Automotive Youth Educational Systems Receives $2.2M Grant From U.S. Department of Labor

Money Is Awarded For On-Line Expansion of AYES Technician Training Initiative

TROY, Mich., Oct. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today awarded $2.2M for the expansion of the AYES automotive service technician training initiative. AYES is a business and education partnership of 14 automotive manufacturers, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), state dealer associations and state departments of education or labor, that combine to provide a training and educational process currently delivered through 410 secondary high schools in 45 states.

Up until now, the AYES initiative could only be delivered to less than a third of the high school students in the nation. With the aid and funding of the DOL grant, AYES will develop an on-line process within dealerships that will deliver the training curriculum and process to a much wider audience. The DOL grant will also help develop an on-line process for other learners who seek to pursue a new career as an automotive service technician.

"The Department of Labor's grant will allow AYES to provide high quality automotive training to far more young men and women than ever before," commented Gerd Klauss, Chairman of AYES, and President/CEO of Volkswagen of America. "AYES new on-line capability will reach dealers and new learners everywhere, and create options for numerous others who understand the value and opportunity that this career offers."

Tom Purves, Vice Chairman of AYES and Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America said: "AYES helps meet a significant need for highly skilled young men and women in the field of automotive service. With the rapid development of new technology in today's new cars and trucks, dealers need more highly skilled technicians to service them."

Roger Foss, AYES Treasurer and National Dealer Development Manager for Toyota Motor Sales, USA remarked, "AYES is a unique partnership where the local dealer's role in mentoring students is invaluable. Direct involvement with dealers allows students to better understand what will be expected of them in their career in a dealership. This represents an edge to the AYES process and for the students. Add the post secondary opportunities that many manufacturers offer today, and a student can put him or herself on a path to an exciting, personally satisfying career."

AYES President and CEO Larry Cummings said: "The 14 manufacturers of AYES and NADA developed a business and education partnership that has educated and provided significant experiential training for over 7,500 new entry level technicians in over 5,000 dealerships. This grant will allow AYES to deliver its highly valued initiatives directly to dealerships in every city in the nation, while the school based initiative will continue to serve the top 100 automotive markets in the nation."

"The AYES process includes not only the basic studies, but an emphasis on increased academics, SkillsUSA Professional Development Program for employability skills, and safety and environmental training as well," stated Cummings. "AYES combines classroom, lab, experiential training as well as employability training with life skills, which creates a very important edge for today's career learners."