Episode 63: MEMA Execs Bill Long and Paul McCarthy on Navigating Uncertainty with Optimism

In this episode of DriveTime, as the VISION conference kicked off in Chicago, Bill Long, president and CEO of MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, and Paul McCarthy, president of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, addressed supplier sentiment about the current state of the aftermarket, describing it as a mix of urgency and cautious optimism. Industry leaders agree there’s never been a more critical time for suppliers to come together, given the wide range of challenges: tariffs, shifting sourcing strategies, profitability pressures, the REPAIR Act, consolidation, and talent and technology concerns. VISION’s mission to clarify what success looks like now — and in the future — has never been more relevant.

Resilience and Opportunity
Despite these challenges, there is strong resilience and opportunity in the aftermarket, stressed Long and McCarthy. While 2024 wasn’t a standout sales year, midterm indicators — vehicle age, miles driven and VIO — remain solid. Technology, especially ADAS, is emerging as a key growth area. New research shared at VISION signals that innovation may soon deliver real gains in efficiency and margin. As near-term disruption continues and long-term strategies evolve, suppliers are relying on collaboration and insight to move forward.

REPAIR Act Automotive Impact: Supplier Sentiment and Industry Outlook

The REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566) is considered essential for the industry’s future, Long and McCarthy stressed. Introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL-02), this bipartisan bill protects consumer choice, fair market competition and property rights — especially as telematics and over-the-air updates create new barriers. Long and McCarthy emphasized the urgency of passing the bill within this Congressional session — the next 20 months — and underscore that victory will come from continued grassroots action and engagement at the local level.

To hear more details about Long’s and McCarthy’s aftermarket perspective, make sure to watch the video above.

Episode Overview:
• Supplier sentiment about the current state of the automotive aftermarket (1:10)
• Legislative issues and the impact to supplier member businesses (6:02)
• Current state of affairs of REPAIR Act legislation (12:36)
• Goals of the MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Training Council (19:25)
• Aftermarket Outlook 2025…what did MEMA get right and what did MEMA get wrong? (21:54)
• Lightning Round (32:37).