The future of automotive training, with J.F. Champagne

The automotive industry is in a state of rapid evolution but training programs are unable to keep pace.

In the latest episode of Auto Service World Conversations, J.F. Champagne, president and CEO of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, highlighted the growing complexity of vehicle technology and the urgent need for standardized training.

“The biggest challenge… is that the vehicle changes so fast — the techniques, propulsion, the tools,” Champagne explained.

Schools are used to the trades evolving slowly. That’s not the case in the auto care sector. So while there are new graduates every year, “they don’t necessarily have the training and the knowledge that’s needed to fix today’s and tomorrow’s cars,” he observed.

Champagne believes that technological advancement offers immense potential for new career paths. He sees specialization in areas such as diagnostics and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as a growing necessity.

He also highlighted the need for standardization in training across Canada, citing ongoing efforts to harmonize qualifications.

“We have to have it if we’re going to be effective in training people in the future,” he said.

Beyond training gaps, Champagne says that one of the industry’s most significant obstacles is its public perception. He notes that many young people are discouraged from pursuing careers in automotive service by their own families.

Changing that perception, according to Champagne, starts with stronger industry advocacy. He urges professionals to take an active role in promoting the sector’s opportunities.

“Talk about the auto care sector, the great rewarding careers that exist in our sector, and tell that to your neighbour, a distant cousin, friends, relatives,” he encouraged.

And when you find an eager person, expose them to the many capabilities of your business.

“It’s not just about having an extra set of hands to broom the floor,” Champagne explained. “You got to be committed to educate and train these people. It’s an investment in the future.”

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