Kia India signed a memorandum of understanding with the Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC) on Monday to develop a skilled talent pool for the automotive industry through structured training and certification programs aligned with the Skill India Mission.
The partnership establishes a 30-day training module combining 15 days of foundational classroom instruction at ASDC-certified centers with 15 days of practical experience at authorized Kia dealerships. The program covers core automotive concepts, dealership functions, and Kia-specific processes including brand standards, systems, and product knowledge.
Successful candidates will receive joint certification from Kia India and ASDC and become eligible for direct recruitment into sales and service roles at Kia dealerships. The initiative targets workforce readiness in electric vehicle adoption and customer experience areas.
"This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India's commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience," said Mr. Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India. "By creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, we are not only empowering India's youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing our dealer network with professionals who embody Kia's values of quality, care, and innovation. Ultimately, this initiative will translate into a more seamless, informed, and rewarding journey for every Kia customer across the country."
The program aims to develop automotive professionals equipped with technical skills and understanding of customer expectations. Training will be conducted under expert supervision at dealership locations to ensure workplace readiness from the first day of employment.
Kia India operates a manufacturing facility in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 units. The company has dispatched 1.5 million vehicles from the plant since commencing production in August 2019, including 1.2 million domestic sales and 367,000 exports. Kia maintains 744 touchpoints across 329 cities in India.