The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) announced Dec. 9 the launch of ASE Connects, a new initiative designed to help collision repair shops, dealerships and automotive service businesses address the persistent technician shortage by strengthening connections between employers and technical training programs.
The program, developed in partnership with WrenchWay, is set to officially launch in January 2026. ASE describes it as an industry-wide effort to bring shops and schools together on a single platform rather than leaving automotive, diesel and collision repair sectors operating in separate silos.
"ASE is uniquely positioned to lead this effort," said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE, in a statement. "We proudly serve the automotive, diesel and collision repair industries and work with businesses of every type, from independent repair shops and dealerships to fleets, manufacturers and schools. ASE Connects brings all these groups together to strengthen the workforce pipeline for the entire industry."
The initiative builds upon the existing School Assist network, which according to ASE already includes more than 3,200 high schools and post-secondary programs. ASE's stated long-term goal is to bring every school in the country onto the platform. Participating businesses will gain access to updated instructor contacts, direct communication channels for supporting students, and visibility into technician pipelines—tools the organization says reduce the barriers that often limit effective school-industry collaboration.
Data for compensation decisions
ASE Connects will also introduce what it calls the Industry Data Exchange, an effort to compile anonymized national data on technician pay, benefits and labor rates. According to ASE, shops will be able to filter the data by location, shop type and other criteria to help benchmark their compensation and inform hiring strategies.
For collision repair operators, the timing aligns with ongoing workforce pressures. The TechForce Foundation's 2024 Transportation Technician Supply & Demand Report projected that the automotive, collision, diesel and aviation sectors will need nearly 1 million new entry-level technicians over the next five years. According to TechForce, this demand is primarily driven by the need to replace retiring or transitioning technicians, with less than 25% of the need stemming from industry growth.
The announcement also follows a September 2025 partnership between ASE, I-CAR, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and WrenchWay to jointly tackle workforce challenges. That collaboration included initiatives like the Collision Careers job board and I-CAR Academy curriculum aligned with ASE credentials. ASE Connects builds on those efforts by adding a centralized data component and expanding the school-to-shop connection infrastructure.
Mark Wilson, co-founder and CEO of WrenchWay, said the partnership allows both organizations to focus more directly on promoting and improving technician careers. "By combining ASE's industry leadership with our technology, we are able to focus even more on that mission and make a bigger impact together," Wilson said in a statement.
Pricing and next steps
Memberships in ASE Connects are free for schools, while businesses will pay what ASE describes as a "small annual fee." The organization says the fee supports the broader industry mission of strengthening technician programs and improving data accuracy while delivering value back to participating shops.
An introductory webinar for ASE Connects is scheduled for Jan. 15 at 12 p.m. ET. More information and registration details are available at WrenchWay.
