The Mighty Pros Vol 20 No 1

VOL. 20 NO. 1 1963-2023 CELEBRATING SIXTY YEARS OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE 100 FRANCHISEES AND 15,000+ AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PARTNERS PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT FLEET PRODUCTS INCLUDING FRICTION, LAST-MILE DELIVERY, PURSUIT, HD BATTERY AND MEVOTECH INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, OE QUALITY PARTS, TRAINING, PARTNERS DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS R AT I NG S I X T Y 19 63 YEARS OF SE CELEB 2 ENCE R E 0 23 L L V I C EX C E

CONTENTS 03 VS7® TRAINING R A T I NG S I X T Y Find the formula for more sales 19 63 YEARS OF SE 04 TECH FORCE CELEB ENCE Driving the transportation workforce R V 2 0 23 L L 05 PROFITWATCH®/INVENTORY MANAGEMENT I C E EX C E Optimize your inventory and increase ROI with the latest version of our ProfitWatch® system 06 INDUSTRY TRENDS Why the repair market looks sweet 08 LUBRICANTS Gear up for fleet service success 09 FLEET BRAKES WHY THE REPAIR MARKET LOOKS SO SWEET Discover our comprehensive line of brake pads 10 DIESEL PRODUCTS Be ready for the diesel demand 11 CAR APPEARANCE PRODUCTS Our line of car wash and detailing products is getting shined up 12 60 YEARS OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE DRIVING THE TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE Mighty Auto Parts milestones 2 THE MIGHTY PROS: VOL 20. NO 1

FIND THE FORMULA FOR MORE SALES Elevate Your Automotive Repair Business with Mighty’s New VS7® Chemicals Certification Course. Automotive repair shop owners know that staying The VS7 Chemical Certification program includes Get support every step of the way. ahead in our industry requires a commitment to seven dynamic training modules designed to continuous learning. The adage “School is never empower you with specialized knowledge and skills. Enrolling in the VS7 Chemicals Certification course out for the professional” couldn’t be more relevant is easy with the guidance and support of your in today’s ever-changing landscape. That’s why Course Modules: local Mighty rep. They will assist you throughout the we’re pleased to introduce our revamped VS7 process, ensuring a seamless learning Chemicals Certification course, specifically 1. Brakes journey and helping you maximize the benefits for tailored to help you sharpen your skills and 2. Coolant your business. enhance your business. 3. Fuel 4. Maintenance Join the ranks of successful professionals. Our online training program offers in-depth 5. Oil knowledge of the entire VS7 Chemicals product 6. Power Steering Over 2,000 service writers, technicians, managers range, empowering you to provide exceptional 7. Transmission and owners have already experienced the service to your customers. Through this course transformative power of our training program. By you will gain a deeper understanding of: We’ve designed the course to be convenient and becoming VS7 certified, you’ll gain a competitive flexible, allowing you to learn at your own pace. edge in your market, improve your sales » How these chemicals work At the end of each module, you’ll be tested with a performance and witness increased customer quiz, checking your comprehension of the material. satisfaction due to the outstanding results achieved » The proper application techniques Finally, a comprehensive certification exam validates through well-maintained vehicles. your expertise upon successful completion. » Effective strategies to present and sell these products to your customers Achieve certification and Take your automotive repair shop showcase your expertise. to new heights. Upon completing the VS7 Online Training, you Contact a Mighty representative today and discover will earn official certification credentials that how you or your technicians can harness the full illustrate your dedication and mastery of Mighty’s potential of VS7 Chemicals. Elevate your expertise, VS7 Chemicals. This certification can boost your enhance customer service and position your professional credibility and instill confidence in business as a trusted destination for top-quality your customers, knowing they are entrusting maintenance and repairs. Together, let’s their vehicles to a knowledgeable and skilled boost your business and drive success in automotive professional. the automotive industry! 3

