diff --git a/apps/api/src/jobs/processors/canonical-backfill.processor.ts b/apps/api/src/jobs/processors/canonical-backfill.processor.ts
index d71e89e..fd19bd6 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/jobs/processors/canonical-backfill.processor.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/jobs/processors/canonical-backfill.processor.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export interface CanonicalBackfillStats {
   mapped: number;
   ambiguous: number;
   categoriesUpdated: number;
+  inherited: number;
   mapRowsPruned: number;
   dryRun: boolean;
 }
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ export async function processCanonicalBackfill(
     mapped: 0,
     ambiguous: 0,
     categoriesUpdated: 0,
+    inherited: 0,
     mapRowsPruned: 0,
     dryRun,
   };
@@ -206,8 +208,31 @@ export async function processCanonicalBackfill(
   `);
   stats.categoriesUpdated = updated[0]?.n ?? 0;
 
+  // 5b. parent-inheritance: a category whose own name didn't map inherits its
+  // parent's bucket. Handles code/plate-named illustration leaves under a
+  // descriptive parent (Renault P5 "Alternatör" → X1318_… ; any figure leaf).
+  // Cascade a few levels (deepest OEM trees are ~5).
+  for (let depth = 0; depth < 5; depth++) {
+    const inh = await db.execute<{ n: number }>(sql`
+      WITH upd AS (
+        UPDATE categories c
+        SET canonical_category_id = p.canonical_category_id
+        FROM categories p
+        WHERE c.parent_id = p.id
+          AND c.canonical_category_id IS NULL
+          AND p.canonical_category_id IS NOT NULL
+          ${sourceCond} ${brandExists}
+        RETURNING 1
+      )
+      SELECT count(*)::int AS n FROM upd
+    `);
+    const n = inh[0]?.n ?? 0;
+    stats.inherited += n;
+    if (n === 0) break;
+  }
+
   console.log(
-    `[canonical-backfill] done — ${rows.length} map rows upserted (${stats.mapRowsPruned} pruned), ${stats.categoriesUpdated} categories materialized`,
+    `[canonical-backfill] done — ${rows.length} map rows upserted (${stats.mapRowsPruned} pruned), ${stats.categoriesUpdated} materialized, ${stats.inherited} inherited from parent`,
   );
   return stats;
 }