EVs and ADAS: Canadian aftermarket must assert credibility now or lose the segment

Without strategic repositioning, dealerships claim authority over modern vehicles by default.

The shift toward electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is one of the most urgent challenges facing the Canadian automotive aftermarket in 2026. According to the Jan Kelley report, dealerships are naturally establishing themselves as the go-to resource for modern vehicle service — often simply because aftermarket players have not yet clearly communicated their capability to handle these vehicles.

For Canadian repair shops, every month of inaction is a month of market share lost. Credibility in EVs and ADAS doesn’t materialize overnight: it requires investment in technician training, calibration equipment, and strategic communication. Shops that act now will be recognized as specialists; those that wait risk permanently losing this growing customer segment to dealer service networks.

Text credit : According to the Jan Kelley report — 6 trends that will shape the Canadian used car market in 2026