DRIVING THE TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE Mighty’s Partnership with TechForce Foundation is empowering the next generation of technicians. America’s fascination with cars, trucks and motorcycles remains strong. TechForce also focuses on empowering women to enter the tech workforce. However, the transportation sector is facing an urgent need for skilled Despite constituting 52% of the population, women account for less than 3% of technicians. This high-demand workforce offers sustainable wages and growth transportation technicians. In partnership with TechForce and their FutureTech opportunities along with the chance to do work you’re passionate about. Tuesday program, Mighty celebrates the achievements of women techs while actively working to increase their representation in the field. Across the United States, countless young individuals brimming with potential find themselves trapped in uninspiring classrooms, lacking engagement and Less than 3% of transportation direction. They possess a natural inclination for fixing and building things yet technicians are women. struggle to find a profession that truly challenges and excites them. Fortunately, solutions to these challenges are within reach. TechForce Foundation has emerged “Over the past few years, Mighty Auto Parts has helped us establish and as a collaborative leader to inspire, support and connect students to careers promote our popular online community for next-gen techs — which has more that align perfectly with their hands-on inclinations. than 22,000 active participants,” CEO Maher explains. “In our community, aspiring techs access $2.3 million in scholarships, free events, training EACH YEAR: resources, games and prizes, along with apprenticeships and jobs.” 258,000 NEW TECHS NEEDED. Mighty Auto Parts has contributed to multiple TechForce programs, including the ONLY 48,000 GRADUATES ENTER WORKFORCE. TechForce Network, DE&I initiatives, student experiences and mobile STEM- centered events that introduce young people to exciting career opportunities The transportation industry requires a staggering 258,000 new techs annually — in the transportation technician field. Additionally, Mighty’s support elevates but tech schools and community colleges are only graduating 48,000 students. the status of the technician career through high-quality video content and Mighty is proud to partner with TechForce’s FutureTech Success® program, participation in TechForce’s Techs Rock Awards and Future Techs Rock Awards, an outreach initiative designed to actively address the technician shortage by offering significant prizes to winners. supporting young individuals on their journey toward becoming transportation technicians. TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit organization, champions all students in pursuing education and careers as professional technicians. Through “TechForce Foundation is grateful to count Mighty Auto scholarships, grants and career exploration programs, they empower financially Parts as one of its industry supporters. They clearly disadvantaged students and aim to change their perceptions about this evolving recognize the importance of promoting and supporting STEM career. TechForce online network connects students, technicians, our next generation of technicians.” instructors, employers and industry professionals — offering free resources, programs and a career hub to support aspiring technicians. - Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce To learn more about TechForce Foundation, visit techforce.org. 4 THE MIGHTY PROS: VOL 20. NO 1

OPTIMIZE YOUR INVENTORY AND INCREASE ROI WITH THE LATEST VERSION OF OUR PROFITWATCH® SYSTEM When your golf clubs sit around gathering dust at home, it can mean wasted space. When your parts sit on stock room shelves gathering dust, it can mean wasted money. Managing inventory is a big part of running any business. You need the right parts on hand, when you need them, to keep sales rolling. Additionally, parts inventory can be a significant investment and requires care and attention to make sure it is working for you — not against you. Mighty developed ProfitWatch to help businesses Finding your inventory sweet spot. find their ideal inventory levels. So how do you find that sweet spot where you have the right amount of parts Before After you need and none of the parts you don’t? Our newly enhanced, proprietary ProfitWatch system provides more comprehensive insight into how each part Inefficient or neglected inventory management is selling so we can better advise you on how to adjust your inventory levels. can hurt your business in multiple ways: This tool allows us to compare your current inventory to what a new, Mighty- Hard-earned dollars trapped on the shelf. managed inventory would look like. It shows you the real numbers, often finding ways you can spend less money yet have better vehicle coverage for Parts sitting in inventory don’t make you any money. They lose value as your parts inventory. inflation ticks away and the possible vehicle applications dwindle. Plus, money spent on excess inventory could be spent on advertising, promotions Are you ready to make your move toward better and other things that can make you money. inventory management? Missing parts, missing sales. Call your Mighty rep and ask for a ProfitWatch analysis on your current stock. With Mighty managing your inventory, you may find you have fewer dusty old parts, When a customer needs a quick service, you need the right part on hand. better inventory coverage and more time to knock the dust off those golf clubs. Otherwise, you have to call out for the part, and pay a premium that cuts into your profit. Or worse, turn away the business. And how many customers will ProfitWatch Perks come back to give you a second chance? Bay efficiency Cluttered space, slower pace. You only have so much space. With accurate inventory you can move vehicles through the bays faster. Even if you have space for a large inventory, dealing with it takes time and effort. Physical counts, loss prevention and simply trying to find the right Better cashflow part on an overstuffed shelf can steal time from more profitable functions. Parts spend less time on the shelf for quicker ROI. Lower COGS A streamlined inventory can reduce your overall cost of goods sold. Happier customers Having the right parts on hand lets you provide quicker, more complete service. Less hassle When Mighty manages your inventory, your staff can focus on serving customers and growing your business. 5

