Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Audi of America, and Volkswagen of America are proud to announce that they have partnered to donate 78 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles to collision repair programs throughout the United States. These donations will enhance the education of thousands of collision repair students and support the next generation of the automotive workforce. In a rapidly changing industry, it is critical that students have access to the latest vehicles and technology.
The donated Audi and Volkswagen vehicles were damaged during shipping to the point that they could no longer be sold to customers. Upon evaluation, a group of Audi and Volkswagen employees knew this wasn’t the end for these vehicles as they were still functioning and intact. The CREF team got to work with Audi and Volkswagen on how these vehicles could serve a new purpose. Months of planning, coordinating, and reviews among this dedicated group of Audi and Volkswagen employees, CREF, and schools resulted in the donation of these vehicles to automotive training programs throughout the country.
“We want to advance the next generation of technicians, and we’re committed to a more sustainable future,” said Mark Allen, Manager of Collision, Equipment & EV After-Sales Service at Audi of America. “This was an opportunity where creativity and an open mind enabled us to live our sustainability values and map out a new way to help our industry.”
Allen partnered with Tony Russo, Volkswagen Group of America Damage Prevention & Port Policies Senior Specialist, to reimagine the use of many vehicles damaged beyond reasonable repair. The Audi and Volkswagen team worked directly with CREF to help facilitate the donation of these vehicles. Allen and Russo also coordinated with Audi and Volkswagen dealerships and collision centers near the various schools. This is to ensure there is support for both the students and the schools by providing career opportunities for students and sourcing parts and addressing any technical questions for the school.