CINEVE | New Energy Vehicle Maintenance Booms, Talent Gap Reaches One Million

New energy vehicles have become the dominant force in China's automotive market. For every two new cars, one is a new energy vehicle. However, there is an emerging hidden issue—the supply of maintenance personnel cannot keep pace with the industry's rapid expansion.

By the end of 2025, the number of new energy vehicles in China is expected to reach 43.97 million, accounting for 12.01% of the total number of vehicles. A total of 12.93 million new vehicles will be registered that year, with the market penetration rate surpassing 40%, and it continues to rise steadily.

Compared to the booming industry, the talent gap in new energy vehicle maintenance is staggering, with a shortage of 450,000 professionals. The demand for core technicians with high-voltage safety qualifications and expertise in repairing the "three-electric" systems (battery, motor, and electric control) is particularly high, and such talent is in short supply. Some experts predict that by 2025, the talent gap across the entire industry will exceed one million, with the after-sales sector accounting for 80% of the shortage. This talent crisis is already holding back the growth of the new energy vehicle aftermarket and serves as a wake-up call for the industry's development.

The shortage of maintenance talent for new energy vehicles is no longer a secret in the industry—it's a real and pressing problem. Whether in first-tier cities or small counties, whether at 4S stores or independent repair shops, the industry is facing the dilemma of "can't recruit, can't retain, can't afford."

Take Shenzhen, for example. With over 1.2 million new energy vehicles, there are fewer than 2,000 technicians with professional certifications, leaving a gap of over 20,000. In third- and fourth-tier cities and small counties, specialized repair stations account for less than 30%, meaning many new energy vehicles with issues have to be taken to distant repair shops, which is both time-consuming and costly, severely impacting the owner's perception of the brand.

The supply-demand imbalance in the recruitment market is also glaring. On multiple job platforms, I have seen that the salaries for new energy vehicle maintenance technicians are 30%-50% higher than those for traditional fuel vehicle technicians.

Some companies are offering monthly salaries ranging from 8,000 to 15,000 yuan, along with food and lodging, paid training, and even stock incentives, but still struggle to hire people. The owner of a new energy vehicle repair shop in Shenzhen said their team only has five core technicians, all of whom were recruited from technical schools and spent two years in internal training before becoming proficient.

"Recruiting experienced technicians with 1-2 years of experience is nearly impossible; most applicants are fresh graduates, and they require extensive hands-on training before they can get up to speed." In contrast, the traditional automotive repair industry faces its own struggles—many technicians with over a decade of experience in repairing fuel-powered vehicles can't keep up with the technological advancements. As a result, some have switched industries, while others are left idle. Take Master Zhang, for example, who has been repairing fuel-powered cars for 20 years. His shop is now up for lease, with dusty engine parts piling up in the back, a sight that evokes a sense of loss.

This talent crisis is caused by multiple factors, but the core issue lies in the rapid increase in demand paired with a supply that can't keep up. Additionally, the swift pace of technological updates has further exacerbated the problem.

Compared to traditional fuel-powered vehicles, the maintenance of new energy vehicles operates under an entirely different system. Traditional car repairs primarily involve disassembling parts and adjusting engines. In contrast, new energy vehicles focus on the "three-electric" system—battery management, motor control, and vehicle control.

Maintenance technicians need to understand high-voltage electrical safety, communication protocols, fault code analysis, and remote software upgrades. The expertise required is far more advanced.

What's more challenging is that the technology in new energy vehicles evolves rapidly. New technologies such as 800V high-speed charging, battery-body integration, silicon carbide components, and L3-level autonomous driving are continually being introduced, making vehicles increasingly complex.

This demands that technicians continuously learn and keep up with the latest technologies and repair methods. However, the reality is that many veteran auto repair technicians' knowledge has long been outdated, and they remain stuck in the mindset of repairing traditional fuel-powered vehicles, with only a basic understanding of high-voltage electrical safety and the principles of the three-electric system.

Authoritative research shows that only 28% of repair technicians are capable of independently disassembling the power battery pack and performing insulation testing, while only 17% can use oscilloscopes to analyze motor signals. Around 70% of technicians on the market lack an understanding of circuit theory, and fewer than 10% are proficient in circuits and capable of independently diagnosing faults.

From the perspective of talent supply, the failure of the training system to keep up is the core reason for the talent gap. Vocational schools are the primary institutions for training skilled workers, and currently, 637 schools offer new energy vehicle repair-related programs, nearly double the number from a few years ago. However, the program's strength still falls short.

Many schools continue to rely on traditional automotive repair curricula, adding a few lessons on "electric vehicle structure" and calling it a transformation. Just a few years ago, they were still teaching engine principles and chassis construction—old content—and the courses related to new energy vehicles were minimal, so students couldn’t learn the core technologies.

Poor training conditions further limit talent development. Ideal practical training for new energy vehicle maintenance should include simulated vehicle faults, high-voltage disconnection operations, and battery data analysis. However, many schools lack the funds to purchase the necessary equipment and are also concerned about safety issues. The equipment they do have is outdated and scarce.

