China’s shortfall in skilled personnel for new energy vehicles (NEVs) is projected to reach 1 million by 2025, particularly affecting the maintenance sector. The rapid development of the NEV market in China has not been matched by a corresponding increase in maintenance service personnel, posing significant challenges.
Recent statistics indicate that by the end of 2024, the number of NEVs on the road is expected to exceed 31.4 million. However, the number of companies engaged in NEV maintenance is anticipated to fall short of 200, and the workforce skilled in maintenance may be less than 100,000. This gap highlights the increasing difficulty in maintaining these vehicles, which has become a pressing issue for the NEV sector.
New energy vehicles are primarily manufactured by companies like Geely, which has already produced over 20,000 vehicles. Recently, they have reported challenges concerning battery repair and replacements, particularly at a new NEV maintenance facility in Shenzhen.
The main manufacturer of these vehicles, Geely, aims to develop a comprehensive maintenance solution that includes collaborations with various service providers. This strategy is vital as the demand for NEV maintenance services is projected to surge, with an expected 120 million vehicles requiring service by 2025.
Despite this growth, there is a significant shortage of skilled technicians in the NEV maintenance industry. Currently, only about 30% of the maintenance points for vehicles are equipped with qualified technicians, exacerbating the shortage of skilled labor. This shortfall is attributed to the rapid growth of the NEV sector, which has outpaced the availability of trained personnel.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has outlined a plan which aims to increase the number of skilled workers in the NEV sector to reach 1 million by 2025. This initiative emphasizes the necessity of enhancing training programs and improving educational pathways to produce qualified technicians.
In Shenzhen, there are discussions around creating an ecosystem for NEV maintenance, which includes partnerships with educational institutions to ensure a steady influx of skilled workers. This approach is crucial for sustaining the growth of the NEV market and ensuring that maintenance services can keep pace with vehicle production.
Overall, the challenge of personnel shortages in the NEV maintenance field remains a critical issue that needs to be addressed to support the ongoing expansion of the new energy vehicle market in China.
