When buying
a car, you want to make it your own. You want to put your own personal stamp on
it and make it feel like you, and share your sense of style. The easiest way to
do this is by purchasing some accessories for your vehicle.
In 2013, an
array of vehicle accessories flew off the shelves of dealerships and auto
accessory retailers. Let’s look at the most popular car accessories of the past
year.
The number
one selling vehicle accessory category last year was protection products. Floor
mats, specifically, were the top sellers. The continuation of longer car
ownership cycles and harsh winters contributed to the trend of floor mats
selling a high volume of products. Floor mats outsold the second most popular
accessory, splash guards, by a count of 2-to-1.
Another
area of accessories that raked in the sales in the last year was exterior
protection products, including alarms and remote starters. Paint protection
products garnered the number one spot in total retail sales, as well as dealer
profits. A colder than usual winter helped remote starters see a spike in sales
in the last half of the year. And, as a way to curtail auto thefts, car alarms
also saw an increase in sales last year.
While many
consumers may think that adding accessories that bring a touch of style to
their vehicles would be a top-seller, in the last year, this wasn’t the case.
Convenience accessories took home more sales than stylish accessories. Cargo
trays and cargo organizers came in ranked seventh in sales in factory interior
category for total sales.
An increase
in sales for trucks and SUVs helped boost the sales of some other convenience
accessories. Step bars, roof racks, and cargo interiors saw a jump in their
sales, thanks to the boost in SUV and truck sales.
When you
compare the sales of accessories by volume, revenue, and profit, the number one
seller across all categories was protection products. This makes sense with the
increase in car ownership lengths. The longer a vehicle is owned by a buyer,
the more they are going to want to ensure that it is protected. Whether that
means keeping the interior floors clean with floor mats, or by purchasing paint
protection plans, or even splash guards, car owners are going to great lengths
to find accessories that will keep their vehicle protected. And keep it in
great condition for the long haul.
When it
comes to brand-specific accessory purchases, Japanese model vehicles raked in
the most sales. The Toyota Camry was the most accessorized vehicle for Toyota.
Accord saw the most sales for Honda, Altima for Nissan, and Sonata for Hyundai.
Domestically, trucks, SUVs, and vans were the most accessorized models.
Author Bio:
Paul is a
freelance writer for Beyer Ford, previously
known as Warnock Ford, one of the top Used CarDealerships in NJ sharing tips and tricks about the auto industry.