When news broke that Advance Auto Parts would shutter around 500 stores, many outlets leapt to the conclusion that fewer people are repairing their own cars. The New York Post even floated a vague connection to Chinese cars, which are not even sold here.
The reality is likely more nuanced than a simple decline in DIY repair. Business strategy, competition, and broader retail trends all play a role, suggesting the closures say more about the company’s footprint than about the death of home car maintenance.