The Art of (Auto) Repair: A Call to Keep Fighting for the Industry

Taking the stage during a luncheon at the Auto Care Association’s Fall Leadership Days, President and CEO Bill Hanvey outlined the association's focal points in a state-of-the-industry style talk.

Leading with an update on Right to Repair, Hanvey stated that out of the 700 shop owners polled by Auto Care Association, 84% cited Right to Repair as their No. 1 concern, while 62% said they face Right to Repair issues daily. According to Hanvey, 51% of shop owners send five or more vehicles each month to dealerships for service due to their lack of diagnostic access. This translates to a $3 billion loss to auto repair shops annually.

Hanvey noted that members of Auto Care Association met with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asking the agency to retract its dismissal letter to the Massachusetts attorney general’s office. Hanvey highlighted that the association is working on nurturing its relationship with NHTSA and is gathering repair and data violations where there is a lack of compliance and could entertain a lawsuit in Massachusetts. “The law is in effect. Now we have to give it some teeth,” Hanvey said.

In Maine, Auto Care Association has formed a governing body of auto care industry members, shop owners, and consumer protection groups to help monitor and create adherence to the newly enforced Right to Repair law in Maine.

In Washington, D.C., there are 56 bipartisan cosponsors federally. The bill is in the house where Hanvey and team are looking to have it pushed through the energy and commerce committee to schedule the REPAIR Act for consideration. Hanvey said that the industry has sent over 100,000 letters to Congress in support of Right to Repair.

“We’re not going to stop. That’s what makes us so different. We activate the industry through grassroots,” Hanvey said.

Solving the Technician Shortage

Another initiative Auto Care Association is focusing on is helping to resolve the technician shortage by removing obstacles for students who want to pursue automotive careers. He’s hoping to press the issue on financial aid legislatively to learn why trade students don’t have equal access to grant money.

“Why can’t we have Pell Grants for technical schools? We have to embrace the trade here in the United States like they do in Europe. They have wonderful trades programs; they value their trade programs,” Hanvey remarked.

Each year, 48,000 students graduate from tech programs, but the auto care industry needs 258,000 workers. Hanvey said more cars are on the road, and more are in the sweet spot for the aftermarket—outside of warranty—and each year, the demand for technicians grows.

“We need to invest in young men and women,” Hanvey said. “The consumer feels the shortage, you feel it. There are increased waits and costs for drivers. There’s an incremental downstream effect,” Hanvey said.

He pointed to new educational materials Auto Care Association has produced for shop owners and industry professionals to help them share the trades and engage and educate young people on the industry at job and career fairs. It’s a similar strategic approach he’s taken to pushing Right to Repair into prominence. According to Hanvey, the association has identified 20-plus workforce training bills at the federal and state level and nine states with apprenticeship programs, tax credits, and tuition assistance.

“We’re going to use our advocacy to get legislature passed to address the technician shortage,” Hanvey said.

Increasing Profile and Influence Through Social Media

Another push for Auto Care Association is social media influence. Hanvey said the association is becoming extremely active on social media, highlighting its presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and its newly launched AutoCare OnAir podcast.

“The way we communicate changes daily and we have to not only recognize that but embrace and use these tools to elevate our industry; to show consumers what you go through each day and make them appreciate the art of repair,” Hanvey said.

Hanvey said through social media they want to better serve the industry, be socially impactful, and have fun.

New Forums and a Commitment to Standardization

At this year’s conference, Auto Care Association launched new vehicle forums designed to bring the entire aftermarket supply chain to the table—Emerging Tech; Under Hood; Under Vehicle; Paint, Body, Trim.

“It’s a great way for us to collaborate to work on issues specific to those categories. We’re always open to trying new things—let’s see how they work,” Hanvey said.

These forums are designed to function like industry think tanks to bring fresh ideas to the table and solve industry problems collectively. 

In Latin America, the association is looking to standardize the management and communication of product information through its Product Information Exchange Standard and Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard programs to for more efficiency in the marketplace in Spanish-speaking countries.

Hanvey concluded his speech by sharing that Auto Care Association is and will continue to fully support and champion the needs of the industry. He praised the industry's support calling for continued collaboration to make the aftermarket an “efficient machine, a piece of art.”