Icahn Automotive brings ‘Race to 2026’ initiative to Lincoln Technical Institute New Jersey locations

These classrooms are a critical part of the larger, national “Race to 2026” program that was designed to invest in and support promising future automotive technicians. The initiative encourages more men and women to pursue viable careers in the skilled trades by partnering with technical training schools and offering scholarships, tuition reimbursement, apprenticeship and internship programs, job placement and continuing education opportunities. To celebrate the partnerships, Lincoln Tech automotive technology students Jeremy Pedersen (Union campus), Sebestian Tassey (Union), Frank Van Althuis (Mahwah campus) and Joseph Chin (Mahwah) were each presented with a $2,500 scholarship from Icahn Automotive. “We’re bringing the ‘Race to 2026’ program to Metro New York where the demand is strong for automotive service and good technicians,” said Icahn Automotive President of Service Brian Kaner. “Our partnership with Lincoln Tech goes back many years, and we’ve put hundreds of skilled graduates to work in our shops. We look forward to continuing to partner with them to encourage students to become auto techs and provide them with a promising career path.” 

Icahn Automotive has nearly 100 Pep Boys and AAMCO locations in Metro New York and immediate openings for automotive service technicians of all levels. The need is reflective of the skills gap that exists in the automotive industry nationally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the automotive repair industry will need nearly 46,000 more technicians by 2026 to meet anticipated demand. Additionally, in any given year, there are as many as 75,000 job openings, due in large part to the retirement of the last generation of technicians who benefitted from broadly available vocational education programs. While this demand is on par with other fields, technical training and related career assistance for those interested in the skilled trades has not kept pace, nor were students encouraged to enter the trades.

Now one of the largest service chain operators in North America, Icahn Automotive offers a broad range of industry-leading opportunities and career paths. Technicians can start by providing basic maintenance and move on to more complex repairs, or progress to running a company-owned store, owning and operating a franchised business, or serving in a corporate leadership role. Once a technician joins an Icahn Automotive business, they can take advantage of benefits such as tuition assistance, an apprenticeship program and company-sponsored certifications. The Company also offers a scholarship program that will award 12 scholarships to full- or part-time students enrolled in an automotive technician degree and/or certification program at a high school, college or trade school. Recipients will be announced later in June 2019.

About Icahn Automotive
Icahn Automotive Group LLC (Icahn Automotive) was formed by its parent, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ: IEP), to invest in and operate businesses involved in aftermarket parts distribution and service. Our businesses have a singular focus: provide premium automotive parts and services at a great value. Icahn Automotive today consists of Pep Boys^® automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, Auto Plus^® automotive aftermarket parts distributor, Precision Tune Auto Care^® owned and franchised automotive service centers, and AAMCO Total Auto Care franchised service centers. The Company also is the licensor of Cottman Transmission and operates under several local brands. The businesses of Icahn Automotive total over 22,000 employees, over 2,000 company-owned and franchise locations, and 25 distribution centers throughout the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit IcahnAutomotive.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “will” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.