Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence 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 becoming World Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.
In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Corey Davis — an ASE World Class technician who retired in June 2026 after 48 years in automotive repair in Rancho Cucamonga, California — 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.
Davis: Throughout my career, I specialized in bumper-to-bumper diagnostics across internal combustion diesel and gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), electric vehicle (EV), and alternative fuel platforms.
My experience spans everything from medium-duty diesel trucks to MINI Coopers. In 2026, at age 62, I achieved ASE World Class status.
Motor Age: What’s the most memorable repair you’ve ever completed?
Davis: A 2021 MINI Cooper with only 4,500 miles came in with a “Drivetrain Malfunction” message and an intermittent no-start condition. There were more than 30 module communication faults, but a single fault for the KCAN Bus “No Wakeup Signal” (KL 15WUP — the battery voltage signal that wakes up control modules when the key is switched on) caught my attention.
While monitoring the signal, I noticed the voltage dropped below 6 volts whenever pressure was applied to the passenger-side carpet.
After removing the passenger front and rear bench seats and lifting the carpet, I found the harness routed directly over a razor-sharp floor pan seam, intermittently shorting the wakeup signal to ground. Smoothing the metal seam and rewrapping the harness in cloth electrical tape permanently resolved the issue.
It made sense why the problem occurred more frequently when the client’s dog was in the back seat.
Motor Age: What’s one thing we can’t guess from your certifications?
Davis: While working full-time in the shop, I earned a master’s degree in education and taught part-time at my local community college for 22 years.
Before my very first class, my mentor told me — in a jokingly serious voice — “Now you’re going to find out how much you don’t know!”
He was absolutely right, and that perspective made me a far more committed technician and a better teacher.
Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about? What concerns you?
Davis: I’m genuinely excited about autonomous driving technology. The idea of setting a destination and having the vehicle safely navigate you there is remarkable.
Having recently retired, my biggest concern is the workforce gap. Most technicians today are considerably younger, and over the past decade, I’ve watched many talented individuals leave the trade entirely rather than just switching shops.
I am concerned not only about recruiting trainable technicians, but also about the shrinking pool of senior technicians available to mentor the next generation and help them hone their craft.
Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?
Davis: Living in an area of California with strict air quality standards, holding my A6, A8, and L1 certifications was essential for qualifying for the state Smog Check Repair license, which immediately opened doors to higher earning potential.
Later in my career, my ASE Master status helped me earn the title of Elite Foreman at a BMW Center.
Beyond the financial benefits, every step of the ASE path validated the time and effort I invested in my craft, giving both employers and customers confidence in my work.
