Right to Repair: What’s the future of the automotive aftermarket? siro, 22/09/2024 2:09 Stellantis halts construction of Ontario electric vehicle battery plant Wally Dingman hates having to turn away customers. It’s what’s kept him in the auto repair business for 40 years. Like the 371,000 Canadians working in the aftermarket industry, Dingman is more than qualified to repair a vehicle. Yet, in the modern age of repair, just knowing how to do so is not enough. “Every day it’s getting more difficult to carry out repairs,” Dingman said. “Our scan tools and our repair software have limited access to information because it’s being held by the manufacturer.” Dingman owns Caughill Automotive in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. His shop is one of 10 aftermarket repair shops that service the town of just under 10,000. As vehicles become more digitized, so, too, become the tools required to diagnose a vehicle for a repair. Older vehicle models would provide information directly to a technician, so long as they have a tool to access the On-Board Diagnostic port, whereas newer models share certain information only with the dealer. The problem? Dealers aren’t in turn sharing that information with the aftermarket. It has put in jeopardy a $15.7 billion aftermarket industry, a cornerstone of Canadian society for decades. This … Continue Reading
Technology Drives Auto Repair Shop Transformation siro, 21/09/2024 Technology changes in and outside the automotive service repair shop are keeping customers on the road and business operations flowing. In uncertain times, ensuring “business as usual” is much easier said than done – but with rising costs impacting all industries, “business as usual” is now a necessity. For automotive service providers, maintaining “business as usual” will require a business model rethink to better serve customers, remain competitive, and keep profitability high. It’s all about operational gains, new repair models, and supporting software that will ensure these benefits come to fruition inside and outside the repair shop. Forbes reports significant cost-of-living pressures on consumers. Just under 20% of consumers have had to withdraw money from “rainy day” savings or take out a loan to cover the basic operating costs of a vehicle, with two-thirds admitting that the rising cost of living has made owning a vehicle more challenging – this includes worries about affording fuel to perform basic journeys such as driving to work or taking their children to school. The effects of the cost-of-living crisis are widespread – not only are vehicle owners feeling the pinch, but repair shops and automotive service providers are experiencing their own unique set … Continue Reading
Question 4 pits automakers against local car repair shops siro, 19/09/2024 The way Dan Brooks sees it, small auto repair shops in Maine will struggle to fix new cars in the future — particularly as the push toward electric vehicles accelerates. That’s why he’s supporting Question 4 on the Nov. 7 ballot, the so-called “right to repair” initiative that would require vehicle manufacturers to standardize diagnostic systems and share that information with repair shops. The idea is to ensure that vehicles can be fixed outside of dealerships if a consumer wants to make that choice. “If you buy a car, you shouldn’t be restricted on where you get your car fixed,” said Brooks, owner of Capitol Car Care in Augusta. But a group representing most vehicle manufacturers says small repair shops already have the information they need to make repairs. They think the groups behind Question 4 are after customer data because they want to market directly to consumers — even going as far as advertising on the screen inside your car. “We’ve said from the beginning the information they are talking about is not necessary to complete a repair,” said Wayne Weikel, vice president of state affairs for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. Voters in November will be left to … Continue Reading
AIA Canada: Collision repair sector is losing talent to other sectors siro, 16/09/2024 The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) released a new labor market research report that sheds light on the collision repair talent shortage. Its study found that as 65% of mechanical and collision shop owners experienced an increase in technician turnover last year, nearly half of the technicians who quit did so for higher-paying jobs. Others abandoned the space due to poor perception of the industry, lack of career development opportunities, and better working conditions elsewhere, the report found. Among the talent that left the industry for better-paying alternatives, 13% moved into the construction space, AIA Canada said. It noted that the average $1,483 weekly income from construction was higher than the approximately $983 earned in auto repair and maintenance per week. “The skills acquired in auto repair, such as mechanical aptitude, manual dexterity, etc., are transferable to roles in construction, such as equipment and other specialty contractors,” the report said. “The transportation and warehousing industry also attracts workers seeking higher earning potential. For example, machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles) is a common destination for auto care workers, offering higher hourly wages compared to automotive service technicians. “The overlap of required qualifications, such as the completion … Continue Reading
New platform by Ontario woman looks to help those feeling overcharged by mechanics siro, 03/09/2024 Finding a trustworthy mechanic that won’t oversell or overcharge you can be a challenge for anyone, but a Waterloo, Ont., woman has launched a new service designed to help women with the challenge. AutoCate is a new platform which has been launched by University of Waterloo graduate and former auto mechanic Stefanie Bruinsma. Bruinsma says women can be charged up to 30 per cent more for auto repairs than men and she believes her service can help anyone who fears being taken advantage of at the mechanic to get a fair price. There have been a number of studies done over the years that go back to her claims, including a recent one which found that women in the US were paying more than $100 extra for car repairs. For Bruinsma, AutoCate is somewhat of a passion project as his love of cars began with the introduction of the Dodge Viper when he was 12 years old. Story continues below advertisement “It was a crazy idea. “A giant truck engine in a frame of a car that doesn’t handle very well,” Bruinsma explained. “I thought this was the most amazing thing ever and was like, I want to be an … Continue Reading
