Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Further Their 'ELITE' Partnership with New Collision Repair Technology Training Program
HOUSTON, June 9 -- To recruit and train collision repair technicians for entry into the Mercedes-Benz dealer organization, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) are taking their partnership to the next level with the first-ever Mercedes-Benz ELITE Collision Repair Technology graduate program. To create consistency with a similar program for automotive technicians, this new training will become part of the ELITE graduate program family.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030422/DETU020LOGO )
The new eight-week collision program begins on June 30, 2003 and will be held at the MBUSA ELITE Collision Education Center in Houston. It will train technicians for entry into an authorized MBUSA dealership or dealer-sponsored collision facility. Graduates will also be rewarded with the worldwide- accepted Mercedes-Benz Training Passport.
Universal Technical Institute -- one of the nation's leading providers of technical education training -- began offering the automotive technician ELITE graduate training program in 1998 at its Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. campus, and now has program locations in Houston; Glendale Heights, Ill.; Orlando; and Allentown, Pa.
"The decision to expand our very successful ELITE program into the collision repair area was a natural one," said Greg Settle, department manager of technical training for MBUSA. "We look for the ELITE Collision Repair Program to provide our dealer organization with the same high-quality entry- level collision technicians that our ELITE Technician program provides. The program also demonstrates our commitment to training in our recently launched Collision Certification Program."
"Everyone wins with this new program," said Kimberly J. McWaters, president of Universal Technical Institute. "Our students have expanded training opportunities, we strengthen our commitment to our industry partner, and Mercedes-Benz receives professional technicians for its collision centers."
To enroll in the exclusive ELITE Collision Repair Technology program, students must have first completed Universal Technical Institute's ASE Master Certified and I-CAR Certified Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology program with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Class size is targeted at 20 students, with a new group of 20 students beginning every nine weeks. The training is sponsored and paid for by MBUSA.
The structural-repair focused program will include training in model identification, information retrieval, SRS systems, electronics, detachable components, mechanical suspension systems, Celette Bench, chassis measurement, glass removal and replacement and indirect collision damage identification. Students will also participate in an interview skills workshop.
Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, N.J., is responsible for the sales, service and marketing of Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. The company sold 213,225 vehicles in the U.S. during 2002, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and its sixth consecutive year of record- breaking sales.
Phoenix-based Universal Technical Institute is one of the nation's leading providers of technical education training. The institute provides industry customers with professional technicians by offering entry-level, manufacturer- specific and update training in automotive, collision repair and refinishing, and diesel, as well as motorcycle, marine and personal watercraft.
Universal Technical Institute has seven campuses nationwide, including Phoenix; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Glendale Heights, Ill.; Houston; and Mooresville, N.C.; with locations in Phoenix and Orlando, Fla. specializing in motorcycle and marine training. Mooresville is the site of the NASCAR Technical Institute, which opened in July 2002. The institute is the exclusive educational partner of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).
Universal Technical Institute's automotive industry customers include Audi of America, Inc., BMW of North America LLC, Ford Motor Co., Jaguar Cars, Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, Porsche Cars North America, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Volvo of America.
Since the first campus opened in 1965, the institute has graduated more than 70,000 professional technicians. For more information, visit www.uticorp.com .
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030422/DETU020LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840