I’ve recently been spending some time on an Internet site where automotive technicians can share information and opinions regarding the latest puzzler to roll into the shop or on the state of the industry as a whole.
The technical points aside, I find the site, the iATN network, very enlightening in that it shows how much this industry has changed, and how it will continue to do so at an ever-increasing pace as we move forward.
My personal professional involvement in the automotive business dates back to 1976, when I got a job at a foreign car parts warehouse distributor. We sold lots of stuff for air cooled VWs, MGs, Datsuns and a few other now-defunct brands. I must say, life was good.
The repair end of the business seemed much the same as it had when my grandfather ran his shop in the ’40s and ’50s. The vehicles may have advanced, but the basic repair procedures remained and, to me, government regulation seemed limited to vehicle safety inspections.
Most of the discussions that I had with mechanics back then were about how to make a car go faster, as well as non-work related talks. Nobody seemed to give much thought to what was waiting just over the horizon.
Legislation, enacted in response to air quality concerns and the fuel shortages of the early ’70s, changed the automotive industry seemingly overnight. There didn’t seem to be a whole lot of awareness of these changes either, until the cars were in the shop and causing problems. Industry organizations and trade publications existed and certainly did their best to inform us, but none had the impact the Internet does now.
Proposed legislation or industry trends can now be debated, discussed and opined about long before they ever become a reality. I’ve read some interesting, and sometimes sharp, discussion threads on topics ranging from proposed Right to Repair legislation to who has the better parts — OEM or aftermarket.
I realize that this type of discussion board is nothing new; there are several that I frequent in pursuit of my old car and motorcycle habit. I also admit to not always paying attention to rules and trends affecting my livelihood, and I’m not alone. The majority of my day is spent taking parts orders and making sure they get delivered somewhere near when they should.
Conversations about future mileage regulations or OBD15 don’t happen very often. It seems like it takes an imminent change or threat to make people realize what a direct effect it will have on them. This was certainly the case when New Hampshire enacted emissions testing as part of its annual safety inspections. We all knew it was coming but not too many people paid much attention until it was right on top of us and all the nasty details were revealed.
Knowing what’s going on in your customers’ repair bays is good for both of your businesses. Knowing what’s going on in shops and service bays across the country can only serve to make the entire aftermarket better.
This type of awareness, and the grassroots level of action that it can generate, is essential if the aftermarket segments of both the parts and repair business are to survive and prosper.
