Podcast Summary: The US Auto Business Through the Aftermarket’s Eyes

Podcast: Bloomberg Businessweek
Hosts: Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec
Guest: Brian Maciak, CEO of Full Speed Automotive
Date: January 20, 2026

Overview

This episode explores the current state of the US automotive market with a unique angle: the perspective of the aftermarket service sector. Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with Brian Maciak, CEO of Full Speed Automotive (parent company of Grease Monkey, Speedy Oil Change & Auto Service, Quick Car, etc.), about trends among US car owners, their maintenance habits, and how economic and technological changes are shaping both consumer behavior and business strategy in auto repair and maintenance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Porsche Example: Setting the Stage

[01:37–02:24]

• Hosts highlight recent news: Porsche’s global deliveries fell 10% in the previous year, the steepest drop since 2009.
• Weak EV demand and a slump in China are blamed alongside supply chain and tariff complexities.

The Aftermarket Lens: How Consumers Approach Car Maintenance

Interview with Brian Maciak begins at [02:24]

Changing Consumer Habits

• Americans increasingly see car maintenance as “a grudge purchase. Right. It’s a chore.” (Brian Maciak, [03:06])
• Full Speed Automotive’s brands serve millions at ~900 locations—giving them insight into national consumer trends.
• Customers want “value,” “efficiency,” and minimal time spent on service.
  • Brian: “Nobody wakes up in the morning and is excited to go get an oil change.” ([03:06])

Economic Signals in Car Servicing

• High new-vehicle costs ($50,000 avg.) and monthly payments ($700) are forcing consumers to hold onto cars longer—average car age is about 13.5 years, with 300 million vehicles on US roads ([04:04-04:31]).
• “They’re keeping their cars longer…they have to go to preventative maintenance…but they’re trying to watch their pocketbook.” ([04:31])
• Consumers are stretching service intervals: previously visiting every three months, now every five to six months—“We might see that customer only two times a year.” ([05:09–05:20])
• This shift began about 12–18 months ago ([05:20])

The Cautious, Frugal Consumer

• Consumers are more cautious and price-sensitive, reflecting the general mood despite strong headline economic indicators ([05:27–05:48]).
• Quote: “I think they’re frugal, and they’re very, very cautious about spending anything unnecessarily out of their pocketbook.” – Brian Maciak ([05:48])
• Desire for “efficiency” and “trust” is key; 70% of people distrust auto maintenance shops.

Technology & Trust in Automotive Service

• Full Speed Automotive is tackling trust issues by providing digital inspections:
  • “We don’t want you to take our word for it…we want to send you a digital vehicle inspection on your phone so you can see it.” ([05:48–06:43])
• Real-world anecdotes:
  • Carol’s story about a video showing rat damage to a car ([07:32–08:17]).
• The power imbalance between technicians and consumers makes transparency vital:
  • “Customer doesn’t know anything…The person working on the car seems to have all the power.” – Carol Massar ([08:26])
• Approach: Technicians show both what is in good shape and what will need replacement soon, building trust and driving future business ([08:40–09:06]).

Workforce & Labor Trends

• Servicing modern vehicles requires more technical skill—shift from “do it yourself” to “do it for me” ([09:36–09:41]).
• Recruiting from trade schools and the military: “These are people that are well trained, they show up on time, they’re loyal, very, very good workers, and they stay with you for a while.” – Brian Maciak ([09:41-10:03])
• Persistent trade skills gap: Hard to hire master mechanics, though Full Speed focuses on entry-level positions and robust in-house training ([10:03–10:47]).

Business Structure & Strategy

• Of ~900 stores, 300 are company-owned; remainder are franchises or licensees ([11:00–11:11]).
• Owned by private equity (MidOcean Partners) for five years; focus currently is on top-line and network growth, primarily franchise expansion ([11:15–11:20]).

The Multi-Brand Approach

• Regional brand loyalty matters—hence multiple store brands persist ([11:35–12:10]):
  • “In some pockets, in some regions…they really want to go to their small regional brand that they’ve gone to all the time. There’s name cache there. And for us to change it would be a silly business decision.” – Brian Maciak ([11:39])

The EV Question

• Electric vehicles don’t need oil changes, but hybrids (a growing segment) do ([12:10–12:38]).
• The company offers diversified services (brakes, tires, etc.)—EVs still require some of these:
  • “Hybrids need oil changes. Where we’re trying to even see those EVs are we offer a diversified menu of services. So…we still see them.” – Brian Maciak ([12:39])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the customer mindset:
  • “Nobody wakes up in the morning and is excited to go get an oil change.” – Brian Maciak ([03:06])
• On economic impact:
  • “Average cost to buy a new vehicle is about $50,000…people are spending an average of about $700 a month…and that is forcing people to keep their cars longer.” – Brian Maciak ([04:04])
• On trust and transparency:
  • “About 70% of people distrust the folks that work in my industry. And we are trying our best to reverse that trend.” – Brian Maciak ([05:48])
  • “We want to show you visually…a digital vehicle inspection on your phone so you can see it.” – Brian Maciak ([06:00])
• On regional branding:
  • “There’s name cache…for us to change it would be a silly business decision.” – Brian Maciak ([11:39])
• On EVs’ effect:
  • “It really hasn’t transferred…hybrids are important…but hybrids need oil changes…they still need brakes…so we still see them.” – Brian Maciak ([12:18–12:39])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Porsche/Industry News & Setup: [01:37–02:24]
• Full Speed Automotive Overview Begins: [02:24]
• Consumer Attitudes & Economic Trends: [03:06–05:27]
• Technology, Trust, and the Power Dynamic: [05:48–09:06]
• Labor & Workforce Gap: [09:13–10:47]
• Business Ownership, Strategy, & Branding: [11:00–12:10]
• Electrification & Service Diversification: [12:10–12:52]

Conclusion

The discussion offers a unique “aftermarket” pulse of the US auto sector—painting a picture of frugal, efficiency-focused consumers keeping cars for over a decade, demanding transparency from service providers, and facing a shift toward skilled, technology-driven auto maintenance. Despite talk about EVs upending the old oil-change business, the data and day-to-day reality (with EV and hybrid servicing, plus regional brand loyalty) show a slow evolution rather than a sudden disruption.

Summary prepared for listeners who want practical, on-the-ground insights into American car ownership, consumer mood, and how the repair business is adapting to technology and economics in 2026.