India's automotive skilling ecosystem needs to put greater emphasis on practical capabilities rather than certifications as vehicles become increasingly complex, according to Raghavan N, President of Lucas Indian Services.
Raghavan said the current system remains strong on certification but does not necessarily translate into adequate practical skills, particularly among technicians servicing vehicles in the independent aftermarket.
“Today what's happening is it is very rich in certification, average in knowledge and poor in skills,” Raghavan said during a panel discussion at the Automotive Skills Development Council's Annual Conclave 2026.
“If we can tilt that — rich in skills, average in the other two — I think that is fine,” he added.
No Standardised Training Exists for India's Technicians
The skills gap is becoming more critical as electric vehicles, electronics, connected technologies and software-defined vehicles make vehicle diagnosis and repair more complex.
Raghavan said there is currently no uniform standard for technicians across India's vehicle repair ecosystem.
“When it comes to technicians, there is no standard yet for what should be the technician standard. There is no standardised training which is available for technicians,” he said.
Lucas Indian Services, established in 1930 and part of the Lucas-TVS ecosystem, is a major automotive aftermarket and service provider in India. It supplies auto-electrical, fuel-injection, battery and other aftermarket products, besides providing diagnostic and repair support. The company has more than 600 service dealers and over 2,400 sales dealers across the country.
Independent Aftermarket Fills the Service Gap
While authorised dealerships provide technicians with training prescribed by vehicle manufacturers, their networks do not cover the entire vehicle parc, particularly in smaller towns and rural markets, Raghavan said.
Independent workshops therefore play a major role in keeping vehicles running through their operating lives, but many technicians in this segment do not have adequate access to technology and training, according to Raghavan.
“The vehicle dealerships do not cover the last mile up to the Tier 4, Tier 5 kind of situations. So the independent aftermarket, which plays a major role, where the independent aftermarket technicians do not have access to technologies which are even existing,” he said.
Skills Gap is an Immediate Challenge
Raghavan said upgrading these technicians is an immediate requirement rather than a challenge that can be addressed only when newer technologies become more widespread.
“The major gap is, how do we retrain those independent aftermarket technicians to meet a certain minimum standard,” he said. “The need is dire, it's very immediate. It is here and now.”
New Vehicles Raise Diagnostic Requirements
The increasing use of electronics and software also means technicians will have to become better at diagnosis rather than relying largely on traditional mechanical repair skills.
Raghavan said this challenge will persist throughout the life of a vehicle. While a vehicle may be manufactured within hours, it can remain in use for 15-20 years or more and will require regular servicing and repairs during that period.
“You call it a vehicle, you call it a computer on wheels, whether you call it a software-defined vehicle, the vehicle is going to live a life of 15 plus, 20 plus years,” he said.
“So throughout the life cycle of the vehicle, the people who are going to keep it running, and keep it running well, are going to be the independent aftermarket technicians. So how are we going to empower them through skill?”
The shift is particularly relevant as India's vehicle parc increasingly becomes a mix of older internal-combustion models and newer vehicles featuring advanced electronics, alternative fuels and electric powertrains.
Lucas Indian Services, established in 1930 and part of the Lucas-TVS ecosystem, is a major automotive aftermarket and service provider in India. The company supplies auto-electrical, fuel-injection, battery, lubricant and other aftermarket products across vehicle segments, while also providing diagnostics and repair support. It has a nationwide network of more than 600 service dealers and over 2,400 sales dealers.
(With inputs from Shahkar Abidi, Anurag Chaturvedi and Mukul Yudhveer Singh)