GSF criticises government over EV aftermarket ‘neglect’

8 January 2026  

GSF Car Parts is warning that EV motorists in particular face soaring hidden costs without government action — and is urging ministers to stop neglecting the independent aftermarket.

GSF, which supplies thousands of independent garages across England, Wales and the Isle of Man, said today that the government should take a wider view of the issues facing the EV market as businesses start to feel the impact of EVs entering the MOT and servicing cycle. 

The factor said its sales of EV parts have almost doubled year-on-year, but more should be done to ensure the industry continues to flourish.

Huge discounts, totalling more than £5 billion last year, have put more EVs on the road as manufacturers try to meet ZEV mandate targets. But GSF said now is the time for increased support for garages as the vehicle parc continues to age.

Steve Horne, CEO at GSF Car Parts, said: “We are investing aggressively to serve the needs of our customers across the UK and, make no mistake, there is a lot of concern among independent, family-run businesses that they are being ignored by the government. 

‘Under-equipped’

“The garages we serve are the backbone of the UK automotive industry. They keep people on the road, older vehicles working like new, and are now increasingly feeling under-equipped for the continued transition to EV.”

GSF currently offers a variety of industry-leading training courses through its partnership with the Delphi Academy and its own garage network, Servicesure, offering garages free training among many other benefits.

The company said the lack of understanding of EVs in the market, paired with poor availability of parts, is the biggest threat for one of the UK’s largest industries.

“I urge the government to consider the implications of having fewer garages ordinary people can turn to,” Horne said.

“It would put more power in the hands of manufacturers, which are increasingly Chinese brands flooding the market with EVs featuring complex and unfamiliar technology. We need urgent support to help the aftermarket keep up, otherwise the costs of ownership will soar.”