I think that my job as a mechanic has been one of the industries that has changed the most. Computer technology is the main reason why. The two have grown side by side.
When I first started over 30 years ago, your toolbox could fit in the trunk of a small car. Now you’d need a small truck just to move it. Back then, a basic set of sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, and a good hammer would get you through a surprising amount of work.
Even without the electronics, that’s no longer the case. Every manufacturer now has its own list of special tools, and that list keeps growing as cars evolve.
But the biggest shift has been electronics and computer systems; and that’s only accelerating.
Cars aren’t just machines anymore they’re experiences. Built for convenience, comfort, and everything’s automated. They park themselves, remember drivers, it’s a cockpit of entertainment and every feature adds a layer of complexity.
And every one of those systems can fail, and they’re not fixed with traditional tools. You need specific software, you need to train on the software to know what you’re looking at.
The car repair business has become like everything else; another subscription model.
And in a strange way, it’s come full circle.
Now you can fit your tools in the trunk of a small car again. It’s just a laptop after all.
