STUDENT FOCUS Our tagline says it all: Today’s students. Tomorrow’s techs. The students Tomorrow’s Technician reaches are between the ages of 17 to 25 years old, have a passion for automotive and are attending an ASE accredited program. Our readers are ready to work! Many of these students don’t fit the four-year college mold According to our recent Tomorrow’s Tech and excel in the hands-on learning automotive technology Instructor Survey, ¼ of instructors said more than encourages. They may have grease on their shirts, but % these students are training for a highly specialized and 75 technical career that keeps the cars and trucks on the road of their students have jobs after graduation. rolling, that keeps life moving. Plans after graduation % 24.3% 68 Continue education in automotive, collision or diesel of schools have students 16% participating in SkillsUSA! Other Other contests include 14.9% National Automotive Technology Work at an independent repair shop Competition, Hot Rodders of 12.7% Tomorrow, UTI Top Tech Challenge Work outside of auto field and more. 11.6% Join the military 9.3% Work at a new car dealership Our readers have 4.5% diverse plans after Work at a heavy-duty/truck shop graduation, with Average age 3% most readers Work at a collision repair shop planning to continue of reader is 3% their education in 17 Work at a parts store automotive. 0.04% years old Work at a tire dealership % % 0.04% 93 7 Work at a service chain (Sears, Midas, etc.) male female 4% 4% Where do they buy parts? A parts store or 23% warehouse 69% The internet Students are buying parts online, but they still rely on Other parts stores first A new car dealer TOMORROW’S TECH 2019 STUDENT FOCUS Tomorrow’s Tech student readers are making brand 54% decisions early. % of students said they purchase 84 parts and/or tools online perform their own repairs for their vehicle and/or family and friends’ vehicles 19% RockAuto 12% eBay % % 71 71 % 12% Snap-on 69 67% 11% NAPA Auto Parts % % 57 9 Amazon (air/oil) 53% Shocks & struts Shocks 8% Advance Auto Parts 47% Suspension parts (ball joints, bearings, tie rods) Wiper blades % Filters Brake work 43 % 8% 42 All/Any/Many Coolant 7% O’Reilly Auto Parts 02 sensors Engine Battery replacement Battery % Collision/body work % 28 6 AutoZone Belts & hoses 22% 4% JEGS 4% Summit Racing Equipment 3% Sears/Craftsman 2% Harbor Freight 2% Matco Tools 2% Other 1% Kobalt Tools YouTube 60% Google 56% ALLDATA 50% Student are going online Tomorrow’s Technician 23% for auto content: Motor Trend 22% Blogs/Forum 10% Where they search % % 85 Other 10 Student spend WWW 9% post or watch automotive an average of Car and Driver 9% videos online $ Car and Throttle 8% 344 Identifix 5% a year on tools Motor Age 2% Social media sites they frequently visit: The Tomorrow’s % % % % % % Te c h student is 65 65 51 17 11 3 using social media. Instagram SnapChat Facebook Twitter Don’t use LinkedIn social media TOMORROW’S TECH 2019.