If you see fewer auto repair shops in your area then you are witnessing a trend that is spreading throughout the auto repair industry. The small independent auto repair shop is getting squeezed by both the dealers as well as the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of economic.
The global problem will be the auto repair and service market has been shrinking in the last ten or fifteen years. Technology has made cars much more reliable with fewer breakdowns, repairs and scheduled maintenances.
Many manufacturers offer some sort of 100,000 mile warranty which means that the independent will get little chance to operate that car for one 5-10 years it is owned.
As new car sales margins have gone down, VW, Chevrolet, Toyota and other manufacturers are looking to their service departments to make in the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab have been adding other useful benefits such to be a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are usually now being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in an effort to keep plan the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers with regard to Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices comparable to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s simply competitive pricing is actually not worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor may also be won from dealers: the dealers have always competed for skilled labor and now have become significantly aggressive. With fewer young people entering the auto repair profession and opting instead for careers such as health and technology, essential talent pool of the top skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly around the globe becoming harder for independents to rent and retain these highly skilled employees. The automotive technician, would you rather work in Audi or Joe’s Drive way?
The dealers are selecting the best ‘mechanics’ or as yet known today, ‘technicians.’ Top-notch end dealer technician can make $100,000 one year with benefits while an independent shop owner would to be able to gross over a $1,000,000 1 yr to make that and have absolutely to afford their own benefits and social basic safety.
Because of this economic realities many independent owners have started closing their shops on and on to enhance GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto repair shop at a distinct disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related injuries.
Additionally, in the event the diagnosis is intended and a portion needs replacing the dealer will have it in stock, not only verifying the identification but greatly speeding increase the repair period and increasing client satisfaction. Big advantage Cadillac and Rolls royce.
But the goal wasn’t a skilled employee world war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and you will find a long and ongoing dispute with the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic applications.
The manufacturers claim their technical facts are proprietary while the independents claim the information should build up to anyone who owns or fixes create of car.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777