{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"March 27, 2026 | WrenchWay’s Jay Goninen talks about what technicians are looking for; Hyundai pledges increase in U.S. production","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/march-27-2026-wrenchway-s-jay-goninen-talks-about-what-technicians-are-looking-for-hyundai-pledges-increase-in-u-s-production","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/18919235-march-27-2026-wrenchway-s-jay-goninen-talks-about-what-technicians-are-looking-for-hyundai-pledges-increase-in-u-s-production.mp3","description":"WrenchWay President Jay Goninen discusses the company’s Voice of the Technician survey results and what technicians are looking for in a dealership. Hyundai pledges to increase U.S. production by 2030. Plus, what dealers need to know about the wave of used electric vehicles hitting the market."},"annotations":[{"startTime":24.0,"endTime":27.1,"type":"concept","title":"employee retention","url":"/glossary/employee-retention","quote":"to AI enablement and employee retention.\n[27.1s]  The registration deadline is April 17th,","canonicalId":"concept:employee-retention","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Employee retention is how long technicians and other staff stay with a dealership. Retention is a major operational metric because high turnover increases training costs and can hurt service quality and customer satisfaction.","simplifiedExplanation":"Retention just means keeping employees from quitting. When people stay, the shop gets more consistent and customers benefit."}},{"startTime":66.6,"endTime":118.4,"type":"brand","title":"Hyundai","url":"/glossary/hyundai","quote":"[66.6s] Today on the show,\n[66.6s] Hyundai announces a new goal for US production by 2030.\n[71.0s] General Motors investments into technician training","canonicalId":"brand:hyundai","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Hyundai is the automaker making the U.S. production localization pledge discussed in this segment. The company’s targets focus on both domestic vehicle production and U.S.-sourced parts.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hyundai is the car company in this story. They’re planning to build more of their cars in the U.S. and use more U.S.-made parts."}},{"startTime":71.0,"endTime":77.0,"type":"concept","title":"technician training and recruitment","url":"/glossary/technician-training-and-recruitment","quote":"[71.0s] and General Motors investments into technician training\n[74.4s] and recruitment are starting to pay off\n[77.0s] and Jaguar Land Rover has halted production","canonicalId":"concept:technician-training-and-recruitment","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"This refers to efforts to build a pipeline of qualified dealership technicians. As vehicles add more electronics and advanced diagnostics, training and staffing become critical to reducing service delays and maintaining repair quality."}},{"startTime":77.0,"endTime":79.3,"type":"brand","title":"Jaguar Land Rover","url":"/glossary/jaguar-land-rover","quote":"[74.4s] and recruitment are starting to pay off\n[77.0s] and Jaguar Land Rover has halted production\n[79.3s] at one of its UK plants for up to two weeks.","canonicalId":"brand:jaguar-land-rover","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Jaguar Land Rover is referenced as having halted production at a UK plant for up to two weeks. Production stoppages like this can ripple through parts availability, vehicle deliveries, and inventory levels."}},{"startTime":88.5,"endTime":103.6,"type":"concept","title":"Voice of the Technician survey","url":"/glossary/voice-of-the-technician-survey","quote":"[88.5s] to talk about the results of the company's\n[90.9s] Voice of the Technician survey.\n[93.1s] We've had several dealerships that have printed it off","canonicalId":"concept:voice-of-the-technician-survey","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The “Voice of the Technician” survey is a structured way to collect feedback directly from technicians about working conditions, tools, training, and process gaps. In this segment, dealerships are using the results to start internal conversations about what they may be missing.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a survey that asks mechanics what they think is going wrong or what they need. The goal is to use that feedback to improve the shop and the way repairs are handled."