Traditional automakers have one huge leg up on EV startups: A nationwide network of shops ready to service cars

Thu, 02/16/2023 - 09:57

A Tesla showroom and service center, in Burbank on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 in Burbank, CA. — As EV startups like Rivian get more cars on the road, the question is whether they'll find the same success servicing their vehicles as Tesla has.
Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Traditional automakers have a network of dealers that their customers can use for vehicle maintenance.
But today's EV startups don't operate that way.
Young automakers have a tough rough ahead in terms of providing good repair services for customers.

Servicing a car bought from an electric-vehicle startup like Rivian or Lucid looks a lot different than going to your dealer or a local body shop for a repair or maintenance — and that might get the young firms in trouble.