LAS VEGAS – June 25, 2025 – Electric vehicles (EVs) may be a market opportunity for independent auto repair shops. While EVs were new just a few years ago, they are increasingly coming out of warranty and entering the aftermarket.

Recent reports suggest the market for used EVs is heating up, too, so this trend is likely to grow. Yet EV owners are running into an unforeseen challenge: it’s getting harder to find a repair shop with the capacity to maintain and repair these vehicles.

It’s a big decision for an independent repair shop. EVs require specialized training for auto technicians, new and expensive diagnostic equipment and additional space on the shop floor. On the flip side, this latest auto aftermarket roundup demonstrates it could well be a market opportunity.

1. Consumers are buying up used EVs at a discount

“Used EV sales topped 100,000 for the first time in the second quarter, according to industry-services business Cox Automotive…Used EV prices fell nearly 32% in 2024 from 2023, almost 10 times the drop in used gas-powered car prices, according to iSeeCars.com, an automotive research site.”

More: The best EV deals now are on the used market via Imani Moise of The Wall Street Journal

2. EVs are a billion-dollar opportunity

“EVs require less maintenance but more specialized services, creating high-value opportunities in technical training and new parts development. This has also bolstered the product ecosystem, with most players now competing across a larger selection of components.

• Opportunity Size: Over $1 billion
• Timeline for Action: 5 Years”

More: How to win in North America’s evolving automotive aftermarket via Frost & Sullivan

3. EV repairs are less frequent but have higher margins

“The rise of electric vehicles isn’t spelling doom for the automotive aftermarket — it’s creating a whole new landscape of opportunity, emphasized a pair of industry observers…EV repairs might be less frequent but more complex, he added [Jack Zhuang, a partner with business consultancy firm Roland Berger], potentially commanding higher margins and labor rates.”

More: How EVs are transforming, not destroying, the aftermarket via Adam Malik of Auto Service World

4. EV owners struggle to find repair and maintenance options

“Service delays are also on the rise. Only 28% of owners were able to get a same-day appointment, down from 40% last year. And while most repairs were covered under warranty or recall, nearly a third of non-Tesla owners needed four or more visits to resolve their issues.”

More: Most EV owners committed but cracks showing via Adam Malik of Auto Service World

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