PMM has attended Delphi Academy’s official opening following a major expansion project, as it hopes to set a new standard in aftermarket training.
With a £500,000 investment, the Academy now spans 1,430 square meters, making it one of Europe’s largest automotive training centres.
Delphi’s training facility in Warwick has doubled in size by extending into a neighbouring unit, with the new wing dedicated specifically to training in hybrid, electric vehicle (EV), and hydrogen technologies.
Neil Fryer, Vice President and Global Aftermarket General Manager at PHINIA, the company behind the Delphi brand, commented: “Our strong relationships with vehicle manufacturers allow us to bring original equipment (OE) knowledge directly to the aftermarket. Technicians need the right parts, information, and training to carry out effective repairs, and that’s what we’re delivering here.”
With a new open-plan workshop and additional interactive classrooms, the extension is said to reflect Delphi’s commitment to equipping technicians with the skills needed to work on the latest vehicle technologies.
The OEM-inspired training academy boasts 15 vehicles including a Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius, BMW 3 series plug-in hybrid and Audi A3 e-Tron. Other training aids include a hydrogen internal combustion powertrain rig for hands-on tasks like leak detection and changing injector seals, which requires a special hydrogen purging process, as part of Delphi’s industry-first hydrogen training course.
A new 16-seat conference room with glass-fronted walls offer a panoramic view of the workshop, alongside a breakout area. A dedicated product showroom showcases the latest Delphi innovations, while a specialist automotive recording, photography, and 3D scanning studio supports the creation of new training videos, webinars and interactive simulations for Delphi’s Masters of Motion and e-learning programmes.
Meanwhile, the existing workshop and classrooms are now focused on delivering training for all other courses, including vehicle electronics, engine management, fuel systems, and diagnostics.
Luke Garratt, UK Technical Services Manager at Delphi, said: “We now have the capacity to train up to 64 students a day, making this one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe. This latest investment emphasises our commitment to future technologies and highlights our dedication to helping workshops thrive in a rapidly changing industry.”
Coinciding with the opening of the new training centre, Delphi has also launched a new online booking system. It means technicians can view course availability and schedule their learning, while providing garage owners and managers with tools to monitor training progression.
