With some garages delaying EV investment due to ICE phase-out “ambiguity” emanating from Europe, businesses are being warned they risk missing out on a growing opportunity being driven by shifting ownership patterns.
“Ambiguity around internal combustion engine phase-out dates in Europe and the UK has led operators to delay investment decisions,” noted Independent Garage Association director Jonathan Douglass, “and some are questioning whether the EV opportunity is truly profitable. Much of this is driven by confusion seeded by shifting policy signals and mixed media narratives.”
In December, the European Commission announced its 2035 ban on ICE vehicles would no longer be a hard deadline, following lobbying from carmakers. Instead of a full ban, there would be a 90% reduction in new ICE vehicles alongside other measures intended to push the shift to EVs. The decision has fuelled prevailing doubts felt by some in the trade over the EV question.
This is despite the fact that full-year sales figures for 2025 from the SMMT showed that 23.4% of all vehicles sold in the UK in 2025 were battery electric vehicles (BEVs). “In truth,” added Douglass, “EVs represent a significant and expanding revenue stream, from routine maintenance to diagnostics and high-voltage system work, and early adopters are already positioning themselves ahead of the curve.”
According to Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair Alliance operations director Craig Scragg, once the investment has been made, profitability soon follows: “There remains a perception among some garages that the initial outlay for training, tools, and equipment may reduce profit, but in practice, these investments quickly pay off once a garage begins servicing these vehicles regularly. Repairing these vehicles is increasingly profitable, particularly as more parts become available through suppliers.
“Ultimately, EVs represent a rapidly expanding part of the market. Early adopters will be well placed to benefit from a market that is set to become an increasingly core part of independent garage work.”
Fundamental shift
Garages need to look at what’s coming into their workshop when making decisions on investment according to Cleevely Group managing director Matt Cleevely: “Whether the deadline is 2030, 2035 or later doesn’t matter when a customer is standing at your reception today with a heater fault on their Renault Zoe or a suspension knock on their Tesla Model 3. You’re putting the customer relationship at risk if you use headlines and political back-and-forth as a reason to delay investment. The simple reality is that EVs are already here, and they’re already ageing into the aftermarket.”
Approach is key when it comes to EVs according to Tim Guidotti, director of Ferdotti Motor Services and founder of The Fleet Guy. “Fleets are driving volume, buying around 75% of all new BEVs,” he noted.
Guidotti believes this is part of the ongoing change in attitudes to vehicle access: “We are witnessing a fundamental shift from ownership to usership. With 61% of all vehicles sold into fleets and younger generations opting for mobility-as-a-service, the future car parc is a fleet parc, and it will be largely electric. At Ferdotti, we are opening a dedicated EV specialist workshop this year. We aren't doing this based on guesswork, but because our fleet clients demand it.”
Expertise
Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation chief executive Mark Field added: “The number of EVs is growing rapidly and there is a significant opportunity for garages to promote their expertise in this vehicle type and meet the needs of an increasingly discerning consumer, whose purchasing criteria has shifted from price alone to convenience and capability.”
The European Commission’s move could have some benefits as the evolution of powered mobility rolls on, as Field observed: “The IAAF has consistently lobbied for a “technology-neutral” approach to achieving the UK’s net zero ambitions, rather than imposing a single prescribed solution, such as full electrification. The objective of net zero should therefore be pursued on a technology-neutral basis, taking into account the full ‘cradle-to-grave’ impact of a vehicle’s carbon dioxide emissions.”
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