Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has launched its Automotive Academy in Glenmarie today, in its ongoing efforts toward fortifying its sales and after-sales operations, via enhancing its training of staff. Located off Jalan Pelukis, the automotive academy is also nearby the brand’s Federal Auto dealership in the area.
The facility boasts of 14,117 sq ft of built up area over four levels, comprising a workshop area on the ground floor, offices on the mezzanine, six classrooms on the first floor and a cafeteria on the second floor. Maximum personnel capacity is 150 trainees a day, who will be under the tutelage of up to 13 training staff in programmes covering Volkswagen’s products and services.
Training modules include soft and hard sales skills, technical simulations, diagnostics, and functions, according to Volkswagen. On the workshop level, four work bays and two technical service centre (TSC) bays host equipment which include a laser wheel alignment machine, headlamp adjusters, in-ground hoist, electronic systems training board and diagnostics systems.
These tools are certified by Volkswagen AG and cater specifically for the Malaysian market, the company says. Additionally, there is a room dedicated to parts system management, where trainees are taught practical and simulated training on managing, storing and categorising parts and equipment as one would in an actual after-sales operation.
“The Volkswagen Automotive Academy was established with the mission to achieve excellent standards of quality education and create technical manpower of global standards with the capabilities of facing new challenges in the automotive industry,” said managing director of VPCM, Erik Winter.
The company did not divulge the total monetary investment into its automotive academy, however it did reveal that the cost for training a master technician is in the ballpark of RM20,000, across a duration of 36 months. Responding to a question on staff retention, Winter said that it is a joint effort amongst its dealers and the greater Volkswagen network towards retaining the staff already trained and invested in.
Last year, the Volkswagen Group announced that it is moving its Asia-Pacific regional after-sales centre from Singapore to Malaysia, which will be operational in Johor Bahru next year.
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Good to see VW being more proactive in trying to resolve its issues here in Malaysia. The moving of the Asia Pacific regional after sales centre from Singapore to Johor Bahru, though more of a cost savings measure, will augur well for Malaysian owners of VW cars.
Good time to grab a VW @ drb clearance.
Better train up the staffs quickly. Everytime ask them to check issue, they all like dunno what to do only. Fix also cannot fix properly one. So fedup going SC if not because of warranty.
DSG repair technicians in high demand. So open mechanic school. Good move VW.
how are they going to resolve the bad RV Volkswagen owners are facing?
When price high, u says too exp. When reduced prices, u pulak hentam no RV. So mana mau ni?
Which world u came from that has bog standard cars with super low price & super high RV?
Off topic la bro.
Rv lagi. Hahaha
An encouraging show by Volkswagen. Keep it up and you will get more buyers.
Good move… I m tired with Japan
Look at how umw earned top score JD power for sales and after sales. They studied what Malaysian consumers want and they delivered. No point trying to intro German ways of doing things here – cool, precise because it will not be appreciated here. Your product had failed VGM and maybe VPCM as well. Don’t believe? Compare the sales figures between 2010-12 to 2015-17
refreshing to see this happening. kudos to VW on the good initiative.
Good job VW. It’s very good news indeed to see Volkswagen taking so much effort to build a stronghold here in Malaysia. These are all very positive moves. On the road today, I see more VW vehicles. Nice job!
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This is a fantastic initiative and one long over due. Good for VW, Audi and other brands under the VW umbrella. Otherwise after sales service is always going to be a pain.
Lets see how well this works out….
Pls VPCM help customer like me
Hi! How to apply be a trainer at Volkwagen Academy?
Interested