Plan to Train 1,000 Automotive Technicians to Maintain Electric Vehicles and Build Up Workshop Capabilities
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Sharael Taha’s inquiry regarding the progress of training 1,000 automotive technicians for electric vehicle (EV) maintenance and the adoption of government support schemes by workshops. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong stated that approximately 100 technicians have been trained by the Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA) since January 2021, with progress slowed by pandemic restrictions. He noted that while SMWA is reviewing its training targets, government agencies like LTA and EnterpriseSG are working with educational institutions to facilitate broader workforce upskilling in EV maintenance. Regarding financial support, 13 automotive workshops were awarded the Enterprise Development Grant between December 2020 and September 2022 to build new capabilities for EV and charging systems. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong further clarified that no workshops have utilized the Enterprise Financing Scheme for these specific maintenance and charging system upgrades.
Transcript
16 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for Trade and Industry given the rise in the number of electric vehicles and the setting up of the Singapore Motor Workshop Association Training Academy in December 2020 (a) whether we are on plan to train the 1,000 automotive technicians in Singapore to maintain electric vehicles as initially projected; and (b) how many automotive workshops have tapped on schemes such as Enterprise Development Grant and Enterprise Financing Scheme administered by Enterprise Singapore to build new capabilities to maintain electric vehicles and charging systems.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: We understand from the Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA) that their Training Academy has trained around 100 automotive technicians to maintain hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) since January 2021. SMWA shared that their courses have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions. However, alternative training providers in the same field are also increasingly available. SMWA is reviewing their plans on the number of automotive technicians to be trained.
More broadly, Government agencies such as the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) are also working with the Institutes of Higher Learning and the industry to facilitate the upskilling of the workforce in EV maintenance roles.
Between December 2020 and September 2022, 13 automotive workshops have been awarded the Enterprise Development Grant to build new capabilities to maintain EV and charging systems. No automotive workshops have tapped on the Enterprise Financing Scheme for this purpose.