Hispanic auto tech issues addressed

Motor, Nov 2003 by Nash, Tom

The automotive industry met with Congress to discuss issues relative to Hispanic automotive technicians. The Automotive Service Association (ASA), National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) jointly hosted the Hispanic Automotive Technician Summit.

The summit was co-chaired by U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Chairman of the Senate judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, and U.S. Rep. Giro D. Rodriguez (DTX), chairman of the House of Representatives' Hispanic Caucus.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, employment of automotive service technicians is expected to increase through the year 2010. The growing complexity of automotive technology necessitates their being serviced by skilled workers, contributing to the growth in demand for highly trained technicians.

The meeting provided a forum to discuss issues and develop solutions. With an overflow crowd, the automotive industry was represented by independent automotive repairers, automobile manufacturers, dealers and vocational educational groups.

Attendees posed questions regarding language barriers, cultural issues and things the industry can do to work as a partner with the Hispanic community. One of the resounding themes was an industry effort to heighten educational opportunities for potential automotive technicians. One of the points made was that Hispanic students must be exposed to such opportunities at an earlier stage in their school career. Developing Spanish-language literature for students' parents regarding the automotive industry's career options also should be a top priority.

Toyota Motor Co. announced at the meeting it was opening an additional training center to train approximately 125 students per year for work in the automotive industry.