BMW STEP Program in Orlando Celebrates 100th Class

At Universal Technical Institute, our industry relationships provide students with the opportunity to train with state-of-the-industry tools and technology and connect with companies hiring for exciting positions in the transportation industry. Students can also apply for Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs — one of them being the BMW FastTrack program, previously called BMW STEP.

Since its launch, the BMW program at UTI has had incredible success. In fact, the UTI Orlando campus recently achieved a major milestone by celebrating its 100th class! Keep reading to learn all about the program, its most recent achievement and how the program prepares students for success in the workforce.

The Relationship Between UTI and BMW

The relationship between UTI and BMW dates to 1995. For more than 26 years, UTI has worked with BMW to graduate certified technicians qualified to work in BMW dealerships.¹

The longstanding relationship between UTI and BMW has been multifaceted. Over the years, BMW and UTI have offered multiple programs, including the MSTEP program for transitioning military members and the BMW STEP program. These programs benefit both organizations: BMW supplies the vehicles, tools and training support to keep UTI’s programs running, and BMW receives a steady stream of qualified technicians from UTI.

Now, the program has been reintroduced at UTI campuses as the BMW FastTrack program.

About the BMW Program

UTI’s 12-week BMW MSAT program provides students with in-depth training on BMW vehicles that includes a focus on Workshop Technology, Electrical Technology, Chassis Technology and Drivetrain Technology.

This program is for UTI students who meet specific criteria:

• Students must be an active UTI or NASCAR Technical Institute student or graduate.
• Students must meet all program admission requirements.
• Students should have completed all Automotive Technology core program courses, with the exception of Power & Performance (3-course series) and Professional Service Writing.

This is a unique program that gives students the opportunity to learn from professionals who know what it takes to succeed in today’s industry. FastTrack instructors are trained by BMW so they can maintain specific training standards, and many come from BMW dealerships themselves. Because of their experience in the field, they are able to bring a real-world element into the classroom by training their students the same way they would train a new hire in the field.

The investment made by BMW to support this program is significant. In addition to providing the vehicles students work on, they continuously educate UTI on new models and technological advancements to ensure students are getting state-of-the-industry training.

Students in the program have access to BMW’s workshop service management systems so they can find diagrams and really dive into the course material. This is a student-driven program — meaning students have to do their own research and carry many of the same responsibilities that they would in a dealership. They work on real-life vehicles and go so far as to take complete engines out and put everything back together to make the car run.

The BMW FastTrack program is designed to graduate well-rounded technicians who are ready to take the next step in their career. According to Lutz Laukamp, CTG advisor for BMW at UTI, “We have to make sure that when they graduate, they are a suitable employee for a BMW dealership. After they leave here, that’s what they will do next.”

Celebrating the BMW STEP Program’s 100th Class in Orlando

The BMW program at UTI Orlando has now graduated 100 classes of qualified technicians who are transforming the industry. So, what has made this program so successful?

According to Gary Uyematsu, national technical training manager for BMW North America, the cooperation between BMW and UTI has been a key factor in the success of the program. “UTI has been a fantastic partner with us because we want the best,” he says. UTI and BMW work closely together to ensure the  program provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a BMW dealership.

The education completed by students in the MSAT program was created to closely mimic what they’ll experience in the field. Rather than sitting in the classroom all day, these students gain valuable hands-on experience that directly translates to their future career. “When a student comes here for orientation, the student is really not a student anymore — they’re a technician in training, and we treat them like that,” Lutz says. 

From the moment they start their training, students are held to the same standards as a BMW technician. According to Lutz, “They are held accountable for what they do. They have to show up on time, and there is no sleeping in class. We have very high expectations.”

Keeping Up With an Evolving Industry

It’s no secret that the automotive industry is evolving at a rapid rate — and BMW is among the manufacturers leading the charge.

