‘Starman’ in a Tesla roadster in space. PHOTO CREDIT: AFP PHOTO / SPACEX

April 6. ​UPDATED. If ​Tesla​ can put a car up in space, then the manufacturer of electric vehicles and scalable clean energy generation and storage products​ can launch a cool new training program at the Central Piedmont Community College​ campus in Huntersville. Thirteen students graduate today; 20 are enrolled in the next session, according to Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla.

“Tesla START​,​​” complete with a simulated service station for electric vehicles, is the first community college ​training program associated with the Palo Alto-based company.

The program is based at CPCC’s Merancas Campus off Hwy. 21 where there is a service bay for students to train in that is similar to what they will find at Tesla Service Centers.

T​he ​first class will graduate April 6.

Tesla START is a 12-week technician training program designed to provide students with the skills ​needed to be service technicians at Tesla Service Centers across North America.​ ​ ​The Charlotte location is at 9140 E. Independence Blvd.

​Tesla is partnering with colleges to provide the curriculum, instructors and job opportunity so students can make a smooth transition from college to full-time employment.

Students train in a space on campus designed to simulate a Tesla Service location so they are ready to hit the ground running on day one of their new careers.

The Tesla START program at CPCC began in January with 13 students.

Central Piedmont Community College is “proud and honored Tesla reached out to us” with the opportunity, said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, CPCC president.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for CPCC students in the Automotive Systems Technology program, she said. “Clearly, the automobile industry is moving toward all-electric systems and greater sustainability. CPCC students will be on the cutting-edge of this industrial shift,” she said.

Huntersville Mayor Aneralla said, “We are excited that Tesla chose to establish their training center at Huntersville’s CPCC Merancas campus.” The Tesla START graduation ceremony April 6 begins at 11:30 a.m. Tesla all-electric vehicles used in the START program will be on site.

Tesla founder Elon Musk himself is not attending the graduation ceremony. He has proposed “a tunnel boring machine” to circumvent traffic congestion in Los Angeles.