BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC PARTNERS WITH AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE, AN AYES SCHOOL, TO PROMOTE CAREER OPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN

Sacramento, CA - May 18, 2009... American River College students will get a glimpse of their future when Kirk Leyton, Western Region Aftersales Development Manager of BMW of North America LLC, Leo Gutierrez, Shop Foreman of Roseville BMW and Matt Ryan, Service Manager of Niello BMW present American River College a 2003 BMW 745Li.

The students of local high schools attending American River College are members of Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), a partnership among automotive manufacturers, participating dealers, and selected high/prep schools. BMW looks at these students as a future resource for recruiting young and talented automotive professionals into the industry.

“As a leading international automaker, BMW Group recognizes our responsibility to these young men and women and the need to invest in their educational opportunities.” said Bob Frisch, Vice President, Western Region of BMW North America, LLC. “We are proud of the dedicated auto instructors and each of their promising students.”

This year’s event will be highlighted when American River College receives a 2003 BMW 745Li as a “four-wheeled educational laboratory” donated by BMW of North America, LLC in front of American River College’s automotive technology building.

We are truly excited and thankful to BMW for providing American River College with a new lab vehicle,” said Chuck Roberts, AYES Executive Director, Industry Relations. “With the ongoing commitment and dedication from our OEM partners, our AYES program will continue to be the first step in a long term solution to developing quality entry level technicians.”

In addition to BMW's collaboration with American River College and other AYES programs across the state of California and the United States, BMW has actively developed programs to train service technicians. In 1986, as part of its ongoing commitment to educating the next generation of automotive technicians, BMW initiated the STEP (Service Technician Education Program) program to keep pace with the need for highly skilled service technicians. STEP has since graduated more than 2,000 technicians from its eight regional training facilities throughout the U.S.

Participation Details: The donation ceremony is scheduled at American River College Automotive Education Center on May 19th, at 11:00 AM (4700 College Oak Blvd., Sacramento, CA). American River College AYES Automotive Instructor Ben French will accept the car on behalf of American River College’s AYES-affiliated program and will also benefit from the BMW curriculum offered at the high school. Senior administrators of American River College plan to attend as well. A special tour for the press is available after the donation ceremony.

Automotive Youth Educational Systems, Inc.
Automotive Youth Educational Systems, Inc. (AYES) is a partnership among participating automotive manufacturers, the National Automobile Dealers Association, Automotive Trade Association Executives, State Departments of Education and Labor, local dealerships and select high schools across the country. AYES’ goal is to encourage quality students with a good mechanical aptitude to pursue careers in the fields of automotive technology and prepare them for entry-level positions in dealerships.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusanews.com
www.press.bmw-motorsport.com

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Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwgroup.com and select “USA” from the list of National PressClubs. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.

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