Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Training Program Shifts into High Gear

14 January 1999

    MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 13 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) has joined forces with Custom Training Group, a division of
Universal Technical Institute, Inc., UTI, a national technical automotive
training company, to recruit and develop entry-level technicians.  The MBNA
training program, Enhanced Level One Technician Education or ELITE, is
designed to prepare technicians to perform service maintenance and repairs at
Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country.
    Up to 15 students are chosen per ELITE class after meeting stringent
qualifications -- including passing a Mercedes-Benz competency test and an
advanced National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation program -- and
are trained at a dedicated Mercedes-Benz facility in Rancho Cucamonga,
California.  The first class of 12 ELITE technicians graduated with flying
colors in August, 1998 and have all been placed at Mercedes-Benz dealerships.
The second class successfully completed the program on December 18, 1998 and
12 of the 13 recruits are now employed at Mercedes-Benz dealerships, with an
offer pending for the last recruit.  The overwhelming success of the program
has led to plans to add a second facility in the Orlando, Florida area later
in 1999.
    "The program serves many valuable purposes.  First, our goal is to
continue to recruit top-notch technicians to supply customers with the best
level of service possible.  We facilitate that by training top caliber people
to uphold our Mercedes-Benz standards," said Hal Whiteford, vice president of
operations at MBNA.  "Second, the ELITE program is the right answer in meeting
Mercedes-Benz dealership requirements as their capacity expands, while at the
same time, addressing the nationwide shortage of skilled technicians in the
automotive industry."
    Emphasizing safety and a hands-on approach with frequent testing, students
are trained in service maintenance, diagnosis, repair and all electronic
Mercedes-Benz special reference and diagnostic systems.  Training is held over
a four-month period, with classes held five days per week, six hours a day.
The training facility consists of two classrooms, a fully equipped shop and
Mercedes-Benz trained instructors.
    "The program was great -- I loved how the class was so small!  We got
plenty of hands-on attention with three instructors, including more than
enough time to stop and ask questions whenever we wanted," said Nicolas
McCarthy, now a Mercedes-Benz technician, Chambers Motorcars of
Boston.  "I've already been recommending the program to my friends and former
classmates from UTI."
    Technicians have also been placed at: House of Imports, Inc., Buena Park,
Calif.; Fletcher Jones, Newport Beach, Calif.; Hoehn Motors Inc., Carlsbad,
Calif.; Tysinger Motor Co., Inc., Hampton, Va.; Berberian European Motors,
Stockton, Calif.; Chambers Motorcars of Boston, Somerville, Mass.; Silver Star
A.G. Ltd., Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Phil Smart Inc., Seattle, Wash.; Cutter
Motors, Santa Barbara, Calif.; R.A.B. Motors, Inc., San Rafael, Calif.; Larson
Motor Co., Fife, Wash.; Calabasas Motor Cars, Inc., Calabasas, Calif.; Park
Place, Houston, Texas; Calstar Motors, Inc., Glendale, Calif.; Mission Viejo
Imports, Mission Viejo, Calif.; Classic Motorcars, Metairie, La.; Ken Garff
Imports, Salt Lake City, Utah; Mercedes-Benz of San Diego, San Diego, Calif.;
Lyle Pearson Co., Inc., Boise, Idaho; and Foreign Motors West, Natick,
Massachusetts.
    Enrolled students pay no tuition fee up front; MBNA absorbs initial
training and development costs and is reimbursed $6,000 per student after a
Mercedes-Benz dealership employs a graduate of the ELITE program.
    For more information about the ELITE program, please contact the technical
training department at MBNA at 800-225-6262, ext. 2654.