Wayne Community College’s automotive programs are getting a boost thanks to a couple of major American auto manufacturers.

General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales recently donated eight GM diesel trucks for use in the automotive technology program.

David Byrd, the GM-ASEP (Automotive Service Education Program) Coordinator at WCC, says these vehicles will allow the students to train on the latest technologies.

Byrd says each engine is unique, so its important to keep the newest vehicles coming in for the automotive programs.

Also, WCC is now including Ford Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) training in its Automotive Technology Education Program.

Kevin Jordan, the Automotive Department Chair at WCC, says CE training contains web-based modules that show off the operations at Ford dealerships.

Jordan says Deacon Jones Ford is sponsoring the Ford ACE training at WCC.

Byrd says these partnerships are critical and set WCC’s automotive programs apart from others.

As WCC’s automotive students enter their second semester, they can split into the GM-ASEP or the multi-manufacturer ATEP program (which includes Ford, Nissan and Chrysler).

Some of the students in WCC’s automotive programs are already employed at local car dealerships.

The support from GM and Ford allows WCC to continue preparing students for an career as an automotive technician, a field with a demand for new workers that can offer very competitive pay.