LWHOY TOHEKRSEPAISR MWAREKEET T By Greg Smith of cars and light trucks is increasing — recently hitting a record of 12.5 Publisher/Modern Tire Dealer/Auto Service Professional years, according to a recent report by S&P Global Mobility. Putting this into perspective, just 10 years ago, the average age was 11.4 years. We all Now is a great time for you to prepare for increased know that older vehicles require more maintenance and repair work. business that is coming your way for the next few years. Obviously, vehicles that aren’t driven don’t need as much service, but What? How can that be? The cable news channels are talking about a pending there’s more good news on this front as well. Total miles driven by owners recession, inflation continues at a high rate, politicians are arguing over the of light duty vehicles in the U.S. has slightly dropped this year, but are still federal budget, new car sales have been slow, supply chain issues abound projected to reach 3.17 trillion miles. and interest rates continue to climb. However, I’ll use an age-old cliché and advise you to “not worry about the things that you can’t control”. Instead, Yes, 3.17 trillion miles (about 5,101,620,480,000 km)! If you do the here’s some information you can use to make decisions on things that are math, that translates to the average vehicle traveling almost 14,500 within your control. miles per year. The average age of cars continues to increase, It’s well-known that there is a “sweet spot” for do-it-for-me repair driving the need for maintenance and repairs. work — traditionally vehicles in the six to 12 years age bracket. These are vehicles that are out of warranty, but the owners still want them For starters — there are between 284 and 286 million light duty vehicles in kept in top running condition and are regularly taking them to professionals operation (VIO) in the U.S. today. That number continues to grow and may top for maintenance and repairs. 290 million by the end of this year. What’s even better is that the average age 6 THE MIGHTY PROS: VOL 20. NO 1

Currently, there are around 98 million vehicles in that sweet spot. And that number will grow substantially over the next three to four years as model year 2008–2010 vehicles — which were sold at a historically lower rate — move out of this range and are replaced by the much higher sales year models of 2011 and beyond. The next hiccup for the sweet spot won’t hit the aftermarket until the slow 2020–2022 new car sales years begin showing up, and that’s not until 2026. And there’s another bright spot to this equation for you as a service provider. As consumers opt to finance their new vehicle purchases for longer periods of time, with loans six years and above now totaling 32% of sales, this means vehicles will be kept longer and need to be maintained at a high level for longer periods of time. This gives you the ability to establish and build a great relationship with your customers that helps them with their transportation needs and at the same time helps your profitability. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 98 MILLION VEHICLES THAT RESIDE IN THE “SWEET SPOT” FOR DO-IT-FOR-ME REPAIR WORK, FUELING THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. MARKET DRIVERS Electric will provide big opportunities for smart shop owners down the road. Vehicles aged 6–12 years: While the thought of an electric vehicle (EV) future causes concern for some 98 million and growing people, for smart repair shop owners, EVs will bring great opportunities. Right now, EVs only represent 0.58%, or 1.7 million vehicles in operation in Average vehicle age: the U.S. While it will take many years for EVs to represent a significant percentage of VIO in the U.S., that day is coming and may be here quicker 12.5 years — all-time high than many people realize. Average miles driven per year: A recent study by IMR, Inc., reveals that 47% of shop owners believe EVs will impact their business within the next two years and 72% say they are already 14,500 working on hybrids. In fact, depending on where your shop is located, EVs could be a significant percentage of the car count right now. How you prepare your shop for EV service is not a “one-size-fits-all” category. In some cases, if you are not doing EV service work right now, you’re way behind. For instance, just five counties in California represent the bulk of that state’s EV sales. I’d advise everyone to stay ahead of the curve and make sure that your technicians are being trained to work on EVs and that your shop is investing in the tools, equipment and marketing resources to let the local community know you are “the” place to have their EVs serviced. 7

FGELAEREUTP FSORERVICE SUCCESS! SPOTLIGHT ON: MIGHTY LUBRICANTS Fleet vehicles see a lot of miles and a lot of wear — and that can mean a lot of business for your shop. That’s why Mighty has all the specialty parts you need to take care of these hardworking vehicles. Let’s take a look at two of the most in-demand categories for fleet service: lubricants and brakes. Motor Oils Gear Oils Mighty’s full line of premium quality Mighty’s complete line of gear oils for fleets includes: oils features: » 15W/40 and 10W/30 CK-4 » GL-5 — 80W/90, 85W/140, » 5W/40 Full Synthetic CK-4 » FA-4 75W/90 and 75W/140 » GL-4 Greases » Specialty viscosity grades (e.g., 75W/85, 80W/250) Mighty Performance Greases for heavy duty applications are available in: Heavy Duty Transmission Fluids » High Temp Red » 3% Moly Mighty offers Heavy Duty Transmission Fluids including: » Multi-Purpose Grease » Allison Transmissions Extended Performance Warranty » HD-50 Transmission » Allison TES-668® 8 THE MIGHTY PROS: VOL 20. NO 1

