Kuwait is 2010 Volkswagen Service World Champion

A service adviser from Volkswagen Middle East’s partner in Kuwait, has topped 120 so-called service specialists from 60 countries, to be crowned the 2010 Volkswagen Service Qualification World Champion, at a finals ceremony held recently in May in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The title – recognising unparalleled specialist knowledge, personal commitment to vehicle repair and customer consultation – officially establishes Behbehani Motors Company’s Andreas Schaefer, as the best After-Sales Service Adviser in the world.

Now in its third year, the competition aims to safeguard and further expand the level of service quality offered by the Volkswagen brand, whilst bridging the automaker with importers and retailers in its global markets. The competition this year included regional honours for the first time, which saw Volkswagen Master Technician, Nandana Jayakody, place second for Ali & Sons, Abu Dhabi, in the Africa, Eastern EU, Central Asia and Middle East (C) group.

Other regions included in the awards were Europe (A), America (B), and Asia-Pacific (D).

Congratulating Kuwait, Head of Volkswagen After-Sales Worldwide, Michael Horn, said, “Winning the Volkswagen Service Qualification World Championship for Kuwait demonstrates that our global standards for efficiency and performance are truly worldwide and evident in all countries and regions. Establishing Kuwait as the global Volkswagen Services benchmark comes as a direct result of your hard work and commitment to our customers in the Middle East.”

Responsible for providing Volkswagen Middle East partners with technical support, and integral to the Volkswagen Service Qualifications, is Jens Mueller. A 14-year Volkswagen veteran affectionately nick-named by his colleagues as ‘The Flying Doctor’, due to his role in service clinics held across the region, Jens arranged and supervised the qualification rounds held in Dubai in December 2009, and prepared the Middle East winners for the world finals in Germany.

Thomas Faerber, After Sales Director at Volkswagen Middle East, said, “Our service personnel take pride in constantly striving to strengthen their skills, capabilities and achievements, in order to provide the best possible service for our customers. The crowning of Kuwait as World Champion, and second place group C award for Abu Dhabi, is testament to their unmatched perseverance and dedication. It is no surprise that the globe must now look to the Middle East for world’s best practice.”

“We are also very pleased that every individual victory demonstrates that our comprehensive training measures are accepted by Volkswagen dealerships all over the world, and that the measures are effective.”

Andreas Schaefer, Service Advisor World Champion 2010, said, “At Behbehani Motors Company, Kuwait, we hold our customer’s satisfaction above all else, and strive to constantly improve the ways in which we can achieve it. Although I have been crowned World Champion, the standard of skills and knowledge displayed by colleagues is astonishing. I am proud to be part of such a passionate team, and will continue to provide our customers with the best service in the world.”