Hong Kong’s Car Repair Industry Feels the Squeeze as EVs Rise
Hong Kong’s car maintenance sector has slipped into a downturn due to increased electric vehicle (EV) ownership and a rise in motorists seeking repair services in mainland China, industry insiders have said.
But the shift also presents an opportunity for the industry to reestablish itself as a specialised and technologically advanced sector, according to Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, governor and honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association.
“Right now we are going through significant changes in the industry,” Lee said.
“Electric vehicles are very clean, so this may attract young people to join the car maintenance industry as the idea that it is messy, hard labour is no longer accurate.”
Lee’s observations came amid a significant downturn over the past year for the car repair industry. The industry is adapting to the changes brought about by the rise of EVs, with workers being referred to as ‘licensed mechanics’ rather than ‘garage boys’.
The shift towards EVs is changing the landscape of Hong Kong’s car maintenance sector, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the industry to evolve and become more technologically advanced.
