The centre, adjacent to the existing mechanical training centre and training rooms in Perth’s northern suburb of Balcatta, is aimed at the growing number of apprentices and trainees now moving into the automotive field.

MTA WA CEO Stephen Moir said the centre would allow the MTA to lead the way with benchmark training for EVs and other future transport technologies.

“This gives us the ability to be among the first training centres in Australia to deliver for the much-desired new level of automotive trades,” he said.

“We have to look to the future. There’s no-one training in these areas and yet we have a growing consumer base that is prepared to buy an electrified car.

“At the same time, we are looking at a new era of young people that understand diagnostics and electronics and the different forms of electrified power plants and who want to be part of the automotive industry.”

The MTA centre is believed to be the only training provider dealing in hybrids and EVs, state-of-the-art advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and environmentally-sensitive functions including air conditioning. It is also being prepared to make the next step to hydrogen fuel-cells and autonomous vehicles including Lidar systems.

It will also be the centre for training the lecturers from TAFE to take back the skills to the TAFE classrooms.

“Our goal is to be the leader in light vehicle training,” Mr Moir said.

MTA WA CEO Stephen Moir (left) with WA premier Mark McGowan at the opening of the MTA training centre

“We have already rebuilt the intake of automotive apprentices and trainees, with the latest induction of 500 students. A year ago we had 280 so it’s a record growth for us.

“All the major dealerships and independent workshops and businesses such as the RAC, Automasters and Tyrepower work with us.”

He said the centre also worked closely with the OEMs. It had welcomed the support and donations of vehicles from key hybrid and EV car-makers Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and Honda.

“It means we have one of the most advanced fleets of new cars in Australia for students to work on.”

The centre was opened by the Premier of WA, Mark McGowan, on November 18, to the backdrop of electrified vehicles from the stakeholders and by the display of a Porsche Taycan EV and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5.

Mr McGowan said the centre reflected the transformation of the automotive industry and the need for expert tutoring for increasingly complex vehicles.

The MTA remodelled a former Budget car rental building to accommodate the main workshop and separate classrooms.

It has doubled the size of the MTA’s training centre in Perth.

The new course is under the auspices of the Automotive Institute of Technology and delivered by the MTA over five days in a mix of classroom-based learning and practical tasks and assessments in the workshop.

It is designed for qualified automotive technicians who are increasing their knowledge into the new range of electrified vehicles.

The skill set includes inspecting and servicing battery electric and hybrid vehicles, diagnosing and repairing faults, and stripping and servicing electrical components.

The primary course is a five-day workshop aimed at upskilling automotive technicians and giving them the skills to depower, service and repair, and repower battery electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.

It will also extend to hydrogen fuel-cell systems and into autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment including Lidar sensors as they become more available.

By Neil Dowling