SPOTLIGHT ON: MIGHTY BRAKES Fleet vehicles, especially Pursuit and Last-Mile Delivery vehicles, are tough on brakes. Mighty now offers a comprehensive line of brake pads designed, formulated and tested specifically for the demanding, severe-duty operating environments these vehicles experience. Mighty LMD “Last-Mile Mighty Pursuit Brake Delivery” Brake EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: » 30+ part numbers » 20+ part numbers » Chevrolet Impala, » Dodge Ram, ProMaster Caprice, Tahoe, Silverado » Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and more » Dodge Charger, Durango, Ram » Ford Crown Victoria, Interceptor Ask your Mighty rep for all the heavy-duty details, and there will be no stopping your fleet sales. 9

TBEHREEADDYIFEOSR EL DEMAND! SPOTLIGHT ON: DIESEL CHEMICALS Mighty products are proven to keep diesel vehicles performing their best. New Diesel Engine Treatment - OL155D Mighty Diesel Exhaust Fluid » Contains Cermilon™, a proprietary Mighty DEF is: Fluoro-Ceramic nanotechnology that provides extreme protection » ISO-22241-1 compliant for vital diesel engine components » American Petroleum Institute » Increases performance and (API) certified operational efficiency » Compatible with all diesel SCR systems » Reduces oil consumption » A non-toxic, non-flammable formula that makes » Improves and stabilizes oil pressure while eliminating dry starts handling safe and easy » Is compatible with all types of diesel engine oils Mighty Extended Life Heavy Duty Antifreeze & Coolant Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Fuel Treatments & Chemicals » Works with all Class 1-8 vehicles: heavy duty and light duty Hot Shot’s Secret products are widely known for field-tested » Is compatible with all vehicles, formulas that provide problem- coolant colors and any nitrite-free specific solutions. Their products OAT engine are highly concentrated formulas that actually work! » Available in gallon jugs and 55-gallon drums » Features a nitrite-free formula, providing excellent protection for aluminum and all other engine metals » Eliminates the need to add supplemental coolant additives Ask your Mighty rep how to make your shop the preferred diesel destination. 10 THE MIGHTY PROS: VOL 20. NO 1

THE FUTURE ISYOU MIGHT WANT TO GRAB YOUR SHADES. BE MIGHTIER! LOOKING BRIGHT. Our line of Car Wash & Detailing products is getting all shined up and ready for the spotlight. STAY TUNED FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND UNVEILING. QUALITY PRODUCTS INVENTORY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS INSIGHT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING 11

MIGHTY AUTO PARTS COMMEMORATES 60 YEARS OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE Mighty Auto Parts, a leading franchisor and distributor of automotive aftermarket parts listed in Franchise Business Review’s “Top 50,” is marking 60 years of exceptional service in the automotive industry. The company has offered original equipment (OE) manufacturer-quality parts, as well as training, technology, systems, and sales support since its founder, Dallas “Dick” Wallace, started selling parts directly in 1963, using his VW Beetle as a delivery vehicle. Today, Mighty Auto Parts partners with all types of auto service professionals, including new and used car dealers, independent repair shops, tire centers, national quick-service chains and fleets. To ensure both profitability and growth, these businesses and Mighty work together to effectively navigate the challenges of a highly intricate industry, where the demands for technical and operational expertise are ever evolving. In addition to a wide range of OE underhood and undercar preventative maintenance parts, Mighty provides technical training and support to help auto service businesses excel in every area of fixed operations. Mighty collaborates with its 100 locally owned franchisees to deliver inventory management based on local vehicles-in-operation data and trends as well as customized marketing programs that foster customer satisfaction and loyalty. A LOOK BACK: MIGHTY AUTO PARTS MILESTONES 2011 Mighty Oil and Air Filters are chosen as #1 in National Oil 1963 Dallas “Dick” Wallace loads up his VW Beetle with tire repair & Lube News’ Operators Survey. products and goes on the road in Washington, D.C., selling to 2013 Mighty celebrates five decades of success. service stations. 2018 Franchise Business Review designates Mighty as a 1970 Mighty Auto Parts awards its first franchise. “Top 50 Franchise.” 1993 Mighty opens its first strategic franchise. 2005 The first new car dealership, George Waikem Ford, Inc. of Ohio, 2019 Mighty continues global expansion in Latin America and acquires a Mighty franchise to offer customers additional introduces a Fleet Vehicle Program. replacement part choices. 2022 Mighty hits its 9th record-breaking year since 2013 2006 The Wall Street Journal designates Mighty as a “Top 25 Franchise.” 2023 Mighty’s 112 employees, 100 franchisees and 15,000+ 2009 Mighty is acquired by the Gonher Group, a global manufacturer automotive service partners celebrate sixty years and OE supplier of quality automotive products. of service excellence.