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New California Automotive Technical Education Alliance aims to bolster technician pipeline
Summary
Kim McFall of the CNCDA Foundation introduced the California Automotive Technical Education Alliance (CATIA) to coordinate employers and educators statewide, modernize curriculum, recruit instructors, and host a 2026 conference; BAR and advisory members pledged support and urged legislative advocacy for funding.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair advisory meeting on Jan. 29 included a presentation launching the California Automotive Technical Education Alliance (CATIA), an industry‑education coalition intended to rebuild the pipeline of automotive technicians across California.
Kim McFall, president of the California New Car Dealers Association Foundation, described CATIA as a collaboration of employers and educators focused on five initial goals: build employer‑educator collaboration, support educators to recruit and retain instructors, modernize curriculum to reflect current vehicle technology, create professional development for educators and industry, and advocate for funding to sustain programs.
McFall invited BAR advisory members to partner with the alliance, attend an informational Zoom on Feb. 11 and participate in a 2026 conference. Advisory members and public commenters welcomed the initiative. "This is huge," said Dave Kusa (Automotive Service Councils of California), who urged industry advocacy for career technical education funding and noted the difficulty of replacing aging instructors and equipping training programs. Gene Lopez and others described initial conference outcomes and pledged to support instructor recruitment and equipment donations.
BAR chief Patrick Dorey said workforce development will be a focus in his office’s upcoming sunset review and that BAR seeks to play a facilitator role to pull partners together rather than run grassroots efforts directly.
Representative quotes in this report come from Kim McFall, Dave Kusa and BAR leadership during the Jan. 29 meeting.