What Car Mechanics Never, Ever Do To Their Own Cars siro, 29/08/2024 Your car can be one of the most expensive and important investments you’ll ever make, but many of us don’t give our vehicles the kind of maintenance attention they need. Mechanics and technicians would know: As the doctors of cars, they see it all. “My job is to give you an overall state of health of your car, so you can make educated decisions on what to do with it, and to alert you to things that you may not know about, and that you won’t necessarily recognize or see,” said Bogi Lateiner, a Phoenix-based master automotive technician and the owner of Girl Gang Garage, a network that provides hands-on training for women in the trades. Too often, technicians say, we are making maintenance decisions ― or failing to do so ― in ways that create potential safety hazards and can lead to costly mistakes. We speak with car repair experts about their own big “won’ts” as lessons for us all: 1. I won’t neglect car maintenance. Elena Popova via Getty Images “I equate oil changes to brushing of teeth,” master automotive technician Bogi Lateiner said. “‘Can you get away with just brushing your teeth once a month?’ You’ll survive, … Continue Reading
Auto Insurance Costs Climb Due to EVs, ADAS, and Advanced Materials siro, 14/08/2024 Join us… Headlines are screaming about auto insurance increases this year. For example, CNBC reports that auto insurance costs rise by 26% on average in 2024. While inflation is playing a major role, there are many other factors at work that are causing increases in costs on the auto insurance and repair side of the business. Opus IVS is a company that helps shops repair complex vehicles. Its areas of expertise include advanced automotive technology such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), driver autonomy systems, electric vehicles, telematics, and flash programming. We communicated with Opus IVS CEO Brian Herron, and asked what he felt was the leading cost driver for increases in automotive repair. “ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) is the driver of the increased repair costs,” said Mr. Herron. Examples of ADAS include Tesla Full Self Driving (FSD), Tesla Autopilot, GM Super Cruise, and Ford’s BlueCruise. While our initial inquiry to Mr. Herron was along the line of how EVs may be driving costs increase in vehicle repairability, he sees the issue in a different light. He told us that “ADAS is more of an ‘end of the world’ issue right now because 100% of vehicles or nearly 100% … Continue Reading
Firefighter injured while battling massive fire at Queens auto repair shop siro, 08/08/2024 WOODSIDE, Queens (WABC) — One firefighter was injured while battling a massive fire at a Queens auto repair shop that authorities say is being looked at as “potentially suspicious.” Officials say flames broke out just after 10:30 pm Wednesday at MS Auto Repairs. Battalion Chief Dennis Crichton said fire crews saw “fire through the roof, fire through the entire length” of the business of 34th Avenue. Officials say tires and other flammable materials inside the shop fueled the three-alarm fire. ALSO READ | Flight forced to return to New York City’s JFK Airport due to loose horses A 747 cargo plane carrying a horse had to dump 20 tons of fuel and return to JFK after the horse escaped its crate inside the plane. “Because it is an auto garage and an auto repair shop, there is acetylene and there is definitely compressed gas, it really posed no danger because we were far enough away from the building, but definitely things exploded in there,” one fire official said . After five hours, the blaze was put under control from the outside, authorities said. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries. Authorities say no one appeared to be in the business … Continue Reading
Car repair shop chain steers path towards £400m auction | BusinessNews siro, 03/08/2024 One of Britain’s biggest chains of car repair shops is gearing up for a sale that could value it at around £400m. Sky News has learned that Steer Automotive Group has appointed City advisers to sound out prospective buyers. Sources said on Friday that a formal process was not yet under way, although initial discussions were being held with interested parties. Steer Automotive Group trades from 98 sites across the UK, and employs more than 2,500 people. Its customers include the major insurance companies Admiral, Allianz, LV and NFU Mutual. The company says it repairs more than 100,000 passenger, luxury and commercial vehicles annually. It counts the carmakers Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover and Tesla among its manufacturer approvals and recommendations. Mr Steer launched the company from a single site in Aylesbury in 2018 and has grown it impressively, according to industry insiders. He secured investment from Chiltern Capital and Keyhaven Capital in 2021 at an undisclosed valuation. Read more business news:‘Concern’ for retailers ahead of ChristmasWine growers destroy cargoes of cava and rose One private equity figure who has been approaching about the process said he understood that Mr Steer was likely to remain heavily invested in … Continue Reading
Waterloo auto repair shops prepare for gas vehicles to be phased out siro, 28/07/2024 It may be more than a decade away, but Canada’s automotive industry is preparing for the federal government’s move to phase out the sale of gas vehicles. With more electric models set to hit the streets, auto repair shops in Waterloo, Ont. are trying to stay ahead of the curve. As the name suggests, German Autotech Inc. specializes in German vehicles powered by gas and diesel. But the plan to wind down gas vehicles by 2035 has put a bit of a wrench in how they operate. “There is a concern there,” said shop owner Mike Kedmenecz. His team of mechanics are anticipating an eventual dip in popular services. “There’s going to be less of the fluid changes. “Certainly you’re not going to have your annual oil change anymore,” Kedmenecz said. Although repairs will still very much be a part of his business. “It’s going to be an industry where we’re still going to have a lot of wear and tear components. Electric cars are going to be placed on heavier weigh scales.” But as an independent shop, Kedmenecz says he’ll be a few years behind dealerships and corporate affiliates when it comes to the latest electric vehicle training and … Continue Reading