Lighting – A Service Opportunity

The most discussed topic in automotive lighting for the past few years has been “LED” technology. I’m sure you have heard that because of long life, this new, long-lasting light source will do away with the need for lighting replacement service. And it is true that on many high-end models, LED lighting is used for primary forward lighting as well as those sockets formerly fitted with small miniature lamps.

So, is it time to box up all those old 194 bulbs and send them to a museum? Not yet.

LED lighting is a great technology that provides a better, brighter, longer-lasting light source. Without a doubt, LED’s will profoundly impact the lighting service business in the coming years. The good news for today’s shops is there are at least two important opportunities that can keep your lighting service business an integral part of your overall service offering.

The first is to look at how many older vehicles are still on the road. The latest government statistics show that the average age of the vehicles in the USA is at an all- time high of 12.2 years. What that means is that the vehicles most likely to be serviced by non-dealer service centers are fitted with “older” lighting products like incandescent miniature lamps, halogen capsules, HID lighting capsules, and in some cases, even halogen sealed beam headlamps. You probably have all these items in your inventory right now. The key to selling them, like it has been for decades, is to perform a quick lighting inspection on every vehicle that comes in your shop. Checking the exterior lights takes no more than a couple of minutes at most. If you also can check interior lighting, the sales opportunity expands greatly. Performing consistent lighting inspections is the single most important thing you can do to establish and grow a profitable lighting business.

The second item to be aware of is the opportunity to service fleets, or at least “fleet- type” vehicles. We all see these types of vehicles more and more every day, even in our own neighborhoods. Delivery trucks and vans are more in use than ever, often working far after sunset. Lighting for these vehicles is a crucial safety element, both for the driver and for other motorists. Models such as the Chevy City Express, Ford E- Series, Transit, and Transit Connect, Mercedes Sprinter, Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City, Nissan NV’s, the specialty Mitsubishi, and Isuzu chassis cabs, and even the work versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram, and Ford F-Series pickups are all fitted with standard incandescent miniature lamps, halogen capsules, and in some of the older models, halogen headlamps. Up to now, cost considerations have kept these work-truck models from adapting LED lighting technology, but that just means more replacement opportunities for aftermarket service providers.

Lighting is a vital part of the safety system on every vehicle ever built. It can and should still be an integral part of your shops complete service offering.