Automobile and EV technician: skills, tools, growth and future in India

What the work looks like

• Inspect vehicles and find faults using scanners and tests.
• Service engines, brakes, suspension, tyres and electrical parts.
• Replace parts and do periodic servicing.
• Check batteries and charging on electric vehicles, with safety steps.
• Fill job cards and explain the work and cost to the customer.
• Keep the workshop and tools safe and tidy.

Tools and technical skills

• Diagnostic scanners and OBD tools
• Hand tools, wheel alignment and balancing
• Battery systems, battery management and thermal management in EVs
• High-voltage safety practices
• Power electronics, connected diagnostics and vehicle software
• Workshop job-card and parts software

Skills beyond technology

• Honest explanation of faults and costs to customers
• Safety discipline, especially around high-voltage parts
• Willingness to keep learning as vehicles change
• Time management during busy servicing days
• Teamwork between technician, service advisor and customer

How to get started in India

• Many technicians learn in garages and dealer service centres, working under a senior. ITI trades such as Mechanic Diesel (Automobile) give a formal start.
• The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) runs short training programmes. In a 2022-23 pilot, 300 two- and three-wheeler mechanics in Uttar Pradesh got a 10-day EV upskilling with an NSQF certificate.
• Mechanics with petrol and diesel experience already have a mechanical base and mainly need EV skills added.
• Look for dealer and OEM training, and check any course before paying.
• Do not pay anyone for a job offer.

How growth looked, and looks now

Earlier, about 2010 to 2019

Technician work centred on petrol and diesel engines. Skills were mostly learned on the job in garages and in ITIs, and workshops were small and local.

Now, 2025 and 2026

India sold about 1.96 million electric vehicles in FY2025, up 17%, with two-wheelers at 58.49% of them. A July 2026 column said EV sales crossed 24.5 lakh units in FY26, spreading to tier 2 and tier 3 markets, and that servicing needs battery, high-voltage and digital diagnostics skills. Companies and training groups are running mixed classroom and workshop programmes.

What AI changes (low exposure)

Diagnostic software and remote fault codes help, but removing, fitting and testing parts is hands-on work. Technicians now spend more time with software and scanners.

Three ways it could go by 2030

Steady path

Petrol and diesel vehicles stay on the road for many years while EVs grow. Technicians who learn both, with high-voltage safety, are likely to find steady work.

If AI moves faster than expected

Diagnostic software could do more of the fault finding, and EVs could spread faster than workshops can train people. EV-trained technicians may then be scarce, so get certified early and look for OEM training.

If change is slower

Most repair work stays on petrol, diesel and CNG vehicles for longer. Strong basics and honest service still earn repeat customers.

Where people go next

• EV diagnostics specialist
• Service advisor or workshop supervisor
• Dealer or OEM trainer
• Own garage or mobile-repair business
• Technician in fleet or charging-network maintenance

Questions people ask

What does a automobile and ev technician do?

An automobile technician finds faults in and repairs cars and two-wheelers. A growing share of the work is on electric vehicles, which need battery and high-voltage safety skills on top of regular mechanical skills. In a normal week: Inspect vehicles and find faults using scanners and tests; Service engines, brakes, suspension, tyres and electrical parts; Replace parts and do periodic servicing; Check batteries and charging on electric vehicles, with safety steps; Fill job cards and explain the work and cost to the customer; Keep the workshop and tools safe and tidy.

What skills and tools does a automobile and ev technician need in 2026?

Tools and technical skills: Diagnostic scanners and OBD tools; Hand tools, wheel alignment and balancing; Battery systems, battery management and thermal management in EVs; High-voltage safety practices; Power electronics, connected diagnostics and vehicle software; Workshop job-card and parts software. Skills beyond technology that decide who grows: Honest explanation of faults and costs to customers; Safety discipline, especially around high-voltage parts; Willingness to keep learning as vehicles change; Time management during busy servicing days; Teamwork between technician, service advisor and customer.

How do you become a automobile and ev technician in India?

Many technicians learn in garages and dealer service centres, working under a senior. ITI trades such as Mechanic Diesel (Automobile) give a formal start; The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) runs short training programmes. In a 2022-23 pilot, 300 two- and three-wheeler mechanics in Uttar Pradesh got a 10-day EV upskilling with an NSQF certificate; Mechanics with petrol and diesel experience already have a mechanical base and mainly need EV skills added; Look for dealer and OEM training, and check any course before paying; Do not pay anyone for a job offer.

How has the automobile and ev technician role changed?

Earlier (about 2010 to 2019): Technician work centred on petrol and diesel engines. Skills were mostly learned on the job in garages and in ITIs, and workshops were small and local. Now: India sold about 1.96 million electric vehicles in FY2025, up 17%, with two-wheelers at 58.49% of them. A July 2026 column said EV sales crossed 24.5 lakh units in FY26, spreading to tier 2 and tier 3 markets, and that servicing needs battery, high-voltage and digital diagnostics skills. Companies and training groups are running mixed classroom and workshop programmes.

Will AI replace automobile and ev technician jobs? What is the future?

Diagnostic software and remote fault codes help, but removing, fitting and testing parts is hands-on work. Technicians now spend more time with software and scanners. Three ways the next few years could go. Steady path: Petrol and diesel vehicles stay on the road for many years while EVs grow. Technicians who learn both, with high-voltage safety, are likely to find steady work. If AI moves faster than expected: Diagnostic software could do more of the fault finding, and EVs could spread faster than workshops can train people. EV-trained technicians may then be scarce, so get certified early and look for OEM training. If change is slower: Most repair work stays on petrol, diesel and CNG vehicles for longer. Strong basics and honest service still earn repeat customers.

Sources

• Autocar Professional: Two-wheeler share of EV sales grows to 58% in FY2025 (2025)
• Autocar Professional: Why a technician talent gap can slow down India's EV boom (opinion column) (2026)
• KNN India: 300 mechanics trained as EV technicians (ASDC pilot) (2023)
• Careers360: ITI courses, eligibility, duration and trades (2025)