Bangkok. BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand, led by Mr. Uwe Quaas, Managing Director, and Chitralada Technology Institute, led by Associate Professor Dr. Khunying Sumontha Promboon, Acting President, recently announced their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the BMW Dual Excellence Program. The partnership aims to lay a solid foundation of Mechatronics, a multidisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the engineering of both electrical and mechanical systems, and also includes a combination of robotics, electronics, computer and telecommunications, for higher vocational students and strengthen their theoretical and practical knowledge to international standards. The MoU signing ceremony at Chitralada Technology Institute, Bangkok was joined by management representatives from both organizations.

Mr. Uwe Quaas, Managing Director of BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand, said: “We are delighted to continue this BMW Dual Excellence Program with Chitralada Technology Institute as it resonates well with our joint commitment to strengthen the potential of higher vocational students in Mechatronics. The program also provides the students with hands-on experience at Plant Rayong and by the end of this year, we will have 6 graduates from the institute starting their careers with the plant. This is another important milestone of the program and potentially increases our local competitiveness in the global automotive arena.”

Associate Professor Dr. Khunying Sumontha Promboon, Acting President, Chitralada Technology Institute said: “The institute is committed to providing the best education to our students and to growing their expertise as automotive technicians. We see that this on-the-job training with certified BMW technicians will efficiently pave the way to their occupational success in the automotive industry. The theoretical learning framework is complemented by the practical experience that helps them develop holistic approaches to technical matters. We very much appreciate the continuation of support from BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand in enhancing Thai higher vocational education over the long term.”

Chitralada Vocational School, Chitralada Technology Institute offers vocational education and higher vocational education in various fields including electrical power, electronics, mechanical, automotive, mechatronics and embedded technology programs. The school aims to develop students’ skills and capabilities in the related industrial fields while also emphasizing ethics and morality in their professions as a basis for sustainable career development.

“BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand has initiated a vocational student exchange program through which two students from Chitralada Vocational School, Chitralada Technology Institute and the Thai-Austrian Technical College in Sattahip were recently given the opportunity to visit the birthplace of BMW in Germany. The students were able to learn and exchange knowledge about advanced mobility technologies, such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), with German vocational students and also took part in a tour of BMW Group’s Berlin plant. Such visits cultivate profound technical knowledge of world-class automotive innovations in Thai students,” Mr. Quaas concluded.

Since 2015, BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand has been collaborating with Chitralada Technology Institute and the Thai-Austrian Technical College in Sattahip to develop greater expertise in Mechatronics through the Dual Excellence in Education training program. Since its inception, the partnership has developed a total of 24 young technicians from Chitralada Vocational School, Chitralada Technology Institute. Technical students under this program will receive hands-on training from skilled technicians and, upon passing the practical exam, an opportunity to start their career with Plant Rayong or a BMW authorized dealer. As workforce development is crucial for the future of Thailand’s automotive industry, this program serves as an important foundation for the country’s progress as ASEAN’s automotive production hub.

The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a workforce of 129,932 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

BMW Group Thailand
BMW Group Thailand, a subsidiary of BMW AG, Germany, was established on the 3rd October 1998. The three entities of BMW Group Thailand are BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for wholesales & marketing of BMW Group products, BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for BMW and BMW Motorrad local production, and BMW Leasing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for financial services offerings to both wholesale and retail customers.

In 2018, BMW Group Thailand reached new all-time highs with 12,036 BMW deliveries, representing a 20% increase year-on-year and the highest growth rate across BMW’s global networks for the second consecutive year. The sales of BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) also achieved a record-high growth rate of 122% in Thailand over the past year. While MINI and BMW Motorrad also achieved the new record in sales with 1,051 vehicles MINI deliveries (growing sales by 4% year-on-year) and 2,154 BMW Motorcycles deliveries (growing sales by 8% year-on-year).

On the production side, the BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand plant was founded on BMW Group’s strong belief in the growth potential of Asian markets and Thailand in particular with its unique location, strong manufacturing base, and ready supply of skilled automotive labor, being an automotive hub for ASEAN. On-going investment has been put into the expansion of plant Rayong in terms of assembling processes, aiming to meet growing customer demand. In addition, with approximately 4 billion Thai Baht representing the amount of annual purchasing in Thailand, the BMW Global Purchasing office has been established in Thailand. This is to source various components from local suppliers in Thailand and the broader ASEAN region, in order to supply the entire BMW production network of 31 production and assembly facilities, located in 15 countries worldwide.

BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand produces the following 13 models: BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, and BMW X3. For BMW Motorrad, the BMW F 750 GS, BMW F 850 GS, BMW F 850 GS Adventure, BMW R 1250 GS, BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, BMW S 1000 R, BMW S 1000 RR and BMW S 1000 XR are also locally assembled at the plant. In addition, BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand now assembles two BMW plug-in hybrid models; BMW 530e and BMW 740Le.

For further information, please contact:
BMW Group Thailand
1-800-269-269
www.bmw.co.th
www.mini.co.th
www.bmw-motorrad.co.th

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