The Booming U.S. Automotive Accessories Market and TikTok’s Role in Viral Success
Car Ownership in the U.S.: A Driving Force for Market Growth
Car ownership in the United States is among the highest globally, with over 90% of households owning at least one vehicle and more than half owning two or more. This widespread car ownership fuels a massive automotive accessories market, creating lucrative opportunities for brands in various niche segments.
A Simple Towel Achieves Over 5,000 Monthly Amazon Sales
The DIY culture in the U.S., driven by high labor costs, has led many Americans to handle car maintenance tasks themselves. Blackline Car Care, a brand specializing in car cleaning products, capitalized on this trend with its innovative microfiber towel.
This seemingly ordinary towel, priced at $29.99, boasts a 4.7-star rating from 318 reviews and surpassed 5,000 monthly sales on Amazon. Its success is attributed to its superior absorbency, quick-drying efficiency, and a viral marketing boost from TikTok.
A small badge on the product image reading “Viral on TikTok” highlights the pivotal role the platform played in driving sales.
$1 Million in Sales from a Viral TikTok Video
In October, Blackline Car Care experienced explosive growth after a simple 8-second TikTok video featuring its towel went viral. The clip, showing a towel effortlessly removing water stains from a car, garnered over 10 million views, 400,000 likes, and 2,000 comments.
Priced at $19.90 in the TikTok shop, the towel sold over 20,000 units in one month, generating approximately $1 million in revenue. Blackline’s TikTok account, now boasting over 110,000 followers and 3 million likes, has become a cornerstone of its marketing strategy.
TikTok: A Game-Changer for Automotive Brands
Blackline is not the only brand leveraging TikTok’s massive audience. Other automotive accessory brands, such as Hieha Carplay and lisen.tech, have also achieved viral success:
• Hieha Carplay: Sold over 40,000 units in just 20 days, with peak daily sales of 3,900 orders, fueled by a single influencer video garnering over 2 million views.
• lisen.tech: In less than a year, this car mount brand amassed 50,000 TikTok followers, with viral videos like one earning 12.7 million views and 148,400 likes.
The Future of the Automotive Accessories Market
The global automotive accessories market is projected to grow from $526.34 billion in 2024 to $807.77 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.50%. TikTok’s ability to generate viral content and boost brand visibility presents a powerful opportunity for new and emerging sellers to achieve rapid success.
For automotive brands looking to penetrate the market, TikTok offers an effective platform to build awareness, engage audiences, and achieve a “cold start” in an increasingly competitive industry.