The lead Australian aftermarket body has lashed out at proposed changes to qualifications needed to work on EVs in NSW, warning they could threaten long delays and inflated costs.
NSW Fair Trading has proposed repairers and technicians working on EVs should have additional mandatory training and complete the AURSS00064 Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set.
But the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association has argued it would prohibit currently trained technicians from working on them, with the plan compiled with inadequate data, consultation or understanding of its impacts on workshops or consumers.
The AAAA estimates there are fewer 50 qualified technicians across NSW, despite there being more than 80,000 BEVs already in operation.
“Regulation without a plan”
AAAA chief executive officer Stuart Charity said the lack of basic facts and planning in the Regulatory Impact Statement raise serious concerns about both process and policy.
“The RIS does not estimate how many vehicles may be left without service providers, does not assess the cost of upskilling, and does not confirm how many Training Organisations are equipped to deliver the training. There is no system for recognising prior learning, no support to upskill existing qualified technicians, and no phase-in period. This is regulation without a plan.
“We agree that technicians working on high-voltage vehicles must be trained and competent — and that’s already happening. But this proposal creates a legislative barrier that will drastically reduce the number of qualified service providers overnight. It will drive up costs for consumers and cause serious delays in repair and servicing.”
Delays and cost
“The AAAA warns that without a proper transition plan, the supply of qualified technicians will collapse from 2 September 2025 — and with it, the ability of thousands of NSW motorists to access timely and affordable EV servicing.
“The RIS claims universal stakeholder support for the proposal — but the AAAA did not support the proposed changes and is surprised to see them framed as broadly endorsed.
“If a technician can safely service a Toyota hybrid, why are they banned from touching a BEV? The logic simply doesn’t hold. Hybrid vehicles include high voltage components but are exempt under this proposal — yet BEVs are not. The only explanation is that the department didn’t consider the real-world impact. It is ironic that a department tasked with ‘Better Regulation’ is rushing through changes that are so poorly thought out.”
“To prevent service disruption and protect consumers from unintended costs and delays, the AAAA is calling for a five-year transition period. This would give government and industry time to work together on flexible upskilling options, establish a proper recognition-of-prior-learning system, and ensure the training infrastructure is ready to meet demand.
“This is not just a workforce issue — it’s a consumer issue,” Charity says “This rushed approach will reduce access to essential repair services and increase costs for NSW motorists.”
The AAAA wants the proposal to go back to the drawing board with a proper transition plan and impact statement investigated,