A journey from India to Shepparton revs up local automotive industry

“I’m originally from South India. I started as a mechanic in 1998 in India at a Suzuki dealership. In 2005, I applied for skilled migration,” Smijo said.

His qualifications were found to be on par with Australian standards, and by 2010, he had moved to Shepparton to join his wife, Berly Smijo, a registered nurse who had come a year earlier.

“I came to Australia in 2009, and I got a job in 2010 at GV Health, and then after that, he (Smijo) came. So he joined me in 2010,” Berly said.

Within a week of arriving in Shepparton, Smijo secured a job at Ken Muston Automotive.

“I was there for nearly 11 years. I left in 2021,” Smijo said.

“During that time, I worked from home or hired another shed, and after a while, I got many customers, and I thought that I might start my own business,” Smijo said.

Finding the right location and with the right infrastructure was a challenge, but he persisted.

“At that time, it was very hard to get a good location with a good shed, then I finally found this one,” he said.

Today, Popular Auto Tech employs about six people, including part-timers.

It offers a range of services from basic car maintenance to more specialised jobs.

“We do car maintenance and service, tyres, battery, all types of repairs. We also offer roadworthy inspection and do car detailing and paint protecting coating and a ceramic coating,” Smijo said.

Smijo’s passion for vehicles, especially cars, is the driving force behind his business.

“It’s my passion. I really enjoy my job,” he said.

Smijo’s vision is for his business to provide customers with the same experience they’d receive at a dealership.

This includes a clean workshop and a comfortable waiting area where customers can enjoy a cup of coffee while their cars are being serviced.

Popular Auto Tech is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5.30pm and is located at 8 Callister St, Shepparton.