Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) World-Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as world class, these individuals have obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair), and L1-L2 (advanced).  

Not only is achieving certification in these areas impressive, but as of 2026, a few more than 2,000 technicians have achieved world class status.  

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Taurayi Raymond Sewera — an ASE World Class Technician at TauRay Automotive in Harare, Zimbabwe — to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining World Class status has helped advance his career.

Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.

Taurayi Raymond Sewera: Taurayi Raymond Sewera has been a self-taught automotive technician since 1996.

He is the founder and CEO of TruckTech and General Services, established in 2006, and the founder and owner of TauRay Automotive Services, established in 2021. Taurayi was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe.

With more than 30 years of experience in automotive repair, his expertise spans engine and transmission repair, brakes, suspension, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical and electronic diagnostics and repair, and hybrid and electric vehicle systems diagnostics and repair.

Throughout his career, he has worked on an extensive range of vehicles and machinery, including earthmoving equipment, heavy-duty trucks, light-duty vehicles, hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as conventional gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.

 In 2024 — at the age of 48 — Sewera achieved ASE World Class Technician status.

Motor Age: What’s the most memorable repair you’ve ever completed?

Sewera: Some of my most memorable repairs have involved completely rebuilding heavy earthmoving equipment — including graders and dozers — from the chassis up and seeing them return to service as fully operational machines.

More recently, one of my most memorable challenges was diagnosing and repairing a charging issue on a 2024 GMC Hummer EV. For me, these experiences are memorable because they represent both ends of my career — from rebuilding large mechanical machines to diagnosing some of today’s most advanced electric vehicle technology.

Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can’t guess from your certifications.

Sewera: I was a self-taught automotive technician for more than 17 years before I ever sat in a classroom for formal professional automotive training.

In 2017, I attended the VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo in Kansas City, USA. Until then, much of what I knew had been developed through years of hands-on experience, self-education, and continuously challenging myself to learn more. That experience marked an important new chapter in my professional development.

Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/most concerned about?

Sewera: I am most excited about the advancement of hybrid and electric vehicle technology, as well as the increasingly sophisticated systems being developed for autonomous vehicles.

The automotive industry is changing rapidly, and I am excited by the opportunities these technologies create for technicians to continue learning and developing new skills.

My greatest concern is the gap between how quickly these technologies are being adopted and how quickly technicians around the world are being trained to work with them.

In many places, hybrid and electric vehicles are entering the market much faster than the availability of specialized technical training. Charging infrastructure is also developing at a slower pace than EV adoption. As the industry moves forward, I believe training and infrastructure need to advance alongside the technology.

Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?

Sewera: ASE certification has given me greater confidence in my knowledge and abilities as a technician, particularly when tackling complex electrical and electronic diagnostics and repairs, as well as mechanical diagnosis and repair.

It has also provided an internationally recognized way of validating the skills and knowledge I have developed throughout my career.

More importantly, the ASE certification journey has encouraged me to continue learning. Automotive technology never stops evolving, and achieving ASE World Class Technician status has motivated me to keep developing my skills and challenging myself professionally.