NAPA, Solera, AutoVitals, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and Skillmaker marked the full release of NAPA XcceleratoR at SEMA Show 2026 in Las Vegas on November 3. The technician productivity platform combines job assessment, immersive skill development and hands-free repair assistance, bringing the complete 53-lesson curriculum together with XR Training Goggles and Technician Smart Glasses.

The platform is built for new and experienced technicians. NAPA says it helps shops understand their teams' capabilities, target development where it is needed and give technicians a first place to turn for guidance at the vehicle, with the goal of making technicians more capable, protecting experienced staff's time and supporting productive, high-quality service.

On the same day, the NAPA XcceleratoR XR Training Goggles won the Emerging Technology category at the 2026 SEMA Show New Product Awards.

Three capabilities

Assess. Delivered through XR Goggles, a job assessment of approximately 45 to 60 minutes identifies strengths and skill gaps to inform hiring, onboarding and development. Managers can use the results to focus training and coaching on the work each technician needs to master.

Accelerate. Technicians watch real procedures from a master technician's point of view, then perform the work in a simulated shop using virtual tools, parts and vehicle components. Guided repetition and immediate feedback let learners practice before working on a customer's vehicle. The full curriculum includes 53 lessons, more than 148 hours of immersive learning and 170 tests, with preparation aligned to ASE G1, A4 and A5 certification. Instruction is available in English and Spanish.

Tech Assist. Technician Smart Glasses pair with the NAPA XcceleratoR mobile app to provide voice-driven access to source-grounded repair guidance. Technicians can ask questions while staying at the vehicle and receive spoken information drawn from NAPA Know How, Solera's Identifix Direct-Hit XR and AutoVitals, without repeatedly leaving the bay or interrupting another technician.

Partner roles

  • NAPA contributes its Know How information resources, automotive expertise and shop relationships, drawing on 16 years of Know How expertise.

  • Solera brings Identifix's nearly four decades of diagnostic and repair-information experience, including vehicle-specific information and confirmed fixes.

  • AutoVitals contributes expertise in digital vehicle inspections, shop workflow and customer communication. Workflow integration is still in development.

  • ASE brings more than five decades of work promoting technician competence through independent assessment, certification and credentialing.

  • Skillmaker provides the technology and immersive learning experience that connects these resources on a platform designed for shop-floor use.

Solera also highlighted Direct-Hit XR and the XcceleratoR goggles in its own SEMA lineup, covered in Solera Brings ADAS Estimating, Direct-Hit XR and Hollander Parts Marketplace to SEMA 2026.

At the show

A NAPA XcceleratoR media event for registered media runs Tuesday, November 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. Pacific in SEMA Media Room 30010, South Hall Upper Bridge, with discussion and hands-on demonstrations. During SEMA, November 3 to 6, NAPA is at booth 11817 in the North Hall, Solera at booth 31215 on the second floor of the South Hall, AutoVitals at booth 11327 in the North Hall Business Services area, and ASE at booth 11079 in Tools and Equipment.

NAPA operates nearly 6,000 auto parts stores and more than 18,000 auto care centers in the U.S.