The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has raised concerns about the future for independent garages with the government’s post-Brexit plans creating uncertainty for the sector.
Research from the IMI has found that an estimated 40,000 independent businesses could lose access to information and data needed to repair vehicles on the road today if government fails to guarantee continuation of the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme post-Brexit. The professional body says it could have massive repercussions for the independents if this key content of the EU Block Exemption Regulation is not protected by government. The current EU regulation means all manufacturers are obliged to share information on all new cars, which secures a fair market for independent businesses to operate in.
Employers in the automotive sector face further uncertainty with new immigration laws potentially excluding nearly 10% of multi-national employees. The industry is heavily reliant on the international skillset currently available to businesses, which is helping to prevent a damaging skills shortage. So the IMI is calling on government to also guarantee continued access to talent from across Europe.