First Tesla START Class Graduates

April 8th, 2018 by Steve Hanley

Most Tesla news tends fall into the blockbuster category — Model 3, falcon-wing doors, gigantic batteries in Australia, that kind of thing. Here’s a tiny story about Tesla that may cause barely a ripple in the great ocean of news about the Silicon Valley company. The first class to complete the Tesla START program has graduated from Central Piedmont Community College in Huntersville, North Carolina. Rio Hondo College in Los Angeles is also featuring the Tesla START program.

Here’s how the company describes the START program on its website:

“Tesla START is an intensive training program designed to provide students across North America with the skills necessary for a successful career with Tesla—at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution. During the program, students will develop technical expertise and earn certifications through a blended approach of in-class theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.

“We are partnering with colleges across the country to integrate Tesla START into automotive technician curriculums as a 12-week capstone—providing students with a smooth transition from college to full-time employment. We collaborate with successful graduates to secure them a Tesla Service Technician role at one of our Service Centers in North America. Armed with extensive knowledge of our products and service, Tesla START graduates are ready to hit the ground running on day one of their careers.”

According to a post on the CPCC website, “Students train in a space on campus designed to simulate a Tesla Service location so they are ready to hit the ground running on day one of their new careers. The Tesla START program at CPCC began in January with 13 students. Working together, Tesla and CPCC have built a service bay for students to train in that is similar to what they will find at Tesla Service Centers.”

It is not unusual for auto manufacturers to partner with educational institutions to train future employees. It is unusual to find such a program specifically designed to teach students about electric vehicles. Congratulations to Tesla for taking the lead in this area.











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