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Ford pumps $4M into scholarships to combat auto technician shortage
It’s a major expansion from when Ford launched the program in 2023. (2 min. read)
Marcus Amick
March 11, 2025
Ford F ( ▼ 1.86% ) is upping its commitment to address the shortage of auto technicians, with an investment of $4 million in a scholarship program to attract more people to the field.
The details: Ford is investing in the Auto Tech Scholarship program through its philanthropic arm, Ford Philanthropy, and dealers, with a focus on fostering the next generation of service technicians.
The $4 million scholarship fund will support 800 students pursuing auto-tech jobs, providing them with hands-on experience in the field.
Ford’s $4 million investment in the scholar program is double the $2 million the company and dealers invested last year to train 400 future technicians.
The automaker launched the auto tech program in 2023, investing $1 million for 100 students to be used for tuition, tools, living expenses, and transportation.
What they’re saying: “Dealers recognize this problem isn’t going anywhere and that there have been a lot of creative ways to attract students into the industry. This scholarship is a tool for getting more students excited about this opportunity, it removes financial barriers to allow students to enter into an automotive education and it also allows us to dispel perceptions,” said Alex Shelton, Education Manager at Ford Philanthropy (via Automotive News).
Between the lines: The declining number of service technicians has become a major concern in the business, with some painting a grim picture for the job sector if the issue isn’t addressed now.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average of 67,800 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year through 2033 due in large part to many transitioning to other fields or retiring.
A 2024 report by the TechForce Foundation estimates that more than 350,000 additional automotive service technicians will be needed between 2025 and 2028.
Why it matters: Having a robust ecosystem for future service technicians is hugely beneficial to dealerships, given that service departments can be a major revenue source for a store. Programs like Auto Tech—supported by an actual automaker and dealers—also better ensure that future technicians are getting the kind of hands-on experience that makes them immediately beneficial to a service team.
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