AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Sales of electric vehicles may be on the decline, but dealership service departments that staff certified EV technicians are likely to stay busy in this segment, as hundreds of motorists across northeastern Ohio who own EVs will require some type of future maintenance on their cars and trucks.
Thus far, most of the issues related to EVs have called for routine fixes – tire rotations, some software enhancements – but nothing major, says Steve Barto, a service technician at Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown.
“These are just some normal things like tire rotations, brakes – there’s not a whole lot more at the moment,” Barto says.
However, there are differences when it comes to working with EVs when compared with conventional vehicles with combustion engines, he says. Tires for General Motors EVs, for example, come equipped with sound-suppressant material that reduces noise. “So a regular tire will not perform the same as a factory tire,” he says. “They are designed differently. They’re low-rolling resistance.”
Barto has earned EV specialist and master certifications through GM’s training program, and he says that plenty of EVs have circulated through the market over the past three years. Many customers from outside the Mahoning Valley, for example, take their EVs to Greenwood for service, he adds.
Moreover, EV technology continues to advance, which will require Barto to stay apprised of the industry’s dynamics.
“It’s going to continue to evolve,” he says. “There’s just the next layer of protocols. You’re not dealing with 12-volt systems – you’re dealing with 400- or 800-volt systems. You need to be able to take the precautions and the time to properly address things.”
Jim Conlin, new car manager at Greenwood, relates that GM’s dealership network is well-positioned to take care of current and future EV customers. “You still need tire rotations; you still need to replace cabin filters; you still need to have to check brake fluid,” he says. “But it’s nice not to have oil changes.”
Putting Inventory to Use
Greenwood’s service department has also found a creative way to put its EV inventory to good use, Conlin says. At present, the dealership has 10 Chevrolet Equinox EVs on the lot. These vehicles are likely to be redeployed as loaner vehicles for those customers who are having their cars or trucks repaired.
“We’ve had some newer EV Equinoxes arrive, and our plan is to place these into a loaner service,” he says. “It’s a great way to allow people to experience an EV without purchasing it first. It’s part of Greenwood’s courtesy – while your vehicle is being repaired, you could drive an EV.”
An added benefit to consumers considering an EV is that the loaner vehicles would be placed up for sale or lease at a discount after they reach 2,000 miles. “It’s a great way to get into a nice lease or purchase while it’s still a new vehicle,” he says.
Tax credits of up to $7,500 on qualifying electric vehicles that were approved during the Biden administration were not renewed under the Trump administration and allowed to expire Sept. 30, causing a rush to purchase new EVs that month. During the third quarter, for example, GM’s EV sales reached an all-time high of 66,501 units across the United States, led by the popular Equinox, which accounted for 38% of the automaker’s EV sales.
GM’s electric vehicle sales accounted for 9.4% of overall business, compared to 6.2% during the second quarter and 4.3% reported in the first quarter of 2025.
However, GM also reported a $1.6 billion charge during the third quarter that it said was related to an expected drop in demand for EVs after the tax credits were terminated.
That impact has also been felt on a local level. In January, Ultium Cells LLC – a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution that manufactures battery cells for some GM electric vehicle models – plans to place 468 workers on permanent layoff and another 800 on temporary layoff. The automaker also announced it would cut 1,200 jobs at its EV manufacturing plant near Detroit.
“We did sell most of our inventory,” Conlin says, noting the dealership sold nearly 50 electric vehicles this year through November. “Since the federal tax credits went away, there’s definitely been a slowdown.”
However, Conlin says the EV market is still very much alive and is likely to attract those buyers who are specifically interested in moving away from vehicles with internal combustion engines. “EVs are going to be more of a segment,” he says. “I don’t think EVs are going anywhere.”
GM, for example, has recently resumed production of the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, an entry-level EV configured to the Ultium platform that is expected to hit showrooms in January 2026. GM discontinued the first version of the Bolt in 2023.
“We’ll have those starting in the first quarter of next year,” Conlin says. “We’re excited about it.”
There are several attractive features related to the new Bolt, he adds. “One of the best things about it is that it’s moving up from a 55-kilowatt charging speed to 150,” he says. “What that means is if your battery is down to 10% and you want to charge it to 80%, you’re able to do that in 26 minutes.” Before, it would take a driver approximately an hour and 15 minutes to reach that capacity.
Another attention grabber is the price, Conlin says. The new Bolt’s base price is approximately $29,000, and it is the first GM EV model that comes with a North American Charging Standard plug, which is designed to fit all Tesla charging stations. Currently, GM’s EV customers are able to use these stations with an adapter.
The 2027 Bolt has a range of approximately 255 miles on a single charge.
Still a Young Market
Kevin Lawson, sales and leasing consultant at Greenwood, says the EV market will evolve into a segment all its own and build a dedicated customer base. “It’s going to be a specific sector of specific people with specific needs,” he says.
In general, typical EV customers know what they want before they enter the showroom, Lawson says. “EV buyers are EV buyers, and they come in knowing that they’re looking for an electric vehicle.” The variables usually consist of the customer’s budget, color, trim, and vehicle features, he says.
Those that are considering switching from an internal combustion engine vehicle to an EV, however, still have concerns over “range anxiety” – the fear that an EV will lose its charge before reaching a charging station.
Other drawbacks, they say, include the time it takes to charge an EV, and price.
Lawson says until electric vehicle technology reaches a point where the price point is closer to that of traditional vehicles, as well as expanded charging access and stepped up speed, traditional buyers are likely to stick with gas-fueled vehicles.
“We’re still in a really young market,” Lawson says, noting that as technology improves over the years, so will the appeal of EVs. New versions of the Bolt, for example, reduce the price point for those considering an entry-level electric vehicle, but the segment isn’t for everyone.
Moreover, Lawson emphasizes his goal is not talking people into purchasing an EV.
“It’s our job to help you buy something,” he says. “Our priority has always been our customers, and what the customers want is what we’ll give them.”
Pictured at top: Steve Barto, certified EV technician at Greenwood Chevrolet, says there is still the need to perform maintenance on EVs, despite slowdown in sales.