The second main speaker at the recent SIMI Aftermarket Conference was, Matt Cleevely, Managing Director of EV specialist, the Cleevely Group, based in Gloucestershire in the UK.

Matt explained that he has more than 25 years experience in the garage industry as the third generation in a family business which started in 1962. While very successful as a traditional garage, Matt saw an opportunity to become an independent EV specialist in the local area and has seen this side of the business grow to become a national force, in not only repair and servicing, but also training for other workshops and specialist EV parts supply. 

Matt explained that in the UK market most EV owners actually favour independent specialists, because of their knowledge and expertise. He pointed out that in many dealerships there was a lack of trained EV technicians.  

While recognising that ICE vehicles will be here for many years to come, Matt said that the switch to EV was inevitable and was now well under way. In his experience most EV drivers become advocates and that his business had switch many new customers on to EVs by providing EV rental cars. As such workshops need to be EV prepared, even if it takes a while to build business. 

Matt said that the required investment to make the move to EV work was often overstated. The main cost is training and after that to work on EVs required only PPE and some basic tools. He did, however, say that a battery lift would be required, although this did not have to be hugely expensive.   

With regard to change in work patterns, Matt stressed that EVs still require regular service checks. Repairs tended to focus on brakes, with disc skimming a lucrative service, suspension, lights and thermal management. Tyres were also highlighted as an area of extra business potential as EVs tended to be harder on tyre wear.  

Because of the expertise of the team, diagnostic and software update has also become a major income stream, with work often coming from other garages. 

As regard to growing an EV business, Matt said he had good success with targeting EV owners groups and also offering expertise and practical advice to EV owners and potential owners.