CECU member school in Puerto Rico, Mech-Tech College, partners with Volkswagen North America Inc and largest local dealership
As part of Volkswagen North America Inc.’s Drive Bigger initiative, it recently announced a partnership with Bella Group, its local dealer in Puerto Rico, to donate an Atlas vehicle to Mech-Tech College. They want to impact the island to increase the development of automotive technicians who are experts in the brand in Puerto Rico, and chose Mech-Tech to do so. “Our relationship with Bella Group as an employer for our graduates and an industry partner to help us maintain our training programs relevant and parallel to current technologies and needs in the automotive industry goes back over 20 years. It’s an honor to continue to expand the relationship and work with them in growing the specialized services for VW in Puerto Rico,” said Yadexy Sierra, Chief Operations Officer of Mech-Tech College.
Mech-Tech students have exclusive access to the Certifications Resources Center of the Volkswagen Academy where they take training modules that prepare them in the brand and its systems and technologies including electric vehicles. VW donated an SUV Atlas to further help enhance the education and training of Mech-Tech students. “Aligned with our philosophy of investing in future generations, we are honored to announce this partnership with Volkswagen North America. The impact of this contribution not only benefits Mech-Tech College and Volkswagen customers, but it is also a benefit for these young people who will have the opportunity to specialize in such an important brand thanks to this additional working tool for their school,” said Carlos López-Lay, President and CEO of Bella Group. Currently, 46% of the automotive technicians employed by Bella Group are Mech-Tech graduates; the partnership with VW aims to increase that number.
Joe Rood, Director of Fixed Operations for the Southeast Region of Volkswagen North America attended the ceremony to donate the SUV Atlas vehicle to Mech-Tech students. The first instructor who was trained and certified in VW with a group of the first certified students received recognition certificates at the donation ceremony too. Joe Rood ratified VW’s commitment to promoting education and training wherever VW vehicles are sold!
“Our mission is to provide training and education that prepares our students for current employment and career opportunities. In order to do that, it is important to establish and maintain relevant professional relationships with industry partners; this relationship with Bella Group and Volkswagen represents all the elements in the process: the manufacturer-direct course content, the quality education and training and the job opportunities. We couldn’t be prouder!” said Sierra.
About Bella Group:
Founded in 1963, Bella Group is the largest and only Puerto Rican automotive distribution company in Puerto Rico with a team of more than 650 people. They are the exclusive distributors for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands of the Honda, Acura, and Mazda brands. They also distribute Honda, BMW, Triumph, MV Agusta motorcycles, Honda Power Equipment, and Honda and CF Moto all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). They are the owners of Flagship Dealers with the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Volkswagen, and Ford brands.
About Volkswagen
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America and a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, with headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Arteon, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Passat, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
“VW,” “Volkswagen,” all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG.
About Mech-Tech College
Mech-Tech College is a higher education and technical institution providing education and training since 1984 in occupational fields related to the automotive industry as well as in the manufacturing and health related fields. Educational campuses are located in Caguas, Mayaguez, Bayamon, Vega Baja and Ponce, Puerto Rico and in the city of Orlando in the State of Florida. Mech-Tech is accredited by ACCET, licensed in Puerto Rico and Florida, and approved by the United States Department of Education. www.mechtech.edu