Toronto, Ontario — While a boon to some, the majority of Canadian collision facilities are struggling to deal with the influx of electric vehicles in repair bays, the results of a Collision Repair reader survey show.
According to the survey, 75 percent of collision facilities handle between one and 15 per cent of their monthly repairs on electric vehicles, while 25 percent saying between 16 to 25 percent of repair work is conducted on EVs.
While 27 percent of respondents said EVs were more profitable for their businesses than traditional repairs, with 12.5 percent saying EV repairs generated 20 percent more profit than ones conducted on internal combustion engine vehicle. About 25 percent described EV work as less profitable. The remaining 50 percent reported compensation was roughly equal.
One Alberta shop reported EVs are “much more profitable” with margins 20 per cent higher than internal combustion engine vehicles, while facilities in Ontario and British Columbia described EV work as less profitable than traditional repairs.
Nearly two-thirds (62.5 percent) of respondents said their business handles between one and 15 percent of their monthly repairs on electric vehicles, while 25 percent of respondents say their business handles 16 to 25 percent EV repairs.
Financial results varied dramatically. About one-in-four (26.5 percent) said EV repairs are more profitable than traditional ones, with 12.5 percent reporting EV margins 20 percent higher than ICE ones. On the other hand, 25 percent described EV work as less profitable, while 37.5 percent report similar profitability.
“It’s time more shops… concentrate on repairing fewer vehicle types,” wrote one respondent from Atlantic Canada. “Leave the EV business to EV-only facilities!”
The survey also revealed that EV availability is creating operational challenges. About one-in-three repairers (37.5 percent) report EV parts are “somewhat harder” to secure, while 50 percent say availability is “about the same.” Close to two-thirds (62.5 percent) said delays have forced their businesses to keep vehicles longer than quoted.
One shop owner noted that “storage should be a concern” when dealing with extended repair times.
The survey also shows training for EV repairs has become standard, with 87.5 percent of respondents reporting their businesses invest in accredited EV collision repair programs and 75 percent have staff members who have gone through multiple courses. Only 12.5 percent remain self-taught.
Interestingly, safety incidents remain rare. According to the survey, 87.5 percent have had no EV repair-related incidents. The remaining 12.5 percent declined to answer the question.
Looking ahead, half of respondents (50 percent) expect the EV repair portion of their businesses to enjoy moderate growth in the next five years, while 25 percent plan significant expansion.
One Nova Scotia shop owner suggested: “It’s time more shops diversify and concentrate on repairing fewer vehicle types. Leave the EV business to an EV-only collision repair facility.”
Another Nova Scotia owner disagreed: “I would recommend anybody in the collision repair industry to get themselves trained when it comes to dealing with EVs… The pace of EV growth is growing year over year and eventually it will get to the point where most of the cars that you will have in your shop will be EVs.”
