GSF Car Parts has urged the UK government to take a wider view of the issues facing the electric vehicle (EV) market, warning that hidden costs could await thousands of motorists if the independent aftermarket remains neglected.
GSF supplies thousands of independent garages across England, Wales and the Isle of Man. It says that businesses are already beginning to feel the impact of electric vehicles entering the MOT and servicing cycle.
GSF’s sales of EV parts have almost doubled year-on-year, but more should be done to ensure the industry continues to flourish.
Carmakers pushing EVs
Huge discounts, totalling more than £5 billion last year, have put more EVs on the road as manufacturers try to meet ZEV Mandate targets. Carmakers are also pushing the uptake of all-electric by reducing the number of petrol and diesel models they are offering, instead heavily promoting battery-electric models within their ranges.
With the targets for the ZEV mandate increasing each year to 2025, when it hits 100% of sales, brands are now concerned that public uptake is slowing, and may do more, including full restriction of non-EV sales, to meet required targets.
In addition, the government’s incentive scheme has seen more than 40 models eligible for discounts from £1,500 to £3,750. All of this is pushing EV ownership up, and as these models get older, their servicing, repair and maintenance requirements will filter into the aftermarket.
support for workshops needed
Now, GSF calls for more support for garages as the vehicle parc continues to age.
“We are investing aggressively to serve the needs of our customers across the UK and, make no mistake, there is a lot of concern among independent, family-run businesses that they are being ignored by the government,” commented Steve Horne, CEO at GSF Car Parts.
“The garages we serve are the backbone of the UK automotive industry. They keep people on the road, older vehicles working like new, and are now increasingly feeling underequipped for the continued transition to EV.”
GSF currently offers a variety of industry-leading training courses through its partnership with the Delphi Academy and its own garage network Servicesure, offering garages free training among many other benefits. It says the lack of understanding of all-electric models in the market, paired with poor availability of parts, is the biggest threat for one of the UK’s largest industries.
“I urge the government to consider the implications of having fewer garages ordinary people can turn to,” Horne added. “It would put more power in the hands of manufacturers, which are increasingly Chinese brands flooding the market with EVs featuring complex and unfamiliar technology. We need urgent support to help the aftermarket keep up, otherwise the costs of ownership will soar.”
