Panel calls for IMI TechSafe to become repair standard
Industry leaders have urged the government to standardise IMI TechSafe to ensure the safe repair of modern vehicles.
That was the verdict of a high-level panel discussion hosted by the IMI.
Taking part were IMI CEO Nick Connor, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Richard Holden MP, Matt Cleevely, managing director of Cleevely Electric Vehicles, Dr Louis Lines, research fellow at Cardiff University, Nona Bowkis, head of legal services at Lawgistics, and managing director of Fleet Assist Vincent St Claire.
The agreed that audited competence was critical to maintaining, repairing, diagnosing, and recovering modern vehicles, and that IMI TechSafe was the most practical way to do this.
The panel suggested it should cover four key areas:
- Connected vehicles – data integrity, cybersecurity hygiene, software updates and over-the-air interactions
- Automated vehicle technology – ADAS, sensors, radar, lidar, calibration, and in-use safety assurance
- Electric vehicles – high-voltage isolation, battery health, thermal management and power electronics
- Alternative fuels – hydrogen, gas and other non-conventional energy systems, including storage, containment and emergency response.
Significant change
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI, said: “The automotive sector is undergoing the most significant period of change in its history with electrification, connected vehicles, autonomous driving, alternative fuels and new digital systems reshaping not only the vehicles on our roads, but the skills, standards and responsibilities required of the workforce.
“It is now a question of public safety, consumer confidence, economic growth and industrial readiness that workforce competence is at the heart of automotive-specific regulation.
“IMI TechSafe is already recognised as the practical mechanism to audit workforce competence. It could, therefore, be the right solution to help government, industry and the public manage the risks and opportunities of new vehicle technologies.”
Rt Hon Richard Holden, MP added: “As vehicles become more technologically advanced, consumers, insurers and the wider industry all need confidence that the people repairing and maintaining them have the right skills and training.
“Recognised standards like IMI TechSafe can play an important role in building that trust and helping ensure safety keeps pace with innovation.”
