Thanks to Nissan North America, Automotive Technology students at West Georgia Technical College’s Douglas Campus are now being trained on a 2011 Infiniti M56.

The vehicle is loaded with advanced comfort and safety features and can be used to troubleshoot advanced electronic systems, Automotive Technology Instructor Chip Comley said.

“I would like to thank Nissan North America in partnering with WGTC and donating this 2011 Infiniti M56 out of their training fleet,” Comley said. “I am sure we will get many years of training from this vehicle.”

Paul Mathias, training manager at Nissan North America, said the vehicle has been used to train Infiniti dealership technicians at the Nissan and Infiniti Atlanta Training Center.

“Nissan/Infiniti Technical Training is proud to support local college automotive programs through the donation of our vehicles,” Mathias said. “Tomorrow’s automotive technicians need current vehicles to apply the skills they have learned, and donated vehicles provide these hands-on opportunities. We are glad that West Georgia Tech students will be working on our product.”

West Georgia Tech offers a diploma in Automotive Technology covering diagnosis and repair of motor vehicles. Students may also specialize in a particular area like electrical systems or engine performance through several stand-alone technical certificates. Automotive courses are offered in Carrollton, Douglasville, LaGrange and Newnan.

Students who are eligible for the HOPE Grant also can receive additional funding to cover the balance of tuition from Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant. These students may be able to complete the automotive program at little to no cost.

Automotive Technology graduates are qualified for careers in automotive engine performance, suspension and steering, brakes, electronic systems and automotive climate control.