LAS VEGAS – AAPEX 2017 will bring together the Industry’s leading experts to discuss automotive technology and the biggest opportunities and challenges it presents for auto repair shops, show organizers said.Several AAPEX programs will address and spotlight automotive technology, including the new Mobility Park, the new Technology Intersection, AAPEXedu sessions, “Let’s Tech” presentations and a Service Professionals Summit.

“One of the biggest opportunities is replacement and calibration services for advanced driver-assistance systems devices, such as LIDAR, radar and image processing, which offer new revenue opportunities for progressive repair shops, provided they have the right equipment and properly trained technicians,” said Joe Register, director of emerging technologies for the Auto Care Association.

Register will be among the experts on hand during AAPEXedu sessions at this year’s event.“A real game changer is the possibility of remote diagnosis enabled by vehicle telematics, which has the potential to move the industry from scheduled, routine maintenance services to predictivemaintenance based on information obtained from on-board fault detection and isolation systems,” he added.

AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and is held annually at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.“One exciting opportunity on the horizon is vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems – also known as V2V systems,” said Brian Daugherty, chief technology officer for the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association. Daugherty also will be among the expert speakers at AAPEX 2017. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed that V2V safety warning systems be required on all new light vehicles. If that rulemaking is finalized, V2V will quickly become available in the aftermarket as well. These systems will require wiring, GPS and V2V antennas, electronic control units and display screens. Installing and maintaining these systems will become a rapidly growing business opportunity for aftermarket shops and repair facilities.”

The increasing complexity of today’s vehicles will require skilled, high-tech repair personnel, Daugherty added.

“Finding capable employees who can master the diagnosis and repair of these systems will be a challenge – especially employees who can really dig into a difficult-to-solve system failure,” he said.