AAPEX & SEMA 2025 Report

AI, diagnostics, and emerging trends in the automotive aftermarket

Last week, our team at WrenchLane had the opportunity to attend two of the biggest events in the automotive world — AAPEX 2025 and the SEMA Show 2025 in Las Vegas. Both shows brought together thousands of industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of the global automotive aftermarket.

At AAPEX, held at The Venetian Expo, we joined over 130,000 attendees and more than 2,500 exhibitors representing every corner of the $2.3 trillion aftermarket industry. The innovation this year was unmistakable — artificial intelligence, advanced diagnostics, EV/ADAS technology, and clean energy solutions are now driving the next wave of transformation in repair and maintenance.

Across town at the SEMA Show in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the innovation was even stronger. With more than 2,400 companies showcasing innovations in shop management, diagnostics, performance, customization and aftermarket electronics, one theme connected it all: AI is no longer a futuristic concept — it's here, and it's already changing how the industry operates.

For us at WrenchLane, both events were a powerful reminder of why we're building what we're building — to help independent mechanics and workshops stay at the forefront of this AI-driven evolution in automotive service.

Key Trends in AI and Diagnostics

1. AI-Powered diagnostics will become a standard. Major suppliers showcased AI-driven diagnostic platforms that interpret complex DTCs and recommend likely repair paths. Shops are moving from static scan tools toward predictive, context-aware systems.
2. Technician empowerment and workflow automation. New platforms presented AI assistants designed to reduce diagnostic time, guide technicians through repair steps, and integrate OEM data such as wiring diagrams and TSBs.
3. EV and ADAS complexity drives AI adoption. As vehicle architectures grow more software-driven, repair shops face challenges decoding sensors, ECUs, and advanced driver-assistance systems. AI tools are now bridging this gap between OEM and aftermarket data.
4. Integration of financial and operational software. Shop management providers are embedding automation and BI into daily operations, emphasizing end-to-end workflow — from diagnostics to customer billing.

Some interesting and innovative products

SPARQ - Consumer AI-powered vehicle health check

SPARQ showcased its OBD-II-based diagnostic and mobile application, which translates 50,000+ error codes into user-friendly insights. The app provides vehicle health scores and AI-powered conversational explanations for drivers. SPARQ also won the best Tool Equipment Product at SEMA this year.

SPARQ focuses on consumer empowerment, not workshop workflows. However, its success underscores growing consumer demand for accessible diagnostics — SPARQ is a direct competitor to the German app Carly.

MECH AI - AI-powered assistant for mechanics and DIYers

Just like WrenchLane, MECH AI provides repair technicians with real-time AI-guided diagnostics, step-by-step repair instructions, OEM diagrams, TSBs, and VIN-based search. It claims to reduce diagnostic time by up to 50%.

Shift Automotive - Shop and Technician productivity

Shift provides a platform for technicians to earn more, blending predictive maintenance, BI and workflow optimization. Shift shows that technician productivity platforms are gaining traction.

Launch Tech USA (PredictaFix Integration)

Launch Tech USA, a professional diagnostic hardware, introduced PredictaFix, powered by CarTechIQ. The AI engine analyzes fault codes, symptoms, and historical repair data to recommend likely fixes directly through Launch's newest diagnostic tools. The integration demonstrates that AI-guided repair recommendations are being embedded in diagnostic hardware. It validates the market's demand for intelligence beyond code reading and positions your platform as the software complement to such tools.

Bosch Mobility Aftermarket (Super Technician)

Bosch unveiled the "Super Technician," an AI-powered assistant for professional repair environments, capable of interpreting diagnostic data, generating likely repair scenarios, and assisting technicians remotely. Bosch's AI strategy confirms a global shift among incumbents toward embedded diagnostic intelligence.

SMS /DMS /GMS Market

There are a lot of providers in the US compared to Europe. At SEMA there were 50+ of which 10 are large brands. Below are some examples:

Shop Boss offers digital vehicle inspections, invoicing, and scheduling tools for repair shops. Its "AI ProNotes" feature assists in documenting and communicating inspection findings. Shop Boss represents the business management layer of the aftermarket tech stack.

Vehlo offers workflow automation, customer engagement, and payment systems across over 30,000 repair facilities. Recent acquisitions, including Shop-Ware and Total Customer Connect, demonstrate a consolidation strategy in the service-lane software space.

Conclusion

Attending AAPEX and SEMA 2025 made it clear that artificial intelligence has truly arrived in the automotive aftermarket. What stood out most was how quickly AI is moving from concept to reality — shaping diagnostics, technician workflows, BI, and even how shops manage customers and payments.

These trends reaffirm why we're building WrenchLane. The industry is clearly heading toward a connected, intelligent, and data-driven repair environment — and we're positioned right at the center of that change. Our mission remains simple: to make advanced diagnostics and automation accessible to every workshop, not just the big players.