A new Volkswagen training center is opening in the Loire

Have you ever tried to understand why a major automobile manufacturer, like Volkswagen, would want to establish a training center in the Loire, right next to Saint-Etienne, instead of remaining in the well-set comfort of a metropolis like Lyon? It remains a mystery as disturbing as a drive on a road full of potholes.

An academy in Saint-Etienne: who would have thought!

After closing the doors of its centers in Saint-Priest and Mérignac for reasons that, let's be honest, make it seem like Volkswagen's managers are a bit lost, the company has decided to put all its eggs in one basket. Or rather, in a brand new building of 2,500 m² in Stéphanois territory that opens up to young aspiring mechanics, workshop managers, and other automobile enthusiasts.

Training sessions that start with a bang

What awaits these future automobile technicians? Among the enticing promises, a first training session, which flirts between one and four days, where trainees will become familiar with cutting-edge mechanics. Because let's face it, there’s nothing trendier in 2026 than knowing the ins and outs of electric cars and batteries that, according to rumors, could explode. Let the fans of deafening noise get ready!

A staggering investment for little surprise

And all that, for the modest sum of one million euros. Yes, one million. This amount has been injected into a building which, according to the architects, will be more modern than any luxury model from the Porsche brand. For a place where one learns to repair Audis and Skodas, that's not bad, is it? The proposed architecture is probably as striking as the new Beetle, which is also undergoing its own transformation. Trainees can therefore expect bright workshop rooms, equipped with the latest in technology. But let’s be frank, it’s not a 911; we can't also expect a speed ring like in Mortefontaine. How sad!

A training for the future… or for demagoguery?

The reality is simple and cruel: the automotive world is evolving, cars are now packed with technologies that would make spaceships look like simple plastic toys. Technical training is therefore becoming essential in a sector where electric is taking precedence over thermal. On the other hand, the 13,000 young people coming to train each year within Volkswagen’s fold probably think that mechanics is sexier than social media management. That said, who would really brag about what they learned in a training center?

All that’s left is to hope that this academy will add a splash of color to the austere landscape of the city. The automotive world needs new blood, certainly, but that unfortunately isn’t enough to transform a Loire often confused with a pelargonium into a land of possibilities. Only time will tell if this will work or if this initiative will be just a sweet dream. Because let’s not forget, even in 2026, the promises of the automotive industry are as uncertain as the new car concepts that are showcased every year. To be continued!

Source: www.auto-infos.fr

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