Calls for mandatory EV and vehicle technology repair standards

As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling on Government to make formal repair safety standards mandatory across key automotive technologies.

At a policy panel attended by shadow transport minister Richard Holden, industry leaders warned that the rapid rise of EVs, ADAS systems and connected vehicle technology means technician competence is now becoming a genuine road safety issue.

The IMI wants ministers to formally adopt its TechSafe accreditation across four core areas: electric vehicles, connected vehicles, automated driving systems and alternative fuels such as hydrogen.

That would cover everything from high-voltage battery work and software updates to radar calibration, cybersecurity hygiene and sensor diagnostics.

According to the IMI, just over a third of UK technicians currently hold some level of EV qualification, despite demand for EV servicing skills continuing to rise faster than training uptake.

Nick Connor, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry, said modern vehicle risks “do not end at the point of manufacture”, with servicing, diagnostics and software management now carrying “safety-critical implications”.

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