Automotive Sector and the Maintenance Culture in Developing Nations

This study seeks to pinpoint issues within the car maintenance systems of developing countries and propose solutions by highlighting collaborative efforts between vehicle owners and repair professionals. One hundred fifty (150) structured questionnaires were distributed across Nigeria as part of the research methodology, with one hundred (100) returned and sixty-three (63) deemed usable. Employing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to evaluate the questionnaire, establishing the validity and reliability of the considered components. Survey findings expose significant challenges in the maintenance culture of the automotive industry, including customer extortion, insufficient funds for standard auto workshops, limited involvement of the younger population in the sector, reduced vehicle usage due to financial constraints, elevated costs from advanced auto workshops, and the influx of foreign-used cars and reasonably used parts. Ultimately, the study recommends that service personnel embrace diagnostic tools for accurate problem identification, schedule regular vehicle maintenance, minimize reliance on trial-and-error methods that often worsen existing issues, and advocate for effective government policies.