Highly qualified automotive technicians are becoming increasingly scarce in South Africa, with their training now encompassing not only internal combustion engines, but also hybrid technology and battery electric vehicles.
With most modern cars having upwards of 30 000 parts, and being more of a computer-on-wheels than a people mover, training takes a very long time, with technicians continuing their training as new models and technologies are introduced, says Knysna Toyota dealer Tom Esterhuizen.
“Finding young people to become automotive technicians is not easy, primarily due to the stigma associated with technical trades in South Africa.
“Unlike in developed countries such as Germany and Switzerland, where artisans are highly regarded and respected, there is a negative perception surrounding such occupations in South Africa,” he adds.
Local dealerships and repair shops also typically require candidates to have a matriculation certificate with a pass mark of at least 50% in mathematics and science, or in at least one of these subjects.
Alternatively, candidates may be considered once they have completed a bridging programme.
National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) director Gary McCraw says today's automotive technicians are highly specialised and far removed from the mechanic of the old days.
They are also highly sought-after, with their training and retention costs a significant investment for dealerships.
This demand also extends to markets abroad, as local training and qualifications both meet international standards.
One franchise dealer with more than 50 years’ experience in the local motor industry, who started as an apprentice technician himself in 1969, says today's master or diagnostic technician “can be compared to a medical specialist” in terms of the duration and intensity of studying, as well as required on-the-job technical training.
“…Top-line automotive technicians must work on cars that are 20 to 30 years old, with relatively basic technology, and then transition to the latest models with highly advanced technology, thousands of parts all perfectly engineered to work in unison, most of which are electronic,” notes McCraw.
He says the standard apprenticeship in the motor industry has changed significantly.
In addition to working under an artisan, apprentices now spend as much as two weeks a month at college for theoretical studies.
Once the apprentice qualifies as an artisan, the real pressure begins in terms of skills improvement and theoretical learning, much of this specific to certain vehicle models and systems.
Depending on the specific franchise, the first five years after qualifying as an artisan can be demanding as the technician progresses towards becoming a master or diagnostic technician.
Technicians are also required to undergo yearly refresher courses, while also receiving training prior to the introduction of a new model.
“The major challenge faced by dealerships is how to attract matriculants with maths and science to pursue careers as automotive technicians, and to remove the stigma attached to the technical trades, which have become more focused on lab-coats and laptops than overalls and ‘lappies’,” says McCraw.