In 2026, China's automotive aftermarket market size exceeded 2 trillion yuan, with growing demand for car wash services.
According to industry association statistics, the overall size of China's automotive aftermarket grew by 12.3% year-over-year in the first half of 2026. Notably, demand for self-service and automatic car wash equipment surged, reflecting owners' preference for efficient and convenient services.
The "H1 2026 Auto Aftermarket Development Report" released recently by the China Association of Automobile Traders shows that the industry's total scale reached 1.08 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%, and is expected to surpass 2 trillion yuan for the full year. In segmented areas, the car wash service sector stood out: purchases of automatic car wash equipment rose 18.7% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing categories.
Rising consumption drives demand
The report indicates that as household incomes rise and lifestyles accelerate, car owners' expectations for car wash services have evolved from "clean" to "fast, high-quality, and enjoyable." Traditional manual washing is gradually being replaced by automated systems due to longer service times and inconsistent quality. In settings like gas stations and large shopping center parking lots, unmanned computerized car wash machines have become standard infrastructure.
Policy tailwinds boost industry growth
In recent years, local governments across multiple regions have introduced policies to support the transformation and upgrading of the automotive service industry. For instance, Beijing encourages gas stations to add automated car wash services, while Shanghai provides subsidies for new parking lots that include integrated car wash facilities. These measures have effectively lowered investment barriers for operators and accelerated the adoption of automated car wash equipment.
Accelerating tech iteration intensifies competition
As the market expands, competition intensifies. Leading vendors are increasing R&D investment to launch new products that are more efficient, energy-saving, and intelligent. Technologies such as touchless car washing, AI visual recognition, and IoT remote monitoring are reshaping the industry landscape. In the future, suppliers offering end-to-end solutions—rather than single devices—will gain a competitive edge.
Industry experts predict that by 2030, China's installed base of automatic car wash equipment could exceed 10 units, with the market size reaching 500 billion yuan. For investors, choosing brands with strong technical capabilities and comprehensive service systems is key to capitalizing on this opportunity.