Hyundai techs in Olympic contest

16 August 2005
Immediate release

Hyundai techs in Olympic contest

Thirty-two Hyundai technicians around the country are studiously brushing up their technical skills ready for next month’s national skills competition.

The winner of that competition will represent New Zealand at the Hyundai World Skill Olympics in South Korea in October 2005.

“Our technician was placed third in the world a few years ago,” comments the National Technical Manager of Hyundai Automotive, Peter Tolley.

”That’s quite an accomplishment for a small nation like New Zealand … we’ll be hoping we can do as well, or maybe even better.”

The rigorous contest is held every two years among the worldwide markets for Hyundai vehicles. This October sees the sixth event.

In the national selection process now underway technicians face practical and written assignments. The top four placings go to Hyundai head office in Auckland on 10 September for the national final.

It’s a worthwhile berth for any aspiring technician: they also win an Auckland trip for their Service Manager and partner, also the Dealer Principal and partner.

Valuable prizes are awarded in the national final, which involves a written theory paper plus four tough technical tasks.

But the big prize is the trip to October’s contest at Chonan, 100km south of Seoul. Conducted in English, the Olympics offers valuable prizes plus international kudos.

Previous winners have come from Australia (twice), Singapore, Netherlands and Taiwan.

“As well as being a significant event for the Hyundai dealer team, it’s also an important part of our training calendar here in New Zealand,” says Mr Tolley.

“Each Olympics integrates some aspects from the ongoing technical challenges found in the high levels of technology that are standard in Hyundai vehicles”.

“Internationally this reflects the drive to lift skills to world-best levels as Hyundai aims to be a global leader in the industry.”

ENDS

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