A longstanding issue facing dealerships across the country is the shortage of technicians. So, the Central Florida Automobile Dealers Association (CFADA) recently announced its statewide initiative to recruit and train auto techs. On today’s episode of Inside Automotive, Evelyn Cardenas, the President and CEO of the CFADA, joins us to elaborate further.
Key Takeaways
1. Evelyn Cardenas draws attention to the significant problem of the technician shortage in dealerships nationwide. She explains that with retiring technicians and the industry’s expansion, there are approximately 650,000 unfilled tech positions. Therefore, the Association’s initiative seeks to tackle this shortage and create a pathway for individuals interested in pursuing a career as automotive technicians.
2. The Autotech Apprenticeship Program offers on-the-job training for aspiring auto techs, allowing them to learn and gain industry-specific skills directly at dealerships. The program is designed to be zero-cost to the apprentice and provides a high-paying career option with long-term prospects within 12 to 18 months.
3. Additionally, the initiative has received support from the government, pending the governor’s signature for funding. This funding is crucial for expanding efforts, reaching more people, and providing necessary resources and training to apprentices, particularly focusing on underserved and underrepresented communities.
4. Furthermore, CFADA will use the funds to set up a training ecosystem for apprentices, which will include pre-apprenticeship training, educational support systems, partnerships with automotive instructors, tool-lending libraries, and scholarships. The goal is to ensure apprentices have everything they need to succeed and become fully certified technicians with potential six-figure incomes.
5. Nevertheless, Cardenas also touches on the evolution of automotive technology, highlighting the sophistication of modern vehicles as “computers on wheels.” It discusses the demand for EVs, current inventory levels, and the challenges and opportunities facing dealerships in navigating the changing automotive landscape.
"The Autotech Apprenticeship Program offers a high-paying career option with long-term prospects within 12 to 18 months, providing industry-specific skills directly at dealerships." – Evelyn Cardenas
