Kia’s EV Skill World Cup (EVSWC) 2021 has seen UK technician David Weston take the title, beating competitors from around the world in the competition, which took place virtually this year due to COVID-19.
Weston, Master Technician at Snows Kia Guildford, brought home the Gold Medal for exceptional and proven understanding of electric and electrified vehicles, and diagnosis.
The EV Skill World Cup 2021 (EVSWC 2021), run by Kia globally for technicians at the brand’s dealerships, took place virtually on 29-30 June at the Kia Osan Training Center in Korea. Fifteen participants competed for outright victory at the live-streamed event, each proudly representing their home countries.
Prior to the event, technicians had to battle it out in their respective home countries, with Weston winning the UK Skills Cup in February 2020. Each competitor had to undertake a series of tests and challenges to determine their knowledge and understanding of Kia vehicles. The top 15 – one from each competing nation – were subsequently picked as finalists to enter the EVSCW 2021.
Ahead of the competition, contestants provided a presentation on how they appraised a real-world customer vehicle’s fault, and what they did to correct and resolve it. This section of the competition saw contestants awarded up to 100 points.
The opening ceremony was followed by contestants taking a virtual exam and then a complex Remote Diagnosis Test. This saw entrants perform tasks virtually and giving instructions to an operator via an interpreter to diagnose and rectify a vehicle fault at the training centre in Korea. Both sections of the competition gave contestants the chance to earn up to a further 100 points for each.
Weston scored 252 points out of a possible 300. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and with each task being undertaken remotely, he worked from the Kia Academy in Nottingham to outcompete his rivals from other Kia subsidiaries.
“I wish to thank everyone at Kia for putting on such a complex and well-polished event, Kia Europe and especially the Kia Academy in Nottingham for the support and trust they showed in me, and for making me feel part of the Kia family,” said Weston.
“I am now able to call myself a World Champion – something that after 25 years of training, learning and hard work has finally paid off. I am already looking forward to next year’s contest in Korea and to showcase the great standard of Kia technicians we have across the UK.
“There are no days off when you’re chasing your goals and I plan to continue representing Kia for as long as possible, inspiring the Kia family from Apprentice to Manager and being part of the ‘Movement that inspires’.”
Kia announced its ‘Plan S’ strategy in early 2020 that will see a total of eleven fully electric vehicles, including seven dedicated EV models, join the model range by 2026.
With this broad array of electrically-enhanced vehicles available, David’s win highlights the growing need for professional, qualified and skilled technicians to support customers across the country who choose one of these advanced machines.
Today, Kia UK ensures that each of its 191 dealerships and 11 Authorised Repairers have at least one technician certified to the independent IMI Level 3 Award in electric/hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement.
Together with David’s achievement and the reassurance of Kia’s seven-year/100,000 mile warranty as standard across the entire vehicle range – that includes electric and hybrid cars – firmly establishes Kia UK as a leader in electrification.
