As part of an ongoing effort to keep pace with the ever-increasing demand for qualified service technicians, BMW of North America has introduced a new entry-level training program for automotive service technicians. The first class of 26 students has just started at MassBay Community College in Massachusetts.
The new Automotive Technology BMW Associate in Science Degree program was created by BMW to attract more young people to careers in the automotive services. With more than 1.4 million BMWs on the road today, and new sales expected to reach 300,000 annually in the next few years, the need for highly skilled technicians to diagnose and repair these increasingly sophisticated automobiles continues to escalate.
"We're delighted to be working with MassBay to bring this exciting career opportunity to residents of New England," said Gene Donnelly, Vice President Eastern Region, BMW of North America. "There is a huge demand from area dealers for qualified service personnel and a huge pool of untapped talent in the region. This program will help put the two together to help meet that demand."
In addition to the two-year associate degree program designed for entry-level students, Mass Bay is also offering a Dealer Technician Training program, tailored for BMW technicians to upgrade their technical skills.
"Every new car model pushes the technological envelope," said Arthur Motroni, Vice President, Service and Parts at Foreign Motors West of Natick, Mass. "Our technicians must receive periodic updates to keep abreast of these advances, and having a regional training program will allow them to do that with less time away from their jobs and families.
"The associate degree program for new technicians will also go a long way in easing the current shortage of skilled service technicians," Motroni added. Since part of the curriculum involves working in a dealership, the students get hands-on experience and we get extra help. Plus, upon graduation, we know they've had BMW-specific training."
The new courses being offered at MassBay augment an existing advanced training program offered by BMW since 1996. Called STEP for Service Technician Education Program, the initiative has graduated nearly 1,500 technicians from its seven regional training facilities throughout the U.S.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60,000 automotive service jobs in the U.S. are going unfilled as automakers compete for skilled labor with other high tech industries. Anticipated 18% growth for the profession by 2010 translates into the need for an additional 991,000 technicians on the job.
