The Accesories Trend Report indicates the increase was driven by consumer interest in electronics add-ons, as well as by the desire to balance style with economy.
The report, which relies on sales data from 140 dealerships across the country, also reveals the top accessory category varies depending on the region: Mid-Atlantic - Electronics, Midwest - Factory Exterior, Northeast - Electronics, South - Window Tint and West - Factory Exterior.
In terms of sheer retail sales and dealer profits, the "Upholstery" category sits at the top, while in terms of volume of parts sold last year's customer clearly concentrated on style and a little bit on utility, while also being sensitive to pricing.
Among the dealers included in the study, Toyota and Honda were the top two brands for both overall accessories revenue and profits-per-sale, with another important move being Ford's top five comeback.
"This report clearly indicates that dealership accessory sales and profits have evolved well beyond just floor mats," said izmocars CMO Mike Martinez. "Even in last year's challenging economy, profit drivers such as factory exterior items (providing a touch of style at a manageable price), electronics, and old reliables like step bars and upholstery, sold extremely well at dealerships across the country. Given the results in this study, we believe that, with the right tools, U.S. auto dealership share of the accessories market could nearly double in the year ahead."
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