Charging Ahead
Levi Salesa’s journey into the automotive industry began when he was just 16 years old, working part-time at a small garage on weekends and during school breaks. “I’ve always been interested in cars,” Levi shares. “I started working, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Now 24, he's still just as passionate about it today. For the past four years, he’s been working at Subtech Subaru in Auckland, where he completed his New Zealand Certificate in Light Automotive Engineering through MITO.
Despite his years of experience, Levi remains eager to learn. “My favourite part of the job is still learning,” he says. “Even though I’ve been here for a while, there’s always something to learn, especially with the newer vehicles. It’s a different playing field with new equipment.”
Levi’s commitment to his career took a significant step forward when he was awarded a MITO and Inspiring Futures Foundation scholarship to complete MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5). “I was quite surprised when I got the scholarship,” Levi admits. “I just filled out the paperwork and sent it off. I didn’t expect much, but it’s really exciting because it’s the future of the industry.”
The scholarship has provided him with the opportunity to expand his skills and knowledge needed to excel in an evolving industry. “It’s definitely going to open more doors,” he says. “A lot of my mates in the industry are hesitant about stepping into the EV world, but I think getting in early will be helpful in the future if I want to try something new.”
Levi’s enthusiasm for learning extends to the EV programme, where he’s been impressed by the support he’s received. “The teachers are really good. When I started, I didn’t know much at all about how EVs run, but they’ve answered all my questions and helped me step by step,” he explains. “I’ve learned so much, like the different categories of charging systems. I used to think you just plug the car in to charge it, but it’s way more complex than that.”
The support from MITO has been instrumental in Levi’s success. “They’ve been really cool, even before I started the EV training,” Levi says. “My MITO Training Advisor, Phil, checks in every couple of months to see how I’m doing. He’s always there if I have questions, and that’s been really helpful.”
Levi’s advice to those just starting out in their careers is simple but powerful: “Get all the information you can from the older techs. They’ve been mentoring me a lot, and that’s been invaluable. If you’re unsure about something, just be honest and ask questions. That’s how I’ve learned the most—by asking questions.”
As for the future, Levi is keeping an open mind. “It’s an interesting time in the industry because there’s so much uncertainty about what’s next. Some people say EVs are the future, others say something else. I just want to keep learning and adapting to whatever comes next.”
