Valeo Tech Academy: More Training for Mechanics - Fit for Electric and ADAS

According to technology group Valeo, every second mechanic currently has nothing to do with the maintenance of e-vehicles. Even more, namely 62 percent, are not familiar with driver assistance systems (ADAS; Advanced Driver Assistance System) at all. As a supplier of components for all drive systems, the French automotive supplier, with its 175 production sites worldwide and more than 112,000 employees, is strongly focusing on new mobility technologies.

Current main areas of activity such as electrification, advanced driver assistance systems and the development towards autonomous driving functions correspond to the strategy plan of the group headquartered near Paris, established in 2022. Due to the alarming analysis of the workshop landscape, the company has now decided to become more active in the field of training and to give a broader target group a boost in terms of modern drives. To this end, the already introduced concept of the Tech Academy is to be made available in even more countries than before.

All Drive Systems

As stated in the press release, the aftermarket industry is to receive additional support from the Valeo Tech Academy to eliminate the identified "qualification gap", in addition to the supply of spare parts. The offer includes brand-independent training for all vehicle systems. A "comprehensive learning experience for the entire automotive industry" is to be ensured, which is why the focus cannot be solely on Valeo products.

More Countries

Since the goal is to support workshops "in the development of electrification and autonomous driving", Valeo aims to provide its expertise as one of the leading companies in the fields of electrification and ADAS, as quoted by Marlène Carrias-Iked, Vice President Strategic Marketing, Digital and Innovation at Valeo Service.

"Thanks to the Valeo Tech Academy, we are able to offer tailor-made solutions to prepare mechanics for diagnosing and repairing electric vehicles and vehicles with driver assistance systems (ADAS)."

According to the information, the concept has already been successfully implemented in other countries: including France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the UK. Now there are plans to expand the offer to other regions. Which ones exactly is not specified in the report.

Three Main Areas

The basic program of the Valeo Tech Academy includes digital content on maintenance and repair solutions for the application areas commonly handled by most workshops with current, generally established technologies, with a total duration of 45 hours.

In addition, in a separate program with a total duration of around 50 hours, online training is devoted specifically to new technologies, i.e., pure electric and hybrid vehicles. The content ranges from the basics of safety to advanced diagnosis and troubleshooting.

The third training block consists of digital ADAS training comprising 25 hours.

Customizable

All individual courses can be divided into short sessions lasting 5 to 30 minutes, "so that mechanics can learn at their own pace and at any time of the day," it says. To determine learning progress, the program also includes pre- and post-exams.

The digital learning experience is additionally complemented by interactive, playful content as well as "high-quality visual" and dynamic representations that are meant to make the training program more lively and maintain participants' motivation to achieve the desired learning success. The fee structure has accordingly been designed to be diverse. Valeo specifies:

"The offer is attractively priced and offers innovative payment options, including the ability to purchase individual modules or subscribe to flexible monthly or annual plans."

The addressed content is conveyed digitally as a kind of building block. The next step involves "advanced seminars" that require in-person attendance. For example, a whole day is spent on ADAS or EV (Electric Vehicle) issues. The in-person program also relies on digital delivery methods. The description reads:

"The innovative presence seminars are based on simulators that allow mechanics to play through more than 150 real repair scenarios so they are better prepared for the challenges in the workshop."

More Scenarios with Simulators

Here, simulator-based training offers the advantage over conventional training that it does not focus only on a often limited number of problems on a single vehicle type, but rather considers many more repair scenarios.

"This comprehensive approach enables mechanics to gain practical experience with various brands and models, thus significantly expanding their knowledge and skills."

Thus, mechanics have the opportunity to "contact" and work with all components found in e-vehicles via simulator, including batteries, inverters, and e-motors. The provider describes the training process with the following words:

"They gain a deep understanding of the interaction between these systems and components and will use real tools - including calibration equipment - during their training."

Faster, More Accurate

As a traditional supplier company with over 100 years of history, Valeo sees itself as a competent partner to teach mechanics in the field of EV "for all architectures". The learning content includes diagnosing error combinations and the ability to understand the various solutions and scenarios that can arise when dealing with new drives. In addition to the broad coverage of a wide variety of situations, speed and accuracy also speak for the method. The report says:

"In workshops, 60 percent of the time is spent on diagnosis, but many evaluations are too slow or inaccurate, leading to complaints, driver dissatisfaction, and productivity losses."

With the simulator, however, the issues could be analyzed quickly, and problem-solving skills expanded. Faster and more precise diagnoses ultimately also promote the efficiency of operational processes in workshops.

Recognized Certificates

The Valeo Tech Academy is stated to be a "Certified Training Organization", with courses and instructors certified according to the following two instances:

on the one hand, by the British IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry), an institution that has set the standard for auto knowledge worldwide for over 100 years, and on the other hand by the French Qualiopi, which "ensures the highest standards in vocational training and access to public funding," according to Valeo.