Growing competition from Chinese automotive brands helps improve the conditions for UK drivers considering an electrical vehicle, based on the AA.
Its EV Readiness Index reached 60 out of 100 within the third quarter of 2026, up from 58.8 in Q2 and its highest rating thus far.
The index combines measures including vehicle prices, charging and insurance costs, charging availability and roadside assistance data.
The AA said Chinese brands accounted for 15.8% of UK latest vehicle sales in August, compared with 5.5% a yr earlier. In a survey of its members, 47% thought the increased competition would profit buyers.
That doesn’t mean all buyers are ready to contemplate the cars.
The survey found 42% wouldn’t consider a Chinese-made vehicle, while 1 / 4 believed established brands offered higher quality than Chinese manufacturers.
For dealers taking over newer brands, the findings point to a necessity to deal with questions on quality and ownership alongside price.
Dean Keeling, managing director of roadside services on the AA, said Chinese manufacturers were bringing “increasingly sophisticated, competitively priced vehicles to market”.
He said: “The lesson for the UK is not simply to impose tougher sales targets. It’s to create the conditions that make consumers want, and are able, to purchase electric vehicles.”
Used EV price gap narrows
The AA’s index put the typical latest EV purchase price 25% above that of an equivalent petrol automotive in Q3, down from 26% within the previous quarter. Within the used market, the gap narrowed from 3% to 1%.
Home charging remained 66% cheaper per mile than petrol, based on the AA’s figures, while ultra-rapid public charging was around 15% costlier per mile. The difference underlines how a buyer’s access to charging can change the associated fee comparison presented in a dealership.
The AA said its patrols fixed 88.1% of EV callouts on the roadside, compared with 83.5% of petrol vehicle callouts. Running out of charge accounted for 1.3% of its EV callouts.
Keeling said latest entrants would also need aftersales support: “EVs generally require less conventional servicing and more work can increasingly be carried out by mobile technicians.”
The AA called for certainty over the UK’s zero-emission vehicle mandate because the Government reviews its targets.
AA president Edmund King said: “The EV Readiness Index reaching 60 is one other significant milestone. It shows that the conditions for going electric are steadily improving, but a rating of 60 also tells us that we aren’t there yet.”
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
