Future trends in the automotive industry:

--Hybrid technology
--Alternate fuels
--Clean diesel technology using exhaust particulate filters and exhaust chemical treatments to reduce emissions
--Computer interfaces/diagnostics
--CAN and LAN communication networks
--In car entertainment, internet connectivity, satellite radio
--Hands free telecommunication/Bluetooth
--Safety innovations such as crash avoidance, self parking vehicles, smart cruise control,
--GPS technology, navigation, traffic avoidance
--Manufacturer monitoring and diagnosing faults via satellite communication
--On-Star vehicle assistance and safety features
--Plug in electric vehicles
--Fiber optics

Goodhart Wilcox Automotive Technology Text by Duffy

CDX Global online curriculum with task manager and fault diagnosis scenario projects

Numerous system-specific video presentations

CanDo task management and tracking

Late model vehicles available for diagnosing problems and hands-on tasks

Cutaway vehicle components

Industry interaction is structured through particpation in the Automotive Youth Education System (AYES).  AYES mandates the creation of a Business & Education Council (B&E), which includes representatives from area dealerships, automobile manufacturers and other industry vendors.  The main responsiblity of the B&E Council is to facilitate student entree into the industry through job shadowing, job interviewing and student placement in dealer internships.

The Career Center's Auto Tech program enjoys very strong participation from industry through its B&E council, which meets 4-5 times a year and has twenty members, 10-15 of whom are present at any given meeting.  Following is the list of those in attendance at the October 14, 2009 meeting:

1) Toyota Mid-Atlantic regional manager Robert Farnsworth

2) American Service Center Mercedes Benz Service Director Stan Rodia, Service Manager Gary Little

3) Passport Nissan Service Director Ron Bittenger

4) Toyota of Alexandria Shop Foreman Roy Krebs

5) Bill Page Toyota Service Director Moji Ahmadi

6) BMW of Fairfax Service Manager Ron Zegada, Shop Forman Hank Ditoro

7) BMW of Arlington Fixed Operations Manager Steve Daily, Service Manager Mike Winter

8) Nissan Mazda of Tysons Service Ditector Greg Kielewert

9) Koons Chrysler Chevrolet Tysons Shop Foreman John Theis

10) Koons Ford Falls Church Service Manager John Bolling, Shop Foreman Mike Conell

11) NAPA Field Manager Kevin Hogan

12) WANADA (Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association) President Bill Belew, Manager Jake Kelderman

13) VADA (Virginia Automobile Dealers Association) Vice President Johnny Cates

Other B&E Council members who were not present at the October meeting:

14) Don Beyer Volvo Service Director Richard Torres

15) Farrish Cars ( Buick, GMC Truck, Jeep, Chrysler, Subaru, Kia, Dodge) Service Director Mark Johnson

16) Fairfax Volvo, VW, Honda Service Manager Eric Kaase

17) Volkswagen Audi of America Academy Manager Duncan Crook

18) Land Rover of North America Training Center Manager John Sady

19) Jaguar of North America Service Mnager Scott Tucker

20) Toyota Midatlantic training center Manager Chris Petersen

21) Nissan Midatlantic Training Center Manager Scott Jones