Impact of Battery Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Repair and Service at Independent Repair Shops (Update 2022)

Between July 4th and July 29th, 2022, IMR interviewed 5000 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insight into their service exposure to Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) vehicles. Additionally, the research gained insight into the shop’s investment in tools/equipment and training for BEVs/HEVs, whether they market these service capabilities and their view of when they believe BEVs and HEVs will impact their business amongst other insights.

54.6% of independent repair shops indicate a portion of their business is from servicing battery electric vehicles. On average, 3.9% (or 4 of every 100 vehicles serviced) are BEVs. The Western region and Southern region reported having higher service percentages.

72% of independent repair shops indicate a portion of their business is from servicing hybrid electric vehicles. On average, 5.9% are HEVs. BEVs and HEVs account for less business for 1 – 3 bay shops (3.9% BEV; 4.3% HEV) versus larger 8+ bay shops (5.4% BEV; 7.7% HEV). Shops located in the Northeast (7.4%) report a higher percentage of business from HEVs than shops located in the West (5.4%).

Of the independent repair shops that service BEVs, over the past two years 95.6% have seen an increase in the number of those vehicles coming to their shop for service. Similarly, of shops that service HEVs, over the past two years, 95.6% have seen an increase in the number of those vehicles coming to their shop for service.

While these shops have seen increases in these vehicles coming in for service and repair, 57.5% do not actively market or advertise that their shop is specifically capable of servicing BEVs and HEVs. Shops with 1 to 3 bays tend to market that service capability less (15.2%) than their larger competitors (43.2%).

Amongst all independent repair shops, 42.4% have invested in tools/equipment to service BEVs/HEVs and 41.2% have invested in BEV/HEV training for their technicians.

When it comes to keeping up to date on industry trends on BEVs and HEVs, 56.2% of shops say that their primary supplier keeps them up to date.

Forty-seven percent of shops believe the increasing number of EVs and HEVs on the road will impact their business over the next two years; 38.2% do not and 14.6% don’t know. Of the 38.2% that do not believe the increasing number of BEVs and HEVs on the road will impact their business in the next two years, 41.9% believe it’ll take 10 years or longer to see an impact; 19.4% believe it will never impact their business.