Car Washes NAICS 811192

Sep 29, 2025 - Major Car Wash Operators Expand Footprint Across Midwest and Northern California

• According to Professional Carwashing and Detailing Magazine, several car wash companies announced major expansions in targeted areas in September. Tsunami Express has acquired 53 Take 5 Car Wash locations from Whistle Express, expanding its Midwest footprint to 74 sites across nine states. This strategic move positions Tsunami Express as a leading regional operator and accelerates market penetration in high-priority areas such as Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. The company plans to rebrand all sites. LUV Car Wash has acquired American Canyon Car Wash, expanding its Northern California footprint as part of a broader regional strategy. The brand has over 81 locations nationwide, with active development underway in Ukiah, Healdsburg, Fairfield, Petaluma, and Cloverdale. The American Canyon site will be upgraded to include LUV’s eco-conscious technology and unlimited membership program. For the car wash industry, the deals signal increased consolidation, heightened competition, and rising consumer expectations for premium service.
• Consumer mood indicators in the US declined, signaling growing economic unease. The Consumer Confidence Index fell 1.3 points in August 2025, driven primarily by younger consumers under 35, while confidence among those over 55 improved. Despite the dip, overall confidence remained consistent with recent months. Separately, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index dropped to 55.4 in preliminary September data, down from 58.2 in August and 21% below September 2024 levels. Inflation expectati ons held steady, though concerns about pricing pressures, particularly from tariffs, persist. These indices reflect consumers’ outlook on personal finances and the broader economy, serving as key predictors of future spending behavior.

• The car wash industry posted 5.6% growth in same-store total sales revenue year over year in Q2 2025, according to the latest quarterly report from Rinsed in Carwash.com. The results show a continuing shift toward subscription-based models, with member revenue growing 15.2% compared to an 11% decline in retail revenue. While retail prices grew 3% per wash, volume declined due to fewer overall customers and less frequent washing. The retail wash volume decline cut across many categories, including former members, loyal retail customers, and new visitors. Bad weather contributed to the decline, with a 10% increase in days with precipitation in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024. The report analyzes performances across 3,500 carwash locations nationwide.
• Sales for the US car washes industry are projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.38% between 2025 and 2029, comparable to the overall economy‘s anticipated growth, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Car washes are part of the “other services sector,” which is driven by consumer spending, along with expenditure by businesses. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the various services industries, including car wash services. Many segments of the other services sector are recovering from a downturn during the pandemic. Remote work practices created lower demand for mass transit, parking lots and garages, office space, food services, and other personal and business needs related to commuting and working in corporate environments. A factor that may limit consumer spending during the forecast period is higher tariffs on consumer goods.