The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has warned of a dangerous EV mechanic shortage in just five years as qualification rates fail to match booming car sales.

The latest EV TechSafe Technician Forecast from the IMI shows that while the number of electric vehicles on UK roads is increasing, just 35% of technicians are qualified to repair and service them safely.

The findings show that a total of 2,792 technicians gained an EV qualification in Q4 2025. This is 6% higher than Q3 2025, but 17% lower than the same period in 2024.

Future projections also indicate that the EV qualification rate will fail to keep pace with EV demand, putting workforce and motorist safety at risk.

The IMI predicts continued growth in EV certification over the next decade, with the number of EV-qualified technicians projected to reach around 137,000 by 2032 and 193,000 by 2035. However, projected demand continues to rise at a faster rate.

The gap between technician supply and demand increases sharply heading into the next decade. While a full industry shortage will officially hit by 2033, the training slowdown over the next five years creates an immediate risk. By 2035, the projected shortfall rises to more than 43,000 technicians.

Emma Carrigy, head of research and public affairs at the IMI, commented: “EV technician numbers are still rising, but at a comparatively slower rate year-on-year, and not quickly enough to meet projected demand. Without a faster increase in training uptake, there is a very serious risk that technician availability will become a barrier to EV adoption, slowing the UK’s transition to zero emissions.”

The IMI is continuing to call on the Government to mandate IMI TechSafe to ensure both the automotive workforce and UK road users remain safe.

A recent panel discussion, hosted by the association for industry leaders and attended by the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, debated the future of automotive workforce safety.

The meeting unanimously agreed that increasingly technologically complex vehicles demand action from the Government to ensure the people maintaining, repairing, diagnosing and recovering them are competent to do so. The IMI TechSafe standard was identified as the best mechanism to deliver this with the IMI calling on government to mandate its use across four rapidly evolving areas of the automotive sector.

Carrigy continued: “Pressure on technician capacity is already increasing and there is now a very limited window in which to expand training, support employers and encourage more technicians to enter EV repair and maintenance roles.

“Unless this qualification trajectory changes dramatically, there will be a dangerous skills shortfall in just five years – just in time for the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to be phased out,” Carrigy continued. “This data underlines the urgency for a solution to ensure both the automotive workforce and UK road users remain safe.”