Korean American Auto Shop Lands No. 3 in LA Central

A Korean American-owned auto repair shop has placed in the top tier of an LA Central regional ranking of auto repair and maintenance businesses.

According to a recent ranking released by BusinessRate, First Auto ranked third among auto repair and maintenance shops in the LA Central area. BusinessRate said it compiled the rankings by analyzing customer feedback, star ratings, and overall service satisfaction reflected in Google reviews.

The owner of First Auto, Sungbong Kang, said he was surprised to hear the news. “I was shocked when I heard,” he said. “I just did my work quietly as I always have.” He added that customers may have responded positively to the shop providing steady service with consistent quality in the same place over time.

Kang immigrated to the United States 27 years ago and previously worked for 10 years at a Toyota service center in Tokyo, according to the article.

In the same ranking, the No. 1 spot went to the Toyota Hollywood Service Center, a service network operated under Toyota, and No. 2 went to the Mobil Service Center, a nationwide chain. The article noted that First Auto, an independently run shop, was listed alongside service centers managed at the corporate level.

First Auto provides routine maintenance and repair services, including work on engines, brakes, and suspensions, as well as vehicle diagnostics and general upkeep services. The article said the shop has built trust with customers by not recommending unnecessary repairs and by clearly explaining the cause of problems. Google reviews cited in the article include comments such as “honest diagnostics,” “transparent pricing,” and “good value for the price.”

Kang said he emphasizes honesty as a core principle in how the shop operates. He also said that his goal is to help as many Korean Americans as possible for as long as he is able, working together with his son who helps run the business.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]