Revving Up for 2 New Auto Training Facilities at EF

Construction has commenced on training facilities for two leading automotive brands in Porsche and Volkswagen. Building of the $9 million development is being undertaken by Maben Group and is set to see more than 60 employees working to complete both facilities.

Once completed, the 837 square metre facility will be the headquarters for Porsche Cars Australia’s training programs, for both service technicians and sales representatives from Porsche Centres around Australia.

The new facility, located in close proximity to Melbourne Airport, has been designed in conjunction with Porsche AG’s own global architectural team.

The Porsche Training Centre is expected to be completed and opened in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Among the first programs to be held at the new centre will be training in preparation for the Australian launch of the new Taycan, Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar. The Taycan will arrive in Australia from Q4 2020.

“The new Porsche Training Centre at Essendon Fields will ensure that staff from our Porsche Centres across Australia have access to the best possible training programs,” said Sam Curtis, Managing Director and CEO, Porsche Cars Australia.

“The opening of this new training facility will coincide with the launch of programs that will prepare our sales staff and service technicians for the arrival of the new Porsche Taycan. This facility will ensure our people are exceptionally well prepared for this exciting milestone.

“Our training department already offers an exceptional learning experience. This new centre will give them the facility and resources to further enhance our training programs, and in turn, the level of expertise in all of our Porsche Centres.”

Essendon Fields participated in a competitive bid process to obtain the work for Volkswagen’s purpose-built training facility. Considerable effort went into understanding the requirements including a site visit to VW’s Training Centre in Chullora, NSW.

The Volkswagen team were impressed with Essendon Fields’ proven track record and experience in delivering automotive projects, with the 30-hectare EF Auto precinct already home to over 38,000 square metres of automotive retail showrooms, workshops and pre-delivery facilities.

Essendon Fields CEO, Brendan Pihan, said that the project is one of many construction projects underway at Essendon Fields and demonstrates the growing popularity of the precinct to attract national and international brands and a bright spot of job creation amongst the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Essendon Fields is already home to tenants like Visy, Bostik, Wilson Security and Australia’s top selling automotive brands. The new Porsche and Volkwagen facilities are among a number of projects currently underway within the precinct, and we’re pleased to be keeping hundreds of Victorians in work whilst we complete these new buildings,” said Mr Pihan.

The 2,500 square metre VW site will be the brand’s regional office and also features a mezzanine floor to house the company’s finance function, a requirement that was unable to be facilitated in the brand’s current premises in Melbourne’s Outer West.

“The new facility is key to Volkswagen delivering on its commitment to provide Australians with the best practice automotive industry training,” Volkswagen Australia Director of Customer Experience and Marketing Jason Bradshaw said. “Essendon Fields is the perfect partner in this endeavour.”

The addition of these two state-of-the-art training facilities to Earhart Court in Essendon Fields, next to the existing Kia Training Centre, creates an automotive training hub in the heart of Melbourne.