What are ACES & PIES data standards and how do they transform the automotive aftermarket industry? This article cuts through the jargon to give you a straightforward understanding of the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES) and the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES). You’ll learn how these standards organize vehicle fitment and product information, what changed with the newest releases, and how they improve operations for manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.
Key Takeaways
- ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) are the essential data standards of the automotive aftermarket, ensuring accurate information exchange for vehicle parts and products.
- The current versions are ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0, released by the Auto Care Association in March 2026. The Auto Care Association supports only the current and previous versions, so ACES 4.2 and PIES 7.2 are still supported, but anything older is not.
- Implementing ACES and PIES takes ongoing maintenance, including standardized data conversion, validation tools, and regular updates from reference databases like the Vehicle Configuration Database (VCdb).
- Using ACES and PIES well improves ecommerce efficiency, streamlines supply chain operations and strengthens relationships with business partners, which leads to more sales and happier customers.
Demystifying ACES and PIES: The Building Blocks of Automotive Data
Imagine a world where thousands of automotive parts are made to fit millions of vehicles. How do you make sure each part fits the right vehicle? Enter the world of ACES and PIES data standards, the building blocks of automotive data. They manage and communicate vehicle fitment and product information, and they ensure aftermarket parts and accessories are matched to the right vehicles while reducing errors in product information exchange.
And there’s a lot riding on getting it right. According to the Auto Care Association’s 2027 Auto Care Factbook, the total U.S. aftermarket is forecast to reach $599.7 billion in 2026 and $676.5 billion by 2029. The average light vehicle on the road is now a record 12.9 years old. More vehicles staying on the road longer means more parts, more fitment data and more opportunities to get it wrong. The standards are updated regularly to reflect the evolving needs of the industry, thanks to the involvement of industry stakeholders.
Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES)
The Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES) handles product fitment data within the automotive aftermarket industry. It’s the linchpin that ensures parts are matched to specific vehicle makes, models and years. ACES uses XML for data communication, enabling machine-readable and efficient data exchange between trading partners, and supports a wide variety of vehicle types and equipment.
ACES relies on multiple relational databases to provide a codified structure for:
- Vehicle and equipment attributes (VCdb)
- Qualifier statements (Qdb)
- Product classifications (PCdb)
- Brands (Brand Table)
This standardized fitment data is crucial for products that need precise fitment identification through a Year, Make, Model lookup in product catalogs or online searches. The current version is ACES 5.0.
Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES)
Switching our focus to PIES, the Product Information Exchange Standard complements ACES by managing and transmitting detailed product information. PIES covers over 20,000 part types and a wide range of product data including:
- Features and benefits
- Marketing descriptions
- Pricing
- Warranty information
- Product attributes and specifications
- Packaging details, including EPR packaging data (new in PIES 8.0)
- Hazardous materials details
- Kit contents
- Interchanges
- Digital assets
PIES is essential for the precise management and communication of product information, giving trading partners a consistent and complete picture of product dimensions, popularity, country of origin and other critical details. It evolves under the guidance of the Technology Standards Committee to meet the industry’s changing requirements. The current version is PIES 8.0.
What’s New in ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0
In March 2026, the Auto Care Association released ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0 after a yearlong industry review. The release also included updated reference database schemas: VCdb 2.0, Qdb 2.0, PCdb 2.0, PAdb 5.0 and Brand Table 2.0. Here’s what’s new:
| Standard | What’s New | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| ACES 5.0 | Vehicle and part number specific digital assets (non-diagram) in the App segment | You can tie an image or document to a specific vehicle application, not just the part |
| ACES 5.0 | Multiple descriptions for a single digital asset | Richer, clearer asset information for receivers |
| ACES 5.0 | Multiple languages for the MfrLabel field | Better support for selling across the Americas |
| PIES 8.0 | Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging data | Helps manufacturers and retailers keep up with state packaging laws |
| PIES 8.0 | Multiple packages at a single pack level | More accurate packaging data for products shipped in more than one box |
| PIES 8.0 | Digital asset file hashing and record sequencing | Easier validation of image files and better control over the order assets appear |
Do I Need to Upgrade Right Away?
Not necessarily, but you shouldn’t wait too long either. The Auto Care Association only supports the current and previous versions of ACES and PIES, so ACES 4.2 and PIES 7.2 are still supported for now. The best first step is to check with your trading partners about which versions they accept and when they plan to move. If you’re still sending ACES 3.x or PIES 6.x files, it’s time to make a plan.
Implementing ACES and PIES: A Roadmap for Success
The advantages of the ACES and PIES data standards are clear, but what are the steps for implementing them successfully? Well, it’s a recognized best practice to hire an external specialist or company dedicated to ACES/PIES data formatting and standardization. It’s also smart to set up an internal process so new product data gets shared with the person responsible for your ACES/PIES data.
The ACES and PIES data standards are detailed and designed to support a wide range of aftermarket product types, each requiring its own fitment information and categorization. By adopting these standards, businesses can significantly speed up how quickly new products get to market, which keeps them competitive.
Data Conversion and Compliance
Converting existing data to the ACES and PIES format means standardizing product fitment details (ACES) and catalog details (PIES) so they match industry norms. Businesses often need to clean, map and organize data from several sources themselves or work with a third party that specializes in data management.
Staying compliant means using validation tools that check your data against the standard and flag anything that needs fixing. A great place to start is the Auto Care Association’s free Catalog Assessment Reporting Tool on AutoCareVIP.com, which evaluates your ACES and PIES XML files and now supports ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0. Since the standards are updated periodically, it’s important to stay informed about the latest versions to keep your data compliant.
