The automotive industry is one of the key drivers of the Indian economy. The auto sector, which contributes to 5% of the country’s GDP is expected to be the 7^th largest in the world by 2016. The Industry is already facing acute shortage of skilled man power. Apart from this, there is significant gap between the skilled manpower requirements and the available talent pool in the industry. The problem is bound to aggravate with the entry of more vehicles, new component manufacturers, sophisticated and high technology products.

VECV’s CSR program has been designed to meet this critical gap. This focused initiative to address the growing scarcity of technologically skilled manpower makes VECV a pioneering CV Manufacturer in India to have taken the lead in addressing this issue. The organization is establishing training centres across India on an Industry-Institute collaborative model. With the setting up of these centres, the company would be implementing a critical action point of the automotive mission plan 2006-2016.

• Ahmedabad in association with ITI Kubernagar
• Mysore in association with National Institute Of Engineering
• Mohali in association with Rayat-Bahra Education Group

The driving objective of this collaboration is to provide an understanding of the latest automobile technology and modern manufacturing techniques to the students who can be readily absorbed in the industry with minimum orientation and training. The training centres are equipped with modern training aids like dynamic cutaways, Wall charts, Practice units and Technical publications, which are both comprehensive and pictorial covering most scientific way of repair maintenance and overhauling of Commercial Vehicles.

VECV has conceptualized special training programmes for ITI Students called “Eicher Technical Training Programme” (ETTP) as part of the Industry-Academia Collaborative model. This programme provides an understanding of modern automobile technology, scientific way of repair and maintenance, overhaul of commercial vehicle and Customer Service Management to the students. This aspect is critical in today’s market; particularly with the advent of new generation commercial vehicles and manufacturing techniques. Students will study ETTP in addition to the second year ITI syllabus.

VECV has also been in the forefront of honing driving skills through Eicher Driving Training Schools. The institute works sincerely towards fulfilling its motive of “Safety behind Wheels”. The programme trains a driver on safe driving and educates him on the proper operation and maintenance of the vehicles. Driver’s manual in Hindi and other regional languages have been specially designed to make understanding lucid and easier.

The company has won awards for the Safety Awareness and Measures undertaken by it.

VECV launched a Nationwide Road Safety program across the country, wherein around 18,000 drivers were trained in 2011. The program took place at VECV dealerships & customer locations in different cities. There was a special focus on school children in selected schools in all these locations. There was special focus on Road Safety education for school children. A session on Road Safety tips & screening of Eicher Road safety film for school children (Pehla Kadam Safe Roads Safe Kids) was done. Adequate emphasis has been given for mass media promotion of these programs so that it reaches the target audience. For the year 2012, target is to train 20,000 drivers.

VECV is the only CV manufacturer in India to have extensively conducted fuel conservation training programme along with the Petroleum Conservation Research Association. This programme known as EFFECT - Eicher Fuel Efficiency Enhancement Training, educates the learner on steps to conserve fuel and reduce atmospheric pollution. A user on an average has been able to save around 15% in fuel post the training programme. For a commercial vehicle this works out to be Rs 1.2 lakhs of saving per vehicle per year. Around 10,000 drivers have been trained under this programme during last four years, and the endeavour is to conduct more of such training programmes across different cities of India in the near future.