More than 60% of schools use teaching boards or simulation software instead of hands-on vehicle operations. Some schools, out of safety concerns, don’t allow students to handle high-voltage components and only rely on video lessons.

Furthermore, the teachers are also a significant issue. Many instructors have no hands-on experience in the industry and are unfamiliar with new technologies and equipment in new energy vehicles. As a result, the students they produce are not equipped to meet the demands of enterprises.

In addition to the lag in training systems, the difficulty for traditional auto repair technicians to transition to new energy vehicle maintenance further exacerbates the talent shortage. For technicians who have been working on fuel-powered vehicles for over a decade, switching to new energy vehicles requires overcoming three major hurdles.

The first hurdle is certification. High-voltage electrician certificates and battery maintenance qualifications are mandatory. To obtain these certifications, technicians need to take half a year off work for full-time study, which is practically impossible for workers who are constantly on the job. The second hurdle is equipment. A set of diagnostic tools for new energy vehicles costs around 80,000 yuan, and specialized equipment for battery maintenance is even more expensive. Many small repair shops and independent technicians simply cannot afford such costs. The third hurdle is technical knowledge. While many technicians are proficient in disassembling engines, they find themselves helpless when faced with the control modules of electric vehicles. As they often say, "The code is more complicated than the parts."

As a result, many technicians have no choice but to abandon the transition to new energy vehicle maintenance. Some switch industries, while others continue to repair fuel-powered cars, slowly being phased out by the market.

The talent gap is growing, which not only impacts vehicle owners’ ability to use their cars but also restricts the development of the new energy vehicle aftermarket, even posing safety risks. Currently, only 30% of maintenance shops can repair the three-electric system.

Many unqualified technicians perform repairs illegally, leading to safety incidents such as high-voltage electric shocks and battery fires. There have been dozens of such cases reported in the media in recent years. Moreover, the shortage of skilled technicians has driven up repair costs. Many car owners complain that small faults in their new energy vehicles cost thousands of yuan to fix, when the issue could be resolved for just a few hundred yuan. This is because, due to the lack of specialized technicians, they are forced to replace expensive components like batteries and motors.

Additionally, because 4S stores are understaffed, repair appointments are often delayed, with some car owners waiting over a week for their vehicles to be fixed, which leads to a particularly poor customer experience.

It's worth noting that the new energy vehicle aftermarket is on the brink of explosive growth. Some predict that by 2025, the aftermarket for passenger vehicles could reach nearly 2 trillion yuan, with new energy vehicle maintenance accounting for 15%—around 300 billion yuan.

By 2030, the scale of the three-electric system maintenance market is expected to reach approximately 40 billion yuan, showing tremendous market potential. However, the talent shortage has become the biggest obstacle. If this issue is not addressed soon, it will not only affect the development of the aftermarket but also undermine the overall competitiveness of the new energy vehicle industry, slowing down the progress of the "dual carbon" strategy.

To address the talent gap in new energy vehicle maintenance, the government, educational institutions, enterprises, and industry must work together to create a talent system that focuses on "training, attracting, and retaining" skilled workers.

Starting with educational institutions, it is crucial to break away from outdated teaching models. The curriculum must be optimized by increasing class hours on core subjects such as the three-electric system, high-voltage safety, and fault diagnosis. Textbooks should be updated to include the latest technologies. Additionally, schools need to invest in practical training equipment, build standardized training centers, and introduce real vehicle models and fault simulation systems. Collaborations with enterprises should be encouraged to ensure students can gain practical experience and be job-ready upon graduation.

On the enterprise side, businesses must take on the responsibility of talent cultivation. Companies can provide internal training programs, implement apprenticeship schemes, collaborate with vocational schools to build training bases, and send experienced technicians to schools as instructors, sharing their real-world experience with students.

Enterprises must also raise technicians' salaries and benefits to offer them more growth opportunities, which will help retain talent. The government needs to increase support by providing subsidies to educational institutions, assisting them in improving training facilities, training teachers, and encouraging traditional automotive repair technicians to participate in new energy vehicle maintenance training. Simplifying the certification process will also be crucial.

Furthermore, a comprehensive skills certification system should be established to standardize industry entry requirements, ensuring that maintenance technicians are both professional and qualified.

Industry associations should also play a role by creating talent exchange platforms, organizing skill competitions and technical exchanges, and enhancing the professional capabilities of repair technicians. At the same time, they should help regulate the market, break down technical barriers from car manufacturers, and make maintenance technologies and equipment more accessible, especially for small repair shops.

Additionally, promoting the industry and changing public perceptions is vital. New energy vehicle repair technicians need to be recognized as respected technical professionals, attracting more young people to join the field.

The rapid rise of new energy vehicles has not only reshaped the automotive industry but also presented new challenges to the talent cultivation system. The shortage of maintenance technicians is both a challenge and an opportunity. Only by acknowledging the talent gap, addressing the shortcomings in talent training, and facilitating a seamless connection between the education, talent, industry, and innovation chains, can we provide a solid talent foundation for the healthy development of the new energy vehicle aftermarket. This will unleash the potential of the trillion-dollar market and help China's new energy vehicle industry achieve high-quality development, ensuring the successful implementation of the "dual carbon" strategy.