The market share of do-it-yourself (DIY) car audio installations is at about 64 percent of the aftermarket, according to a report from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
This is the overall DIY figure for car audio, alarms, cameras, smartphone integration, and mobile video.
SEMA’s 2025 Market Report also found that total online sales for the segment are 57 percent. Specialty retailers account for 11 percent of in-store sales and 9 percent of online sales in the car audio aftermarket.
The report predicts total sales of aftermarket car audio and related products will fall this year to $3.31 billion compared to $3.37 billion in sales to consumers in 2024.
Sales of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) will rise slightly to $.079 billion from $.078 billion last year.
Separately, the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) recently released final figures for Q1 sales this year compared to earlier years.
Car audio sales were down 7 percent in the first quarter (referring to product sales only, not labor).
MEA looked at first quarter results over the past few years, and found that the industry has averaged a 6 percent drop in Q1 over previous years’ first quarters since 2022.
Interesting data, and as others pointed out, it does lack definition to better tell the story of what is going in, but with that being said…
– 64% is not fringe
– DIYer’s have a bevy of resources to pool from – YouTube, Reddit, Forums, AI assistants – take a look at reviews on Amazon and you will read reviewers rate not only features, but ease of installation, or what they did to overcome a roadblock. They may not be formally trained, but they can be resourceful.
– IDatalink, Crutchfield, Metra have created products and services that make complexity easier to solve.
I am shocked at the figure stating DIY accounts for 64% of aftermarket car audio sales. Like Ray, I am very curious to know what products make up that figure. I suspect dash cameras may be contributing to that number.
Given the complexity of the dashboard from a physical point of the view and the complexity of the software that infotainment and security systems operate on, I am surprised that DIY is at 64% of the aftermarket business. Perhaps the measurement of DIY purchases includes all of the USB and Apple interface wires… I’d be curious to know the break down of product categories in the DIY purchases.
I agree 100%, DIY is generally an purchase online, and then an attempt to DIY. After they fail it then goes to the install bay at a local shop. Then our customers learn they needed a lot more little accessories that ties the install together.
I always look for older or newer vehicles that I CLEARLY know are capable of accepting an aftermarket radio, or at the very least can integrate wiring for an outboard amplifier. Anything European or with a wraparound multimedia screen…forget it.