Petrol and diesel buying intent rises despite BEV growth – EY
Asking the better questions that unlock new answers to the working world's most complex issues.
See more
See more
AI insights
Sustainability in business
Economics
EY Center of Board Matters
CEO agenda
Technology leaders' agenda
EY Case studies
EY webcasts
See more
EY helps clients create long-term value for all stakeholders. Enabled by data and technology, our services and solutions provide trust through assurance and help clients transform, grow and operate.
See more
EY.ai – A unifying platform
Strategy, transaction and transformation consulting
Technology transformation
Tax function operations
Climate change and sustainability services
EY Ecosystems
EY Nexus: business transformation platform
Discover how EY insights and services are helping to reframe the future of your industry.
See more
Workforce
How Microsoft built a new mobility model for cross-border talent
13 May 2024EY Global
Private equity
How GenAI is empowering talent at a PE-backed consumer brand
08 May 2024EY Global
Strategy and Transactions
How carve-outs positioned an automotive giant for future growth
11 Apr 2024EY Global
See all
We bring together extraordinary people, like you, to build a better working world.
See more
Experienced careers
Early careers
Technology careers
Belonging at EY
At EY, our purpose is building a better working world. The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients, people and society, and to build trust in the capital markets.
See more
Press release
EY reports another year of UK revenue growth in FY25
27 Oct 2025Rosanna Lander
Press release
Profit warnings data and analysis for Q3 2025
20 Oct 2025Justin Moll
Press release
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 UK finalist shortlist announced
16 Oct 2025Chris Brown
No results have been found
Topics
General
People
Recent Searches
Trending
How integrated reporting can give you the whole story
Integrated reporting can give business leaders the intelligence they need to make faster, higher-value decisions with confidence. Discover more.
How to unlock confidence in your operational resilience
Discover six practical steps for enhancing your operational resilience amid rising threats and upcoming regulations constraints in the TMT sector.
What makes today’s climate leaders tomorrow’s business leaders?
The 2025 EY Global Climate Action Barometer highlights how proactive climate action can present a valuable strategic opportunity for companies. Read now.
Select your location
Press contact
Senior Executive, Media Relations, Ernst & Young LLP
UK consumer sentiment around Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) has seen a fall in momentum, while buying intent for petrol and diesel vehicles has bounced back, according to the latest EY Mobility Consumer Index.
Forty-one per cent (41%) of UK respondents intending to buy a vehicle in the next two years said their preference would be an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), up from 36% in 2024, and more than double the proportion of respondents intending to buy a BEV (19%).
This contrasts with last year’s Mobility Consumer Index findings, which highlighted a fall in ICE buying intent, with an increasing proportion of UK consumers (59%) looking to cleaner and greener vehicles, which has now eased to 50%.
According to the survey, which was carried out in September and October 2025, expensive upfront purchase costs was the top factor deterring respondents from opting for an electric vehicle (EV), which includes BEVs, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Hybrids and Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), with 41% citing this reason. Meanwhile, limited range (36%) and expensive battery replacement (30%) were the next most prominent reasons among respondents for choosing not to go electric with their next vehicle purchase.
Less than one in five (19%) of respondents indicated that their preference would be a hybrid vehicle, down from 27% in 2024. Ten per cent (10%) of respondents indicated their preference for a PHEV, in line with last year’s figure.
Overall, 49% of UK respondents said they were either extremely likely or somewhat likely to purchase a vehicle in the next two years, down from last year’s figure of 56%, and slightly below the average across the 32 markets surveyed (50%).
Maria Bengtsson, EY UK & Ireland Mobility Leader, said: “UK BEV sales have seen significant growth in recent times, so it is surprising that the latest UK Mobility Consumer Index indicates a shift in preferences back towards petrol and diesel vehicles.
“Meanwhile, although BEV market share in the UK continues to trail the 28% Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target, these sentiment figures shouldn’t be a major cause for concern and there are still reasons for optimism. Encouragement can be taken from last month’s Autumn Budget, which was announced after this survey was conducted, with the Chancellor announcing provisions to improve the affordability of BEVs and enhance charging infrastructure, including an additional £1.3bn of funding towards the Electric Car Grant, which should help address some of the top concerns that UK respondents have cited. However, the new mileage-based tax on EVs could prove a barrier to demand, and with uptake still lagging behind legislation targets, more may need to be done to incentivise and accelerate demand for BEVs among consumers.”
Concern about the environment was the top reason compelling respondents to purchase an electric vehicle (EV), with 39% citing this as their motivation for buying one. Rising penalties on ICE vehicles (29%) and high fuel prices (28%) were the other key factors encouraging people to purchase an EV.
Attitudes towards the overall EV experience in the UK appear resilient according to the Index, with a significant proportion (84%) of current EV owners in the market for a vehicle saying they would likely buy another, similar to last year’s figure (88%).
There continue to be challenges regarding EV charging, with the top issues cited by respondents being locating charging stations (47%), long wait times (45%) and expensive costs (40%).
In relation to the EV home charging experience, the top priorities highlighted by respondents were the ability to monitor and automate charging (55%) and the opportunity to lower electricity bills and earn rewards while the vehicle is charging (49%).
Meanwhile, for public charging, the speed of charging (60%), affordability (43%) and convenient charging locations (37%) were the leading priorities.
Maria Bengtsson, EY UK & Ireland Mobility Leader at EY, said: “Cost savings and convenience are among the top priorities for UK respondents when considering whether to purchase an EV, and what they would want out of an EV charging experience. After the Government’s pledge for further support for charging infrastructure in the Autumn Budget, these insights should give policymakers and charge point operators food for thought when making decisions around charging locations and potential incentives for road users and car buyers.
“The shift in consumer preferences towards ICE vehicles in this year’s index is unlikely to be a sustained trend as we approach the 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles, but it does mark a step back for consumer sentiment towards EVs in the UK. Prioritising the consumer preferences highlighted in this year’s Mobility Consumer Index will be critical for key players across the EV ecosystem including auto manufacturers, policymakers and charge point operators going forward.”
According to the Index, physical dealerships have seen a decline in popularity, but still narrowly remain the top choice for the car buying experience. Thirty-six per cent (36%) of respondents indicated their preference to buy from a physical dealership, down from 53% in 2024. Meanwhile, 35% of UK respondents said their preferred vehicle purchase method was online, up from 33% in 2024, while 29% say they would evaluate all options – more than double last year’s figure (14%), highlighting the ongoing need for both physical and digital retail experiences.
European brands are growing in popularity among UK car buyers, with 88% of respondents indicating that European cars were among their top three preferences, up significantly from 63% in 2024. There was also a modest uptick in preference for Chinese brands, with 7% of respondents including them in their top three, up from 4% in 2024. In contrast, only 46% of respondents said a US brand was among their preferences, down from 59% in 2024.
Related News
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
