New Technologies That Are Reshaping Automotive Repair Industry

Introduction

Repair services are indispensable in the aftermarket and OEMs are now working towards revamping the repair functions and also improving the customer experience. This can be done by implementing new and advanced technologies in daily business functions. We are progressing in Industry 4.0, which has brought about transformative changes in the automotive repair industry. OEMs and aftermarket businesses are experiencing disruption in their business through the adoption of new and emerging technologies. With the rise in sustainability practices now, these companies aim to adapt to the changing business dynamics and consumer preferences. All of this together has brought about a positive change, forcing the traditional automotive repair industry to compete on technological fronts that are evolving.

There are connected vehicles now which have given rise to Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric (CASE) vehicles which are poised to be a major catalyst in the automotive repair industry. Additionally, the impact of improved repair services on customers has been transformed with the help of digital empowerment. With sustainability practices at the core of the automotive aftermarket and OEMs, there are new and improved ways of providing such services to consumers today. Companies also offer great flexibility in those too.

Let us now dive into the emerging technologies and how they are reshaping the automotive repair industry.

Workshops are Now Becoming EV-compliant

The automotive repair industry has seen a drop in the prices of components and multiple government schemes have also promoted these workshops to slowly start adopting the compliance standards for electric vehicles. Government schemes like the Production Linked Initiative (PLI), Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) and multiple other initiatives have acted as catalysts in the promotion of electric vehicles now. As India is a huge market, there are places where electric vehicles are dominating the road, especially metro cities. It has become a necessity for various workshops to remain competitive. This means they would need to train their workforce on safety standards and also have independent circuitry for electric vehicle charging.  Such garages will need Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and the temperature also has to be monitored.

Predictive Maintenance

With the advent of advanced and innovative technologies like big data, IoT, Over-The-Air (OTA) and more are connected and installed in vehicles today, service stations, and aftermarket businesses solely in the repair functions and also vehicle owners are getting the flexibility to avoid failures with the help of predictive maintenance. By utilising data science and advanced machine learning techniques, the data accumulated can provide insights and forecasts that help avoid system failures and predict downtime. Such innovative techniques have saved costs for the automotive repair industry and fleet companies implementing such technology at scale. However, external factors also need to be taken into consideration such as driver behaviour and weather. These need to be accounted for which would make such technology an indispensable asset for businesses.

Self-Healing Materials Being Tested

Yes, you heard it right! This may sound like a sci-fi movie or something out of the garage of Tony Stark but you heard it right.

Self-healing materials are such that they can detect damage and repair themselves without the need for any manual intervention. This can be seen as a mechanism which is an elongated form of predictive maintenance. Companies like Lamborghini are testing these self-healing cars with the help of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have co-developed a self-healing car, Terzo Millenio or 3rd Millenium. Primarily made by utilising carbon fibre components mostly used in hyper and supercars for their strength and durability, it can heal itself. Many such tests are being done in the automotive repair industry such as polyurethane coating healing its scratches when exposed to sunlight, battery cells that regenerate when in use, carbon-fibre structure with healing chemistries filled micro-channels and more.

Robotics in Repair

We are now past the time when repair was solely dependent on manual labour. With the rise in competition, businesses in the automotive repair industry are testing various robotic technologies to offer repair services at scale with better accuracy and outcomes. With the implementation of the right sensors, actuators and control logic, these robotic machines can now perform repetitive tasks with speed, accuracy and precision. There isn’t a future far away where we could see such installations in auto repair shops that can perform complex repair work. As we progress into the next-gen tech, robotics is certainly a strong contender.

Implementing AR and VR in Repair

As we are talking about new technologies entering the repair functions, AR and VR are not very far. They have already made their way into the garage and are now being utilised in multiple ways and not just in the automotive repair industry. They utilise IoT, sensors and virtual reality to enable the workshop technicians to perform complex operations with ease. These solutions can be deployed with multiple hardware and software solutions and help mechanics ensure even the tiniest of details are not overlooked. These simulations are now also being tested for training purposes and will play a leading role in the future of the automotive repair industry.

Conclusion

These trends that we have listed are just a few of many that are being tested and utilised to enhance business operations and functions in the automotive repair industry. They not only help streamline operations but also help with greater productivity and round-the-clock operations for businesses. Especially with the advent of electric vehicles where they promise a positive future, the workshops and garages are equipping themselves to adapt to these changing business environments. But, at the core of all these technological developments, one often overlooked factor is training the workforce to acquire the skills and expertise to remain competitive. Training the workforce is of equal importance as these technologies are – for nothing can completely replace a human touch or empathy.