Piedmont Technical College and Kia America Launch Innovative Automotive Training Partnership
August 4, 2025
Piedmont Technical College (PTC) and Kia America announced an exciting and innovative partnership Friday.
“This partnership with Kia America will offer valuable benefits for students in our nationally recognized Automotive Technology program,” said PTC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Keli Fewox.
The partnership includes the donation of a Kia EV6 crossover to the Piedmont Technical College Foundation that will enable PTC Automotive Technology students to take advantage of hands-on training opportunities. Kia America Technical Training Program Manager Alan Carmody presented the keys for the electric vehicle to PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers during Friday’s event outside the William H. “Billy” O’Dell Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence on the college’s Greenwood Campus.
“Our donation of this vehicle and other aspects of this new partnership represent Kia America’s unwavering commitment to help colleges like Piedmont Tech create a pipeline of well-prepared employees for the automotive industry,” Carmody said.
Rivers expressed enthusiasm about PTC’s new relationship with Kia America. “We are not only thankful; we are inspired by what this kind of partnership makes possible,” she said. “Kia America’s generous donation of a top-of-the-line electric vehicle represents more than a gift. It is a commitment to innovation, sustainability and job readiness.”
In addition to the donated electric vehicle, PTC Automotive Technology students will be able to access and complete training modules in Kia America’s learning management system. As a result, graduates who begin their careers with Kia will start out with a competitive edge over other prospective employees who have not received similar brand-specific training. PTC is only the second college to form this type of partnership with Kia. This is the second major automaker that has forged a partnership with PTC.
Last fall, Hyundai Motor Company announced a similar collaboration with the college. “Partnerships like this enhance the high-quality education our students receive by connecting learning to real-world innovation,” Rivers continued. “By working with industry leaders and integrating advanced tools into our training programs, we help ensure that students develop future-proof skills that align with evolving workforce demands.”
PTC Automotive Technology student Dempster Phillips said the donated Kia EV6 will be a valuable instructional aid for him and his classmates. “Being able to actually put your hands on a vehicle makes it tremendously easier to learn and process new information,” Phillips said.
