Cars are full of software, and diagnostic tools increasingly suggest what is wrong, so mechanics sometimes wonder whether AI will make them unnecessary. The data says the opposite: motor vehicle mechanics are among the least exposed jobs to generative AI, and US projections expect faster than average growth, partly because cars are getting more complex.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing mechanics. The ILO's 2025 index classes motor vehicle mechanics and repairers as not exposed to generative AI, with one of the lowest scores of any occupation. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5 percent growth for automotive service technicians and mechanics from 2025 to 2035. AI is mostly arriving as a diagnostic and paperwork aid. No projection is certain.
A plain note on robots and EVs
The ILO index measures generative AI, the kind that writes text, code and summaries. It does not measure robotics, and it is not a forecast about electric vehicles or about robots in workshops; this page does not make one either (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025). Changes in what cars are made of and how they are powered affect which skills mechanics need, but that is a different question from whether generative AI can do the work.
How exposed repair work is
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO band | Mean task score |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics Mechanics and Servicers | Not exposed | 0.25 |
| Aircraft Engine Mechanics and Repairers | Not exposed | 0.19 |
| Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Repairers | Not exposed | 0.18 |
| Agricultural and Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Not exposed | 0.17 |
| Welders and Flame Cutters | Not exposed | 0.13 |
Repair is physical, varied and done on the actual machine, which is why the whole group sits in the ILO's lowest category.
What the BLS projects
The BLS describes automotive service technicians and mechanics as inspecting, maintaining and repairing cars and light trucks, and notes that while they work on traditional mechanical systems such as engines, transmissions and drivebelts, they also must be familiar with electronic systems and sensors. It projects 5 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 66,200 openings a year. The reasons it gives are that the number of vehicles in use is expected to keep rising, many owners are keeping their vehicles longer, and there is increased demand for calibrations and repairs for advanced safety systems (BLS, automotive service technicians and mechanics). It also notes that the EPA requires technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling.
Where AI helps in the shop
- Diagnostics: suggesting likely causes from fault codes, symptoms and repair histories.
- Looking things up: finding procedures, specifications and wiring information faster.
- Estimates and paperwork: drafting quotes, repair orders and customer explanations.
- Scheduling and parts: booking work and ordering parts.
An AI suggestion is a starting point. It can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1), and on brakes, steering or safety systems a wrong answer is dangerous. See checking AI output.
What stays with the mechanic
- Confirming the fault on the actual vehicle: listening, testing, measuring.
- The repair itself: removing, fitting, adjusting and road-testing.
- Calibrating safety systems correctly, one of the growth areas the BLS names.
- Judgment on intermittent and unusual faults that do not match the database.
- Explaining to customers what is wrong, what is urgent and what can wait.
How the job is changing
The job is moving steadily toward electronics and diagnostics, and AI tools are becoming part of the diagnostic kit. Mechanics who are comfortable with electronic systems and use diagnostic tools well, while trusting their own testing over a suggestion, are in the strongest position. For other hands-on trades, see will AI replace electricians? and will AI replace plumbers?
See also jobs least exposed to AI and will AI take my job?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics at $50,620 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: postsecondary nondegree award. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace mechanics?
Current evidence says no. The ILO classes motor vehicle mechanics as not exposed to generative AI, and the BLS projects 5 percent US growth for automotive service technicians and mechanics from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are mechanics to AI?
In the ILO 2025 index, motor vehicle mechanics and repairers score 0.18, among the lowest of all occupations.
Will robots replace mechanics?
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robotics, so it does not answer this. Current US projections expect mechanic jobs to grow.
How is AI used in auto repair?
Mainly to suggest likely faults, look up procedures and specifications, draft estimates and manage scheduling and parts. The mechanic confirms and carries out the repair.
Is being a mechanic still a good career?
US projections expect faster than average growth and about 66,200 openings a year, supported by more vehicles in use, longer ownership and safety-system calibration work.