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India's Automobile Workforce 'Rich in Certificates, but Short on Skills; Opinion of Raghavan, President of 'Lucas Indian Services'

Samira Vishwas | September 1, 2026 10:24 AM CST

As vehicles become more and more complex, mechanics in independent workshops face a severe lack of proper technical skills and training.
With the network of authorized dealerships not reaching rural areas, empowering independent aftermarket technicians has become an urgent need of the day.
Independent technicians should be trained in modern electronics and software diagnostics along with traditional mechanical repairs.

As vehicles become more complex, India's automotive skilling ecosystem needs to focus more on hands-on skills than certifications, opines Raghavan N., President, Lux Indian Services. has expressed.

Raghavan said the current system is strong in terms of certifications, but it does not always translate into sufficient practical skills, particularly among technicians who repair vehicles in the independent aftermarket. He expressed this regret while speaking at the annual conference of Automotive Skills Development Council.

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He believes this skills gap is becoming more critical as vehicle diagnostics and repairs become more complex with electric vehicles, electronics, connected technology and software-driven vehicles. There is still no uniform standard for technicians in the independent auto repair sector in India, he added.

Role and Challenges of Independent Workshops

Official dealerships provide training as prescribed by vehicle manufacturers, but their network does not extend to rural areas. Independent workshops therefore play an important role, but many technicians in this field lack the technology and training. Empowering independent aftermarket technicians has become an urgent need as authorized services do not reach small towns.

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With the increasing use of electronics and software in vehicles, technicians need to be proficient in diagnosis skills in addition to traditional mechanical repairs. Since vehicles will be on the road for 15 to 20 years or more, independent technicians are responsible for maintaining them throughout their life cycle. So it is necessary to empower them by giving them proper training.