TKM “Challenge the Impossible”, Builds on Skill Levels to Enrich Customer Delight Beyond the Best

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), with its constant endeavour towards developing skilled workforce across its dealer network in the country, recently conducted the ‘National Skill Championship 2018. An annual initiative for dealer personnel, the event serves as a platform to reward exceptional sales and service skills and highlights best practices setting advanced skill standards in the industry.

In line with the company’s focused commitment towards the Skill India initiative, the Skill Contest is another step by the company in the development of manpower to meet the skill gap in the dynamically changing automotive market. The event was held at three levels – across dealership, regional and national levels, the contestants were evaluated on various parameters such as knowledge, process demonstration, soft skills and role plays in providing premium customer experience and human touch among others. 

The event finale was attended by Mr. Yashitaka Nakamura, General Manager [Service Management Division] – Toyota Motor Corporation; Sabari Manohar, General Manager [Technical Service Division] – Toyota Motor Asia Pacific; David Goldberg, Senior Manager [Sales Operations] - Toyota Motor North America; Erik Fischer, National Manager [Sales Operations Support] – Toyota Motor North America; Saju Thomas, Dealer Principal – Nandi Toyota along with the senior management executives of Toyota Kirloskar Motor - Yoshihiro Horinouchi, Deputy Managing Director; N. Raja, Deputy Managing Director and Vedaprakash S. Tiwari, General Manager.

Themed ‘Challenge the Impossible’ this year, the event witnessed 7000+ dealer participants from Sales and Service Divisions. A total of 689 candidates participated in Regional Skill Contest. And 102 regional-level winners contested in National Skill Championship held today. Toyota always looks beyond the best in enriching the consumer experiences aligning with its global challenge with its ever-better product offerings and services to cater to each one of its customers choices. The company aligning with its “Customer first” philosophy, continuously evaluates the customer preferences and feedbacks to deliver notch-above the expected through its dealer networks, which the brand stands for.

Customer choices are fast changing. The human resources need to gear-up with right skill sets to deliver in such dynamic environment. This Skill Championship represents all new skill parameters which are extremely challenging. The contestants need to think beyond the boundary and showcase the right attributes of skill sets, attitude and knowledge. Better methodologies and adopting new approaches will define one’s perspective to make impossible a POSSIBILITY.  The challenge is to positively respond to newness with the attitude of learning and break the mental block as we progress into the future of evolving consumer and market behaviour.

A total of 18 winners, 3 from each category were honoured by the leadership team of Toyota Kirloskar Motor who were present at the event held in Toyota plant premises – Bidadi [Ramanagara District, Bengaluru]. This year, the categories were Team Leader [New Car Sales], Customer Assistance Center Officer, Procurement Officer [Used Car], Service Parts Category, Service Advisor Category and General Technician Categories and the following final winners & runners were recognised for their specialised skill levels and awarded cash prizes, rolling trophy, winner plaque and gold medal.