Norway has the world's densest fleet of electric vehicles. That means Norwegian recovery stations already deal today with what colleagues abroad won't face for years. Whether we like it or not, we are something of a pioneer industry. And that gives us an unusually good vantage point for asking: what does recovery actually look like heading toward 2030?
In May we wrote that a recovery station is more than roadside assistance – that the equipment, the expertise and the people can generate income well beyond the traditional callout. The response from the industry showed that this is a conversation many are ready to have. Here are five developments we believe will shape the working day in the years ahead. We don't claim to have the answers, but we think they are worth talking about openly.
1. The electric vehicle changes the job itself
An electric car is not just a car with a different engine. It is heavier, it often cannot be towed on its wheels without causing damage, and a damaged battery can pose a fire risk that calls for its own procedures. Toward 2030 this becomes the norm, not the exception. It places new demands on equipment, training and handling – and it is Norwegian operators who are learning this first.
2. The year doesn't look the way you think
The classic picture is a busy winter and a quiet summer. But reality is more nuanced. In summer the roads fill with tourists, and a good share of them drive motorhomes. These are large, heavy vehicles, often with foreign owners, different insurance arrangements and a language barrier that asks a little extra. Summer is not a low season – it is a different season. Stations that plan for it even out the year instead of waiting for the next peak.
3. Regular customers are the broad station's backbone
Many stations already work with customers that provide jobs all year round: car auctions that need vehicles transported, equipment-rental firms with machinery to move, boat lifting and transport, wreck collection, agricultural-machine transport. This is not a distant future – these are invoices that exist today. What changes toward 2030 is that the stations which put this into a system, rather than taking it ad hoc, build the most resilient business.
4. Service becomes a competitive advantage
Some stations already offer to bring a rental car out to the customer, so that a breakdown doesn't leave people stranded. It is a good example of where the industry is heading: toward 2030 the customer – especially the direct customer – expects a complete experience, not just a tow. Those who deliver that extra service build relationships that last.
5. What ties it all together
The more job types and regular customers a station handles, the more there is to keep track of: who is where, what has been agreed, what has been documented for the insurer and the client. The insurance industry is digitalising fast, and the demands for real-time updates and documentation are rising. This is where technology comes in – not to replace the craft, but to make it possible to say yes to more without drowning in admin. That is precisely why Assist and Tracksys are now working more closely together.
A conversation we'd like to continue
These are some of the thoughts we are bringing to Bergingsmesse Storefjell 2026 on 19–21 June. We are more curious about what you see in the field than about convincing anyone of anything. Drop by our stand for a coffee and a chat about how your station sees the road toward 2030.
In the weeks leading up to the show, we will go deeper into each of these five themes here on the blog. Stay tuned.
Best regards, the team at Assist – together with Tracksys