Hyundai Motor America has contributed $50,000 to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Foundation’s Workforce Initiative.

“We really like the NADA’s new approach to getting young people excited about being technicians, and Hyundai is committed to working side-by-side with NADA to accomplish this,” said Barry Ratzlaff, vice president and chief customer officer for Hyundai Motor America. “High school students, their advisors and parents need to know that today’s cars have more computing power than the systems that guided the Apollo astronauts to the moon. Working on them involves a lot of high-tech problem solving and tools. Techs can make a great living and there are always new skills to learn.”

In 2019, the NADA Foundation launched the initiative that features a new website, nadafoundation.org, which includes the first and only interactive U.S. map of training and scholarship opportunities available for aspiring technicians, as well as videos of technicians highlighting what they like about their dealership careers.

One video example features Tiara Richardson, a 31-year-old technician from Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai in Gaithersburg, Md.

“Hyundai joins a growing list of car and commercial truck manufacturers that support the NADA Foundation’s efforts to spark an interest in service technician careers,” said Annette Sykora, chairman of the NADA Foundation and 2008 NADA chairman. “Together, we can work together to attract great talent to our dynamic industry.”

Sykora, dealer principal of Smith South Plains Ford Lincoln in Levelland, Texas, added that her dealership over the years has helped young men and women find fulfilling careers locally in the automotive industry.

“Automotive technicians keep our families mobile and company fleets running by providing the necessary maintenance and repairs to our customers' cars and trucks,” Sykora added. “These technicians have life balance and the means to provide financial stability for their families. Seeing them grow in knowledge and skill in a job they enjoy is heartwarming to an employer.”

To date, other contributions to the NADA Foundation’s Workforce Initiative include $100,000 from Toyota Motor North America, $50,000 from PACCAR (Kenworth and Peterbilt), $50,000 from the National Auto Auction Association, and $25,000 from Porsche Cars North America.

For more details, visit nadafoundation.org.