Porsches are increasingly becoming frequent visitors to specialized collision centers far from their homes, a trend Brandon Mehizadeh, manager of a repair shop in Minnetonka, Minnesota, has observed firsthand. He recounts the story of a Cayenne SUV, damaged by a deer in South Dakota, initially taken to a local repair shop that lacked the expertise to handle its sophisticated technology. This isn’t an isolated incident. Like many high-end vehicles requiring specific care, the Porsche was transported hundreds of miles to Mehizadeh’s LaMettry’s Collision, a facility certified to repair luxury brands like Porsche. While the car was eventually returned to its owner months later, the journey highlights a growing issue: repairing modern cars is becoming increasingly complex and challenging, impacting both car owners and the auto repair industry.
This influx of Porsches needing specialized repairs is more than just an inconvenience for owners; it’s a symptom of a significant shift in the automotive landscape. Cars today are vastly different from their predecessors. They are now intricate systems on wheels, brimming with sensors, microchips, and controlled by vast lines of software code. The automotive industry often emphasizes the safety enhancements of these “software-defined vehicles,” alongside their potential for data collection and subscription-based services. However, the less discussed side of this technological evolution is its profound impact on auto repair.
The Rising Complexity of Car Repair
The sophistication of modern vehicles demands a new level of expertise and access to specialized—and costly—tools. This escalating complexity is creating ripples throughout the auto repair sector, mirroring challenges seen in other industries, like farmers hacking their own tractors due to repair restrictions, and ongoing debates about consumer “right to repair” for vehicles.
For car owners, this translates to longer wait times for repairs. The situation is further compounded by a shrinking number of auto repair shops across the US. Industry consolidation and the retirement of independent shop owners are contributing to this decline. In 2021 alone, a staggering 327 independent shops were absorbed by larger multi-shop operators, according to Focus Advisors, a firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions within the collision repair industry. The traditional neighborhood auto shop is becoming a rarity.
Fewer Shops, More Complex Repairs
Statistics paint a stark picture of the changing landscape. A recent industry analysis reveals a concerning trend: in 2016, there were 225 vehicles for every service bay in US auto shops. By now, that number has jumped to 246 vehicles per bay, indicating a significant decrease in repair capacity relative to the number of cars on the road. Adding to the pressure are external factors like pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions affecting crucial components like computer chips and auto parts, and a persistent nationwide shortage of skilled auto technicians. These converging issues are leading to substantial delays in vehicle repairs. In 2021, the average repair time increased by 2.1 days compared to 2019, pushing the total repair duration to nearly 11 days, as reported by CCC Intelligent Solutions, a company providing software solutions to the automotive and insurance sectors.
The Future of Auto Repair in a High-Tech World
The increasing complexity of vehicles is fundamentally reshaping the auto repair industry. While technological advancements in cars offer benefits, they simultaneously present significant challenges for repair and maintenance. The question isn’t necessarily whether cars are “killing” auto repair entirely, but rather how the industry will adapt to survive and thrive in this new era of automotive technology. The need for specialized skills, ongoing training, and substantial investment in diagnostic and repair equipment is becoming paramount. For car owners, understanding these shifts is crucial for managing expectations around repair times, costs, and choosing the right repair facilities equipped to handle the intricacies of their modern vehicles.