As BMW continues to advance its technology and bring out new models, UTI has evolved right alongside. BMW cycles out its inventory almost annually, which ensures students are working on state-of-the-industry technology. “Our cars don’t resemble cars of the past. They may have four wheels and four doors, but if we look at everything else, there are hundreds of thousands of lines of codes that go through a car. To change a radio station, it’s a networking phenomenon,” Gary shares.

To keep up with the fast-paced automotive industry, the BMW program has evolved over the years. For example, several changes were made to the program in 2014. In years past, students would spend a significant amount of time in the classroom. However, most of the classroom time was eliminated from the program in 2014. “Our programs have to change with what’s in front of us,” Gary says. The reintroduction of the program as BMW FastTrack is another prime example.

Instead of sitting in class listening to a PowerPoint presentation, students play an active role in their learning. “When they come to us, we give them an empty binder with empty pages. When they leave the program, this binder is full, and the pages are full. They basically create their own training material,” Lutz shares.

Students in the program also have the opportunity to become familiar with the platforms they’ll use in their careers. UTI has computers with a time management system, which students use to sign on just like they would at a dealership. This improves their time management skills — which are incredibly important in the dealership setting.

When students graduate, they are ready to go to work with a mentor at a dealership, where they will learn the day-to-day operations and eventually be on their own. “In the end, we want the student to become a self-sufficient, proficient technician at the dealership,” Lutz says.

Setting Grads Up for Success in the Workforce

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the BMW program is being able to see the incredible things graduates achieve in their careers.

“We have technicians who have graduated to be shop foreman, work in parts, sales, and in every level within those categories,”⁶ Gary says.

Many students from UTI Orlando keep in touch with Lutz long after they’ve left UTI. In fact, a new instructor and education supervisor were just hired at the Orlando campus, both of whom are former students of Lutz and graduates of STEP’s 56th class.

“It’s really unlimited. No matter which direction you take, whether it’s at the dealership level, BMW North America level or at the UTI level, there are opportunities,” Lutz says.

Both Gary and Lutz agree that the demand for technicians is high. “There is such a high demand for technicians, and there’s even a higher demand for skilled technicians,” Gary says. In the most recent graduating class of the STEP program, everyone had a job lined up on graduation day except for two students. A week later, one had a job, and the next week, the other student landed a job.

The placement rate for graduates is incredible. Just in the past few weeks, Lutz has received roughly 12 inquiries from dealerships looking for technicians in the Florida area. This growing demand led UTI to add a third class in the afternoon, which will increase the output of students and help to fill the skills gap in the industry.

In the end, those who have a passion for this industry are the ones who really shine. “You have to love the product,” Gary says. He shares that many technicians who decide to train on BMW’s technology stay with the company for a long time, because they love the vehicles. According to him, “It’s not just training to be a technician, it’s training for a career path.”

Ready to Train for a Career You Love?

Congratulations to the UTI Orlando campus for reaching the incredible milestone of graduating its 100th class! Just like BMW STEP program graduates of the past, you can get manufacturer-specific training in the BMW FastTrack program.

Students in the FastTrack program have the opportunity to work on BMW vehicles using the same technology and procedures found at BMW dealerships. The 12-week program focuses on Workshop Technology, Electrical Technology, Chassis Technology and Drivetrain Technology.

Students enrolled in FastTrack have the ability to earn BMW factory credentials, and their transcripts will be entered into the BMW national training database. This experience can help post-graduation when trying to pursue a career at dealership.

To learn more about BMW MSAT training, visit our program page here or request more information today.

UTI Campuses That Offer Automotive Technician Training

• Austin, Texas
• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Miramar, Florida
• Orlando, Florida
• Long Beach, California
• Rancho Cucamonga, California
• Sacramento, California
• Avondale, Arizona
• Bloomfield, New Jersey
• Exton, Pennsylvania
• Lisle, Illinois
• Mooresville, North Carolina

NASCAR Technical Institute Campuses That Offer Automotive Technician Training

• Mooresville, North Carolina