The automotive aftermarket industry continues to evolve rapidly, and data standards play a critical role in ensuring accuracy, compatibility, and seamless digital commerce.

The latest release from the Auto Care Association introduces significant updates to ACES® and PIES®, along with enhancements to supporting databases.

This article explains what’s new, why it matters, and the key changes in file formats and data access.

A Major Milestone in Data Standardization

On March 26, 2026, the Auto Care Association officially released:

  • ● ACES® 5.0 (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard)
  • ● PIES® 8.0 (Product Information Exchange Standard)
  • ● Updated Reference Databases: 
    • VCdb 2.0
    • Qdb 2.0
    • PCdb 2.0
    • PAdb 5.0
    • Brand Table 2.0

These updates follow a year-long industry review, ensuring alignment with evolving market needs and modern digital commerce requirements.

What’s New in ACES® 5.0

ACES® 5.0 introduces greater flexibility and richer data communication:

  • ● Ability to include vehicle- and part-specific digital assets
  • ● Support for multiple asset descriptions
  • ● Multi-language support for manufacturer labels

Business Impact

  • ● Improved global catalog usability
  • ● Enhanced product visualization
  • ● Increased buyer confidence

What’s New in PIES® 8.0

PIES® 8.0 focuses on compliance, packaging, and digital asset management:

  • ● Support for EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) packaging data
  • ● Ability to define multiple package configurations
  • ● Digital asset hashing for validation
  • ● Asset sequencing for structured media management

Business Impact

  • ● Improved compliance tracking (ESG and regulatory requirements)
  • ● Better control over product media
  • ● Stronger consistency across marketplaces

Reference Database Updates

1. Vehicle & Equipment Data Expansion

  • ● Continuous addition of new vehicles (up to 2027 models)
  • ● Expanded coverage for off-highway and equipment segments

2. Qdb (Qualifier Database) Enhancements

  • ● Removal of duplicate qualifiers
  • ● Introduction of Qualifier Supersession tracking
  • ● Structured replacement logic for improved mapping accuracy

3. PCdb (Product Classification Database) Updates

  • ● Refined part terminology
  • ● More precise position-level definitions
  • -> Example: replacing generic “Left/Right” with more specific positions

File Format & Data Access Changes

The industry is moving toward more modern, scalable data formats:

Supported Formats

  • ● JSON
  • ● SQL Server
  • ● Microsoft Access
  • ● MySQL (retained based on industry feedback)

API-Based Data Access

API users will primarily rely on JSON-based data delivery.

Benefits of API (Auto Care Data Distribution)

With the new API, ACES®, PIES® reference databases can now be distributed daily instead of through periodic manual downloads.

The API enables users to:

  • ● Download updated reference data as frequently as daily
  • ● Access full database tables or incremental updates
  • ● Automate workflows for efficient, hands-off data exchange

Manual Download Availability

The Auto Care Association will continue to provide manual downloads via autocarevip.com in the following formats:

  • ● Microsoft Access 2007
  • ● ASCII
  • ● MySQL
  • ● Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
  • ● JSON

    However:

    • ● Update frequency is reduced from monthly to daily
    • ● The Brand Table will continue to be updated daily

The 2026 data standards update marks a significant step toward a smarter, more connected automotive data ecosystem.

With enhanced flexibility, stronger compliance support, and richer content capabilities, businesses that adopt these updates early will gain a clear competitive advantage in the evolving aftermarket landscape.


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