Thomas Andrews of CDT Automotive turned a four-year EPA battle into a story of resilience and reinvention. What began as a high-performance diesel shop evolved into a people-first repair business generating over $7 million a year. His journey from legal turmoil to leadership shows how to rebuild a business on purpose, community, and integrity.

Starting as two best friends modifying trucks, Thomas and his partner Mike Liles transformed their hobby into a performance powerhouse. But an unexpected letter from the EPA changed everything, forcing them to pivot away from emissions tuning and rebuild around sustainable operations and customer trust.

The legal process tested their partnership, their mindset, and their mission. Instead of folding, they focused on culture, customer experience, and leadership. They rebuilt CDT Automotive as a same-day, people-centric operation while launching a second brand, Select Auto Pros, to serve a wider market.

Through coaching at ShopFix Academy, Thomas learned that growth starts with humility. “Fix the owner, fix the shop” became his guiding principle, leading to exponential growth and renewed purpose.

Today, Thomas coaches shop owners across the U.S. and beyond, teaching them how to scale operations, lead with empathy, and create cultures that last. His transformation proves that resilience and accountability can turn crisis into legacy.

Guests:

Thomas Andrews — CDT Automotive & Select Auto Pros — Fuquay-Varina, NC

What You’ll Learn (shop-owner takeaways):

How to rebuild after a major business or legal setback

Why “fix the owner, fix the shop” creates real growth

Strategies for scaling a multi-location operation

Turning passion projects into sustainable businesses

Handling negative reviews with empathy and process

Training leaders for consistent customer experience

Creating purpose-driven, loyal shop cultures

Turning adversity into long-term competitive advantage

Call-to-Actions

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Links

Next Step Guide: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/next-steps.aspx

Grid Request: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/grid-request.aspx

Request a Call: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/request-a-call.aspx

Join the Podcast Panel: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/join-panel.aspx

Partnership Info: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/partnership.aspx

Garage Grit Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forautorepairshopowners

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MFNXgGMqMQzKCeDuslkkg?si=42fc7c4da4834993

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aashopmarketing

Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/garagegrit

Keywords

auto repair leadership, shopfix academy, thomas andrews, cdt automotive, select auto pros, shop owner growth, customer experience, EPA compliance, marketing for repair shops, shop operations, business resilience, automotive coaching, north carolina auto shops, team culture, leadership training, brand transformation, shop management, digital marketing, growth mindset, garage grit

EPISODE METADATA

Episode number: 050

Guests: Thomas Andrews

Shop name: CDT Automotive / Select Auto Pros

City/State: Fuquay-Varina, NC