Nearly four in five industry respondents lack confidence that the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles can be delivered safely and sustainably, according to new data released by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
The findings come in direct response to comments from Labour MP Perran Moon, who recently reaffirmed on LinkedIn that the government will not row back on its manifesto commitment to end the sale of pure petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
While politicians remain firm on timelines, those working on workshop floors across the country are sounding the alarm over sector readiness, upskilling access, and safety.
The IMI’s latest member survey paints a clear picture of an industry under pressure, where the speed of policy is outpacing the reality of training provision and workshop infrastructure.
What the IMI survey reveals
– 82% of respondents are not confident that the workforce will be ready at the pace required by current policy targets.
– 79% feel not at all or not very confident that the transition can be executed safely and sustainably.
– 48% actively support bringing the official ZEV Mandate review forward.
– 44% state that the transition is currently having a mostly negative or slightly negative impact on their organization.
– 39% rate local access to EV-related upskilling and training as poor or fairly poor.
When asked to identify the three biggest priorities for any future government review of the ZEV Mandate, respondents pointed to charging infrastructure (23%), workforce skills and training (21%), and vehicle affordability (15%).
Commenting on the survey results, Nick Connor, Chief Executive of the IMI, stressed that while the direction of travel toward electrification is non-negotiable, the policy debate must account for workforce safety and practical training pipelines.
“Nobody in our sector disputes the direction of travel, the UK is moving to electric vehicles, and manufacturers, dealers and technicians all need to plan around that,” said Connor. “But new IMI insight shows the automotive workforce itself has serious doubts about whether it can keep pace. Nearly half of respondents believe a review of the ZEV Mandate should be brought forward, and we need to see a clear focus on skills.”
Addressing MP Perran Moon’s stance, Connor noted that any review must look beyond high-level sales targets to assess the health of the entire supply chain, including independent workshops and technicians who keep the UK mobile.
“Mr Moon is right that any review of the ZEV Mandate needs to look at the whole EV supply chain,” Connor added. “Our members agree: charging infrastructure, workforce skills and training, and vehicle affordability are the three priorities they want any review to address. And skills can’t be an afterthought to charge points and pricing, all three have to be tackled together.”
Without clear long-term policy signals and supported training routes, business leaders risk facing high capital costs for high-voltage tooling and diagnostic equipment without guaranteed returns or qualified staff.
The IMI is urging government officials to ensure that target discussions do not distract from the immediate, practical work of keeping vehicle repairers safe and capable.
“Whatever the Government decides about the pace of the transition, the message from those on the frontline supporting motorists is consistent: don’t let the debate about targets distract from the harder job of making sure technicians, engineers and the wider workforce are ready, safe and confident to deliver it,” Connor concluded.
“The sector needs a clear picture about the pace of transition so that training providers, employers and individuals can plan investment in skills with confidence. That’s the balancing act that matters most: realistic targets for vehicle sales, matched by an unwavering commitment to making sure the workforce is ready to support them.”
