Sime Darby Motors partners with TOC Automotive College to set up electric vehicle (EV) technician courses
Sime Darby Motors (SDM) has partnered with TOC Automotive College to establish electric vehicle (EV) technician upskilling programs serving the group’s brands. SDM says this is part of their efforts to open up opportunities for local talent in the automotive sector.
Through this partnership, TOC training will complement the EV service and maintenance training received from SDM brand principals such as BMW car/MINI (Auto Bavaria under SDM), Ford, HyundaiJaguar Land Rover and Volvo (Sime Darby Sweden Auto is the dealer). This will ensure ongoing education and exposure to the latest technology and world-class practices for all SDM EV technicians, the company said.
“Our technicians have gained a solid knowledge base and hands-on experience from training provided by our world-class principals. This partnership with TOC aims to provide advanced learning opportunities to cultivate a team of highly qualified technicians equipped with up-to-date skills and knowledge, especially with today’s demands. There is increasing demand for electric vehicles in Malaysia,” said Jeffrey Gan, Director of Retail and Distribution at SDM.
This will also contribute to the government’s efforts to build a pool of talented and skilled talent to support the country’s economic growth and development.
“We are delighted to be joining hands with SDM in this important endeavour. By upskilling EV technicians for global auto brands, this will indeed open up greater opportunities for Malaysian talent. Paving the way for the future of the automotive industry in Malaysia, we look forward to imparting our expertise to further nurture the competencies of automotive professionals towards global standards,” Datuk Iqmal Shafiq, chief executive officer of TOC, a pioneer in the field of professional automotive education.
The first batch of 20 technicians signed up for the three-month program starting in May. Key modules cover the principles and concepts behind electrification and hybridization, systems and safety operations, as well as practical operations such as diagnostics, inspection and repair.
The company says the continuing education program is an important part of SDM’s roadmap and investment in the growth of the EV ecosystem. It recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tenaga Nasional to explore initiatives to promote electric vehicle adoption in Malaysia. SDM is also looking at the possibility is an EV . charging point operator.
