A nationwide shortage of qualified automotive technicians has led to a real-world problem for repair shops and car owners alike. But a program in Maryland is using VR to help train more mechanics and address this shortage. The Vehicles for Change program in Maryland is using VR Mechanic Training to provide a virtual-first training program to mechanic trainees. Instead of picking up a wrench, students pick up a pair of VR goggles. First, they watch an instructor demonstrate a skill in VR, then they complete the procedure themselves. After that, they work through the checklist in VR without any prompting. This allows the program to have multiple students learning the same lesson at the same time with just one instructor.

VR Mechanic Training Eases Entry into Auto Industry

Geoff Crawford, Vice President of Virtual Reality at Vehicles for Change, says the VR Mechanic Training will expedite the process of getting people ready for entry-level positions in garages. The program is a solution to the 37,000 yearly unfilled mechanic jobs, which drives up repair costs and causing delays.

VR technology has gotten better and cheaper, making it a useful tool in educational settings. The pandemic has seen VR used in medical and firefighting training, as well as in remote education. Vehicles for Change’s VR Mechanic Training is designed to address another problem: limited job options for former prisoners. Martin Schwartz, the president of Vehicles for Change, wants to make the program available at prisons and trade schools. His goal is 20 new sites in the next five years.

Expanding Job Opportunities for Former Prisoners

Marcus Butler, a former prisoner, started his VR training as part of a work release program. He says he is thankful to have a career prospect on the other side of his sentence. VR Mechanic Training provides former felons with a skill to take with them, no matter where they go, as there are cars everywhere. With VR training, these individuals have a trade of skill that they learned and know, giving them a better chance of finding a job.

As VR technology continues to improve, it could become a wave of the future for training programs. By addressing the nationwide mechanic shortage and providing a valuable trade of skill to those in need, VR Mechanic Training could have a significant impact on the industry and individuals alike.