Waiting times for the latest EVs expected to be the same as petrol and diesel cars as the market recovers from coronavirus crisis

•Waiting times on some of the newest and most desirable electric vehicles have significantly fallen in the past 12 months according to exclusive What Car? research
•Average waiting time for a new electric vehicle is within 12 weeks, matching that of conventional petrol and diesel models
•Tesla Model 3, all-new Renault Zoe, and Peugeot e-208 among vehicles which can be bought and delivered within one week
•Latest SMMT figures show that, despite the new car market being down by 44.4% in March, electric vehicle sales rose by nearly three-fold
•To find the latest deals on all new electric cars, visit: www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals

Waiting times for new electric vehicles are set to be the same as for petrol and diesel models as the new car market recovers from the coronavirus crisis, according to exclusive research by Britain’s leading new car buying platform and consumer champion, What Car?.

The findings come after the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed new car registrations fell by 44.4% in March due to the effects of the coronavirus shutdown. Despite this, electric vehicle registrations rose 197.4% year-on-year in March*, reflecting booming interest.

The average waiting time on a new electric car has significantly dropped in the past 12 months, with the majority of new electric vehicles now available within 12 weeks, according to What Car?’s analysis of all 26 electric models currently on sale**. Last year, lead times for some electric cars exceeded more than 12 months, making it nigh-on impossible for buyers to commit to purchasing one.

What Car?’s research has also revealed that eight manufacturers have stock of their electric cars in the UK now, meaning buyers will be able to place an order and have their vehicle delivered within two weeks.

This includes the Tesla Model 3, the winner of the Large Electric Car category at the What Car? Awards, as well as the all-new third-generation Renault Zoe and the all-new Peugeot e-208. However, both the Renault and Peugeot can take up to 12 or 16 weeks to arrive depending on the exact specification chosen.

Waiting times for the most in-demand electric cars have also fallen. Last year’s overall What Car? Car of the Year, the Kia e-Niro, had a waiting list that extended to more than a year 12 months ago. As a result of increased supply, its lead time has been halved to 26 weeks. The longest wait is on Porsche’s first electric car, the Taycan (36 weeks), followed by the Seat Mii Electric and Skoda Citigo e IV (26 weeks), although the Skoda is currently on hold for orders.

The increased competition for sales between car makers has also led to significant discounts on electric cars being available. The average discount on a new fully electric vehicle is 3.92% or £1455***.

Even cars with the shortest lead times, including the all-new Peugeot e-208 and new Renault Zoe, are available with discounts, with the new Zoe reduced by up to £2609**** according to exclusive What Car? data. Some of the biggest discounts can be had on premium electric vehicles, with the Audi E-tron available with a saving of up to £3855, while the Jaguar I-Pace is discounted by up to £2233.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “Waiting times on a new electric car used to extend as far as 12 months, but with more models entering the market we’re finally starting to see those times fall to match those of petrol and diesel variants.

“As the new car market recovers from the coronavirus crisis, many of the most popular electric vehicles can be delivered as quickly as a petrol or diesel vehicle, which is a real boost for prospective buyers keen to get on with electric motoring. What’s also encouraging is that some of the newest and most popular EVs can be had with a healthy discount, according to our Target Price research.”

To find the latest deals on all new electric cars, visit: www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals


ENDS

* https://www.smmt.co.uk/2020/04/uk-new-car-registrations-fall...

**What Car? contacted all manufacturers selling electric vehicles in the UK and asked them their lead times on each of their models. The research was conducted during late February and early March.

The average new car waiting time in the UK is typically 12 weeks

***According to analysis of March Target Price discount data

****Discounts based on April Target Price data, and correct at the time of writing

ŦSome manufacturers provided estimates, such as 1-16 weeks. The two figures were used as minimum and maximum waiting times. The variability in waiting time depends on the exact spec of the vehicle chosen.


About What Car?

What Car? is the UK’s leading consumer motoring champion and new car buying platform, reaching car buyers through its magazine, website, video and social media channels. It has been helping Britain’s car buyers to make purchasing decisions for more than 45 years and its reviews are widely regarded as the most comprehensive source of new car advice.
Whatcar.com offers verdicts and data on every new car, and has won numerous awards and accolades. It attracts 2.2m unique users and more than 12m page impressions every month.

In recent years What Car? has invested heavily in its digital infrastructure with the development of its new ecommerce platform, allowing users to act on the trusted advice What Car? offers by chatting online to car dealers through the website. Users are guaranteed to be able to buy their chosen car at What Car?’s Target Price discount, which is established by mystery shoppers and updated daily.

What Car? has more than 5.5 million monthly points of contact with its audience on the move, at work, at home and at the crucial point of sale. It is the top performing monthly on the UK newsstand in the motoring category.

About Target Price

Target Price is unique to What Car? and set using intelligence gathered by a team of mystery shoppers, who negotiate daily to find the best new car deals available across the UK. The published deals are then guaranteed – and often beaten – by retailers selling cars through whatcar.com.

Target Price is based on a cash deal and does not include elements like finance incentives or trade-in considerations. What Car? has also introduced Target PCP finance deals, which show what buyers should expect to pay per month for their new car.

The deals are based on a cash deal and do not include elements like finance incentives or trade in considerations. The deals change on a weekly basis.

For further media information please contact Performance Communications:
Natasha Perry or Sam Wilkinson at Performance Communications on 0208 541 3434.
natasha@performancecomms.com
sam@performancecomms.com