#USA #Cox Automotive #Xtime #Opelika #Technical Schools

Bridging the Gap in Automotive Education

Cox Automotive Inc. has unveiled an innovative pilot program aimed at enhancing the skills of future auto technicians. The initiative is unfolding at Southern Union State Community College in Opelika, Alabama, where students will be granted no-cost access to Xtime software and specialized training resources. This move is designed to enrich the educational experience for students in automotive technical programs, providing them with essential hands-on experience before they even step into the workforce.

The automotive service industry has been grappling with a shortage of skilled technicians, with the TechForce Foundation reporting that the current supply meets only 59% of annual demand. This leaves over 20,000 positions vacated each year, highlighting a critical need for programs that can better prepare students for careers in dealership service.

Empowering Students with Real-World Experiences

The pilot program not only familiarizes students with dealership service workflows but also connects them with the technology they will use on the job. According to Brenda Berg, Fixed Operations Strategist at Cox Automotive, the challenge in the industry lies not in the scarcity of job opportunities but in raising awareness about career paths and equipping students with the necessary skills to succeed.

Through this program, automotive technical schools, like Southern Union, will receive a tailor-made training environment reflective of actual dealership processes. Students will engage directly with Xtime software, receiving practical training geared towards familiarizing them with industry-standard workflows. The initiative includes:

• - Access to Xtime software and dealership service workflows at no cost for the participating schools.
• - Training resources for instructors, encompassing playbooks, videos, and continuous learning material.
• - Hands-on technician role experience on the Xtime platform.
• - Customization of training environments to align with the existing automotive programs at participating schools, including manufacturer-specific content where applicable.

These facilitations will empower educators to seamlessly integrate Xtime into their existing curricula, allowing students to cultivate practical job-ready skills before graduation. The partnership aims to create a robust pipeline of candidates for dealerships, fostering familiarity with common service processes and dealership technology.

Creating a Stronger Technician Pipeline

While the initiative's partnership with Allen Turner Automotive aims to enrich the curriculum at Southern Union, it serves a broader goal: bridging the educational divide between classroom learning and real-world industry demands. Keith Futral, an Automotive Technology Instructor at Southern Union, emphasized the significance of introducing students to the technological and managerial practices they will encounter in modern dealerships.

Cox Automotive's collaboration in this pilot program underscores the pressing need for skilled technicians within the automotive sector. Many dealerships are actively seeking ways to attract and nurture talent, particularly among students, thereby ensuring a steady flow of candidates ready to meet industry demands upon graduation.

As competition intensifies for skilled technicians across the automotive service industry, the landscape requires initiatives such as this to ensure that prospective workers are well-equipped for future roles. Automotive careers not only promise competitive pay and job security but also provide avenues for growth in leadership and managerial positions. Cox Automotive is committed to enhancing awareness of these career pathways while guiding students to develop skills that are directly applicable in the workplace.

The pilot rollout will take a 'launch-and-learn' approach, allowing Cox Automotive and educational partners to gather feedback and evaluate the program's effectiveness in meeting the needs of students and employers alike. Expansion of the initiative will hinge on insights gleaned from this pilot, ensuring that any future iterations will remain responsive to the evolving landscape of automotive education.

For further information about Cox Automotive's Xtime program, visit xtime.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive is recognized as the world's premier automotive services and technology provider, leveraging the largest spectrum of first- and third-party data generated from 2.3 billion online interactions annually. With over 29,000 employees globally, Cox Automotive offers an extensive range of industry-leading brands, including Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, and Manheim®. The company's commitment to innovation and stakeholder engagement positions it as a leader in transforming how automotive transactions occur. Direct your interest to coxautoinc.com or follow them on their social media platforms for additional updates.