Independent garages could soon face mandatory competency regulations for safety-critical vehicle repairs, following a high-level policy push by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to end the era of voluntary-only training.
During a major policy panel convened last Thursday, the IMI delivered a unified message to lawmakers: as vehicles evolve into highly complex, connected platforms, the government must step in to legally mandate technical competence. The proposed mechanism is the IMI TechSafe standard.
Hosted by IMI CEO Nick Connor, the panel brought together key political and industry voices, most notably Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden MP. Crucially, the discussion featured a cross-section of the automotive landscape, including Matt Cleevely of Cleevely Electric Vehicles, Dr. Louis Lines from Cardiff University, Nona Bowkis of Lawgistics, and Vincent St Claire of Fleet Assist.
Four target areas for mandatory regulation
The consensus among the attendees was clear. The group urged the government to formally mandate TechSafe across four rapidly evolving, high-risk areas of the automotive sector:
– Connected Vehicles: Covering cybersecurity hygiene, data integrity, and over-the-air software updates.
– Automated Technology: Including ADAS, lidar, radar calibration, and in-use safety assurance.
– Electric Vehicles (EV): Managing high-voltage isolation, thermal management, and power electronics.
– Alternative Fuels: Handling hydrogen, gas, and non-conventional energy containment and emergency response.
For the independent aftermarket, the panel stressed that demonstrable, auditable competence is vital for maintaining consumer trust outside of the franchised main dealer networks.
The ultimate goal outlined by the IMI is a workforce that is genuinely ‘omnicompetent’, technicians equipped to work safely across a diverse mix of technologies, rather than being siloed by fuel type.
“The automotive sector is undergoing the most significant period of change in its history,” explained IMI CEO Nick Connor. “It is now a question of public safety, consumer confidence, economic growth, and industrial readiness that workforce competence is at the heart of automotive-specific regulation.”
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden MP backed the initiative, noting the growing regulatory gap. “As vehicles become more technologically advanced, consumers, insurers, and the wider industry all need confidence that the people repairing and maintaining them have the right skills and training,” Holden stated.
The urgency behind this regulatory push is underscored by current industry realities. According to the latest IMI data, only just over a third of UK technicians currently hold any level of EV qualification.
While certification numbers are forecast to grow, the panel acknowledged a harsh reality for independent garages: projected demand is rising far faster than adoption, leaving employers struggling to commit to critical training while simultaneously battling severe recruitment pressures.
To turn this standard from voluntary to mandatory, the panel identified an immediate legal mechanism: the recently passed Automated Vehicles Act 2024.
The IMI is officially calling on the government to utilize the Act’s secondary regulations and statutory guidance. By doing so, lawmakers could specify the exact “evidence” expected whenever safety-critical work is carried out on automated and connected vehicles, effectively embedding TechSafe into UK law.
“The risks associated with modern vehicle technology do not end at the point of manufacture, they continue throughout the full life of the vehicle,” Nick concluded. “Repair, servicing, diagnostics, software updates, and recovery all carry safety-critical implications when handled by those without the right competence.”
Why it Matters
The IMI is making its strongest move yet to regulate who can legally work on modern vehicles. A mandatory standard would effectively root out unqualified operators and protect the reputation of professional workshops.
However, with EV training adoption sitting at roughly 33%, mandating these standards without accompanying government funding or apprenticeship levy reform could place intense financial pressure on independent garages already squeezed by rising overheads.
What is your take on the IMI’s push for mandatory regulation? Will it protect the trade, or create an impossible hurdle for smaller workshops? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
