Aftermarket Automatic Tailgate: Pros & Cons

Attention automotive businesses in Southeast Asia and the Middle East! As a wholesaler, you are always on the lookout for any new product that will enhance the satisfaction of your customers and, in turn, increase your profits. One product that continues to appear in tailgate automatic wholesalers is aftermarket automatic tailgates. From workshops to auto parts dealers, it seems to be the latest trend from Jakarta to Dubai. But is it a golden opportunity, or will it create more headaches than it’s worth? Let me explain this from a distributor's point of view, not from a tech-savvy perspective, as customers need to sell products that will perform and sustain an ongoing profitable business.

Let’s talk about the aftermarket automatic tailgate, specifically, the kits that allow owners of certain SUVs and trucks to add hands free liftgate functionality. From an aftermarket point of view, you are not just selling a box of parts to your customers; you are selling convenience and a modern upgrade to the lifestyle of the vehicle. Being able to explain the complete picture of aftermarket automatic tailgates will assist you in making effective inventory decisions and will allow for better consultation with your business customers.

Analyzing the Potential of Aftermarket Automatic Tailgates

Although demand for vehicle comfort and tech features is increasing in most regions, popular SUVs on the roads in Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are often manufactured without the power tailgate feature. This creates a large opportunity for aftermarket kits, as they meet customer need for added utility and luxury without the need for purchasing a new premium vehicle. This also means for you, as a wholesaler, recurring revenue opportunities from auto workshops, customization centers, and retail parts stores.

The Benefits: Why This Product is Successful

Let’s start with the good news. There are, indeed, numerous reasons why this product category has been successful.

Increased Ease of Use and Practicality
This is the primary benefit and it is very compelling. Think of your clientele’s clientele; families with children who are trying to pack the car with groceries, adventure enthusiasts with gear, tradespeople with dirty hands trying to access their tools, and everyone else who will find using a simple foot wave or button press to access the trunk very convenient. This is a real problem that people face every single day, and solving it with a new product is going to increase demand. This advantage is going to make automating the tailgate a much easier sell than other, more aesthetic accessories.

Increased Value and Marketability of the Vehicle
With the addition of an automated tailgate, vehicles also get “upgraded.” Older cars feel new. Everybody “automated” tailgates are a hot new trend. This is particularly important for commercial users. Small business owners driving around in automated tailgate pickups or vans look and feel more professional. In addition to being functional, an upgraded tailgate also provides the owner with a more pleasurable driving and driving experience.

Great Potential Across Multiple Industries
One of the best aspects of the automated tailgate is how much it caters to your B2B clientele’s clients. There is a lot of cross-value in your B2B clientele’s different target audiences. With automated tailgate installations, small business owners will look more professional. Families driving SUVs will experience an improved daily driving experience. Outdoor enthusiasts will have easier access to gear, and tradespeople will have improved access to their tools. There is so much potential market cross-value that it decreases market risk.

Profitability and Competitive Edge
For your downstream workshop and installer clients, this is a value-adding service with sustainable margins. It’s more complex than an oil change, but once trained, their technicians will be able to do it over and over. By giving them dependable kits, you enable them to provide this service, which makes you a significant solutions partner and not just a provider.

The Challenges and Considerations: Navigating the Pitfalls

Now, let’s be honest. It’s not all upside. Understanding the challenges is what separates successful wholesalers from those who are left with returned inventory.

Why is product quality so important?
It is the one thing that can make or break a product. Automatic tailgate kit is an example of a poorly designed vehicle accessory that will ruin a reputation. Issues with automatic tailgate kits include slow operation, loud grinding noises, motor failure, and safety sensor malfunctions that will lead to end-customer frustration. End customers will not know the factory and will place the blame on the shop. Therefore, choosing a factory with good reputation is a must. Companies with good reputation will have plenty of automotive mechanisms, engineering teams, and good quality materials that can withstand heat or humidity.

Installation Difficulties and Technical Support
This is not a simple plug and play mechanism. Technical installation of the tailgate should be done by a certified automotive technician that understands vehicle wiring and all the components of the vehicle. Failure to properly install the tailgate can result in significant problems. As a wholesaler, providing installation support will increase the value of your service. When choosing a product line, make sure that there are installation manuals in various languages.

Warranty and After Sales Support Logistics
How do your suppliers manage warranties and returns? What is their process? How long does it take? Waiting months for a replacement control module from abroad is unacceptable. Successful wholesalers either stock critical spare components or work with suppliers that have responsive and localized returns. An after-sales warranty procedure is integral to your offer.

Vehicle Compatibility and Model Coverage
The market is fragmented with varying car models. A kit that only fits two popular SUVs is far less attractive than one with broad and well-researched compatibility. Your suppliers should constantly innovate and roll out new application guides for the latest and most common vehicles in your region. This minimizes the number of customers your clients have to turn away.

The Wholesalers Supply Questions

Answer them before you order your first container:

• “Can you provide compatibility lists for common Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Ford models within our region and your catalogs?”

• “What processes do you have for quality control and testing for your motors and sensors?”

• “Explain your warranty policy and the process for claiming it.”

• “Do you provide support and documentation for your products, especially for installers?”

Conclusion: For the prepared wholesaler, the aftermarket stable tailgate product is a good one.

The aftermarket stable tailgate is a good product with a growing opportunity, especially where customising vehicles is very common. Many people can see potential for it, so there is a good profit margin and strong customer demand.

What has to be considered, however, are the potential risks. These can be eliminated nearly entirely with the right supplier. Choosing dependable manufacturers, with more experience in engineering, not just assembly, will ease the burden.

Your loyal customers appreciate your partnership more than the products they offer. It is about having the right solution, and the prepared wholesaler knows this. When you offer your customers a dependable and fully-supported automatic tailgate system, you support them in growing their business, satisfying their customers, and increasing their sales. This is especially valuable in the saturated automotive aftermarket industry in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.