}},{"startTime":93.1,"endTime":98.8,"type":"concept","title":"dealerships that have printed it off or presented it to their own technicians","url":"/glossary/dealerships-that-have-printed-it-off-or-presented-it-to-their-own-technicians","quote":"[93.1s] We've had several dealerships that have printed it off\n[96.0s] or presented it to their own technicians\n[98.8s] and said, okay, what are we missing here?","canonicalId":"concept:dealerships-that-have-printed-it-off-or-presented-it-to-their-own-technicians","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"This describes a feedback loop where dealership leadership shares survey findings with technicians to validate whether the issues match real day-to-day experience. It’s an example of using employee input to drive operational changes in service departments.","simplifiedExplanation":"The dealerships are sharing the survey results with their own mechanics. Then they can compare it to what’s actually happening in their shop and decide what to improve."}},{"startTime":153.7,"endTime":156.4,"type":"concept","title":"training, retention and recruitment","url":"/glossary/training-retention-and-recruitment","quote":"The automakers investments into training, retention and recruitment drove the increase.","canonicalId":"concept:training-retention-and-recruitment","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.84,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Training, retention, and recruitment are the three levers automakers use to stabilize their technician workforce. Training builds skill, recruitment brings in new workers, and retention reduces turnover so the workforce stays consistent.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is how companies keep mechanics coming in and staying: teach them the job, hire new people, and reduce people leaving."}},{"startTime":165.3,"endTime":170.3,"type":"concept","title":"technician apprenticeships","url":"/glossary/technician-apprenticeships","quote":"Technician apprenticeships are also up 18% since 2021.","canonicalId":"concept:technician-apprenticeships","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.86,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Technician apprenticeships are structured training programs that combine classroom instruction with hands-on work. They’re used by automakers and dealer networks to build a pipeline of qualified technicians over time."}},{"startTime":174.6,"endTime":179.0,"type":"concept","title":"technician shortage","url":"/glossary/technician-shortage","quote":"This effort is crucial amid the auto industry's technician shortage to help their dealers recruit and retain techs.","canonicalId":"concept:technician-shortage","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.93,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The technician shortage refers to a lack of qualified automotive service workers relative to demand. It affects dealer service departments’ ability to keep up with repairs and maintenance, which can impact customer wait times and shop profitability.","simplifiedExplanation":"There aren’t enough trained mechanics to handle all the cars that need service. That can mean longer waits and more pressure on the shops that are hiring."}},{"startTime":222.5,"endTime":227.9,"type":"concept","title":"electric vehicles coming off lease","url":"/glossary/electric-vehicles-coming-off-lease","quote":"A wave of electric vehicles are coming off lease and hitting the used vehicle market this year. But many of these EVs will be worth less than expected when they were originally leased.","canonicalId":"concept:electric-vehicles-coming-off-lease","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A lot of EVs are reaching the end of their lease terms, which pushes them into the used-car market. This can change pricing and availability because lease-end vehicles often have different condition, mileage patterns, and documentation than typical trade-ins.","simplifiedExplanation":"Some EVs are finishing their lease and then getting sold as used cars. That can affect how much they cost and how easy they are to find."}},{"startTime":279.7,"endTime":285.6,"type":"concept","title":"EV","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"You know, someone who's interested in an EV, which is not everyone, but also someone who might not be able to afford a new EV.","canonicalId":"concept:ev","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"EV stands for electric vehicle. In this context, the discussion is about how selling and servicing EVs requires different customer education than traditional gas cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"An EV is a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. The big difference is that the “how it works” and what to watch over time are different from gas cars."}},{"startTime":317.4,"endTime":321.2,"type":"concept","title":"50,000 miles","url":"/glossary/50-000-miles","quote":"We're all used to, okay, it has 50,000 miles. That means this. That doesn't really translate in the same way to an EV.","canonicalId":"concept:50-000-miles","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The “50,000 miles” example highlights that mileage-based expectations from gas cars don’t map cleanly to EVs. For EVs, battery condition and usage patterns can matter more than odometer reading for predicting future performance and value."