Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
5 hours ago
A top Auckland car dealership chooses EIT as its preferred option to train its auto-technicians in the latest electric vehicle technology.
Andrew Simms Motor Group, which has six dealerships across Auckland, first began enrolling auto-technicians in EIT’s NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) last year.
Andrew Simms Group General Manager Aftersales, Travis Cross, said that his company had sent members of their team to an EV programme at another provider in Auckland last year as well as sending three people to EIT.
“We just wanted to test the water with the offerings that were available. And from the response we got back, the offering from EIT was relatively more substantial and significant than what was on offer locally up here.”
“We made the choice based on that, that we’d actually support EIT by flying our team there, putting them up in accommodation for the night to get a better level of training out of the programme that was offered.”
Travis said that the setup of the programme was ideal for his team in that it combined online classrooms with three practical block courses at EIT in Napier during the year.
“The environment at EIT is quite intimate so our technicians have good access to the tutors.”
Travis says that EVs have changed the dynamics of the industry and it was important to have a training organisation upskilling their technicians.
Scott Cunningham, the Programme Coordinator for Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering [Level 5] at EIT, said that creating a solid industry connection with Andrew Simms motor group has been positive for both EIT and Andrew Simms.
“The high number of trained technicians coming through our programme have been able to extend their knowledge in the EV and Hybrid sector and successfully diagnose uncommon and complex faults in these vehicles. They also now have a greater understanding of how all the systems and subsystems function and operate in depth.”
“We have also been able to keep in touch with these technicians after the programme and have received feedback on late model vehicles they have successfully diagnosed and repaired with their newly gained knowledge.”
“Andrew Simms Motor Group has continued to enrol more technicians throughout the year and EIT appreciates the support and commitment to our programme.”
