While general repair shops have achieved marginal growth in the past six years, repair specialists are thriving. That’s because repair specialists have have an ability to focus activity on certain types of repairs, Jim Lang said, and can advertise those repairs both on a local and a regional, city wide basis.

The grant will go toward building a $7 million center to help train students for careers in auto service and repair.

This index analyzes check engine repairs and costs to rank the 10 brands and 100 vehicles least likely to have a check engine light on, and 10 makes and 100 vehicles with the lowest average repair costs.