South Australia is introducing its first four-year trade apprenticeship dedicated to electric vehicle technology as rising EV sales increase demand for technicians with specialist servicing and repair skills.
The SA Government will fund training places for the new Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology, reducing the cost for South Australians entering the programme. The qualification is expected to support both new apprentices and existing automotive workers seeking to build their skills in electric vehicle technology.
The move comes as battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles account for an increasing share of new vehicle sales in the state. Government figures show that around 23 per cent of new vehicles sold in South Australia during the first half of 2026 were battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid models.
Data from the Motor Trade Association SA/NT indicates that battery electric vehicle sales in June 2026 were 144 per cent higher than in June 2025, while plug-in hybrid sales rose by 98 per cent over the same period.
More than 15,800 battery, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles were sold in South Australia during the first six months of the year, according to figures from the Australian Automobile Association.
The growth in sales is creating new demands for automotive businesses, which need technicians able to safely work with high-voltage systems and diagnose and repair newer vehicle technologies.
The new apprenticeship has been developed following calls from dealerships, manufacturers and automotive employers for greater access to specialist training. The qualification will provide skills that can be applied across different vehicle manufacturers and will cover the servicing, diagnosis and repair of battery electric vehicles and their components to national standards.
MTA Training and Employment will deliver the first programme in South Australia. The organisation will train new apprentices while providing an option for existing workers to upskill.
The Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology is due to be added to the state’s Subsidised Traineeship and Apprenticeship List next month.
South Australian Skills and Training Minister Lucy Hood said the change in vehicle technology was creating a need for new training pathways.
“Our state’s vehicle fleet is changing amid a surge in EV sales, driven by high fuel prices and more consumer choice,” Hood said.
She said the government had responded to industry demand for more apprentices trained in EV servicing and aimed to help address workforce shortages.
The programme builds on existing government investment in shorter automotive upskilling courses and automotive dual trade apprenticeships.
Motor Trade Association SA/NT chief executive Darrell Jacobs said automotive businesses needed to ensure their workforce could keep pace with the changing vehicle market.
“As sales accelerate, our local workforce must be ready to service and repair the growing number of motorists driving electric vehicles on our roads,” Jacobs said.
Eagers Automotive regional HR manager for SA/NT Jenny Seal said dedicated EV training would be important for the company’s workforce as customer demand changes.
For apprentice Sayed Atai, the decision to train in electric vehicle technology reflects the direction he expects the industry to take over the next four years.
“When I think about completing my apprenticeship in four years’ time and the cars that will be on our roads, it makes sense to put myself ahead of the curve,” Atai said.
The introduction of the qualification gives South Australian automotive workers and new apprentices a formal pathway into a field that is expanding alongside the state’s changing vehicle fleet. It also places greater emphasis on ensuring workshops have appropriately trained staff as more electric and hybrid vehicles enter the market.
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