Sonic Automotive is dedicated to providing world-class, impactful, and relevant training for all teammates. Training is tied directly to our yearly strategic goals. We created a strategic training organization (Sonic University) that is fully aligned with our core values and beliefs and have been able to implement revolutionary, customer-centric processes in automotive retailing. Training drives our culture, our passion, and our results. We use analytic data to determine which training programs and processes allow us to achieve our company's most strategic goals. We offer blended learning programs using interactive web-based learning, gamification, instructor led events, on-site “shoulder to shoulder” mentoring, and self-paced criterion-referenced instruction. In an automotive retail industry that has traditionally limited its investment in training and development, Sonic Automotive demonstrates its commitment to training and developing our teammates, and to our shareholders by investing in a large-scale, specialized, and innovative training force. Sonic University provides predictable, repeatable, and sustainable training for all our teammates.

In March 2021, Sonic Automotive was inducted into Training magazine’s Hall of Fame, after ranking in the Top 10 of its Annual Top 100 list of companies recognized for excellence in employer-sponsored training and development programs for four consecutive years.

Training Magazine’s Hall of Fame ranks best-in-class organizations for their excellence in employer-sponsored training and development programs, and has been the premier learning industry awards program for over two decades. The Training Top 100 ranking is determined by assessing a myriad of benchmarking statistics measuring qualitative and quantitative factors such as financial investment in employee training and development; scope and number of training programs; Kirkpatrick Level 3 and 4 evaluations; and satisfaction of goals, business objectives and outcomes.

Sonic faced new and unprecedented challenges in 2020 stemming from the global pandemic, including travel restrictions and health risks that required the team to pivot and redesign training programs to be delivered virtually without sacrificing impact and effectiveness. This sudden push for innovation in talent development processes yielded positive advancements in the use of technology for individualized training and performance support. The development of new online learning resources allowed for increased independent study, and effective use of virtual communication tools provided opportunities for customized sales coaching, improved teammate engagement, and increased manager involvement.

As one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, currently employing more than 8,500 teammates in 16 states, Sonic has actively invested in the development of industry-leading innovative training and development solutions for each of its franchised dealerships and EchoPark locations.

In our General Manager Leadership Academy, attendees in cohorts complete seven one-week workshops across the nation during the course of one year. During this program, they are exposed to superior customer service practices both within and outside the Sonic Automotive family of dealerships. The academy teaches all aspects of store operations, and being a Sonic Leader through case study methodology and action learning. Each section is taught by a senior leader or subject matter expert at Sonic. The Sonic General Manager Leadership Academy culminates in a final presentation from each attendee to a group of Senior Executives before graduation. The goal of this program is to identify and develop the future leaders in our business, both benefiting the Company and providing a clear path for career development to our teammates.

At Sonic Automotive, key components of our purpose are teammate satisfaction and making a difference in our teammates’ lives. Of particular importance to our Company is the development and retention of our service department leaders. In general, the retention of teammates in these roles in the automotive industry is challenging. Service department leaders in our industry are often promoted from within the ranks of technicians and service advisors, and they have not yet had an opportunity to develop the leadership and management skills required in their new roles. In response, the organization designed and developed a Fixed Operations Academy, the goal of which is to create a predictable, repeatable, and sustainable training process for our service department leaders.

The learning strategy for the academy is based on the idea that leadership and management skills are the foundation of a successful Fixed Operations Manager. By exploring the impact of leadership skills on their direct team members, guests, and the Sonic organization, learners come to understand the importance of these leadership behaviors.

Using a variety of delivery methods, our learning solution reinforces the importance of leadership, and demonstrates to learners how to apply leadership skills in their jobs. Sonic provides repeated practice through role playing and on-the-job contextual experiences, which allow team members to experience the subtleties of engaging in leadership behaviors.

The Variable Operations Academy is an industry-leading training process that teaches a variety of leadership skills to Sonic’s high potential, variable sales managers. The Variable Operations Academy is committed to developing a world class leadership team, building a culture of teamwork and leadership at all levels, and making Sonic Automotive among the best places to work and shop in America.

The Variable Operations Academy is an eight-week course, beginning with two weeks of in-dealership field studies that prepare participants for a one-week application lab. The class objectives include leadership strategies, teaching and coaching skills, time management, positive and balanced feedback, and more. Ultimately, Variable Operations Academy graduates develop the skills and experience necessary to become the next generation of sales leaders in our dealerships.

Sonic University’s New Manager Leadership Academy is an eight-week program that provides all new managers with the skills and information they need to become an effective and confident leader. Participation is mandatory for all newly hired and promoted managers. New manager training is conducted virtually using a three-pronged approach:

In addition to our live and virtual training and development programs, Sonic also maintains a vast online eLearning library. All Sonic teammates have access to our online learning resources that include:

• Job-specific training
• Customer service skills training
• Leadership development
• New teammate programs
• Career pathing and advancement
• HR courses

All Sonic teammates and their immediate family are eligible for tuition assistance through Bellevue University.