Richmond Street Automotive sees more aging vehicles in Appleton area

Richmond Street Automotive says more Fox Valley drivers are bringing in vehicles well past warranty, mirroring a national trend toward longer ownership. The shift is pushing routine maintenance and repair needs higher as the average U.S. vehicle age keeps climbing.

Why it matters: - Longer vehicle ownership is changing when drivers need repairs, with older cars and trucks more likely to need service on parts that typically last through the first years of ownership. - The trend is expanding the automotive aftermarket as aging fleets and more complex vehicles drive demand for maintenance and repair. - For local drivers, preventive maintenance matters more because small issues can turn into larger repairs on higher-mileage vehicles.

What happened: - Richmond Street Automotive in Appleton said a growing share of vehicles entering its service bays are past manufacturer warranty coverage. - The shop tied that local pattern to a national shift toward keeping vehicles longer. - Brent Vanden Heuvel, the shop’s owner, said drivers can get many more years out of the vehicles they already own if small problems are caught early. - Vanden Heuvel also said drivers should separate urgent repairs from work that can wait.

The details: - S&P Global Mobility said the average age of light vehicles on U.S. roads reached 12.8 years, up for the second straight year. - S&P Global Mobility said 289 million vehicles are in operation nationwide. - Passenger cars now average 14.5 years, while light trucks average 11.9 years. - The Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers project the U.S. light-duty automotive aftermarket will grow 5.2% in 2026 and top $500 billion by 2029. - Richmond Street Automotive employs ASE Certified Technicians and says its team has more than 50 years of combined industry experience. - As a NAPA AutoCare Center, the shop backs qualifying repairs with the NAPA Nationwide Peace of Mind Warranty. - The warranty covers parts and labor for 24 months or 24,000 miles and is honored at more than 14,000 NAPA AutoCare locations. - The shop also offers repair financing through NAPA EasyPay and Snap Finance. - After-hours towing is available for vehicles that need to be brought in outside business hours. - Richmond Street Automotive provides brake repair, engine repair, alternator and battery service, air conditioning repair, belts and hoses replacement, oil changes, tire repair and alignment. - The shop is located at 1731 N Richmond St in Appleton. - Richmond Street Automotive serves customers across Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties, including Neenah, Menasha, Oshkosh, Kaukauna and New London. - The shop also serves Chilton and surrounding communities. - More information is available on the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The national vehicle-age data suggests more repairs will shift from occasional fixes to routine maintenance for many households. - The warranty and financing offerings indicate the shop is positioning itself for owners of older vehicles who may need both coverage and payment flexibility. - The emphasis on preventive maintenance reflects a market where delaying service can be more expensive than addressing wear early.

What's next: - Aging vehicles are likely to keep sending more repair work to local shops as drivers postpone replacement. - The aftermarket growth outlook suggests steady demand for services tied to batteries, brakes, cooling systems and other wear items. - Fox Valley drivers with higher-mileage vehicles will likely face more decisions about what to repair now and what to defer.

The bottom line: - Older vehicles are becoming the norm, and Richmond Street Automotive is seeing that shift show up in everyday repair work.**