DMACC opens new Automotive Center

Nearly 10 years ago, the DMACC Automotive Programs approached the school asking for a larger space to offer students. This additional space allows for a partnership with Subaru, Mercedes, and Honda, as well as newer technology and more hands-on learning experience for Automotive Program students.

Building 13 can hold up to 85 cars at one time for students to work on, with over 100 cars being donated every year by GM, Chrysler, and Honda. The Automotive Program facility plans to cycle the show cars on display, but the facility is currently in short supply of newer vehicles. Automotive Tech Professor Jerry Burns said, “New vehicle inventory at the dealerships is fairly limited.”

Multiple sponsors have partnered with the Automotive Programs and students can find their names on Building 13. Carl’s Chevrolet, Bob Brown, and Chip Ganassi Racing out of Indianapolis, Indiana are three big sponsors of this new facility.

Chip Ganassi racing has both donated an Indy 500 Racecar and offered an 8-week paid internship for students in the DMACC Automotive Programs. DMACC Automotive Programs allow students to specialize in Subaru, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, and GM. Students who wish to go on to work as technicians for GM are offered a position in the Carl’s Chevrolet sponsored GMA Program, established in 1982.

More about the program:

• The show display cars in Building 13 include a 1949 Mercury Eight, Subaru AWD Outback, Red Corvette, Mercedes Benz Hybrid, and an Indy 500 Racecar.

• DMACC’s President Rob Denson uses the 1949 Mercury Eight during parades.

• There is enough space in the facility to hold 85 cars at a time.

• Over 100 vehicles have been donated to the DMACC Automotive Program by GM, Chrysler, and Honda.

• The DMACC Automotive Programs are two-year Associates of Applied Science in Automotive Technology.

• Internship-based Automotive Programs include partnerships and paid internships with GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Honda.

• While enrolled in one of DMACC’s Automotive Programs, a student may specialize in Subaru, Mercedes, Toyota, and GM.

• DMACC Building 13 is currently in its final completion state of its newest upgrade. A few benefits of the upgrades include more space for the students to work and newer technology for them to use.

• The DMACC Automotive Programs do occasionally take volunteers to have their cars worked on, but it is limited to DMACC students and faculty.

• DMACC Automotive Tech Professor Jerry Burns says that the most annoying problem to run into when repairing a car is “intermittent diagnosis.”

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