ShowMeTheParts Catalog is an automotive parts lookup utility for professionals and enthusiasts on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The application removes the manual search friction of identifying vehicle-specific components by enabling VIN and license plate scanning.
For Professional mechanics and DIY automotive enthusiasts requiring quick access to parts databases.
What does it look like?
Key features
Automated vehicle identification number capture via camera for parts lookup.
Lookup automotive parts by entering vehicle license plate data.
Database access to parts from over 500 brands.
How much does it cost?
The application operates as a free utility, functioning as a lead generation tool for the listed automotive brands.
Velocity
Dormant developmentUX improvementsperformanceShow more...
ShowMeTheParts Catalog has been inactive for 690 days, placing it firmly in the zombie category. The development momentum has ceased entirely, with no feature updates or maintenance patches recorded in the provided history. The latest release focused on minor UX adjustments and display fixes, but the lack of activity for nearly two years indicates the project is no longer being actively supported.
Who built it?
ShowMeTheParts
6 apps tracked · Shopping
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows an excited sentiment. Users appreciate professional auto parts store owners find the catalog highly accurate for daily business operations and the interface allows users to quickly identify specific vehicle parts and their corresponding part numbers.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Professional auto parts store owners find the catalog highly accurate for daily business operations
- The interface allows users to quickly identify specific vehicle parts and their corresponding part numbers
- Technical instability prevents the application from loading content properly for some users
5 of 5 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for ShowMeTheParts Catalog
How's the Shopping market?
ShowMeTheParts Catalog occupies a specialized utility niche in the Shopping category, maintaining a 3-star rating on the App Store. The lack of updates for nearly two years signals a maintenance-only posture that prioritizes brand presence over active user acquisition.
The rivals identified
The Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for ShowMeTheParts Catalog
Where is it heading?
The automotive parts lookup market is shifting toward cloud-synced, multi-platform tools that offer real-time inventory data. ShowMeTheParts Catalog remains tethered to a legacy, static utility model, and the lack of development cadence leaves it vulnerable to competitors that prioritize consistent feature updates and technical reliability.
- The 23-month development silence suggests the application is in maintenance mode, which risks alienating professional users who require reliable, up-to-date parts data.
- Technical instability and content-loading failures in the latest version erode the daily utility, which compounds the risk of users switching to more active, cloud-synced alternatives.
The SWOT
- VIN scanning utility reduces manual search friction for professional mechanics
- Implementing vehicle profile storage would address the top user request for faster lookups
Next best moves
Ship vehicle profile storage because it is the top-requested feature → increase repeat-usage retention
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The lack of updates is not a failure but a deliberate strategy…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The application's competitive outlook has shifted from stable to declining, driven by the continued lack of development updates and persistent technical instability. No functional changes were made to the feature set or pricing model.
Bottom line
ShowMeTheParts Catalog functions as a static brand-awareness tool, but the technical instability currently erodes the utility for professional users. Addressing the core loading failures would stabilize the existing user base, while profile storage would unlock higher retention for daily trade operations.
Unlock 1 critical friction, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is ShowMeTheParts Catalog suitable for professional mechanics?
Does ShowMeTheParts Catalog allow me to save my vehicle information?
Why is the application failing to load parts content?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated