As a young single mother, Robin Reneau scraped together money for three different cars in four years, all of which experienced major engine or transmission failure within two years. Two didn’t even last a year.
In one case, Reneau bought a car with an already–dying transmission because she didn’t know how to use a dipstick to check for black, gritty fluid. Another vehicle had an undetected oil leak, and she didn’t recognize the noises of a failing timing belt in the third.
“I kept ending up right back on the bus,” she says. “I was completely clueless. I once drove on a donut spare tire for a month until it finally popped, and I threw away the original flat tire still mounted on its rim because it took up too much room in my trunk. Something had to change.”
But Reneau, a high school dropout who had the first of her five children at age 16, would have laughed at the thought that a few car lessons from knowledgeable friends and neighbors would lead to her running her own automotive shop.
In 2020, Reneau founded her business, Rob The Blonde Mechanic, LLC, after spending 16 years working her way up from receptionist to service advisor, lead tech, store manager, and ultimately district manager for a major retailer. She was the first Black woman mechanic to own an independent repair shop in Georgia, according to her website.
“Representation matters,” she says. “Me—I wasn’t supposed to win. But I did, and now I know that part of my purpose is to show others what’s possible and to empower them. If I can turn my life around, anyone can.”
Reneau, 41, originally called her business Georgia Auto Solutions —“a basic, safe name”—but after her first husband dubbed her “The Blonde Mechanic” because of her blonde mohawk, the nickname stuck. She officially changed the company’s name last year, going with “Rob” rather than “Robin” for people still more likely to contact a shop they assumed was run by a man.
Rob The Blonde Mechanic currently does about 90% of its work on a mobile basis—with an optional subscription service with member benefits—after closing its first brick–and–mortar location and acquiring another building to renovate. That new site in Atlanta should be ready this summer, growing the business to 10 full–time employees.
As a nod to her own unimpressive past with cars, Reneau likes to offer free auto care workshops and educate do–it–yourselfers on safely managing basic repairs. New clients also get a handwritten thank–you note welcoming them into her company’s family.
“While many shop owners talk about their passion for cars, my passion has always been for people,” she explained. “I truly believe I’ve been called to serve, and I just happen to do that through automotive repairs. Our shop isn’t just a place to fix cars to me. I want it to be a space where people feel seen, supported, and valued.”
Born in North Carolina, Reneau wanted to be a model, teacher, or rapper as a child. All she knew about cars was that she liked the ones with shiny paint, working radios, and air conditioning systems.
As a teenager, Reneau was living in New York and going down a troubled path when she left high school as a 15–year–old sophomore and soon found out she was pregnant. Her parents had divorced when she was 2; her father was absent for years as he struggled with substance abuse.
After moving to Atlanta for a change of scenery, Reneau was working minimum wage jobs and relying on government assistance programs until she landed a well–paying position as a front office manager for a medical practice.
Yet by then, Reneau had discovered she enjoyed working on cars and began to consider making a run at a new career. Her family and friends thought she was crazy, except for one unlikely person: Her dad, who has slowly rebuilt their relationship after getting his life together.
“He was like, ‘Yeah, girl, you go for it!’” she says. “Thankfully, he was the person I listened to.”
In 2004, Reneau became a receptionist at an auto shop and learned on the job as she moved into various roles. She often volunteered to hold a flashlight for shop technicians as they made repairs and listened as they talked to each other and customers.
With a GED under her belt, Reneau earned a degree in automotive technology from Georgia Piedmont Technical College, followed by numerous certificates. She has worked steadily outside of a short break to help care for her mother as she was dying of cancer.
Building confidence in a male–dominated industry was the biggest challenge for Reneau, as was staying true to herself. She had never seen a Black entrepreneur or business owner as a child and repeatedly heard that she was “too much” – too bright, too bubbly, too feminine.
Managers commented on her fashion choices and told her that pink didn’t belong in a shop. They called her personality “distracting” despite having no issues with her actual work. However, an automotive instructor with pink hair, manicured nails, colorful lipstick and a “I don’t take no crap” type of energy convinced Reneau she didn’t have to change.
“It took a lot of strength to stop shrinking myself to fit into spaces that weren’t designed for me or anyone who looked like me,” Reneau recalled. “Now, I lead with confidence and authenticity, because I’ve learned that being different is my superpower.”
Reneau has aimed to make her shop a welcoming spot for people of all backgrounds, including customers from Atlanta’s large LGBTQ community. She has also become a motivational speaker and writes a blog with practical tips for car owners.
Moving forward, Reneau is preparing for a major industry shift facing all shop owners: the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, and increasingly complex onboard electronics.
Serving such vehicles requires not only specialized tools and diagnostic equipment, but a deep understanding of high–voltage systems, battery management, and manufacturer–specific protocols, Reneau notes.
“In the next seven to 10 years, we expect a large number of independent shops to close due to a failure to adapt,” she says. “As the internal combustion vehicle population declines, relying on legacy repairs will no longer be sustainable.”
Reneau now requires her technicians to complete at least 40 hours of advanced training annually, with a strong emphasis on EV systems, diagnostics, and safety procedures. She also attends industry conventions and technical expositions to keep up with emerging trends.
On the equipment side, the shop’s next major investment is an ADAS calibration system, and Reneau is budgeting for high–voltage safety equipment, EV service bays, and OEM–compliant scan tools as well: “Our goal is to be fully capable of supporting both legacy and next–gen vehicles, positioning ourselves as a future–ready, full–spectrum repair solution.”
Outside work, Reneau is married with kids ranging in age from 13 to 24, plus eight stepchildren ages 17 to 30, an 18–month–old grandson, four step–grandchildren ages 2 to 10, and a 5–year–old chihuahua. She counts gardening and rollerblading as hobbies.
More than two decades into her unexpected career, Reneau is grateful she took a chance on a wild dream. “It’s been a joy,” she says. “It hasn’t been easy, but now we’re just rocking. We’re rocking and we’re rolling.”