Chariot Automotive pathway aims to prepare students to be automotive techs

Oct. 5—TIPTON — The number of automotive technicians leaving the industry is outpacing those joining the workforce by a vast rate.

One study, from TechForce Foundation, found that by 2024 the auto industry would need 642,000 technicians. The foundation encourages students to join the automotive profession and distributes scholarships.

The shortage is attributed to a number of factors, including older generations aging out of the industry, working conditions, wages and not enough young people entering the automotive workforce.

A lack of automotive techs — coupled with part shortages — means longer wait times to get one's car fixed.

There are local options for high school students interested in this line of work.

There's the Kokomo Area Career Center, which offers an automotive service program. Hinds Career Center in Elwood also offers automotive programs.

But there's one problem: spots are limited.

Founder and CEO of Chariot Automotive Group Rex Gingerich tasked his people with figuring out a way to make automotive technician education accessible to more students.

Partnering with Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo, Chariot Automotive began recruiting last year for a new program, the Automotive Technician Education Pathway.

"You either belly ache or do something about it," said Don Frick, talent recruiter at Chariot Automotive.

The Indiana Department of Education-approved pathway launched this school year with 27 students from Tipton and Hamilton counties. It is hosted at Chariot's Tipton location, right off U.S. 31.

There, juniors and seniors learn the basics of automotive repair. Things like changing oil and rotating tires.

"They also need to know the specifications of a car," said Jim Bonham, program chair for Ivy Tech Kokomo's automotive and diesel technology.

Students in the program earn college credit through Ivy Tech and will have valuable experience when entering the workforce.

"These kids will have a jumpstart on employment," Frick said.

By being at the dealership every day, students get a feel for the culture and know what's expected of them, said Jim Woolf, administrative director.

Chariot folks hope at least a few students will be interested in sticking around.

"We'll start talking to the young people about employment opportunities with us," Woolf said.

Those who accept can continue their education with Ivy Tech. Chariot will cover the cost of their education.

It's one way Chariot is aiming to develop its own talent pipeline.

"If we can help the north central Indiana area, that's fine," Woolf said.

"That way they're not poaching out people," Frick added.

There's at least one student in the program who's interested: Jackson Money, a senior at Tipton High School.

Money learned how to bleed a clutch and brakes on a Subaru Forester the day he spoke to the Tribune about joining the program.

Most days have students in the classroom for an hour with the other two spent out in the shop applying what they learned.

The Tipton senior grew up around cars with his grandpa and dad, who is a mechanic at Beck's.

"It's very interesting to me, and I wanted to get more into it," Money said.

Ivy Tech provides the curriculum. It covers the basics but also things like transmissions and electrical.

Money admitted the courses can be challenging.

"It's been both tough and easy at times, but it's been very helpful," he said. "I've learned a lot. There is a lot of information in class."

Electrical is one of the most important aspects students need to learn. So many cars today have features like automatic braking and lane assist technology. Those who work on cars need to know how the electrical component relates to the rest of the vehicle.

"We're going to hit electrical hard because every system uses it," Bonham said.

The students are split into two cohorts, one morning and the other in the afternoon. Upon completion of the two-year program, students will have earned 34 hours of college credit.

They also earn industry-recognized certifications in Mopar CAP (Career Automotive Program), Mechanical Safety and Pollution Prevention and Service Safety, along with Snap-on tool certifications, the top-of-the-line tools used in the industry.

A Mopar CAP certification means the holder is trained to work on specific types of vehicles, including Chrysler, Dodger and Jeep.

A pollution prevention certification involves learning how to keep the work area clean, handle vehicle fluids safely and what to do in the event of a spill. Service safety certification is straightforward and involves personal and protective equipment.

"First and foremost, we want to teach them how to do all this safely," Frick said.

Woolfe said there are plans to extend the program into Howard County, hosting cohorts at one of Chariot's Kokomo locations in the future.

"We have a good problem," Bonham added. "We have a lot of people who want to be in this."

Know a student who might be interested in the Automotive Technician Education Pathway?

Contact Chariot's Button or McGonigal locations in Kokomo, Academy in Tipton or the Ivy Tech Kokomo Automotive Technology and mention the pathway.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.