• You must convert dates to the default MySQL format – YYYYMMDD, or the four digit year, two digit month, and two digit day.
• You can’t use AUTO_INCREMENT from the source to the loading table.

It’s untrue that you must input dates as strings and convert them in the database. However, you can do that if you like. I’d suggest you open the file in Microsoft Excel, then create a column with the correct data format. You can do that by creating a custom format, or with a formula. I figure the custom format is easiest but sometimes a formula is necessary for applications.