Garage focus 18 www.aftermarketonline.net JUNE 2026 There’s a lot to learn, but there’s a lot of satisfaction too. Taking charge of the future In this month’s Garage Focus, Chris Callander spoke with Matt Eeles of Essex-based Saffron Autos about the business’s journey into becoming a respected EV repair specialist. For many independent garages, electric vehicles still feel like tomorrow’s problem. At Saffron Autos, Matt Eeles decided some time ago that tomorrow was already on the ramp. The family-run business, based in Saffron Walden, has been trading for 38 years. Matt joined at 16 and, now 45, has spent nearly three decades watching vehicle technology change around him. And over the years, the business has invested to stay ahead of the curve. So, for Matt, the move into EVs was not really a dramatic leap. It was the next step. Taking the first step Matt began his journey into EV repairs with the Institute of the Motor Industry’s training, and he reached Level 4. Like many busy garage owners, he admits he started Level 4 once before but did not finish it, partly because the format at the time required a lengthy dissertationstyle element. When he later found a course that wrapped the assessment into four intensive days, he signed up and completed it. That training, he said, is essential, but it is only the starting point. One of the early challenges was that after initial training on hybrid and EV systems, work did not immediately arrive in large numbers. “You do the training, then you might not see anything for over a year,” Matt said. “Then something comes in, and you think, ‘I can’t remember.’” Thankfully, that is now changing. Saffron Autos is seeing more EV and hybrid work, particularly diagnostic jobs. And as well as direct customers, the garage also receives referrals from other workshops that simply do not want to touch hybrid or electric vehicles. Training, tools and backup Matt is clear that garages should not jump in without the right preparation. Training comes first. Then comes the basic safety equipment, insulated tools, signage, barriers and personal protective equipment. However, he is keen to stress that this does not all need to happen in one painful hit. “You build up your toolbox while you’re building up your knowledge,” he said. “There are kits out there, and if you buy them all in one lump, it can look expensive. We’ve built it up over time.” The other key part of the puzzle for Saffron Autos has been technical backup. Matt is a member of HEVRA (the Hybrid and Electrical Vehicle Repair Alliance), which he describes as a must-have for garages getting into hybrid and EV work. Through the network, garages can submit
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