}},{"startTime":352.7,"endTime":355.3,"type":"brand","title":"Tesla","url":"/glossary/tesla","quote":"There's just like a lot of used Teslas around. So they're pretty used to it.","canonicalId":"brand:tesla","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Tesla is a major U.S. electric-vehicle (EV) brand, and its cars are widely sold and serviced through dealer networks in many markets. In this segment, the host is using Tesla as an example of how dealers are already seeing EV inventory and customer behavior.","simplifiedExplanation":"Tesla is a company that makes electric cars. The point here is that some car dealers already sell a lot of Teslas, so they’re more familiar with how EVs move on the lot."}},{"startTime":389.2,"endTime":392.6,"type":"concept","title":"price sensitive","url":"/glossary/price-sensitive","quote":"And they know that it'll be a price sensitive thing. You know, if they can price these cars really low...","canonicalId":"concept:price-sensitive","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Price sensitive” means customers’ buying decisions depend heavily on price—small changes can significantly affect demand. For EVs entering the used market, dealers may need aggressive pricing or incentives to attract buyers who are still uncertain about long-term costs like battery degradation.","simplifiedExplanation":"Price sensitive means people will only buy if the price feels right. If buyers are unsure about EVs, a lower price can help them take the chance."}},{"startTime":427.7,"endTime":459.3,"type":"concept","title":"leasing","url":"/glossary/leasing","quote":"[424.0s]  Like how are they working with the automakers\n[425.7s]  to be able to sell these vehicles?\n[427.7s]  So if you don't know how leasing works,\n[429.8s]  the auto lenders that lease cars are automakers captives.","canonicalId":"concept:leasing","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Leasing is a financing structure where you pay for the car’s use over a set term rather than buying it outright. At the end, you typically return the vehicle, buy it for a pre-set price, or roll into a new lease depending on the contract.","simplifiedExplanation":"Leasing is like renting a car for a few years with monthly payments. You usually give it back at the end, or you can sometimes buy it for a set price if you want to keep it."}},{"startTime":441.0,"endTime":445.1,"type":"concept","title":"Ford's captive","url":"/glossary/ford-s-captive","quote":"[441.0s]  if you're a Ford's captive,\n[442.1s]  you lend to Ford dealers and Ford customers.\n[445.1s]  And that's where leases come from.","canonicalId":"concept:ford-s-captive","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"When the speaker says “Ford’s captive,” they mean Ford’s own finance arm lending to Ford dealers and Ford customers. This illustrates how captive lenders route lease financing through the brand’s dealer network.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Ford’s captive” means Ford’s own finance company. It’s the one that typically sets up leases and loans for Ford dealers and Ford buyers."}},{"startTime":459.3,"endTime":461.88,"type":"concept","title":"extended rental","url":"/glossary/extended-rental","quote":"[456.3s]  And, you know, those are the people\n[457.9s]  that actually own the cars.\n[459.3s]  It's kind of like an extended rental when you do a lease,","canonicalId":"concept:extended-rental","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The speaker compares a lease to an “extended rental” to emphasize that you’re paying for vehicle use over time. Like rentals, you generally don’t build equity the way you do with a purchase, and the vehicle is returned at the end of the term.","simplifiedExplanation":"Calling a lease an “extended rental” means you’re paying to use the car for a while. You usually don’t own it, and you give it back when the lease ends."}},{"startTime":503.8,"endTime":507.6,"type":"concept","title":"wholesale auctions","url":"/glossary/wholesale-auctions","quote":"or they might try and sell them to other dealers through wholesale auctions.","canonicalId":"concept:wholesale-auctions","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Wholesale auctions are dealer-to-dealer sales events where vehicles are sold in bulk to other dealers. Captives often use them to efficiently sell lease returns when the original dealership doesn’t buy them back.","simplifiedExplanation":"Wholesale auctions are events where dealers bid on cars. If the original dealer doesn’t want the returned lease cars, the captive can sell them to other dealers through auctions."