A Market Defined by the Vehicles Already on the Road
In 2025, Europe’s roads are home to more than 259 million passenger cars in circulation, the largest car parc the region has ever recorded. These vehicles are older than ever before, with an average age of more than 12 years across the EU. Within this, strong regional differences emerge: in many Western European countries the average age is slightly lower, while in Central and Eastern Europe it rises to nearly 14 years, driven largely by older imported vehicles. Alongside this aging parc, nearly six million battery-electric cars are now registered, representing about 2.3% of all cars, and their numbers continue to grow rapidly.
This combination of scale, age, and technology mix defines the aftermarket. For parts manufacturers, every development decision, whether to extend coverage, invest in a new product line, or phase out an older reference, depends not on forecasts of production, but on the vehicles currently in operation. This is where VIO data becomes indispensable: it translates the real car parc into actionable insights for smarter portfolio management.
From Raw Data to Strategic Clarity
TecAlliance provides VIO data for more than 77 countries worldwide, covering more than 1.36 billion registered vehicles across passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and buses. For Europe alone, that means 388 million vehicles, with coverage reaching 91% of the region’s car parc.
The strength of this data lies not only in its scale, but in its structure. TecAlliance harmonizes raw registration figures into the TecDoc standard, enriches each record with more than sixty attributes, and provides access down to detailed regional levels (NUTS). This ensures that parts manufacturers can work with data that is consistent, comparable, and immediately usable for decision-making.
VIO as a Strategic Tool for Parts Manufacturers
For manufacturers, VIO data is not simply a statistical snapshot. It is the foundation for building product portfolios that match reality. By linking VIO data to TecDoc and OE references, manufacturers can measure the sales potential of each part, identify gaps in their current range, and align R&D resources with the vehicles that truly drive demand.
For example, VIO makes it possible to see where high-volume models remain underserved in a manufacturer’s catalogue. A brake disc that fits a popular mid-segment car in Germany may represent thousands of units in annual sales potential, but only if it is identified early and added to the range. Conversely, models that are declining in circulation can be deprioritized, freeing up investment for parts with stronger long-term potential.
Product Lifecycle Management: From Launch to Legacy
VIO is also critical throughout the product lifecycle. At launch, it provides transparency on which new references will have the highest impact. During mid-life, it supports decisions about stock levels and market prioritization. And in the late phase, it highlights when demand is shrinking, allowing parts manufacturers to manage parts more efficiently without overcommitting resources.
The addition of historical and forecast VIO data further extends this perspective. Parts Manufacturers can track how a car parc has evolved over the last decade and anticipate when vehicles will reach major service intervals. This enables them to time product introductions and replacements more precisely, turning data into a roadmap for sustainable portfolio strategy.
Geographic Expansion and Market Entry
Because TecAlliance VIO covers global markets with consistent standards, it also supports manufacturers looking beyond their current footprint. By comparing car parcs across countries or even regional NUTS levels, manufacturers can assess where to launch new products or expand distribution.
For example, a component that is nearing end of life in Western Europe may still represent significant demand in Eastern Europe or Latin America. VIO provides the evidence to support such strategic moves, reducing risk and maximizing opportunity.
Turning Data into Competitive Advantage
In 2025, with 259 million cars in Europe and more than 1.36 billion worldwide, the aftermarket presents both opportunity and complexity. For parts manufacturers, the difference between wasted investment and profitable growth is the ability to align product decisions with the vehicles actually in circulation. VIO provides that alignment. By linking the real car parc to TecDoc and OE data, enriched with historical and forecast perspectives, it becomes more than information, it becomes a strategic compass. For manufacturers, this means not just counting vehicles, but understanding them, prioritizing them, and turning that understanding into a competitive advantage.
