Porsche resurgence in ME fuels demand for PH mechatronics specialists

BROER, Coyiuto Jr. and Herz Pura, technical training manager of PTRCA with the new graduates

Sales of Porsche vehicles are zooming again in the Middle East on the back of renewed economic activity in the oil-producing region, and that means increased demand for certified mechanics with the competence to work on the multimillion-peso mean machines.

Fortunately for the dealers in the region, the Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia in the Philippines, the first training facility of its kind outside Porsche’s home in Germany, continues to produce soughtafter Porsche Service Mechatronics specialists—mechanics who have intimate knowledge of the Porsche body and engine—for deployment to various posts in the region.

According to Robert Coyiuto Jr., chair of Philippine Porsche distributor PGA Cars Inc., which runs the PTRCA in partnership with Porsche AG and Don Bosco Technical Institute, the fast-paced resurgence of Porsche sales in the Middle East is fueling the demand for highly qualified Porsche Service Mechatronics specialists, particularly those from the Philippines.

“Filipinos working in the Middle East are well known for their integrity, honesty, reliability and solid work ethics. These, together with their fluency and mastery of English, make them the most sought after certified mechatronics in the region,” says Coyiuto.

According to Coyiuto, Porsche centers in the Middle East are the primary destinations of the graduates of PTRCA as these centers continue to expand their operations and services to discriminating buyers of the fast-selling Porsche luxury sports cars.

“The Porsche organization is focused on the job of the after sales team in ensuring customer loyalty and satisfaction—a very vital role for which our Filipino certified Porsche mechatronics can more than adequately fill,” adds Coyiuto.

21-percent surge in sales

The growth in the sales of Porsche vehicles in the Middle East contributed to the 21-percent surge in the sales of Porsches worldwide in the first quarter.

PGA CARS chair Robert Coyiuto Jr., Porsche service training manager Stefan Broer and Porsche Center Philippines managing director Roberto Coyiuto III

Porsche reported from the headquarters in Stuttgart that it delivered 37,009 vehicles in the first quarter, 21.1 percent more than the sales in the same period last year. In March, the German automotive giant delivered over 14,000 vehicles for the first time in its history.

“The success of the first quarter encourages us to implement our Strategy 2018 systematically,” said Bernhard Maier, member of Porsche AG’s Executive Board Sales and Marketing. “Our responses to the uncertainties in the market are products that induce great enthusiasm in customers, such as the new Panamera, as well as a highly motivated workforce.”

Porsche also said in the statement  that the demand for the iconic 911 continues unabated.

“From January through March, Porsche delivered 7,230 models of the sports car icon—an increase of 18.6 per cent compared to the first three months of 2012. The Cayenne also continued to expand its market position: Around 20,000 vehicles of the sporty SUV have been handed over to customers so far this year,” Porsche said.

Because of that growth, PTRCA is hard pressed to produce more graduates.

The PTRCA, which provides training and financial support to underprivileged but deserving Filipino youth, has just graduated its eighth batch, bringing the total graduates to 110, with another 16 currently going through the 19-month training program.

The bulk of the graduates of the center, which opened in April 2008, have been deployed to the Middle East: 35 to Dubai; 18 to Qatar; 16 to Abu Dhabi; 14 to Saudi Arabia, 13 to Kuwait and two to Oman. The rest are in the Philippines, Brunei, Columbia, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Yemen.

These graduates not only went through complete training on both theory and practical work on Porsche vehicles, but also received English and communication lessons. This is to better prepare them for their roles as not just Porsche technicians but also ambassadors for the Philippines.