The global automotive industry is expected to reach $9 trillion by 2030. The astronomic growth is fueled by multiple innovation drivers, including self-driving cars. The industry has several career opportunities for car enthusiasts to fulfill their passions and make a mark in the business world, so you might be spoiled for choice when selecting the best option for a career as a car enthusiast. Here are four choices for you to consider.

1. Car Dealer

Car dealers are a mainstay in the car transaction business. Reports reveal that car dealers existed as far back as 1898 when William Metzger built the first-ever car dealership. Car dealerships work much like franchised restaurant chains, like your local McDonald’s. They sell the same vehicle types for different prices based on specific enabling factors, like location and facilities.

Car manufacturers depend on car dealers to increase sales and improve product distribution worldwide. And as a car dealer, your daily business operations can include signing deals with automakers, helping customers select their favorite cars, and more. These activities sound exciting, but they require more than your passion. Becoming a successful car dealer depends on your knowledge base and ability to field efficient sales. Therefore, getting an associates in business management degree can be a good first step for the car dealership journey.

You can complement your real-world experience with significant entrepreneurship knowledge about the business of cars. A business management course can equip you with the necessary skills to prepare budgets, research customers’ needs, and draft proposals. You can also improve soft skills like critical thinking and negotiating effectively.

2. Autobody Technician

The auto-retail market is estimated at $160 billion with high demand among many middle-aged individuals worldwide. The U.S. alone sells over 34 million used cars each year, and users rely on autobody technicians to get the best out of the retail auto market. Autobody technicians use tools like jerk lifting pads, air compressors, and more to remove old car parts, install new ones, fill holes, and restore damaged parts.

Autobody technicians don’t only provide reactive maintenance services for car users. A typical day at the office can include several preventive maintenance activities, including engine inspections, oil changes, and filter replacements. Several ways exist for car enthusiasts to become autobody technicians. After earning a certificate from an accredited degree program by the U.S. Department of Education, it’s essential to seek internships with an established employer. It may take a long time for car users to trust you with their car problems.

3. Classic Car Restorerer

Restoring a classic car is no easy task, but many auto lovers refuse to let old models like the 1920s Ford Model-T and 1950s Ferrari go. For this reason, there’s a high demand for classic car and restoration specialists to remodel old cars back to their original manufacturing standards. The hard part of the typical restoration specialist’s job is to renew the engine technology of classic cars, as the automotive industry has evolved a great deal. What’s more, some engineering technologies can no longer be supported using modern accessories.

Restoration specialists must be engineering savvy, ready to disrupt processes and hardware with makeshift alternatives. This requires intensive step-by-step training from seasoned restoration specialists. Restoration car specialists also need to understand and appreciate car history with an era-by-era knowledge of the automotive industry’s development over the years.

4. Spare Parts Shop Owner

Opening a spare parts shop can be a great option for car enthusiasts with a knack for business administration. Spare part shop owners play an essential role in the automobile job market. They provide DIY auto kits for car users to save themselves the stress and inconvenience of sending their cars to garages, even for the slightest faults.

All in all, car enthusiasts can find several career options to make ends meet and enjoy their passion, but it pays to base your final career decision on ideas that relate more to your potential as much as your interests.