Britain is heading towards a significant shortage of mechanics trained to service electric vehicles, raising concerns that the country’s transition to cleaner transport could outpace the workforce needed to support it.
New analysis from the Institute of the Motor Industry suggests the UK could be short of 44,000 EV-qualified technicians by the time petrol and diesel car production is phased out, under current government targets.
While ministers have reaffirmed plans to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, only around a quarter of the UK’s mechanics are currently trained to work on electric cars. The gap between policy ambition and workforce readiness is widening, particularly among smaller independent garages.
A key concern is the uneven distribution of EV expertise. A disproportionate number of qualified technicians are employed by larger national chains such as Kwik-Fit, which have the scale and resources to invest in training and benefit from servicing contracts with corporate EV fleets.
By contrast, many smaller, independent garages, which make up a large part of the UK’s automotive repair network, remain hesitant to invest in EV training. Owners cite a lack of local demand, high training costs and uncertainty over the pace of the transition.
In areas where electric vehicle adoption remains low, particularly outside major urban centres, garage operators say the business case for upskilling staff is not yet compelling.
For many workshop owners, the decision comes down to economics. Traditional repair work — such as servicing engines, clutches and fuel systems — remains a core revenue stream, yet these components are largely absent in electric vehicles.
EVs typically require less maintenance and fewer moving parts, reducing both the frequency and value of repair work. Even routine checks such as MoTs tend to involve less labour, further eroding potential income for independent garages.
This structural shift is creating uncertainty across the sector, with some operators concerned that investing in EV capability could fail to deliver sufficient returns in the short term.
The transition is also being shaped by regional disparities in EV uptake. In some parts of the UK, particularly rural areas, demand remains limited, reinforcing reluctance among smaller businesses to invest.
Consumers are already experiencing the consequences. In some cases, EV owners have been forced to travel long distances to access qualified repair services, as local garages lack the necessary expertise or equipment.
This highlights a growing disconnect between national policy and local infrastructure, both in terms of charging networks and servicing capacity.
Broader uncertainty around global EV policy is adding to the hesitation. Shifts in international markets, including changes to electric vehicle targets in the United States and Europe, have made some business owners wary of committing to long-term investment.
At the same time, the UK government has introduced measures such as expanded charging infrastructure and new road pricing proposals for EVs, but these have yet to fully translate into stronger consumer demand.
Despite these challenges, industry analysts believe the transition to electric vehicles is ultimately inevitable.
Even if policy timelines shift, manufacturers have already invested heavily in electrification, and EVs are expected to dominate new car sales within the next decade. Quentin Le Hetet of automotive analysts GiPA suggests that electric vehicles could outnumber petrol and diesel cars on UK roads by the mid-2030s.
However, the pace of that transition will depend heavily on whether supporting industries, including repair and maintenance, can keep up.
Experts warn that without targeted support, independent garages could be left behind, with larger operators and manufacturer-approved service centres capturing a growing share of the market.
Peter Wells, of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research, said the shift could fundamentally reshape the sector, with manufacturers increasingly controlling access to repair data and systems.
This trend raises concerns about competition, pricing and the long-term viability of smaller businesses that have traditionally formed the backbone of the UK’s automotive repair industry.
The Institute of the Motor Industry has called for increased funding to support training and workforce development, warning that without intervention, the skills gap could become a major bottleneck in the UK’s net zero ambitions.
For policymakers, the challenge is clear: ensuring that the transition to electric vehicles is not only technologically feasible, but also economically and operationally sustainable.
For the thousands of garages across the country, the message is equally stark; adapt to the electric future or risk being left behind as the automotive industry undergoes its most profound transformation in decades.
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UK faces looming shortage of EV mechanics as transition gathers pace
