Upgrade thyself, workshops

123RF

MALAYSIANS are accustomed to thinking of the car workshop as a place that looks rundown, with oil stains on the floor, rusty vehicles all around and, yes, maybe even operating under a tree. But as the nation progresses, such business establishments will evolve towards a more efficient and cleaner setup.

There are about 13,000 privately-owned mechanical workshops, with about 5,000 spare part-and-accessory shops, 4,000 tyre retail shops and 1,500 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) owned workshops registered in Malaysia. The automotive service and repair industry is very dynamic, and ranges from workshops dedicated to specific vehicle brands to the small workshop in the rural areas servicing all types of vehicles.