Smaller Workshops Face Challenges Amid Shift to Electric Vehicles

As Singapore’s automotive industry transitions towards electric vehicles (EVs), smaller motor workshops may face a decline in demand due to fewer maintenance requirements for EVs compared to traditional vehicles. However, these workshops’ ability to survive is also being threatened by a shortage of technicians, not by a lack of technology or EV-related training, according to Michael Keh, a representative of the Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA). Keh told The Business Times, “In the longer term, smaller workshops might slowly die out.”

Electric Vehicle-Related Training Is Not the Issue
Despite concerns about the shift to EVs, Keh noted that electric vehicle-related training is not a major problem—if qualified technicians can be found. The challenge lies in attracting and retaining skilled workers who can handle the new technology. This issue is exacerbated by the slower adaptation rate among technicians, resulting in a potential talent gap as the automotive industry continues its shift towards EVs.