With servicing becoming less frequent our industry needs to adapt.

Summer is here, and your customers are getting their vehicles ready for those trips to the cottage and vacations across Canada. We all know that when the weather turns nice, Canadians want to get out there and enjoy it.

Is the high price of gas a deterrent? No, because we all pay the prices at the pump. So why is it that when it comes to maintenance on their vehicles people seem to think the cost is high? Yes, we all know that vehicle repair is still often a negative in the mind of the consumer, yet the average maintenance of today’s vehicles is lower than it has ever been. Why? Cars are lasting longer, and oil changes are becoming less frequent.

A shift in thinking

A shift in thinking is starting to happen; consumers are looking more at electric vehicles, not only in how they can save fuel but also via government incentives and rebates that make them more affordable. Today, we spend so much time in our cars traveling back and forth to work, it seems more vehicles are on the roads, and it takes longer to get where we are going.

If you’re considering a green electric vehicle, you can also have the advantage of using the HOV lanes without having to have two or more people in the car, saving your journey time.

Last year I talked about the advantage of considering purchasing the charging systems for your service bays. We need to consider how to adapt to the changes in our industry. Will you be wondering why the shop down the street is busier than you? What are they doing that is different?

As we discussed last year, dealerships are already using EV charging systems in the bays, and with the increase in EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) we need to look at installing EV charging systems in more aftermarket bays. There are several on the market, and the cost of installation is only around $250.00 per unit.

Being proactive

We know that we need to keep our technicians trained, and with the technology and vehicle demands placed on us, we need to be proactive, not reactive.

At AARO we closely watch the market and try to bring topics and information that are relevant to these changing times.

As part of the 2019 Symposium & Trade Show on January 19 in Woodbridge, Ont, Craig Van Batenburg, AC/DC master Hybrid technician and EV specialist from Automotive Career Development Centre, will conduct a sneak peek of what to expect on the latest Chevy Volt as well as training on electrical systems and the opportunity to see the vehicles on site and talk with him one on one.

Aftermarket shops have never been afraid of working on the newer vehicles, and Hybrids and EVs should be no different.