Auto Care Association Releases API for ACES®, PIES™, IPO™ Reference Databases

BETHESDA, Md. - January 7, 2025 - The Auto Care Association today announced that an application programming interface (API) was dev-launched in November 2024 to select users and is now available to the entire auto care industry. With a continued goal to increase speed and efficiencies for users around the acquisition of the ACES®, PIES™ and IPO™ reference databases, the Auto Care Association announced in May 2024 that an API would become available to users in November 2024.

The Auto Care Association's ACES®, PIES™ and IPO™ reference databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, and Brand Table) currently and historically have been available to users for download through a manual download process via autocarevip.com in various formats, including Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQLServer2008R2, and JSON. Additionally, these databases were historically published with new content monthly but were increased to a weekly cadence (except for the VCdb) in January 2023, with the goal of delivering updated reference database content to users faster.

The API, which is in JSON format, allows users to:

• Download updated reference database content as often as daily;
• Download complete database tables and/or updates (changes) to the database tables; and
• Automate IT processes for smoother, hands-off data exchange, creating workflow efficiencies.

"As we move toward the goal of real time exchange of content between partners via API, the logical first step is leveraging that approach with the reference data we all consume from Auto Care," said Marc Pappas, chair, technology standards committee, and CIO, Federated Auto Parts. "This will serve both to proof the concept and also allow us to make any enhancements before moving forward with more functionality."

The Auto Care Association will continue to make the reference databases available for manual download through autocarevip.com in the formats Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQLServer2008R2 and JSON. However, the frequency of receiving manual database updates will be reduced from weekly to monthly (except Brand Table, which will remain daily), beginning January 2025. The dates of these publications are posted on the events page on autocarevip.com.

API documentation can be found here.

Auto Care VIP and Auto Care Data Standards users interested in learning more about the new API can schedule a time to speak with the Auto Care Association's technology team using this link and selecting the "API Support" option.