Car Washing and Detailing Services Market

Car Washing and Detailing Services Market Outlook (2022-2032)

The global car washing and detailing services market has closed in on a valuation of US$ 34.8 billion in 2022. The market is forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% and reach a size of US$ 55.6 billion by the end of 2032.

The car washing and detailing industry is directly related to the automobile industry. The COVID pandemic did impact the progress of the car detailing service market for almost two years. Due to global lockdowns, there was hardly any movement of vehicles on the roads. In the recent past, however, the automobile industry has seen significant growth due to the enhancement of technology in manufacturing and services. From autonomous cars to electric cars, the past few years have been a roller coaster ride.

Simultaneously, the car washing industry is also witnessing the same kind of turnaround. The sudden rise of on-demand car washing and detailing services has certainly changed the game for conventional service providers. Consumers’ waiting time, price, and quality of work are some of the important factors in choosing a service provider for car washing services.

The life of cars has increased significantly in the past few decades in comparison to previous times. Nowadays, cars are lasting longer and thus need more care and maintenance. This very factor could be a great driver for the growth of the car washing industry as a whole.

Technology enhancement, green car washing, and dry car washing are some of the factors that will shape the future of the car detailing and washing services market over the years to come.

North America leads the global market for car washing and detailing services, followed by East Asia. Together, these regions account for over 50% share of the global market and will continue to dominate over the next ten years as well.

Report Attributes	Details
Car Washing and Detailing Services Market Size (2021A)	US$ 33.2 Billion
Estimated Market Value (2022E)	US$ 34.8 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (2032F)	US$ 55.6 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	4.8% CAGR
North America Market Share (2021)	~31%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	~5.6% CAGR
United States Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	~4.1% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	3M Company Allure Detail CAGGO Detail King DetailXPerts Driven Brands Car Wash Exclusive Detail GO Car Wash Mister Car Wash Quick Quack Car Wash The Auto Detailing Company Tommy’s Express Car Wash Topaz Detailing Ziebart International Corporation Zips Car Wash

Rapid Growth in Car Sales across the World

A stable global economy, along with increased disposable income and lower interest rates, has pushed the demand for new cars across the world. The industry has witnessed one of the highest numbers of first-time car owners than ever before.

Most of these first-time buyers are from the new generation of first-time office-goers. In most developing economies, owning a car becomes a status symbol in society. The new generation’s perception of owning a car is also totally different from previous generations. The current generation treats them with great affection and care. People are spending a good amount of time and money taking care of their cars. The frequency of getting a car by a professional is also increasing.

Automobile manufacturing companies are coming up with more affordable cars in terms of mileage and price. This again will have a positive impact on the car washing and detailing industry.

Technological Advancement in Car Washing Services

Like other industries, the car maintenance industry has also witnessed technological advancements in its day-to-day business activities. From automatic car washes to automatic vehicle inspection, every service earlier carried out by humans is being performed by machines with minimal interference by humans.

Services such as exterior car washing can be performed within minutes, all while the owner sits in the car. Integration of technology has helped service providers in serving several clients within a minimum stipulated period. With the help of technology, car washing service providers can save on costs and increase their revenue by increasing their productivity with minimal human interaction.

Increasing Regulations on Water Usage and Climate Change

Car washing in general uses around 40 gallons of water per wash, which could cause a drain in the water supply system. Governments across the world have come together and made a pact towards the conservation of water. On the country level also multiple regulatory bodies are acting towards water conservation.

Market players might face difficulties in the future in case of any rules are implemented against the usage of water by car washing and detailing service providers. Apart from government and regulatory bodies, the preference of car owners is also changing due to climate change and the excess use of water in the current form of car washing methods. Clients are now ready to pay extra if the products/services being provided are green/eco-friendly.

Image represents market share analysis of car washing and detailing services based on region and service provider. Under the service provider segment, conventional services stations account for more than 80% market share.

Country-wise Insights

Why is the U.S. a Huge Market for Car Washing and Detailing Services?

The motorization of the U.S. happened way before any other economies of the world. The trend of owning a car became a part of most Americans’ lifestyles. Higher disposable income along with working culture shaped the U.S. automobile sector, and simultaneously had a positive effect on the car washing and detailing industry also.

Out of the total U.S. household, 90% have at least one car, and 20% of the total households own at least 2 or more cars. These staggering numbers of cars demand higher washing and detailing services, ultimately leading to higher business numbers.

U.S. car washing and detailing service providers are way ahead in terms of the adoption of technology into their services in comparison to their counterparts located in other regions. However, as the U.S. market is highly fragmented in terms of service providers, the market will grow at a moderately low rate in comparison to developing countries such as India and China but will continue to be the largest market in terms of generating revenue.

Will India Be the Fastest-Growing Market as Expected?

Given its large pool of young population along with improved infrastructure and increasing spending power, the Indian automobile sector has been witnessing high growth in the last few years. On average, Indians have to wait for 30-60 days for a new model of any car. Manufacturers are not able to meet the fast-paced demand in the market. In terms of percentage, only 7%-8% of households in India own a car.

The Indian car detailing and washing industry is also riding the wave of growth along with the automotive industry. The Indian car maintenance industry is mostly unorganized and only 15% of the market is captured by organized players. It is expected that car ownership in India will gradually increase over the coming years, creating a plethora of opportunities for car washing and detailing service providers.

Category-wise Insights

Why Will On-Demand Service Companies Exhibit Faster Growth?

Though conventional service providers will continue to lead the market in terms of revenue, on-demand car wash and detailing service providers will witness significantly higher demand during the forecast period.

On-demand service providers give an option to customers of when and where they want the services to be performed and at what time. This is obviously not always possible in the case of conventional service providers.

Most of these on-demand vehicle washing companies are carrying out their business over the Internet. It becomes easy from the customer’s perspective to book an appointment from the comfort of the house/office and the services can be performed at the requested time. The trend is expected to continue as the new generation prefers anything that has an online presence.

Is Conveyor Car Washing Still Expected to Rule the Charts?

In comparison to other methods of car washing, the conveyor method gives a lot of options for customers to choose from. From flex washing to express washing to full-service washing, customers have an option that what kind of services they prefer. As these washing methods are performed with the help of both equipment and labor, it gives the best result also.

From a service provider’s perspective, the conveyor method speeds up the process of car washing with the utmost satisfaction. It is also a bit high priced in comparison to other methods of car washing, generating higher income for car detailing and washing service providers.

Competitive Landscape

Prominent car washing and detailing service providers are 3M Company, Allure Detail, CAGGO, Detail King, DetailXPerts, Driven Brands Car Wash, Exclusive Detail, GO Car Wash, Mister Car Wash, Quick Quack Car Wash, The Auto Detailing Company, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, Topaz Detailing, Ziebart International Corporation, and Zips Car Wash.

The market is highly unorganized. The top 20 companies have captured just 10% share of the global market. In developed countries, around 40% of the market is organized; however, in developing countries, less than 20% of the market is organized. This gives an opportunity for established market players to expand their businesses.

• In July 2022, Warburg Pincus completed the acquisition of El Car Wash, one of the largest and fastest-growing express car washing companies in the U.S.
• In September 2022, Super Star Car Wash, a leading car wash company, acquired Wave Wash, a leading conveyor car wash company.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the providers of car washing and detailing services positioned across regions, revenue growth, and service offering expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Car Washing and Detailing Services Industry Research

• By Service:

  • Car Washing
    • In-Bay Automatic Car Wash
    • Self-Service Car Wash
    • Conveyor Car Wash
  • Car Detailing
    • Exterior Car Detailing
    • Interior Car Detailing

• By End User:

  • Commercial
  • Households

• By Service Provider:

  • Conventional Service Station
  • On-Demand Service Providers

• By Region:

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • Middle East & Africa