Battery electric vehicle (BEV) crash volumes in the UK reached a record high in August, with Gecko Risk reporting 12,462 BEV repairs during the month. The increase reflects the rapid growth of EVs on UK roads and presents key considerations for both insurers and repair professionals.

Despite rising volumes, average repair costs are trending down. August saw a continued decline across most major manufacturers, with Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW and Audi all showing month-on-month decreases or marginal increases. Tesla’s average repair cost rose slightly, following a modest 0.7% increase, while Mercedes saw the sharpest monthly drop of 5.2%.

Over the past 12 months, Volkswagen reported the lowest average repair cost, in contrast to Tesla, which remained the highest. Mercedes, BMW and Audi all reported stable annual averages.

Costs for Chinese manufacturer BYD remain comparatively low, with 345 recorded incidents in August. While this suggests cost efficiency, Gecko notes that the figure does not include write-offs or extended repair times. As highlighted in previous data, BYD’s vertically integrated supply chain helps contain parts costs. However, labour expenses and cycle times remain elevated, potentially delaying the full financial picture of repairability for these models.

Repair cost breakdowns for August show the largest share attributed to parts, followed by labour, paint and other associated costs. The downward trend in overall repair expenditure may suggest improved repair processes or greater parts availability, but also underscores the ongoing need for insurers and repairers to adapt strategies in response to shifting EV trends.