Tech company bets on AI-fueled auto repairs with East Bay expansion

SAN LEANDRO — Tech company Kinetics is betting an East Bay expansion can bolster its push to offer artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to help auto repair shops with the digital component of their vehicle fixes.

Kinetics opened at 1962 Republic Ave. in San Leandro this week with plans to open another Bay Area location by year’s end. The company also has a presence in San Francisco and Redwood City.

“The new hub expands Kinetic’s ability to deliver the accuracy and quality our partners need to serve customers with next-generation vehicles,” said Nikhil Naikal, Kinetics’ chief executive officer and co-founder.

Kinetic offers auto repair shops AI- and tech-powered tools to help them perform electronic tasks such as those involving advanced driver-assistance systems, vehicle calibrations and other precision digital services.

“Today’s modern vehicles have more technology in them than ever before,” Kinetic states on its website. “Repairing them is an urgent need and an extraordinary opportunity.”

Since new vehicles are increasingly computerized, Kinetic aims to ensure that vehicle repair businesses have all the cutting-edge tools they need to accurately fix cars.

“As electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems equipped models become more sophisticated, having the right technology and infrastructure in place to safely re-evaluate and calibrate these vehicles is critical,” Naikal said.

The new San Leandro hub will serve body shops and dealerships along the I-880 corridor, including Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro and Hayward.

Early partners of the San Leandro location include Fix Auto franchises in the East Bay and Chilton Auto Body. Kinetics is working to land additional operators in the coming months.