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Advance Auto Parts Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts supplier, announced a $200,000 commitment and partnership with Wake Technical Community College for a firstof-its-kind recruitment initiative aimed at increasing student diversity in the school’s automotive systems technology and collision repair programs.

Additionally, the retailer, which oerates as Advance Auto Parts, has committed $50,000 in funding to outfit the school’s tool rooms to support student learning.

In partnership with organizations such as Communities In Schools, Juntos (NC State) and North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, funding will be used to conduct direct outreach in Wake County high schools to encourage diverse populations to pursue automotive career paths.

Starting this fall, the Advance Auto Parts Foundation’s gift will help 25 students enrolling in the program over the next five years by funding $5,000 scholarships for each student to offset educational and living expenses and a one-time, $600 stipend to purchase tools scholarship recipients need to complete their studies and start their careers.

“At Advance, we understand the value of having an industry that reflects the diversity of the customers it serves,” said Tom Greco, president and chief executive officer of Advance Auto Parts. “By providing resources and support to Wake Tech and its new Hendrick Center, we hope to inspire students from all backgrounds and experiences to explore careers in automotive service and repair, which will help address the technician shortage and benefit our industry and society as a whole.” “Increasing student diversity in our automotive repair programs is a strategic imperative for WTCC,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “Thanks to the generosity of the Advance Auto Parts Foundation, students from a variety of backgrounds will now be inspired to pursue careers in the automotive field and provided the financial support they need to complete their studies.”

In addition to Advance Auto Parts Foundation’s $200,000 gift, Advance Auto Parts, through its DieHard® brand, has committed $50,000 to outfit the school’s two tool rooms, supporting student learning on and off campus by allowing students to “check out” tools for temporary use.

This partnership comes at a critical time as the U.S. currently faces a worsening shortage of automotive technicians according to TechForce, an automotive industry foundation dedicated to launching and advancing the careers of next generation technicians.

In addition, there exists a lack of diverse representation in this segment of the automotive industry, with 91% of technicians identifying as male and more than two-thirds of technicians identifying as white or non-Hispanic, according to Zippia, an online career-resource platform.

WTCC’s automotive systems technology degree program features training in advanced diagnostics, brakes, electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, steering/ suspension, transmission, climate control and manual drive trains.

WTCC’s collision repair and refinishing technology program includes painting and refinishing, including special finishes, non-structural and structural repair, automotive plastic and adhesives identification repair, automotive detailing, body shop operations and auto body estimating. Beginning next month, both programs will be housed at the new Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence, a $42 million, 100,653-square-foot facility on WTCC’s Scott Northern Wake Campus.

For more information, visit http://aet.waketech.edu.

Source: Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

AUTOBODY

by Dylan Smith, Yellowhammer News

A three-company joint venture announced plans to create Madison Metal Processing (MMP) in Madison, AL, which will supply steel blanks to Huntsville’s Mazda Toyota manufacturing assembly and other automotive suppliers.

Trial production has begun for the $40 million, 110,000-square foot Madison operation, with full-production slated to begin in mid-2022. The venture’s participating companies are Toyota Tsusho America Inc., Southern Mobility Products and SteelSummit Holdings, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp. of Americas.

Steel blanks are the precursor to automotive surface body parts. Madison Metal Processing will supply up to 300,000 vehicles produced at the Mazda Toyota auto assembly plant.

Area Development reports Kirk Lewis, chairman and president of MMP, said the company will be the standard for the production of steel products.

“At MMP, we are committed to providing steel solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Lewis. “Together, with our partners and the added benefit of our collective acumen, MMP will set the bar for quality in every steel product we deliver.”

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey praised the Tennessee Valley venture.

“This collaboration is another exciting development in the growth of the robust supplier network emerging in North Alabama to support the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing auto assembly facility,” said Ivey.

According to the company, the plant will serve as a full-service steel processing service center, and will specialize in blanking and warehousing steel products including hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel and exposed and coated steel products. MMP believes in the future that it will process as much as 5,000 tons of steel a month.

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