FROM AT HOME CAR WASH TO CAR WASH CENTERS, WHAT DO CONSUMERS WANT?

WHO WASHES THEIR CAR AT HOME?

WHO WASHES THEIR CAR AT CAR WASH CENTERS?

Household customers account for the largest share of car wash & detailing industry revenue at approximately 76%. Car Wash & Detailing household customers are broadly defined as consumers that have a driver’s license, own a car, and are older than 16 years of age. Business customers contribute 22% of industry revenue. Revenue from this segment is largely derived from servicing delivery vans and taxi cabs.

“Recent improvements in consumers’ disposable income will help the industry rebound in the coming years, with anticipated revenue growth of 3.3% annually to reach $7.7 billion by 2018.”

Key industry drivers include consumer spending habits and new car sales. Through 2023, motor vehicle registrations are expected to increase 1.3% annually, resulting in increased consumer demand for after-market services such as car washes.

The industry includes full and self -service car wash facilities, as well as truck and bus washes and vehicle detailing services. Interior cleaning and hand wax services are offered by 59.4% of car wash centers, followed by exterior cleaning (56.5%), shampoo floor mats (50.7%) and upholstery cleaning (46.4%) to name just a few.

Sources: Car Wash Industry Profile (First Research), Mintel, EPA & Wash Trends Magazine, Professional Car Wash & Detailing Magazine. Infographics with Infographic Creator.

KEY CAR CARE MARKET TRENDS

SUSTAINABILITY

The sustainability trend has taken precedence over the last 5 years. 83% of all ingredients found in consumer car care product launches in North America have a green claim; for instance, biodegradable and plant-based. Additionally, environmentally friendly product and botanical/herbal are included in the top 10 marketing claims. Furthermore, the need for environmentally friendly and waterless/no rinse products due to environmental concerns and restrictions are of increasing need and desire.

MULTIPURPOSE PRODUCTS

Today, household products marketed as multipurpose compete with products designed specifically for car care, more prominently in the surface and glass cleaning categories.

29% of household product launches in North America are positioned as all purpose/multi-purpose surface care, driving their extended use as alternatives to clean car surfaces.

This is creating further market opportunity for the HI&I formulator, while increasing the need for differentiation from the manufacturers of products targeted exclusively to vehicle care. The focus is on multipurpose products that are fast acting and provide repellant and protection properties to ensure long-lasting cleaning benefits.

ODOR NEUTRALIZING & CONVENIENCE

Odor neutralizing, ease of use and time/speed are included in the top 10 marketing claims for car care product launches in North America over the last 10 years. In line with today’s consumers lifestyles, products that reduce cleaning time and make next-time-cleaning easier continue to be in high demand.

FORMULATION SOLUTIONS

Emulsifiers
Dicoco Quat	CARSPRAY 300	Beading & sheeting. Versatile. 70-80% active in IPA (no added water).
Quat/Nonionic	CARSPRAY 400	Promotes sheeting while maintaining beading on surfaces.
Quat/Nonionic	CARSPRAY 401	High flash version of CARSPRAY 400 in Propylene Glycol.
Hydrophobes
Ester Oil	TEGOSOFT® OS	Ethylhexyl Stearate. Versatile. Good biodegradability. Low toxicity and odor.
Ester Oil	TEGOSOFT® OL	Ethylhexyl Laurate. Versatile. Good biodegradability. Low toxicity and odor.
Formulation Aids
Nonionic	CARSPRAY 205	Co-emulsifier. Superior co-emulsifier for drying aids/rinse aids.
Performance Enhancers
Silicone Quat	TEGOPREN® 6922	Quaternium 80. Long-term protection and hydrophobicity. Speeds up the drying effect.
Silicone Quat	TEGO® Polish Additiv Q 70	Quaternium 80 blend. Protection, high gloss, hydrophobicity, and color refreshment.
Amino Functional Silicone	TEGO® Polish Additiv ACS	Amosiloxane. Self-emulsifying (W/O) amino siloxane & protective surface finish. Water repellency. Weather resistance. Adds depth to color.
Surfactant	Barlox™️ 10 S	Decyl Dimethyl Amine Oxide. This controlled foaming surfactant can be used in a broad number of industrial applications where coupling, detergency and formulation compatibility are important. Amongst Arxada’s BarloxTM amine oxides, BarloxTM 10S is one of the lowest foamers.
Specialty Polymer	REWOCARE® 755	Repels dirt, spot and streak free. Easier next-time cleaning. Speeds up drying effect. Gloss and extra shine.
Detergents
Surfactant	Dehypound® HDG	Optimized, proprietary low foaming surfactant blend. Provides superior hard surface cleaning on broad spectrum of soils without needing solvents.
Surfactant	Dehypound® M	Optimized, proprietary, bio-based moderate foaming nonionic surfactant blend. Exceptional streak-free hard surface cleaning on broad spectrum of soils without needing solvents.
Surfactant	Lutensol XL Series	Nonionic surfactants with excellent wetting action & perform very well as emulsifiers. Good degreasing action.
Surfactant	Lutensol XP Series	Nonionic surfactants with high wetting power on hard surfaces.
Foam Boosting
Surfactant	Dehyton PK 45	Amphoteric surfactant that effectively boosts foam and builds viscosity.
Surfactant	Glucopon 420 UP	Alkyl polyglycoside surfactant. Provides excellent detergency, superior wetting. High foam with good primary cleaning.
Surfactant	Glucopon 215 UP	Aqueous solution of alkyl polyglycosides. Good wetting and dispersing properties.
Essential Wash
Surfactant	REWOQUAT® CQ AL 100	Blend of nonionic and cationic surfactants with excellent cleaning properties and optimal degreasing performance. Anti-static effects.
Drying Aids
Emulsifier	TOMADRY™️ E 40	Balanced beading-sheeting action for optimized drying.
Other Formulation Solutions
Methylglycinediacetic Acid (MGDA)	Trilon M	Green, biodegradable. Effective at lower concentrations.
Caprylyl/Myristyl Glucoside	Glucopon 425 N	Made from renewable resources, readily biodegradable. Superior wetting, safe for all surfaces.
Proprietary Surfactant	Inoterra DWE	Biodegradable, environmentally friendly, NP-9 replacement. Efficient at low concentrations, superior degreasing properties. Excellent in spray applications.
Cationic Surfactant	Dehyquart CSP	Biodegradable, Provides quick drying, water repelling agents that leave a long lasting gloss effect. Less Flammable and more cost effective!