}},{"startTime":673.4,"endTime":676.2,"type":"company","title":"Experian Automotive Marketing solutions","url":"/glossary/experian-automotive-marketing-solutions","quote":"This is where Experian Automotive Marketing solutions [675.6s] can help.","canonicalId":"company:experian-automotive-marketing-solutions","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Experian is an analytics and data company, and its Automotive Marketing solutions are aimed at helping dealers use consumer and vehicle data to target customers. The segment emphasizes that accurate, up-to-date data is critical for effective marketing."}},{"startTime":723.3,"endTime":728.0,"type":"company","title":"ExperianAutomotive.com","url":"/glossary/experianautomotive-com","quote":"Better marketing starts here. Visit ExperianAutomotive.com for more information. Welcome back to Daily Drive.","canonicalId":"company:experianautomotive-com","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.82,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Experian Automotive is a data and analytics provider used by automotive marketers and dealers to target customers and measure campaign performance. Their tools often connect consumer/vehicle data to dealership outcomes like verified sales.","simplifiedExplanation":"Experian Automotive is a company that helps dealers use data to find likely car buyers and track results. It’s used to connect marketing efforts to real dealership outcomes."}},{"startTime":737.5,"endTime":740.3,"type":"concept","title":"apprenticeship and recruitment programs","url":"/glossary/apprenticeship-and-recruitment-programs","quote":"Across the country, dealers are struggling to recruit and retain service technicians amidst a shortage. That means apprenticeship and recruitment programs are more critical than ever.","canonicalId":"concept:apprenticeship-and-recruitment-programs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.86,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Apprenticeship and recruitment programs” are structured pathways to bring new technicians into the trade and develop their skills. In a shortage, dealers and training partners rely on these programs to build a pipeline and reduce turnover.","simplifiedExplanation":"Apprenticeship and recruitment programs are ways to train new mechanics and hire them into the industry. When there’s a shortage, these programs help ensure there are enough people to work on cars."}},{"startTime":747.0,"endTime":807.5,"type":"company","title":"Wrenchway","url":"/glossary/wrenchway","quote":"sat down with Jay Gunnenin, co-founder and president at Wrenchway, a job search platform for service technicians and more... When we first launched the company, it was all recruiting... we really got involved with the education side of the industry","canonicalId":"company:wrenchway","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Wrenchway is a job search platform focused on automotive service technicians. In this segment, Jay Goninen explains that the company has evolved from recruiting into supporting technician education to help address the industry’s staffing shortage.","simplifiedExplanation":"Wrenchway helps auto shop technicians find jobs. The company also works on training/education so there are more qualified techs to fill open roles."}},{"startTime":800.9,"endTime":806.0,"type":"concept","title":"duct taping together","url":"/glossary/duct-taping-together","quote":"rather than kind of duct taping together, which is what we were doing with recruiting essentially","canonicalId":"concept:duct-taping-together","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Duct taping together” is a metaphor for patching the problem with quick, short-term measures rather than fixing root causes. Here, it’s used to describe how recruiting can temporarily cover staffing gaps without solving the underlying shortage.","simplifiedExplanation":"It means using a quick band-aid solution. In this case, it’s like hiring your way out of the shortage for a moment, but not actually creating enough new trained technicians."}},{"startTime":927.7,"endTime":933.0,"type":"term","title":"brake cleaner","url":"/glossary/brake-cleaner","quote":"So if that teacher needs a case of brake cleaner,\n[927.7s] they shouldn't be paying for it out of their own pocket,\n[932.7s] which is happening a lot.","canonicalId":"term:brake-cleaner","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Brake cleaner is a solvent used to remove brake dust, grease, and other contaminants from brake components. In a school or training setting, it’s a common consumable for hands-on service practice and cleaning parts before inspection or reassembly."}},{"startTime":960.6,"endTime":963.3,"type":"concept","title":"technician wage tool","url":"/glossary/technician-wage-tool","quote":"We built out our technician wage tool because we had a meeting with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and we're kind of disappointed in what their model was","canonicalId":"concept:technician-wage-tool","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A technician wage tool is a data-driven way to estimate what auto shops should pay technicians. It typically uses labor-market information to help shops benchmark wages and plan staffing costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a tool that helps shops figure out what technicians are usually paid. Instead of guessing, it uses data to estimate a fair wage."