Author: Morgan Horobin

The gap between average repair costs for Teslas and other electric vehicles has closed dramatically in the last five years.

This is according to insights by Tim Hunt, Senior Engineer at Activate Group Limited, which have been shared by Gecko.

Breaking it down to models, Gecko data revealed that average costs for the Model X this year are £4,561, for the Model-S they are £4,381, for the Model-Y they are £3,703, and for the Model-3 they are £3,499.

Tim said, “Electric vehicles are still a fairly new technology and Tesla were one of the first major players to hit the market. Now all the major manufacturers have a strong line up of electric vehicles to compete with their ICE options. This is giving far more competition in this market which is driving down costs but also increasing knowledge in the repair industry.”

The one significant point of difference between Telsa repairs and those for other EVs is that labour costs exceed parts costs. But this too shows signs of changing.

Tim continued, “For the past few years there have been capacity issues in the repair industry, so the repair sites did not need to invest in the technology and training to repair these types of vehicles. In the last year, we have seen volumes of repairs fall by around 10% across the board. Add this to the increase in EVs on the road, the repairers have now invested in this market to ensure they can repair the volumes they require.

“Also in the last year, Tesla have been more open to non-Tesla approved bodyshops repairing their vehicles. Parts and also, more importantly, manufacturer repair methods have become more available to the open market. This gives further competition in the repair market and drives down repair costs when repairing Tesla vehicles.

“The combination of these factors is bringing Tesla in line with the rest of the market. This trend is likely to continue as newer manufacturers of electric vehicles, like BYD, gain a greater market share of vehicles being sold.”

Steer Automotive Group has opened its second dedicated electric vehicle repair facility, located in Milton Keynes.

This new site investment expands the group’s specialist electric vehicle repair capacity to meet the increasing demand for EV repair capability within the current and future UK vehicle parc through emerging new EV brands.

The 14,000-square-foot facility is designed to accommodate the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology, offering comprehensive aluminium structural repair capabilities. It is specifically equipped with state-of-the-art high voltage technology tooling to manage both current and next-generation electric vehicles.

Steer’s team of technicians have undergone extensive training, specialising in electric vehicle systems and safety protocols. Their expertise ensures every repair is carried out with precision, giving EV owners peace of mind that their vehicles are being expertly cared for by a dedicated team focusing permanently on EV powertrains.

In line with the group’s strong commitment to sustainability, the facility incorporates eco-friendly practices to reduce its overall environmental impact.

The design focuses on efficiency and reflects Steer’s broader mission to promote sustainable automotive solutions, with a dedicated investment ensuring the future vehicle charging capacity requirements are catered for and factored in within the facility planning.