Home Page › Forums › Discussions › General independent garage chat › Graham Stoakes opinion: Why blanket industry licensing isn't the answer › Reply To: Graham Stoakes opinion: Why blanket industry licensing isn't the answer
What could actually happen in reality is this. The vehicle manufacturers are under increased pressures, therefore it is entirely possible that with the advent of EV vehicles, ADAS etc that as I have recently experienced, the car manufacturer will just stop producing parts for older vehicles outside of warranty and then the customer will end up buying/leasing new EV vehicles. Limited, and I do mean limited members of the current Motor Trade who have invested in time and training in the vehicle manufacturing design principles at degree level and above will to some extent be in a position to manufacture some car parts themselves, thus keep trading for a while longer, but this is a specialist area of expertise not open to the everyday shop floor trade, who have not invested in these higher end training and qualifications. The IMI as previously mentioned above came along with the aTa accreditation to redress problems in the garage trade at a very basic level, which to some members of the trade have blown it all out of proportion putting the views across that unless everyone has the master tech grade then the garage mechanic is of low importance! I’ve seen many trying to get into the IMI accreditation just purely to get their MOT license. The Government were never any help in the past producing the NTTA assessment that many took advantage of just to try and get into the mot scheme. The mot forums were rife with people asking for the answers to the NTTA questions in its time.
So as I see the trade moving forwards, the manufacturing industry could continue to stop supplying parts for older vehicles, they could then move onto the EV type vehicles and then when those cars start to show problems and enter the garages left trading, the cost of repairs could prohibit the repair and the customer not bothering. What then for the remaining garages?
While this will not be seen in the short term, in the long term the think tanks could have other agendas not being disclosed and the trade really could end up being something entirely different in the longer term future.