Private EV ownership is growing fastest outside the UK’s established all-electric strongholds, widening the commercial opportunity for dealerships across Wales, the Midlands and northern England.
Analysis by The AA of Department for Transport licensing data shows there were 860,334 privately owned battery electric cars on UK roads at the end of the first quarter of 2026.
A record 83,136 were added in just three months, representing quarterly growth of 10.7%, up by 271,382 on the same period last year.
The ownership figures are supported by other evidence that consumers are becoming more receptive to electric cars.
A survey of 19,000 drivers by the UK Car of the Year Awards and Automotive Insights found 46% were likely to choose an EV as their next car, compared with 38% in the 2025 Automotive Insights and Research Services report.
However, separate Venson Automotive Solutions research found only one in five motorists would choose an EV if replacing their vehicle immediately. That increased to 36% expecting to switch within two years and 65% within five years.
The surveys asked different questions and are not directly comparable. Taken together, however, they suggest long-term EV consideration is running ahead of the number of customers currently ready to buy.
Demand spreads beyond hotspots
The geographical pattern represents an important change for dealership stock planning, marketing and sales training.
Wales recorded the fastest annual increase among the four UK nations at 55.1%, taking its privately owned EV parc from 20,958 to 32,513 cars.
Within England, the East Midlands led with regional growth of 58.8%, closely followed by the North West at 58.4%, West Midlands at 57.1%, North East at 56.5% and Yorkshire and The Humber at 55.9%.
London, one of the earliest EV markets, recorded the lowest regional growth at 22.7%. It still has a large concentration of privately owned EVs, but the figures indicate that the fastest expansion is now happening in areas previously considered less mature.
The pattern is even clearer at local authority level. Blaenau Gwent led the UK with growth of 84.8%, while Knowsley headed the English table at 82.9%, followed by Hull at 82.6% and Sandwell at 77.7%.
For dealer groups, the findings challenge the assumption that EV demand should remain concentrated around London and affluent parts of the South East. They also create a stronger case for adjusting local stock profiles, paid-search activity and customer education to reflect rapidly changing regional demand.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Private ownership of electric cars continues to move from strength to strength. More than 83,000 additional privately owned electric cars were added in just three months, showing that more drivers are making the switch to electric motoring.
“It’s also encouraging to see where that growth is taking place. The strongest increases are no longer confined to the areas that embraced electric cars first. Wales led all four UK nations for annual growth, while the East Midlands topped the English regional table, with strong performances right across the Midlands and the North.”
Growing awareness of Chinese manufacturers is also helping to broaden the available EV choice. The UK Car of the Year and Automotive Insights research found high levels of recognition for brands including BYD and MG. It said Chinese-built products accounted for more than 27% of UK EV sales in 2025, with Chinese brands responsible for 13%.
The new car market is moving in the same direction. Battery electric registrations increased 44.5% in July 2026 to 43,106 units, giving BEVs a 27.5% market share.
That remained below the 33% ZEV mandate target for 2026 with the SMMT warning that growth was being supported by manufacturer discounting, greater model choice and government incentives, placing continued pressure on margins and residual values.
Charging decides conversion
Cost and charging access remain the main factors determining whether positive attitudes turn into dealership orders.
Venson found that 56% of motorists regarded lower electricity prices as the factor most likely to accelerate their move to an EV. Rising petrol and diesel prices would influence 47%, improved charging infrastructure would encourage 44% and battery developments would influence 37%.
The Government’s removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills in Great Britain from October 1 will reduce home-charging costs, with the change expected to cut around £45 from the annual Ofgem price cap.
However, electricity supplied through public chargers remains subject to 20% VAT. Drivers without driveways will therefore receive no equivalent reduction in their charging costs, maintaining the divide between those able to use lower cost domestic tariffs and those reliant on public infrastructure.
The UK Car of the Year and Automotive Insights survey reinforces the importance of home charging. Among respondents who had experience of charging an EV, 71.1% had done so at home.
The AA’s King said: “There is still more work to do on charging infrastructure, particularly for those 40% of households without any dedicated off-street parking.”
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