90 Volkswagen mechanics compete in skills contest; top 3 earn overseas training

Volkswagen Korea held a technical competition to test the vehicle diagnostic and repair skills of mechanics from its official service centers nationwide. Ninety mechanics took part in an online qualifying round, and 12 advanced to the final round, where they were tested on scenarios simulating real repair situations.

Volkswagen Korea said Thursday that it held the final round of the "2026 Volkswagen Technical Championship" on Aug. 22 at the Volkswagen Training Academy in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

The competition consisted of a month-long online written exam followed by a written and practical test in the final round. Ninety technicians from official service centers nationwide entered the qualifying round.

The 12 finalists were evaluated on their repair skills through several tests. These included diagnostics to identify vehicle malfunctions, electrical wiring repairs, hands-on tests on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and a written exam.

Park Min-su, an assistant manager at Autoplatz Pangyo, took first place. Lee Tae-gwan, a manager at Geohouse Jeonju, placed second, and Jang Yeong-il, a deputy general manager at Meister Motors Gangnam Daechi, placed third. Volkswagen Korea will send the three winners on an overseas training trip lasting four nights and five days in November.

Volkswagen Korea runs such competitions to strengthen its mechanics' vehicle diagnostic skills and their ability to keep up with new technologies. As electrification and driver-assistance features expand, the importance of repair skills for electrical, electronic equipment and software has grown at service centers as well.

Lee Seong-yeon, executive director of the technical team at Volkswagen Group Korea, said, "Volkswagen Korea is working to provide customers with an even better service experience, and this Technical Championship is part of that effort." He added, "We will continue our wide-ranging efforts to boost customer satisfaction, including technical competitions and the development of new services."

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Korea has recently expanded its customer engagement activities beyond vehicle sales. Last month, it launched the "2026 Volkswagen Tennis Crew," a group of 12 participants, as part of its brand activities utilizing sports.