SMMT New Vehicle Registrations May 2026
IMI Comment
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) said:
"The growing market share of EVs shows that consumer confidence in the new car market is building. It is also a very real reminder that every electric vehicle on the road must eventually be serviced, maintained, and repaired by a qualified technician. This is placing mounting pressure on the automotive workforce. A new vehicle on the road is only half the picture. Without sufficient trained technicians to support those vehicles throughout their working lives, we risk undermining consumer confidence in the switch to electric at precisely the moment we need it most.
“The latest IMI EV TechSafe data tells a stark story: only around 35% of the UK's technician workforce are qualified to work on electric vehicles. Two in three technicians are not yet qualified to work safely on electric vehicles and the gap between supply and demand is not closing fast enough.
“Government and industry must act together now - investing in training, supporting employers, and creating clear pathways into EV roles - before the skills gap becomes a barrier to the very transition we are trying to accelerate."
