Training in the Motor Vehicle Repair and Sales Sector

Trends in training for employment in the motor vehicle repair and sales sectors in the 12 European Community (EC) countries were identified through a review of 12 national reports that were prepared by 16 research teams involved in an EC study on continuing training in the motor vehicle sales and repair sector. Special attention was paid to the following topics: structure and characteristics of the motor vehicle sector in the EC; changing tasks in repair workshops and implications for skill requirements/development; and objectives, content, and delivery of continuing vocational training of the sector's work force. The following are among the trends and issues identified: increased quality consciousness; standardization and modularization versus transferability and mobility; adaptive versus forward qualification and qualification planning; roles of the providers of continuing vocational training; training concepts and their adaption to the needs of individual countries and repair shops; control versus cooperation of manufacturers and dealers; and high quality service stations as sites for vocational and continuing training. (Contains 23 tables/figures and 15 references. Appended are diagrams of the technical training scheme and technical service training curriculum identified and a table detailing registration of passenger cars in Western Europe by country in 1985-1992.) (MN)