Brothers and parts: who rules the $211 billion repair business

Behind the car that gets back on the road after a breakdown lies a massive market: maintenance, parts and repair shops handle staggering sums. In the United States, the sector is worth about $211 billion and keeps growing as vehicles age and repair bills climb.

Family-run businesses are helping drive the trade by controlling supply chains, warehouses and services. It is a model that also matters in Europe and Italy, where higher prices and older cars make after-sales support increasingly important.