Electric cars have become cheaper than petrol models for the first time in the UK, marking a key shift in the new car market.
Data from Autotrader shows the average new electric car now costs £42,620 compared with £43,405 for petrol – giving EVs a £785 price advantage driven by heavy discounting and government support.
Discounts on electric models remain high at around 11.7% helping close a gap that has long held back wider adoption.
The pricing shift is feeding directly into demand. Visits to new car listings have risen around 20% year on year in April boosted by improved affordability and the arrival of new ‘26 plate’ vehicles while supply is also rising with listings up 13%.
Competition is intensifying across brands. MG has regained its position as the most in demand electric brand – while the Renault 5 E Tech Electric is currently the most sought after model highlighting strong appetite for lower cost EVs.
More than half of the ten most popular new models now come from Chinese brands reflecting growing influence in the UK market as competitive pricing and increased visibility drive interest.
The trend signals a turning point says Autotrader, upfront cost has been the biggest barrier to EV adoption and that gap is now starting to reverse as the market becomes more competitive.
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