For decades, car maintenance was mostly about mechanical skill: engines, gearboxes, brakes. That picture is changing quickly. Across Europe, the automotive maintenance and repair sector is being reshaped by what is often called the twin transition: the move to electric vehicles and the growing role of digital technology inside every car.
Research from the EU-funded AutoCredify project, carried out in Finland, Spain and Portugal, shows what this means in practice for workshops, workers and the training systems that prepare them.
Electrification brings new risks and new skills
Electric and hybrid vehicles bring technology into the workshop that was rarely there before:
- high-voltage systems
- battery packs and battery management systems
- power electronics
- charging systems and energy management
Working on these systems requires specialised knowledge and strict safety procedures. Tasks that once centred on mechanical parts now increasingly involve electrical testing, battery diagnostics, safe isolation of high-voltage components and compliance with safety standards.
Cars are becoming software-driven
At the same time, modern vehicles rely on electronic control units, sensors, communication networks and software. Technicians are increasingly expected to:
- read and interpret diagnostic data and fault codes
- update vehicle software
- calibrate electronic systems, including driver assistance systems (ADAS)
- work with manufacturer software and connected vehicle platforms
In short, a good technician today needs a mix of mechanical, electrical, electronic and digital skills.
Training is struggling to keep up
The country research found a clear gap between what workshops need and what training currently offers:
- Finland: vocational training still leans towards conventional vehicles, while high-voltage safety, advanced diagnostics and software-driven service are covered unevenly.
- Spain: significant reskilling is needed, including in workshops, after-sales and repair, not only in vehicle manufacturing.
- Portugal: small businesses and independent workshops need fast and flexible upskilling to keep serving customers as vehicles change.
Employers in all three countries are especially concerned about speed. Curricula and qualifications often cannot keep pace with new vehicle models, safety standards and service procedures.
Electrification comes first
Both sides of the twin transition matter, but stakeholders were clear about what is most urgent right now: electric vehicle technology, high-voltage systems, batteries and the diagnostics that go with them. Digital skills are rising in importance, yet the immediate pressure on workshops comes from electrification.
What this means
For policymakers and education providers: training systems need ways to respond faster, with shorter and more flexible learning options that can be updated as technology moves.
For technicians and students: electrical and high-voltage competence is becoming a core part of the job, not a niche specialism. Combining it with diagnostic and digital skills is likely to define the strongest careers in the sector.
In the next articles in this series, we look at what Finland, Spain and Portugal agree on, and which job profiles are emerging to meet these needs.
This article is based on AutoCredify deliverable D5.1, “Occupational and Learning Pathways for the Twin Transition”, co-funded by the European Union.