You may not know this, but Kia’s Asia Pacific headquarters is located here in Kuala Lumpur, which is why it’s no surprise the company opened its APAC training centre in Glenmarie. The facility is the South Korean carmaker’s fifth global training hub, joining Germany, Russia, the UAE and the US.
Kia said the new centre will “lead the way in fostering a culture of innovation and exemplary service throughout the APAC region,” adding that it will provide its subsidiaries and distributors’ operational, sales and after-sales staff with all-encompassing skills and knowledge needed in the automotive industry.
“Malaysia was selected out of our 34 markets in APAC for its strategic location, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of the industry while keeping our teams at the forefront of technological advancements,” said Kia Asia Pacific president and CEO Kevin Ahn. “Malaysia’s diverse talent pool and strong language proficiency further affirm it as the ideal choice for our training hub.”
The facility has been outfitted with high-tech display classrooms for theoretical teaching, fully-fledged workshops for practical sessions, a computerised vehicle resource centre, virtual repair simulators, and specialised tools such as diagnostic equipment. Trainees will also have access to Kia’s latest models like the EV6, EV9 and the forthcoming EV5 and EV3 for hands-on training.
Kia added that the training centre’s facilities and training methods mirror the global standards of the Hyundai Motor Group, and its location next to its flagship 3S centre provides trainees with direct exposure to real-world scenarios.
Participants will receive certification from Kia APAC upon completion of their programmes, validating their skills and expertise within the company’s global networks. The training centre – which “marks a significant milestone in Kia’s expansion within the region,” according to the company – is able to accommodate up to 80 trainees at any given time. Kia aims to train up to 3,000 people annually to support all 34 markets within the Asia Pacific region.
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I seriously want Kia to dump Bermaz and bury them alive. Seltos, Sportage, Sorento are all compelling products if the pricings are right.
Why here. Because cheap rent cheap labor. And korean expatriates can play golf and go KTV.
Bro confused himself between training centre/r&d with factory
I hope KIA can look back into its pricing strategies to compete with other brands. They have good product line ups but overpriced products.
Open for what? kimchi cars are not selling well here. The kimchi in Aeon sell more than kimchi cars
The Kia Carnival is actually doing so well for what it is. Clearly the kimchi still have a chance to compete here. The only thing blocking them is the Malaysian government from the very start
I think Malaysia is well placed to attract APAC countries with low-cost airlines. And can cover many languages to educate the people coming in.
This is good for Malaysia. A foreign company will spend money here and many few thousand people will visit for this.
I don’t understand what is wrong with the above comments. Korean expats want to play golf and Korean cars don’t sell well. So what? Do Koreans really work more lazily than we do? And are the problems with sales just their own?
We already knew the answers. The core problem of our economic growth is not abroad. Don’t blame non-harmful foreign investors. It gives nothing good for ordinary citizens.