Mileage on vehicle odometers in the U.S. keeps climbing as the age of cars and light trucks builds up to record-high levels. In 2023, light vehicles in the U.S. averaged approximately 14,000 more odometer miles than 10 years earlier.
Significant differences exist in the odometer mileage levels of the four major types of vehicles: foreign and domestic nameplates, and cars versus light trucks, according to the latest Lang Aftermarket iReport. “Accumulated miles on odometers are important to aftermarket product growth since older vehicles (virtually all are Internal Combustion Engine models) use more aftermarket products per mile than cars and light trucks with lower total mileage.”
The following a key takeaways from the analysis.
All Light Vehicles
At mid-year 2013, the average light vehicle’s odometer in the U.S. had approximately 128,000 miles. By 2023, the average light vehicle’s accumulated mileage had increased by over 10%. Lang Marketing states that it will be several more months until it completes its 2024 odometer analysis, but preliminary findings suggest that odometers recorded considerable gains over 2023.
Cars and Light Trucks
In 2013, the average car in the U.S. had more miles on its odometer than the typical light truck. Over the next 10 years, car odometers continued to roll up miles more rapidly than those of light trucks.
Preliminary information for 2024 suggests this trend has continued. Accordingly, the car population’s share of aftermarket product volume will decline at a slower pace than their shrinking portion of the vehicles in operation (VIO) might suggest.
Foreign Nameplates’ Odometers
Foreign nameplates averaged approximately 26,000 fewer odometer miles than domestic nameplates during 2013. By 2023, this odometer difference between domestic and foreign nameplates had diminished but remained substantial. Preliminary findings suggest that this trend continued in 2024.
Domestic Cars Average Highest Odometer Miles
For many years, domestic cars have averaged the highest odometer readings of any major vehicle group in the U.S. By 2023, domestic cars had pushed their average odometer reading to a record high, tens of thousands of miles more than the average foreign nameplate car and significantly higher than the average accumulated miles of all light vehicles.
Differences in Odometer Miles Among Four Vehicle Groups
In 2024, domestic cars averaged the highest odometer reading nationwide, followed by domestic nameplate light trucks. Foreign nameplate cars ranked third in average odometer readings, followed by foreign nameplate light trucks.
ICE Aftermarket Implications
The high odometer readings of domestic vehicles, coupled with the greater product use per mile as vehicles increase in age, are bolstering the ICE vehicle aftermarket.
The increased longevity of vehicles and the increasing value of used cars and light trucks are keeping ICE vehicles on the road for more years, increasing their odometer readings and boosting their aftermarket product volume.