Fifteen of the largest European automotive manufacturers contributed to the Driving Results with Learning Technologies in the automotive sector report. The automotive industry has been hard hit by the recession, with production levels down and sales falling. Yet the sector continues to innovate, with competitive advantage going to those who are able to quickly respond to market demand and provide excellent customer service.

Maintaining and building the skills of key customer-facing staff in dealerships across Europe is critical in achieving this, and the sector is looking beyond the classroom to new learning models and media to address these skills more efficiently and effectively.

Compared to other sectors, the automotive sector is relatively experienced in using technology in learning, with the majority of automotive manufacturers using some form of technology-enabled learning for over three years. In total 55% of learning within the sector is e-enabled, which is significantly higher than the 22% benchmark average.

Within the sector, there is a general trend to decrease the amount of face-to- face -œtraditional- classroom training and to increase the amount of blended learning or training offered entirely online. On average, 45% of all learning is face to face, 41% is blended, and 14% is online only.

The automotive sector is using a board mix of technologies to address these challenges, including virtual classrooms 37% and mobile learning 11%. Mobile learning is on the rise in the sector with 50% of respondents intending to introduce mobile learning in the next two years.

The top barriers to learning technology adoption are linked to ICT infrastructure and access - a barrier that has been declining in other sectors as access improves. The sector is also less likely to have the support of senior managers. However, they are much less likely to report lack of skills of learners and lack of skills of L&D as a barrier than other sectors.

Most organizations in the sector have seen their overall training budget increase over the last two years and anticipate further increase over the next two. Most anticipate that the proportion allocated to learning technologies will continue to increase.