HERNDON, VA – Audi of America and its U.S. network of 278 dealers announced they will be working together to enhance customer service and dealer operations through a new educational partnership with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Audi said it’s the first automaker to subscribe to NADA University’s premium online training package for its dealers (other automakers, including Mercedes Benz and Toyota, have worked with NADA on dealer training).

The automaker said delivering an experience that involves “customer delight” is a key part of its Audi Strategy 2020 initiative, which includes the goal of doubling sales by the end of the decade.

Bob Kostkan, senior director of business development for NADA University, said the organization’s premium online training courses can “fill the educational gaps that the automakers do not provide their dealers or company employees who call on dealers.”

“NADA University offers all types of online training courses covering all of the departments within a dealership. Automakers typically provide training for service technicians and product training for sales consultants, but the biggest opportunity today is helping dealers in the management ranks, such as learning how to run a dealership more effectively,” Kostkan said.

NADA’s partnership with Audi also allows dealership and company employees to conduct cross training.

“Whether you’re a dealership manager, sales consultant or a factory representative, everyone has access to the exact same online training courses from NADA University to build their business acumen,” Kostkan added. “A parts person at the dealership can learn about service. Sales consultants can learn about the parts and service side of the dealership.”