Locally-owned Chariot Automotive Group (CAG) has launched a new educational initiative, Chariot Automotive Institute, to support meeting the need for skilled employees for Indiana’s retail automotive industry.
Beginning in August and in collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College, high school juniors and seniors are participating in hands-on training through the inaugural class of the Automotive Technician Education Pathway (ATEP), which offers students an opportunity to earn college credit toward an associate degree in automotive technology.
Between 2020 and 2024, industry leaders say an additional 400,000 automotive technicians, 80,000 collision technicians and 170,000 diesel technicians are needed nationwide. Chariot Automotive Institute is working to support filling this need by arming young and seasoned automotive workers with the skills and training necessary for fulfilling careers in automotive retail positions.
The three pillars of the Chariot Automotive Institute are:
- Automotive Technician Education Pathway (ATEP) – High school students spend the first hour in the classroom learning the concepts crucial for effective automotive technicians, followed by two hours in the lab implementing these teachings through hands-on training.
- Apprenticeship program – After high school, workers can participate in the Department of Labor accredited apprenticeship program in Automotive Technology. Students receive paid on-the-job experience, while furthering their knowledge base with classroom instruction. This program is one of very few active automotive technician registered apprenticeship programs in the U.S.
- Continued education – CAG employees can participate in leadership development opportunities, sales training, and other hands-on skill-building programs that can be applied toward Ivy Tech certifications and degrees in technology, business management and sales.
Photo courtesy Chariot Automotive Group
The ATEP high school curriculum accounts for half of the required credits toward an Ivy Tech associate degree and can also be applied toward the Chariot Automotive Institute apprenticeship program, which is the only Indiana Department of Labor accredited automotive technician program in the state.
Students participating in these programs receive fully funded tuition from Chariot Automotive Institute, and upon completion will be offered a full-time automotive technician position at one of CAG’s four dealerships.
“A vehicle today has more computer modules than the Apollo mission did 30 years ago,” said James Woolf, Workforce Development Specialist at Chariot Automotive Institute. “With this complexity, automotive technicians need more specialized training. That’s what we’re working to deliver and develop through our educational programs. By investing in local talent, we’re ensuring the next generation of automotive technicians are prepared to continue our tradition of exceptional service to communities across Indiana.”
The inaugural ATEP class includes 30 high school students from Hamilton and Tipton counties, including Westfield, Noblesville, Sheridan, Hamilton Heights and Tipton. The cohort will meet five days a week for three hours a day at the CAG Academy dealership in Tipton.
“Even as employers recognize a more pronounced need for labor, today’s skilled workforce also requires a greater degree of training and educational preparation,” said Ethan Heicher, chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area. “Partnerships between employers and educators break down those barriers in our current employment environment by aligning education to a career. CAG’s high school-to-college-to-career youth apprenticeship model is a great example of an investment in today’s workforce that will strengthen our communities long into the future.”
About Chariot Automotive Group
Chariot Automotive Group (Chariot) is a family-owned automotive dealership network headquartered in Kokomo. With four dealerships located in Tipton, Kokomo, and Lafayette, Chariot Automotive Group serves the transportation needs of its communities with passion, commitment, and integrity. Chariot is a licensed dealer of Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Fiat brands, specializing in exemplary customer service. A core value of Chariot, the group commits dedicated time and resources to community service, and believes people come first, and Chariot will always be driven to serve. Learn more at DriveChariot.com.