Traditional workshops must evolve or die, warns Mahle
Traditional workshops risk being left behind by technology if they fail to evolve, Mahle has warned.
It said bodyshop owners need to rethink what makes a successful workshop with a focus diagnostics, software and high-voltage systems.
The shift if being driven by the electrification of the UK car parc. By 2030 there are expected to be 34 million high-voltage vehicles on European roads, with 1.3 million requiring annual maintenance. It believes that much of this work will fall to the independent aftermarket as more and more cars fall out of warranty.
This will create a significant opportunity for fast-acting bodyshops, with thermal imaging already emerging as a critical and potentially lucrative area of electric and hybrid servicing.
Meanwhile, as electrification increases, so too does the demand for sophisticated cooling systems to manage batteries, power electronics and drivetrains. This opens the door for workshops to expand into new service areas.
However, unlocking these opportunities requires investment in both equipment and skills.
Workshop of the future
Andy Lees, head of western Europe at MAHLE Aftermarket UK, said: “The workshop of the future is already here, but there’s still a gap between where some workshops are today and where they need to be. Electrification isn’t something that’s coming, it’s already in the workshop.
“The businesses that invest in training, equipment and service capability today will be the ones that benefit as EV and hybrid demand continues to grow.”
He concluded: “Workshops don’t need to do everything overnight, but they do need a plan. The shift to hybrid and EV servicing is only going in one direction, and those who take steps now will be in the strongest position to grow as the market evolves.”
