobiles) and automobile parts that are products of Japan and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 2025,” Bloomberg reports.
Final thoughts
While MOTORMIA’s observation of a decline in U.S. users’ demand for German, Italian, French, and U.K. aftermarket auto parts since Trump’s tariffs is significant, with its billion-dollar value, these European countries’ lower tariff rates began in early August, which exists outside of the study’s examination period. Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see whether U.S. consumers’ demand for aftermarket parts from these four European countries increases or decreases in the months after lower tariff rates take effect.