Streamlining Supply Chain Costs
Adopting ACES and PIES data standards helps deliver:
- Data precision
- Supply chain productivity
- Lower costs
- Less duplicated effort
- Streamlined operations
- Fewer returns and exchanges
- More accurate customer orders
Because ACES and PIES use machine-readable XML, using this data in your eCommerce operations can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy. Retailers benefit too, since standardized data makes it much easier to add new products and brands to online platforms. These standards help with:
- Smooth system integrations between manufacturers and retailers
- Effective supply chain management
- Managing high volumes of product listings, especially for smaller businesses
Navigating the Vehicle Configuration Database (VCdb)
Understanding ACES and PIES means spending some time with the Vehicle Configuration Database (VCdb). The VCdb is central to mapping parts to applications, making accurate year, make and model searches possible. With thousands of vehicles and millions of parts to keep track of, the VCdb is what keeps the whole industry on the same page. The latest schema, VCdb 2.0, was released alongside ACES 5.0.
Understanding Vehicle Attributes
Precise vehicle attributes play a vital role in building application data. They include the vehicle’s year, make and model, the part type and any other information needed to confirm fitment. Vehicle fitment data can also include specifics like the engine, transmission and other systems that affect whether a part will fit a particular vehicle.
Updating and Maintaining Your Database
Keeping your data current is a big part of staying compliant with ACES and PIES. Here’s how reference data is delivered today:
- API access: Since January 2025, the Auto Care Association has offered an API that delivers the VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb and Brand Table in JSON format. You can pull full tables or just the changes, as often as daily.
- Manual downloads: Subscribers can still download the databases through AutoCareVIP.com. Manual downloads are published monthly, while the Brand Table is updated daily.
Regular data audits and periodic reviews keep your product lines complete and correct as the standards evolve. Staying informed about updates through the Auto Care Association is key for ongoing staff training and database maintenance.
Enhancing Sales Channels with ACES and PIES Data
Adopting ACES and PIES data standards offers several benefits, including:
- Faster product introductions
- Faster speed to market
- Increased sales
- Improved operational efficiency
Providing ACES and PIES compliant data is crucial for manufacturers looking to expand their reach, since major retailers and data suppliers often require it before they’ll list your products. It also reduces costly returns and improves retailer profits by making sure customers buy the right part the first time.
Ecommerce Website Integration
Bringing ACES and PIES data into your ecommerce platform makes the shopping experience better for your customers. By using ACES data for vehicle fitment and PIES for product details, businesses provide accurate listings and build consumer trust. High-quality, consistently formatted data is essential here, because outdated or incorrect fitment information confuses customers and costs sales.
APIs play a growing role in keeping ecommerce data current, and the Auto Care reference database API is a good example of the industry moving in that direction. Proper training for your team is also important so they can manage data from third-party catalogs or your own databases effectively.
Collaborating with Business Partners
Sharing ACES and PIES data with your business partners builds stronger relationships through better communication and clear expectations. Consistent, accurate product data creates trust and gives everyone the same clear picture.
It also eliminates redundant communication and distribution work, which saves time and money. Retailers usually get ACES and PIES data from manufacturers or data providers, but they can also author their own data for corrections or proprietary products.
Overcoming Common ACES and PIES Challenges
Despite all the benefits, companies often run into challenges like:
- Unfamiliarity with the standards
- Getting product data formatted correctly
- Non-compliance issues and rejected files
- Delays in file publication
- Keeping up with new versions like ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0
Fixing ACES and PIES data issues can take time and money, but it’s essential for keeping retailer relationships strong and growing your sales channels.
Data Quality and Accuracy
Validation tools that check your data against ACES and PIES help catch errors before your trading partners do, and a good Product Information Management (PIM) system can reduce manual entry mistakes. One of the biggest challenges is keeping data accurate across large catalogs with lots of SKUs, especially when there’s no single master database for parts or fitment.
Inaccurate ACES and PIES data leads to incorrect fitments, which leads to returns and unhappy customers. Regular audits and periodic reviews are necessary to keep your data accurate and complete.
Summary
In the fast-moving world of the automotive aftermarket, ACES and PIES data standards are the pillars that hold up data management, growth and progress. With ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0 now available, the standards keep getting better at handling digital assets, packaging and multilingual content. By understanding these standards, implementing them correctly and keeping your data accurate, your business can streamline operations, grow its sales channels and build stronger relationships with partners.
If you’re interested in discussing how our ACES & PIES mapping services can help you, contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are ACES and PIES data standards?
ACES and PIES are data standards used in the automotive aftermarket to organize and share vehicle fitment and product information. They’re essential for streamlining operations and communication across the industry.
What is the difference between ACES & PIES?
ACES determines which vehicles a part fits, while PIES describes the product itself. Both standards rely on subscription-based reference databases from the Auto Care Association. To create or receive ACES files, you need a VCdb subscription (which includes the Qdb, PCdb and Brand Table). To create or receive PIES files, you need a PAdb subscription (which includes the PCdb and Brand Table).
What are the current versions of ACES and PIES?
The current versions are ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0, released in March 2026. The Auto Care Association supports the current and previous versions, so ACES 4.2 and PIES 7.2 are still supported.
How do the ACES & PIES standards work?
ACES and PIES use a standardized XML format that works as a common language between manufacturers and retailers. This makes it easy to share vehicle application data, product information and attributes like compatibility, dimensions and pricing. With consistent data, trading partners can manage inventory, build catalogs and sell more efficiently.
Who is responsible for maintaining the ACES & PIES standards?
The ACES and PIES standards are maintained by the Auto Care Association, a non-profit organization representing companies in the automotive aftermarket. New versions are developed through industry workgroups and the Technology Standards Committee, and each version goes through a 90-day industry review before release. The association works with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and technology providers to keep the standards relevant and effective.