Independent workshops at a crossroads: combustion engines or e-mobility?

• 53% of independent workshops continue to focus on combustion engines

• 47% view e-mobility as a future growth area, but only 16% invest in employee training

• The biggest barriers: low customer demand, lack of equipment, and a call for more support and training opportunities

The independent aftermarket is divided when it comes to e-mobility. This is the conclusion of a pulse survey conducted by MEYLE in May 2025 in collaboration with the market research institute INNOFACT AG. One year after the initial baseline study, 100 independent workshops in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were asked about their future expectations. The main result: the sector is split into two almost equally sized camps. While 53 percent of respondents expect their business to shift even further toward combustion engines, 47 percent see their future in e-mobility. The numbers reflect a market in transition – but without clear consensus.

The survey is part of the IAM:CONNECT dialogue platform, through which the Hamburg-based spare parts manufacturer continuously monitors developments in the independent aftermarket and works together with partners and industry experts to shape the industry’s transformation.

Analysis paralysis: The dilemma of recognised but unrealised opportunities

The results show a clear gap between insight and action: 47 percent of workshops recognise electric vehicles as a growth market, but only 16 percent have so far invested in relevant training for their employees. Even among those who consider e-mobility a strategic priority, only around a third (34%) are consistently pursuing further education.

Focus on combustion engines: Trust in the familiar

Workshops that continue to focus on combustion engines have understandable reasons: Nearly half (49.1%) say their customers still drive primarily combustion vehicles Accordingly, 39.6 percent say that demand for e-mobility services is insufficient. Additionally, 22.6 percent lack the technical equipment for working on electric vehicles, and 32.1 percent consider the necessary investments to be too high.

"The combustion engine business is still running so well that many workshops see little reason for change – but those who only focus on today’s customers may miss out on tomorrow’s," says Patrick Stüdemann, Head of Technical Training at MEYLE AG.

E-mobility as a growth opportunity

Workshops that are aligning with e-mobility are pursuing clear goals: 40.4 percent want to attract new customer groups, 36.2 percent are actively preparing for the expected market growth, and 31.9 percent are aiming to gain a competitive advantage.

Support needed: What workshops expect from their partners

Independent workshops need support to continue being successful in the future. Their expectations of spare parts manufacturers are clearly defined: 45 percent want access to parts and solutions for electric vehicles, 37 percent are looking for technical training on electric and hybrid vehicles, and 47 percent are seeking diagnostic tools and repair instructions.

“The split in the sector is not a catastrophe, but a chance for those who pursue a clear strategy and take action,” says Patrick Stüdemann, Head of Technical Training at MEYLE. “Some are optimising the established business model, while others are taking the lead in a future market. Both paths can succeed – but those who do not make a conscious decision now may be overtaken by both. As a spare parts manufacturer, we see ourselves as a partner in this transformation – supporting and enabling workshops in successfully shaping their individual path.”

IAM:CONNECT – Promoting dialogue and shaping transformation

With its IAM:CONNECT dialogue platform, MEYLE is helping the industry overcome this analysis paralysis. Throughout the year, more dialogue formats are planned to further strengthen the exchange between workshops, manufacturers, and wholesalers.