New technical staff at Hansung Motor receive training using a Mercedes-Benz display vehicle as part of the STAR Training program. [Hansung Motor]
New technical staff at Hansung Motor receive training using a Mercedes-Benz display vehicle as part of the STAR Training program. [Hansung Motor]

Hansung Motor, an official Mercedes-Benz partner, will put 63 new service technicians through an intensive four-week training program before deploying them to service centers in stages. The company plans to go beyond classroom theory by incorporating hands-on practice with actual Mercedes-Benz vehicles and parts, as well as on-site training, to shorten the time new hires need to get up to speed.

Hansung Motor announced Monday that the first cohort of 20 trainees in this year's STAR Training program — its in-house education initiative for new technical staff — had completed the course and been assigned to service centers.

A total of 63 employees are enrolled in this year's program. To maximize training effectiveness, the company divided participants into three groups and is running the program in sequence from July through Sept. 4, with each group completing a four-week session.

The curriculum moves from company and organizational orientation through job theory, vehicle and parts practice, and finally on-the-job training at a service center. Specialist trainers who previously worked at service centers, alongside active mentors currently on the floor, participate directly in the instruction.

Trainees work with actual Mercedes-Benz vehicles and components to learn repair procedures, then gain hands-on experience at service centers covering vehicle diagnostics, maintenance workflows and other tasks required on the job. This year marks the second time Hansung Motor has run the program, following its launch last year.

The importance of securing skilled technicians in automotive service is growing. As electric vehicles and a wide range of electronic systems proliferate alongside traditional combustion engines, the technical scope technicians must master continues to expand. Mercedes-Benz Korea has responded by revamping its existing technician training program into the AET format, which now incorporates electric vehicle repair competencies. The predecessor program has produced 292 certified specialists since 2006.

Hansung Motor's push to develop technical talent is also tied to Mercedes-Benz's new sales framework, Retail of the Future (RoF). The company believes that raising service quality across every customer touchpoint — from vehicle purchase through post-sale care — requires a well-staffed pool of skilled technicians at its service centers.

Hansung Motor said it will continue running the new-hire technical training program so that young graduates from automotive-related programs can build careers as professional service technicians.

"Service that customers can trust with their vehicles starts with technically skilled talent," said Kim Marco, chief executive of Hansung Motor. "We will continue to provide systematic education and support so that new employees can grow into professionals who embody Mercedes-Benz values on the ground, and we will deliver an even more reliable premium service experience to our customers."


kwater@heraldcorp.com