UK’s EV infrastructure boost risks backfiring without skills investment, warns IMI

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in the UK has warned the British government that its new £63 million investment fund in electric vehicle infrastructure risks backfiring unless the skills shortage within the automotive aftermarket is addressed.

According to the latest data from the IMI, 2024 saw a six per cent drop in technicians gaining an EV certification, despite the EV parc growing significantly through the year.

Sarah Sillars, interim CEO at the IMI said that while it is encouraging to see the British government’s commitment to addressing some of the big barriers to electric vehicle adoption, there seems to be “a lack of understanding about the critical role of EV skills to support net zero ambitions”.

“Around 26 per cent of the UK technician workforce currently holds an EV qualification, which means it can be a postcode lottery for an electric vehicle owner or driver to find a garage that can service or repair their vehicle,” she said.

“And this is only going to get worse as the EV parc grows. Our current estimates suggest that demand is likely to outpace supply by over 29,000 technicians by 2035.”

The IMI is repeating its call for the British government to address the workforce needs of the automotive sector.

Despite contributing significantly to employment, net zero ambitions, and clean growth, the IMI says the automotive aftermarket is being overlooked across several government policies.