Bosch's Automotive Aftermarket Business Division has announced its Diamond level sponsorship of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, helping mentor future technicians who have shown a passion for the automotive service industry.
More than 12,000 high school students entered the competition; with 10 two-person teams competing at the state level. The winning teams from each state will compete on Tuesday, June 10, at the Ford Motor Co. World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. At stake is more than $10 million in scholarships to help students enhance their skills as future automotive technicians.
The Ford/AAA Auto Skills competition reinforces students' desired field of study, showing them career opportunities within the automotive service field and shaping the next generation of automotive technicians.
The Student Auto Skills Challenge pits student teams against each other, repairing intentionally "bugged" vehicles and completing a written test. They are evaluated on workmanship, automotive knowledge and problem-solving abilities in a timed race.
Throughout the competition, Bosch Field Training Specialists will provide guidance and mentorship to students. Every student at the state level will receive an Actron U-Scan, 1,000 in all, and those advancing to the national competition will receive a Bosch 12V Max Lithium-Ion cordless combo drill/driver and impact driver kit, donated by the company. The U-Scan allows technicians to use an iOS or Android device for vehicle diagnostics. Actron and OTC are brands of the Automotive Service Solutions Business Unit within the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Business Division.
"Every student we work with has shown an incredible aptitude for automotive service, and it's our job to foster that development and ensure they have the tools and guidance needed to succeed," says Mike Mansuetti, president, Robert Bosch LLC. "We're looking forward to continuing to work with Ford and AAA to challenge and recognize the brightest young minds in the automotive field."
In addition to providing future technicians with the tools they'll need to be successful, Bosch is sponsoring the competition's awards dinner, honoring students for their accomplishments, and a hospitality suite during the national competition for students and families. Bosch also will be awarding an OTC Encore professional diagnostics tool to three schools at random and three 24-inch Ascenta-stainless steel dishwashers to families of students attending the national competition, representing three of the four business sectors that comprise the Bosch Group: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods and Energy and Building Technology.
Bosch Field Training Specialists will be providing technical instruction to students at the state and national level. Students will use the OTC Genisys EVO, an advanced diagnostics tool manufactured by the Automotive Aftermarket Business Division of Bosch, at the national competition. OTC has been the "Scan Tool of Choice" for the Student Auto Skills Competition for more than 23 years, providing technical assistance for students for more than two decades.
