On October 15, the Advanced Institute of Technology (ATI) in Virginia Beach—in partnership with local Lithia & Driveway (LAD) dealerships and GreenCars—hosted a one-day Drive & Learn event, drawing nearly 100 auto-technician students eager to explore the future of service technology for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Service technicians, salespeople, and general managers from nearly ten local dealerships provided expert insights into the evolving electric vehicle (EV) market. To give students a hands-on learning opportunity, they also showcased a range of EVs, hybrids, and sustainable vehicles. These vehicles were the focus of four Skill Stations and several were made available for students to test drive.
LAD Teams Connect with Students
The day kicked off with a presentation from various LAD representatives. Team members and leaders shared the company’s story, how GreenCars is designed to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable vehicles, and how those vehicles are creating a demand for auto technicians with more specialized knowledge and skill sets.
Tony Tran, General Manager ofPriority Honda Chesapeake, observed, “We showed these future technicians thatLAD is a great company to complete their apprenticeship with while in school and to work for after graduation. They took away quite an impression of who we are nationally, and specifically, in the Hampton Roads area.”
Skill Stations Highlight GreenCars
Students then rotated through four SkillStations that were led by our fixed ops leaders inVirginia. According to John Colón, Executive General Manager of Priority Toyota, Ford, and Infiniti, “The skill stations were a hit! You could really see the connection between our team members and the students.”
Each station was designed to highlight key aspects of EV and hybrid maintenance.
• At the Toyota station, a master technician demonstrated the inner workings of a hybrid pickup’s battery and emphasized safety protocols for handling high-voltage systems.
• Ford’s station featured a service engineer using an oscilloscope on a Ford Lightning to teach diagnostic techniques.
• Hyundai offered a hands-on diagnosis activity with models like the Ioniq 9 EV, Santa Fe hybrid, and Elantra.
• Chevrolet hosted a Q&A session focused on the Silverado EV, led by a knowledgeable local salesperson.
Test Drives Offer First-Hand Experiences
To round out the EV Drive & Learn, students had the opportunity to test drive a variety of vehicles, including a 2026 Honda Prologue (EV), Honda CR-V Hybrid,Toyota Tacoma Hybrid, and the Ford F-150 Lightning (EV), as well as a few gas-powered vehicles.
These test drives allowed students to compare performance and handling across different powertrains, deepening their understanding of how EVs stack up against traditional combustion engines.
Andy Gladstein, the vice president at ATI, said, “Through skill stations and test drives, students connected with Lithia team members at every level—from EV technicians to dealership general managers—while exploring cutting-edge electric and hybrid technologies across multiple manufacturers. This event brought learning to life and reflected Lithia’s genuine commitment to developing the next generation of automotive technicians.”
LAD Teams Energize Event with Expertise
& Lunch
After a busy morning of learning and driving, senior leaders grabbed the grilling tools and served up a tasty lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs for their team members and ATI students.
John Colón (right) enjoyed his chef role and noted how the students were also hungry for mentorship and professional growth. “That really stood out to me today. I’m definitely going to make it a priority to be involved in as many Drive & Learn events as I can.”
We’re extremely grateful to the local dealerships who participated in this collaborative Drive & Learn. Their clear motivation to Take Personal Ownership and connect with the ATI tech students powered the
day’s success.
