USED car trading platform Carsome’s education arm – Carsome Academy – has been appointed as an accredited recognition for prior achievement (RPA) test centre by the Department of Skills Development (JPK).
The RPA is a special programme to award government- and industry-recognised certification to technical workers who do not have formal qualifications, but are able to demonstrate skills that have been outlined in the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) based on working experience and achievements.
Being a JPK-accredited center for RPA means that Carsome Academy is equipped to lead motor vehicle inspection standards in the automotive industry.
“By setting the gold standard in vehicle inspection, Carsome is set to become an automotive industry game changer and continue spearheading the used car market,” commented Carsome co-founder and Carsome Academy director Teoh Jiun Ee.
“JPK’s appointment allows us to provide an opportunity to experienced workers to gain or upgrade their certification in a short period of time; we hope that it will serve as an encouragement and motivation for them to continue excelling in what they do.”
With the accreditation, Carsome Academy – the emerging automotive technical institute in Malaysia – is set to certify all Carsome vehicle inspectors, in a step to bring more assurance and transparency to the used car industry traditionally marred by distrust.
This is in-line with the Academy’s continuous effort in building a professional technical workforce and moving the Southeast Asian automotive industry forward
“Recognising all Carsome inspectors through certification will strengthen the assurance factor as we deliver an elevated customer experience to people who matter to us,” Teoh explained.
“As we see more players foraying into the used car business, there will be an increased demand for vehicle inspectors.
“Carsome Academy is in the best position to plug the gaps in the demand for certified skilled workers.”
Furthermore, Teoh pointed out that a certification in motor vehicle Inspection can open up more opportunities for vehicle inspectors and ensure continued success in their career paths.
Meanwhile, the Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform has been spreading it wings and expanding its market share and services (in Southeast Asia) in the recent years. It is also worth noting that Carsome successfully achieved its V-shape recovery in June last year, only after two months of resuming its business in May 2020.
In November last year, Carsome celebrated its 100,000th seller and in December, the company announced that it has raised a US$30 mil all-equity Series D fundraise from strategic regional investors – to accelerate our B2C offering in Southeast Asia
In March 2018, the company raised US$19 mil in Series B funding led by Burda Principal Investments, alongside Gobi Partners, Convergence Ventures, Indogen Capital, InnoVen Capital and Lumia Capital.
It then followed with a US$8 mil extension round in August 2018, led by the family office of Joe Hirao, founder of Tokyo-headquartered ZIGExN Co Ltd – April 20, 2021
