Vital EV solutions: Unlocking aftersales opportunities for car dealers

At first glance, automotive electrification reduces aftersales revenue for dealers, thanks to electric vehicles requiring less frequent servicing than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and an EV service being 35% cheaper for the consumer. The reality, however, is that bespoke EV solutions present new opportunities for dealers to evolve and grow their offering.

Utilising MOT failure data from the DVSA and SMMT, this article highlights the most lucrative electric vehicle solutions dealers can provide to drive aftersales revenue.

1. Battery health diagnostics: Vital EV solutions driving trust and retention

Batteries are the most expensive and critical component of any EV, but expert insight on electric vehicle solutions cite degradation as a key concern, meaning regular monitoring and diagnostics are vital EV solutions for drivers.

Unlike ICE vehicles, which rely on mechanical components like fuel injectors and pistons, specialist services are required to maintain an electric vehicle’s high-voltage battery system. To drive revenue and improve customer satisfaction, dealers can utilise electric vehicle diagnostics and partners to help keep batteries healthier for longer.

Key EV battery solutions include:

Battery health checks: A high-value EV service

Much like ICE vehicles requiring regular oil changes and engine checks, EVs benefit from frequent battery health assessments to review its overall capacity, efficiency and expected lifespan.

Dealers offering this essential EV service can provide customers with accurate insights, helping them make informed decisions and take relevant action to ensure battery performance, while providing the EV battery transparency they're craving.

EV thermal management: Critical maintenance for battery longevity

Compared to ICE vehicles, whose engines require cooling systems, EVs rely on air or liquid based cooling systems in their batteries to preserve optimal operating temperatures. To ensure efficiency and prevent overheating, dedicated thermal management and checks are critical electric vehicle solutions that dealers can provide their customers.

EV charging consultations: A complete EV solution for long-term care

Complete EV solutions go further than just servicing the vehicle. Supporting charging infrastructure, educating customers on best charging practices and providing charging health assessments are EV service trends craved by consumers. These low-barrier, high-value services help build trust and drive adoption by extending battery life and boosting battery transparency.

For example, fast charging is a popular feature amongst drivers. However, the increased heat generation puts strain on the battery cells, meaning that too much of it can impact battery longevity. Offering consultations and data-driven insights can help customers charge more efficiently, maximise the battery’s lifespan and maintain optimal performance.

 Not only will these EV solutions secure a long-term revenue stream, but it will also help build trust between dealers and customers by addressing key EV adoption roadblocks such as electric vehicle depreciation challenges.

2. Tyre and suspension maintenance: Essential EV service opportunities for dealers

Tyre and suspension care isn’t unique to EV maintenance, but the weight of the battery packs means electric vehicles are heavier than ICE vehicles, resulting in their tyres and shock absorbers wearing faster and increased likeliness of suspension misalignments.

At Car Dealer Live’s 2025 event earlier this year, Cox Automotive’s Insight Director, Philip Nothard shared data from DVSA and SMMT, highlighting just this.

The MOT failure data in the table below shows EVs are twice as likely to fail their first three-year MOT due to tyre issues compared to diesel vehicles and are 19% more likely than petrol vehicles. Similarly, EVs are 12% more likely to fail their eight-year MOT due to suspension issues.

Dealers can capitalise on these findings while improving safety and compliance for customers, by offering a preventative EV service that require repeat visits and new parts revenue.

This EV service would include:

• Fitting and selling specialised EV tyres
• Regular tyre rotations
• Wheel alignment and balancing
• Suspension system checks 

These proactive tyre and suspension services aren’t just good opportunities for aftersales growth - they’re essential EV solutions needed to build trust in electrification.

3. Connected car technology: EV solutions beyond the workshop

One of the biggest differences between ICE vehicles and EVs, of course, is the fact that electric vehicles run on software. Presenting an opportunity for dealers to offer high-value vital EV solutions that go beyond traditional mechanical services.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates: A new EV service frontier

To ensure efficiency, bolster performance and improve user experience, EVs often receive over-the-air (OTA) software updates. To monetise on this shift to digitally connected vehicles, dealers can offer connectivity audits, update support and bespoke post-update data to drive required EV maintenance services.

Cybersecurity in EVs: An emerging electric vehicle solution

As EVs rely more heavily on software, cybersecurity becomes a crucial part of any complete EV solutions strategy. As well as providing customer guidance on protecting their data and connected services, dealers can check for software vulnerabilities and provide secure update procedures.

Connected diagnostics: Predictive EV maintenance powered by data

Electric vehicles are designed to generate extensive data on battery performance, charging behaviour and driving patterns. This real-time data combined with the power of AI allows for personalised and predictive EV maintenance services.

Using telematics, dealers can implement electric vehicle diagnostic services, monitoring issues remotely and scheduling proactive, tailored EV maintenance for their customers. This can pre-empt faults before they impact drivability and reducing unexpected downtime, while creating recurring revenue opportunities.  

Turning EV solutions into recurring aftersales revenue for dealers

While EV adoption means traditional servicing needs are declining, that doesn’t mean aftersales is a shrinking market, just that it’s a shifting one.

From software updates and advanced diagnostics, to charging consultations and tyre maintenance, the transition to electrification presents opportunity to offer complete EV solutions that secure long term customer engagement, and recurring revenue.

By offering these vital EV solutions, dealers can help breakdown ongoing roadblocks by becoming trusted partners throughout the electric vehicle lifecycle while ensuring efficient EV maintenance.

See our latest Insight Quarterly report for more EV solutions and trends.