Investment grows in electric vehicle repairs
A new study by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed that more than four in five UK workshops are equipped to carry out electric vehicle repairs.
Its latest aftermarket report, Jobs, Growth, Mobility: What the aftermarket needs to deliver, has found that 81.2% of workshops have now invested in training, talent and tooling to repair electric vehicles safely.
Meanwhile, further 83.3% of EV-capable repairers plan to invest further in tooling and training in the next year.
The study also found that 77.6% of workshops are equipped to handle ADAS-enabled vehicles, with 83.5% of this number committed to increase spending on ADAS training and equipment in the next 12 months.
Electric cars
The report said: “There are an estimated 1.6 million electric cars on UK roads, with EVs now accounting for 21.9% of all new car registrations – a proportion that must almost quadruple to 80% of the new car market by 2030 under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
“Meanwhile, eight out of 10 new cars include ADAS such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control.
“Ensuring there is ample maintenance provision for the millions of new, more sophisticated vehicles reaching the road today will be essential if more drivers are to make the switch to zero emission motoring while supporting the UK’s robust road safety record.”
Investment
The SMMT added: “This transition, however, demands significant capital investment – particularly from smaller, often family-run workshops – who must upgrade equipment and upskill staff to keep pace with fast-evolving vehicle technologies.
“Providing capital investment relief for these businesses, and unlocking unused apprenticeship levy funding, would help spur investment in the tools and talent the industry will need in the years to come, as well as creating jobs and driving economic growth.
The SMMT has highlighted the automotive aftermarket’s value to the UK economy, turning over £62.2bn and contributing £17.1bn towards UK GDP and supporting at least 339,000 jobs.
