The initiative will train 360 candidates across four Indian cities, offering free, industry-aligned training for automotive service, customer advisory and sales roles.
Kia India Expands Automotive Skills Training Initiative
Kia India has inaugurated an automotive skill development centre at Don Bosco Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Kurla, Mumbai, in partnership with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC). Announced on 21 October 2026, the centre is the first under a four-location initiative aimed at training 360 candidates for roles across the automotive industry.
Supported through Kia India’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the initiative will operate across Mumbai, Faridabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. It aims to improve youth employability by providing structured training aligned with the evolving requirements of India’s automotive sector.
The programme is being implemented as a pilot, with the potential to establish a scalable framework that could be extended to additional locations.
Four Centres to Train 360 Candidates
The Mumbai centre, established in partnership with Don Bosco ITI, will train 150 candidates across three job roles: Four-Wheeler Service Technician, Automotive Service Advisor and Automotive Sales Executive.
The overall programme will target 150 candidates each in Mumbai and Faridabad, alongside 30 candidates each in Bengaluru and Kolkata. The centres in Mumbai and Faridabad will be exclusive to Kia India, while those in Bengaluru and Kolkata will also accommodate other automotive manufacturers.
Training will be offered free of charge and will combine classroom instruction, hands-on practical learning and workplace exposure. The curriculum is designed to develop skills relevant to vehicle maintenance, diagnostics, repairs, customer engagement and automotive sales.
Programme Targets Industry Skill Gaps
Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Kia India, said skill development is an important driver of inclusive growth and long-term industry advancement. He added that the partnership with ASDC aims to create structured, industry-relevant learning opportunities without placing a financial burden on candidates.
The initiative comes as automotive technologies, digitalisation and customer expectations continue to evolve, increasing demand for professionals across technical and customer-facing functions.
Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson of ASDC, said the programme aims to bridge the skills gap by bringing industry-relevant training closer to aspiring professionals and preparing them for practical workplace requirements.
Amar Sheth, Vice President of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), highlighted the need for skilled workers across dealership operations. He said training in servicing, customer advisory and automotive sales can improve employability while helping the retail sector meet changing customer expectations.
Kia India Continues Focus on Youth Employability
Kia India said the initiative forms part of its wider CSR commitment to youth empowerment, capability building and inclusive community development.
The automaker began mass production at its Anantapur manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh in August 2019. The plant has an installed annual production capacity of 400,000 units.
Kia India has launched nine vehicles in the domestic market and reports nearly 1.9 million vehicle dispatches from its Anantapur plant, including more than 1.5 million domestic sales and over 3.67 lakh exports.
The company also operates a network of 915 touchpoints across 429 cities in India. Through the four-centre initiative, Kia India and ASDC aim to build a stronger pipeline of trained professionals to support the automotive industry’s evolving workforce requirements.
