
Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of motor vehicle supplies, accessories, tools, and equipment; and new motor vehicle parts (except new tires and tubes).
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Wholesale Trade 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Wholesale Trade sector comprises establishments engaged in wholesaling merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The merchandise described in this sector includes the outputs of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and certain information industries, such as publishing. The wholesaling process is an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise. Wholesalers are organized to sell or arrange the purchase or sale of (a) goods for resale (i.e., goods sold to other wholesalers or retailers), (b) capital or durable nonconsumer goods, and (c) raw and intermediate materials and supplies used in production. Wholesalers sell merchandise to other businesses and normally operate from a warehouse or office. These warehouses and offices are characterized by having little or no display of merchandise. In addition, neither the design nor the location of the premises is intended to solicit walk-in traffic. Wholesalers do not normally use advertising directed to the general public. Customers are generally reached initially via telephone, in-person marketing, or by specialized advertising that may include Internet and other electronic means. Follow-up orders are either vendor-initiated or client-initiated, generally based on previous sales, and typically exhibit strong ties between sellers and buyers. In fact, transactions are often conducted between wholesalers and clients that have long-standing business relationships. This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: merchant wholesalers that sell goods on their own account and agents and brokers that arrange sales and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee. (1) Establishments that sell goods on their own account are known as wholesale merchants, distributors, jobbers, drop shippers, and import/export merchants. Also included as wholesale merchants are sales offices and sales branches (but not retail stores) maintained by manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants or mines for the purpose of marketing their products, and group purchasing organizations primarily purchasing and selling goods on their own account. Merchant wholesale establishments typically maintain their own warehouse, where they receive and handle goods for their customers. Goods are generally sold without transformation, but may include integral functions, such as sorting, packaging, labeling, and other marketing services. (2) Establishments arranging for the purchase or sale of goods owned by others or purchasing goods, generally on a commission basis are known as business-to-business electronic markets, agents and brokers, commission merchants, import/export agents and brokers, auction companies, group purchasing organizations (acting as agents), and manufacturers' representatives. These establishments operate from offices and generally do not own or handle the goods they sell. Some wholesale establishments may be connected with a single manufacturer and promote and sell the particular manufacturer's products to a wide range of other wholesalers or retailers. Other wholesalers may be connected to a retail chain, or limited number of retail chains, and only provide a variety of products needed by that particular retail operation(s). These wholesalers may obtain the products from a wide range of manufacturers. Still other wholesalers may not take title to the goods, but act as agents and brokers for a commission. Although, in general, wholesaling normally denotes sales in large volumes, durable nonconsumer goods may be sold in single units. Sales of capital or durable nonconsumer goods used in the production of goods and services, such as farm machinery, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and industrial machinery, are always included in wholesale trade. |
| 423 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector sell capital or durable goods to other businesses. Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell; in other words, they buy and sell goods on their own account. Durable goods are new or used items generally with a normal life expectancy of three years or more. Durable goods merchant wholesale trade establishments are engaged in wholesaling products, such as motor vehicles, furniture, construction materials, machinery and equipment (including household-type appliances), metals and minerals (except petroleum), sporting goods, toys and hobby goods, recyclable materials, and parts. Agents and brokers primarily engaged in wholesaling durable goods, generally on a commission or fee basis, are classified in Subsector 425, Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers. |
| 4231 | Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of automobiles and other motor vehicles, motor vehicle supplies, tires, and new and used parts. |
| 42312 | Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423120. |
| 423120 | Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of motor vehicle supplies, accessories, tools, and equipment; and new motor vehicle parts (except new tires and tubes). |
Need a supply chain stack that maps to this industry?
Use this NAICS classification as the starting point, then connect it to Item workflows across inventory, warehousing, order management, fulfillment, and transportation.
Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of new and/or used tires and tubes--are classified in Industry 423130, Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of automotive chemicals (except lubricating oils and greases)--are classified in Industry 424690, Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers;
- 03Merchant wholesale distribution of lubricating oils and greases--are classified in Industry 424720, Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals); and
- 04Merchant wholesale distribution of used motor vehicle parts--are classified in Industry 423140, Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers.
Index Items
Aftermarket parts, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Auto body shop supplies merchant wholesalers
Automobile accessories (except tires, tubes) merchant wholesalers
Automobile glass merchant wholesalers
Automobile service station equipment merchant wholesalers
Automotive brakes merchant wholesalers
Automotive parts, new, merchant wholesalers
Automotive stampings merchant wholesalers
Balancing equipment, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Batteries, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Engine testing equipment, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Engines and parts, automotive, new, merchant wholesalers
Gasoline marketing equipment merchant wholesalers
Gasoline measuring and dispensing pumps merchant wholesalers
Gasoline service station equipment merchant wholesalers
Generators, motor vehicle electrical, new, merchant wholesalers
Glass, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Handtools, motor vehicle mechanics', merchant wholesalers
Hardware, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Hoists, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Mechanic's tools merchant wholesalers
Mirrors, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Motor vehicle instruments, electric, merchant wholesalers
Motor vehicle parts and accessories, new, merchant wholesalers
Motorcycle parts, new, merchant wholesalers
Mufflers, exhaust, merchant wholesalers
Oil filters, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Parts, new, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Pistons and valves, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Pumps (e.g., fuel, oil, power steering, water), automotive, merchant wholesalers
Radiators, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Seat belts, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Seat covers, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Shop equipment, service station, merchant wholesalers
Testing and measuring equipment, electrical, automotive, merchant wholesalers
Tools and equipment, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Trailer parts, new, merchant wholesalers
Truck parts, new, merchant wholesalers
Voltage regulators, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
Wheels, motor vehicle, new, merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
Advanced analytics forecast seasonal surges in specific vehicle repair parts and accessories, enabling proactive inventory adjustments and data-driven purchasing strategies to prevent stockouts.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423120.
Association of the New Automotive Parts Industry
A leading US trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of new automotive parts for passenger cars and light trucks.
United States Census Bureau NAICS 423120
The official US government resource providing detailed breakdowns, definitions, and statistics for Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers.
AutomotiveParts.net Supplier Directory
A leading industry directory listing over 5,000 verified suppliers and distributors of new motor vehicle parts for North American OEMs.