Road to 2030 Report reveals regional divide in EV sales
Auto Trader’s new Road to 2030 Report has revealed a geographical divide in electric vehicle uptake.
Although electric vehicle sales are increasing significantly, the report has found that drivers in Scotland and the South West risk being left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.
The Road to 2030 Report revealed at 27% rise in electric vehicle adverts last year and a 28% increase in sales leads to retailers, with demand spread across both new and used models.
Sales reached nearly half a million units in 2025, with one in four new cars registered being electric. Meanwhile, the number of electric car brands rose from around 40 before the pandemic to 72, with 62% of car buyers now saying they would consider an electric car for their next purchase.
Regional divide
However, Auto Trader analysis has revealed a stark regional divide, with postcodes in Scotland and the South West featuring heavily in the bottom 10 lowest interest areas.
There is also a large urban and rural divide, with 85% of drivers in cities saying they would buy an electric car compared to just 45% of those living in a rural environment.
EV interest
Ian Plummer, chief customer officer, Auto Trader, said: “We’re seeing notably lower levels of EV interest in regions like the South West and Scotland, which reflects deeper structural challenges rather than a lack of appetite for cleaner transport.
“These areas have more rural communities and longer average driving distances all of which make switching to electric feel riskier and less practical for drivers – even though that’s not necessarily the case, as both regions have more rapid chargers per head than the UK overall.”