}},{"startTime":963.3,"endTime":965.4,"type":"company","title":"Bureau of Labor Statistics","url":"/glossary/bureau-of-labor-statistics","quote":"We built out our technician wage tool because we had a meeting with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and we're kind of disappointed in what their model was","canonicalId":"company:bureau-of-labor-statistics","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a U.S. government agency that collects and publishes labor and employment data. In this discussion, it’s referenced as a source for technician wage modeling, and the speaker questions how the BLS model produces usable results."}},{"startTime":998.5,"endTime":1004.0,"type":"concept","title":"going rate for a technician","url":"/glossary/going-rate-for-a-technician","quote":"that should help the shops themselves understand what the going rate for a technician is and really get a good idea of what those technicians are wanting","canonicalId":"concept:going-rate-for-a-technician","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Going rate” refers to the current market wage technicians can command based on local demand and experience levels. The speaker connects this to using better data so shops can set pay more competitively and reduce turnover.","simplifiedExplanation":"The “going rate” is basically what technicians are being paid right now in the real world. The goal is to help shops pay enough to attract and keep good techs."}},{"startTime":1206.6,"endTime":1239.2,"type":"concept","title":"pay structure","url":"/glossary/pay-structure","quote":"[1206.6s]  Yeah, pay structure,\n[1208.4s]  we ranked the industry's most urgent issues\n[1212.7s]  and higher pay was by far number one.","canonicalId":"concept:pay-structure","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.84,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Pay structure” refers to how technicians are compensated—commonly flat rate, hourly, or a hybrid with bonuses/guarantees. The discussion suggests pay structure is a major driver of technician satisfaction and retention.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Pay structure” is just how mechanics get paid at work. It can be hourly, flat-rate per job, or a mix, and it affects whether people feel satisfied and stay."}},{"startTime":1233.6,"endTime":1266.3,"type":"term","title":"flat rate","url":"/glossary/flat-rate","quote":"[1229.8s]  which I think speaks to some of the discontentment\n[1233.6s]  with flat rate as a whole.\n[1236.2s]  And I think what we're starting to understand more and more","canonicalId":"term:flat-rate","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Flat rate” is a pay system where technicians are paid a fixed amount for each job based on a predetermined labor time (often from manufacturer labor guides). If the job takes less time than the allotted time, the tech can earn more; if it takes longer, they may earn less.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Flat rate” means mechanics get paid a set amount for a repair, not by the hours they actually spend. The shop uses a time estimate for each job, and the pay is tied to that estimate."}},{"startTime":1490.6,"endTime":1496.6,"type":"concept","title":"used EVs","url":"/glossary/used-evs","quote":"You can get the latest news on industry crises, \n[1493.7s]  used EVs, automakers, production goals","canonicalId":"concept:used-evs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Used EVs” refers to electric vehicles that have already been sold and are now being resold on the pre-owned market. This matters because EVs have different maintenance and battery-related considerations than gas cars, and pricing/availability can shift as production and incentives change."}},{"startTime":1493.7,"endTime":1496.6,"type":"concept","title":"production goals","url":"/glossary/production-goals","quote":"used EVs, automakers, production goals\n[1496.6s]  and everything happening in the auto industry","canonicalId":"concept:production-goals","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Production goals are targets automakers set for how many vehicles they plan to build over a given time period. They’re often tied to supply chain capacity, staffing, and demand forecasts, and they can affect everything from incentives to parts availability."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Automotive News","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/march-27-2026-wrenchway-s-jay-goninen-talks-about-what-technicians-are-looking-for-hyundai-pledges-increase-in-u-s-production/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}