The center, 30 miles southwest of Atlanta, will provide service training through a best-in-class curriculum within its high-tech training facility and repair center. Groundbreaking will occur in August, AAMCO said, which should allow for the facility to open by January 2015.
The projected investment was not disclosed.
Mr. Ponton disclosed the opening of the training facility during the recent National AAMCO Dealers Association convention in Arlington, Va.
AAMCO University will house all training activities for AAMCO technicians, customer service managers as well as prospective, new and current franchisees.
The main goal of the school is to provide the proper training for the employees to be in position to continually deliver quality service. Additionally, the new curriculum shows the training and progression needed to navigate a successful career path at AAMCO, at any level of employment, the company said.
The facility also will offer lecture and hands-on technical instruction for up to 60 people at a time with a theater-style classroom, a replicated front office and a simulated repair shop to provide a real-life learning environment. There will also be a call center for both technical and sales questions.
The training facility will be next door to Global Powertrain Systems L.L.C. — an AAMCO partner enterprise under the combined ownership of American Driveline Systems Inc. — a transmission remanufacturer.
There are more than 700 AAMCO automotive service centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. AAMCO did not say how many are franchised locations.
In business since 1962, AAMCO revamped its business model in 2012 to encompass a broader automotive repair focus. It added the Total Car Care tag line to its moniker at that time.
American Driveline Systems the parent of AAMCO Transmissions, Cottman Transmission Systems L.L.C.., and Global Powertrain Systems. It is majority owned by American Capital Ltd.
