The surge in electric vehicle sales will encourage "a whole new range of young people" to work on the exciting models coming to market, an auto industry group says.

South Australia's Motor Trade Association has opened the state's first electric vehicle training centre in Adelaide to service the growing number of EVs on Australian roads.

In May, sales of battery electric vehicles accounted for 7.7 per cent of the total Australian market and are now running at seven per cent for the year.

Sales across all electrified vehicles, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, came in at 15.6 per cent last month.

Motor Trades Association chief executive Darrell Jacobs said with more motorists choosing to go electric, training centres would help cater for the growing demand.

"The automotive industry has an opportunity to attract a whole new range of young people to work on really exciting vehicles with cutting-edge technology and advanced electronics," he said.

"We know the transition to EVs will not happen overnight but we are seeing sales significantly increase as new models and manufacturers continue to enter the Australian market.

"Make no mistake, automotive is experiencing a revolutionary turning point representing some of the most significant innovations to mobility and transport seen in living memory."

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the auto sector was part of the state's cultural and economic identity and ongoing investment in the industry was important.

"Decarbonisation is now happening and it is real," he said.