There is a worrying picture of slowing investment in training for zero emission vehicle repairs, with just one in four UK technicians qualified to work on electric vehicles.
Projected EV demand could exceed supply by more than 44,000 technicians by 2035.
The latest data from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) shows that only 26% of the UK technician workforce was EV qualified at the end of quarter 3 2025, equating to 71,942 technicians. At the same time, the number of technicians gaining an EV qualification in Q3 dropped nearly 13% compared to Q1. And latest IMI analysis predicts even lower EV certifications for Q4, with around 2,580 new certifications expected.
Future EV uptake also looks set to outpace technician training, as OEMs push EV purchases in their rush to meet ZEV mandate targets in the run-up to the 2030 ICE ban and beyond.
Although IMI projections show the number of EV-qualified technicians will rise over the next decade to reach around 137,000 by 2032 and 193,000 by 2035, the gap between supply and demand is currently set to widen sharply in the early 2030s. Shortfalls are due to emerge from 2033 onwards and increasing year-on-year, reaching more than 44,000 technicians by 2035.
Such a skill shortage will mean the growing population of EV drivers are likely to find it harder to get their vehicles serviced and repaired by qualified experts, especially in certain areas of the UK.
Emma Carrigy, head of research, policy and inclusion, said: “It is vital that EV owners and those who aspire to become one, have confidence that their vehicle can be safely, affordably and conveniently serviced throughout their lifetime. A visible, qualified and geographically distributed service and repair workforce is therefore a critical enabler of sustained EV adoption. Employers need urgent support from government to ensure EV drivers don’t face a postcode lottery for servicing and repairs.”
The industry group is calling for further action to recognise automotive servicing and repair skills as part of the EV transition infrastructure. This includes embedding workforce capability into EV policy design, supporting large-scale upskilling of the existing workforce, and ensuring clear, recognised competence and safety standards for work on safety-critical, high-risk and security-sensitive vehicle systems across the sector.
