Aftermarket professionals from across Ontario attend four days of instruction and insight from industry leaders.

The Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) hosted a four-day conference in Mississauga, Ontario from Sept 17-20, 2025. The theme of this year’s event: Shift Happens.

The four-day program was divided into key topics, with Sept. 17th dedicated to electric vehicles; Sept 18th focused on business sessions for shop owners, as well as a trade show; and the final two days (Sept. 19 and 20) dedicated to hands-on training for automotive technicians.

EV day

Electric vehicles are here to stay, whether we like it or not, and AARO is helping aftermarket professionals wrap their minds around what that means for this industry. EV day included presentations by suppliers and top shops with a focus on the kind of equipment shops will need in order to work on EVs safely, and the kind of training techs will need to stay on top things as new EV technologies come to market.

Conference attendees had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of some of today’s most popular EVs, as well as to hear from industry experts who painted a vivid picture of where electrification is heading.

Business sessions

The automotive industry is changing, and fast, which means that shop owners need to stay on top of changes and plan for the future. With that thought in mind, AARO prepared a series of insightful and informative sessions for the many shop owners in attendance on day two of the conference.

The day began wit presentations from a number of IT (Information Technology) and cybersecurity experts who explained how vulnerable all businesses are to cyberattacks, especially smaller businesses (like aftermarket shops), simply because they don’t have the dedicated staff and resources to stay on top of evolving cyberthreats.

The audience learned how scan tools can expose a shop to hackers, how VIN theft can wreak havoc on innocent victims, and how cybercriminals can drain corporate bank accounts. Most importantly, they learned what they need to do in order to prevent attacks and keep hackers out of their wallets.

Employment law

With so many shops hiring seasonal workers to help out with the biannual tire changeover season, AARO invited one of Ontario’s top legal minds to explain how a poorly-worded employment contract can cost a shop more than they expected.

The audience learned that employment law is constantly changing, and that employment agreements drafted years ago may be so outdated that a fired employee may end up leaving with a severance package that’s much larger than a shop owner may think possible.

This key presentation highlighted the importance of working with the right lawyers when drafting an employment agreement—both for full-time staff and seasonal workers.

A changing consumer paradigm

The day concluded with a compelling presentation about how consumers are changing, and what that means for the aftermarket. In short, since the beginning of 2025, people have become more concerned about their future, their security and their ability to afford the essentials, including housing and groceries.

The good news for the aftermarket (if we can call it that) is that consumers are likely to cut back on big-ticket purchases in the coming years (like new cars), and continue to invest in repairs as they endeavour to hold on to their vehicles for as long as possible.

Look for a full report on the 2025 AARO Conference in a coming issue of Autosphere Mag.