May 21 2026
With a clear focus on the future, Quintin Johnson is building his career at the forefront of automotive technology, completing specialised training in electric vehicle (EV) engineering.
Quintin’s passion for cars began at school, where he found that his curiosity could be shaped into a clear career path. Today, Quintin works as an automotive technician at Armstrong in Wellington, where he’s seeing first-hand how the industry is changing.
Quintin began his training journey with MITO’s Introduction to Automotive Engineering Micro-credential—a free online micro-credential designed to provide some background automotive engineering knowledge for jobseekers or new recruits. He went on to complete his New Zealand Certificate in Light Automotive Engineering (Level 4) in 2025, before further specialising with MITO’s Level 5 Electric Vehicle (EV) qualification.
Continuing into this EV training felt like a natural progression.
“What motivated me to enter the Level 5 Electric Vehicle programme is that I can see that EVs are the future. It’s better to get ahead than be left behind.”
Working in a dealership environment has reinforced the value of his training. With more electric and hybrid vehicles arriving every year, Quintin is already applying his skills on the job.
“We’re seeing a lot more electric and hybrid vehicles coming in now, especially in a dealership where most new vehicles use this new technology. Nearly half of what we work on are electric or hybrid cars. I use a lot of the theory I learned in the EV programme in my day-to-day work, which is great.”
The current Workshop Controller, Petrus Pienaar, highlights how important ongoing training is in today’s automotive industry. With rapid advancements in technology, particularly around EV systems and safety, technicians need to continuously upskill to stay current and work safely.
From Quintin’s perspective, the rapid changes the automotive industry is seeing signify an enormous opportunity.
“It could be all electric vehicles one day,” he says. “Having the knowledge is important, especially with fuel costs increasing and more focus on sustainability.”
For Quintin, ongoing upskilling is essential to success. Staying up to date with new technology is a core part of being a modern technician.
He also found the learning experience itself to be a strong advantage.
“Training with MITO was straightforward, especially the online system. Compared to other learning modules I’ve seen, it was much easier to complete all the tasks nicely.”
As he reflects on his journey, Quintin is grateful for the people who supported him along the way.
“I’d like to thank Eugene Bensemann, who was my Service Manager when I first started, and later became my Training Advisor when he joined MITO. If it wasn’t for his support, I don’t think I would have passed or even become a technician. I truly owe my success to him.”
Picture insert: MITO Training Advisor Eugene Bensemann and MITO graduate Quintin Johnson.
