Are you interested in auto technician training or auto sales college? Before you settle on a course of study, take the time to familiarize yourself with some emerging industry trends.
Compact used cars are appreciating
As most graduates of auto sales college will have learned, tradition has it that a used car should decrease in value by an average of 15% per year. But according to some figures from 2011, five-year old small cars like the Honda Civic and Ford Focus actually increased in value between 2010 and 2011.
There are several reasons for this change, which may be of interest to those considering automotive careers. The decline of the North American car industry has affected the used car market, which in the past was partly fed by the surplus of North American-made stock. Also, the Japanese tsunami has led to an increase in prices of Japanese cars, leading some consumers who would have otherwise opted for a new car to seek a used alternative.
Takeaway: You may have gone to auto sales college to learn how to sell SUVs. But more and more of todays car buyers are looking for fuel efficiency. Many consumers are trying to trade in their larger vehicles for more efficient models, and finding that they have to sell at a loss.
Introduction of public charging stations: electrification of transportation
As major car companies bring out electric and hybrid cars, and as power companies install public charging stations to accommodate them, issues arise for graduates of auto technician training, who may not, for instance, have encountered a lithium-ion battery pack as they were pursuing their schooling.
This trend towards electrification may actually present an opportunity for students of auto technician training with the foresight to specialize in electric vehicle repair a field that is expected to continue growing.
Some graduates of auto technician training are using their skills to convert gas-powered vehicles to electricity.
Some schools that specialize in automotive careers are also treating this new trend as an opportunity, for instance, by specializing in teaching low-carbon vehicle development and maintenance.
Takeaway: If you are interested in this kind of green niche work, look for auto technician training that offers training in electric and hybrid vehicle systems. Although electric vehicles are expected to require less frequent maintenance than conventional vehicles. mechanics can charge more for this kind of work.
Automotive careers of the future will require more training
In the past, when one in seven working Americans were employed in some aspect of the automotive industry, people could go straight from high school to a career on the factory or sales floor. But today, automotive careers are beginning to require more training. More and more, industry aspirants will need to seek out auto technician training or auto sales college to increase their chances of finding and keeping a good job.
Good luck choosing from the rapidly evolving choice of automotive careers.