automotive repair manuals

Brand Innovators has compiled OEM insights heading into the new year related to anticipated artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicle (EV) and sustainability trends.

Automaker perspectives on what lies ahead for the industry could prove useful for repairers who are looking forward to determining how to prepare their facilities for upcoming needs.

Angela Zepeda, Hyundai’s chief marketing officer, told Brand Innovators that she expects to see a number of technological advancements next year.

“Electric vehicles, which cooled in 2023, will continue to increase in adoption in 2024,” Zepeda said. “Autonomous vehicles, while still in their infancy, will begin to increase exponentially over the next couple of years. Cars will continue to become more connected, communicating with other software systems and collecting data from their surroundings.”

Those who’ve been keeping tabs on Hyundai’s activities throughout the past year might not find her comments entirely surprising. After all, it was announced in August that it and Kia would invest $50 million into a Canadian AI semiconductor company in order to integrate AI into future models.

Hyundai said the investment in Tenstorrent will allow its vehicles, as well as Kia and Genesis models, to incorporate robotics and advanced air mobility (AAAM) into auto designs.

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It’s taking longer than usual, and costing more, for people to get their cars fixed in auto shops. That’s because there’s a national shortage of trained auto mechanics.

If you need to take your car into the shop, the work could take longer than usual.

That’s because there’s a nationwide shortage of auto mechanics, which is causing a backlog in repairs.

Seasoned mechanics are retiring at an increased rate posing a challenge for shops attempting to fill vacant positions.

USED CAR PRICES DROP FOR SECOND STRAIGHT MONTH

“It’s been tough, especially since the pandemic,” said Emily’s Garage Manager Nolan Bailey.

There's a nationwide shortage of auto mechanics

Auto shops are dealing with a nationwide shortage of trained auto mechanics. (Fox News)

Emily’s Garage just had an opening for a new auto technician. It took them a lot longer than it used to, to find the right fit.

“Usually, you could put out an application,” Bailey said. “And when people are work hungry, you’d get 20.30 applicants maybe in a week or two. In this case, we got maybe four or five applicants over the course of two months.”