U.K. Consumers Four-Times More Likely to Buy Hybrid than BEV

U.K. car buyers are four times more likely to make their next purchase a gas-hybrid-powered passenger car than a battery-electric vehicle.

That’s the finding of a survey of more than 11,000 motorists run by the country’s Automobile Assn. (AA) during the third week of August 2024.

The data suggest the current consumer slowdown in making BEV purchases probably will continue for quite some time to come. It also does not bode well for the new U.K. government’s announced strategy to bring back a total ban on internal-combustion-engine new-car sales, including hybrid powertrains, by the end of this decade.

The AA’s research finds 27% of those surveyed say they will consider buying a hybrid vehicle compared to just 7% thinking of switching to BEVs.

However, James Hosking, director of AA Cars, sees hybrid powertrains as a “bridging” technology, while Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, who effectively foretold the current BEV slowdown earlier this year, says BEVs will only account for 30% of the total private car mix in most global markets.

Latest industry figures for the U.K. from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show electrified powertrain vehicles, including self-charging hybrids, plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids, continue to gain traction with these new-car sales rising 36% while BEV sales increased by just 11% year-on-year in August.

AA experts say the growth in hybrid sales is fueled in part by the arrival of newer models into the market as manufacturers expand their range of electrified vehicles, leading to better value-for-money.

It observes that a similar trend is emerging in the used-car market, where a greater variety of options and more competitive pricing are making these vehicles increasingly accessible to a wider range of consumers.

According to the AA’s latest Used Car Index, hybrids dominated the top 20 list with Toyota Yaris, Toyota Prius and Honda Jazz the most popular options on its platform, providing further evidence of consumers’ current preferences.

Hosking comments: “Hybrids are a popular car for drivers looking to reduce their environmental impact without fully committing to electric cars. These vehicles blend traditional combustion engines with electric power, offering an accessible middle ground for those transitioning to a greener mode of transport.”