Automotive Repair News Today

Braxton Critcher [00:00:05]:
Hey there. Thanks for listening to automotive repair news today. My name is Braxton Kricher and we got another packed episode covering all the latest stories from across the automotive industry. Thanks for being here. And before we jump in, don't forget, if you or someone from your repair shop plans to go to SEMA or Apex in Las Vegas this year, now is the time to register. Coming up the first week of November. And the deadlines for lower prices end in just a few days, so they're coming up fast. I'm gonna be there.

Braxton Critcher [00:00:41]:
And if you want to meet up, record a podcast. I'd love to do that with you. So the deadlines are coming up for SeMA and Apex. Do that today. Speaking of SeMA, though, we're gonna kick off today's episode with some interesting research they just released. Alright. SemA's market research team has highlighted some big trends in vehicle life cycles that are making waves in the aftermarket. Here's the deal.

Braxton Critcher [00:01:07]:
Americans are holding onto their cars longer. You knew that the average age of vehicles in the us is now 12.6 years, which is the highest we've ever seen in more than a decade. Why, though? Cars are more reliable than ever. That's the main thing. People are trying to hold on to vehicles because getting a new one is expensive and a hassle. But cars are reliable. And if you're a repair shop owner or a technician, you're doing a good job. Pat yourself on the back.

Braxton Critcher [00:01:40]:
Now, the report breaks down things into four categories. Classic, aged, core and modern vehicles. And if you want to see the full report, you can check out the research on SeMA's website. Alright, gonna switch gears now and we're gonna talk about the, the younger generation in the trades industry, specifically Gen Z. Well, they're earning the nickname of the tool belt generation because more and more young people are choosing trade schools over traditional four year colleges. Wyotech in Wyoming is seeing this firsthand. Their student population is at an all time high with the 85% graduation rate last year, up from 77% in just 2018. Here's a stat that really stands out.

Braxton Critcher [00:02:27]:
Listen to this. 77% of their graduates are landing jobs in the industry. A recent study found that over half of Gen Z believes you can get a stable, well paying job through technical education. This shift could reshape the future of the repair industry as many young professionals in the Gen Z generation hit the workforce here very soon. All right, now let's talk some awards. Let's give some people some props. The Autocare association recently announced the winners of their 2024 Excellence in Education awards. And here are the highlights.

Braxton Critcher [00:03:04]:
Jillian Weshar from Parts Authority took home the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education award for her amazing work in promoting education in our industry. Robertson Automotive in Tyler, Texas won in the small company category. The midsize company award went to Mavotech. And for the large companies, automotive parts Headquarters Inc. Was recognized for their education programs. Congrats to all the winners. And you know, it's always great to see companies and individuals putting in so much effort into education. All right, next up, let's talk about new vehicle sales, or rather the decline in new vehicle sales since Covid-19 the us light vehicle sales have dropped compared to the 2015 to 2019 highs, which means there are fewer vehicles under six years old on the road, right? This data comes from the latest laying aftermarket I report that shows that there are fewer new cars out there and dealerships are shifting their focus to older vehicles.

Braxton Critcher [00:04:06]:
And they're expanding their used car sales, which is really boosting their service bay business, too. They're offering things like quick service lanes and promoting tire sales and oil changes. The used car market is on fire, and that's creating new opportunities for independent parts manufacturers. Dealers are even extending their service hours to meet the demand. So keep tabs on that if you're in the independent repair industry. All right, you may have heard of this. If not, listen. Rudy's performance parts incorporated and its owner Aaron Rudolph are paying a hefty price for violating the Clean Air Act.

Braxton Critcher [00:04:45]:
Rudies has agreed to pay $10 million in fines and penalties for selling defeat devices that disable the vehicles emission controls. Rudolph was personally fined $600,000 and sentenced to three years of probation for tampering with emissions on around 300 diesel trucks. On top of that, the company has been hit with a $7 million penalty in a civil lawsuit banning them from selling any more of these devices. Alright, let's move on to some industry updates from the Tire industry industry association. They've just elected four new members to their board of directors for the 2024 to 2027 term. Here's who made the cut. Gary Schroeder, John Sparks, Sarah Mason, Chris Rhodes and Jeff Campbell in survey news. Full Bay has just launched its fifth annual state of heavy duty repair survey.

Braxton Critcher [00:05:40]:
If you're in the heavy duty repair game, this is a great opportunity for you to share your feedback on what's happening in the industry. The survey is looking at everything from inventory management to technician wages and mobile repairs. You've got until October 3 to fill out the survey, and when you do, you'll be entered to win a dollar 100 gift card or some full pay swag. The full report will be available in early 2025. And I don't know about you, but I'm going to look forward to seeing what insights come out of this survey. So don't forget to participate. Now let's talk about a brand new product from Atlas Automotive equipment. They've got a 6000 pound portable single post lift.

Braxton Critcher [00:06:23]:
It's called the PSP 6000, and it's super versatile for wheel service and vehicle access. When you're not using it, it can be rolled aside and it even has a built in ramp so cars can drive over the lift. If you're tight on space, this is a game changer for your repair shop. Mike Israel from Atlas says that it works indoors and outdoors. It fits under a nine foot ceiling and it gives you enough height to reach those hard to access spots. Pretty cool, right? All right, lastly, on today's podcast, gas prices are going down. Don't know if you've noticed, but they sure have. Where I live, the national average for a gallon of gas down $0.06 in the past week to an average of lower demand and falling oil costs are keeping prices down.

Braxton Critcher [00:07:14]:
Meanwhile, public EV charging rates just went up a little bit, a penny in the past week. It's been holding steady for several months now. All right, that brings us to the end of today's episode on Automotive Repair news today. Thank you so much for listening. If you have any updates, news, tips or stories, please reach out to me@braxtonautomotiverepairnews.com. that's Braxton automotiverepairnews.com. would love to hear from you and see you next week at Asta. Hey, if you're still here, thank you so much for listening to this episode of Automotive Repair news today.

Braxton Critcher [00:07:54]:
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