Customer:
General Motors is one of the world's largest automakers with roots that trace back to 1908. GM employs 204,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries.

GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands, partly via subsidiaries and private importers: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel and Vauxhall. GM's largest markets are the United States, China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy. On July 10^th 2009, after a difficult financial period with pending bankruptcy, ‘new’ General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation.

 

Problem
Central development of after sales training programs that need to be delivered locally is difficult, since regional laws and regulations necessitate that the cars and trucks sold globally differ from each other. Apart from that there are significant differences in the way that technicians worldwide are accustomed to receive training, due to cultural differences and habits.

Challenge
Since its conception in 1987, TTA has been a partner to regional sales and after-sales organisations and importers for GM North American Vehicles. In recent years, the increased competitiveness of the automotive branch and the quest to globalise the Cadillac, Hummer, Corvette and Chevrolet brands has challenged the regional subsidiaries and importers. TTA was asked to support them in increasing the cost-effectiveness and quality of the adaption of the training programs by developing localised programs and regional delivery for Europe and the Middle-East.

Solution
TTA’s employees have extensive experience with GM’s North American Vehicles and regularly visited the US to keep up to date. With our wide training and training-development experience, extensive technical knowledge, good contacts within the GM organisation and awareness of the regional requirements, we were able to provide the best possible solution for each region. For Europe, blended-learning programs were developed, that allow the local technicians to quickly gain information and knowledge about new vehicle’s technologies by performing TTA-developed e-Learning modules and then gaining hands-on experience by following instructor-based-training programs. For Middle-East the training programs were adapted to increase the one-on-one time with the trainers to maximise the result of the training.

Result
Even after the change from the old General Motors Cooperation to the new General Motors, TTA still is preferred supplier to regional subsidiaries and importers for North American Vehicles that are marketed in the European and Middle-Eastern regions. The excellent result of the past years and TTA’s flexibility to quickly adapt to new market requirements is the base for the prolonged cooperation between GM’s subsidiaries and importers for the European and Middle-Eastern market.