Produced by Activate Group in collaboration with Gecko Risk.
Welcome to the latest edition of the quarterly Charge Up report from Activate Group, leading UK accident management business, and Gecko Risk, EV data specialists. The report brings regular insights into the state of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK.
This quarter’s update follows a wave of positive momentum for the industry, with recent government announcements promising further support for EV infrastructure and new grants to boost adoption. As the EV sector accelerates, our report continues to track the key indicators shaping its growth – from vehicle registrations to repair trends.
The UK’s EV market continues to expand rapidly. As of the end of Q2 2025, there are 1.7 million electric vehicles on the road. In the first half of 2025, 224,839 new EV cars were registered, marking a 35% increase on the same period last year.
Tesla remains the UK’s top-selling EV brand despite a 1.3% dip in registrations year-on-year. Kia, on the other hand, showed standout performance, with sales up 42% on the same period in 2024, highlighting its momentum in the UK market.
Chinese manufacturers continue to gain ground. In 2024, combined registrations from brands like BYD and MG surpassed 50,000. Projections indicate this could double to 100,000 in 2025. BYD now ranks as the 7th most popular EV manufacturer in the UK, signalling growing consumer interest in new entrants.
James Fisher, CEO, Gecko Risk said: “Projections suggest new energy vehicle sales (including BEVs and hybrids) will reach almost one million in 2025, and the recent announcement of a grant to boost private EV adoption is welcome news for manufacturers.
“It’s worth noting, however, that used EV prices have struggled in recent years, and with continued new car discounting, this trend is likely to persist. That could have downstream effects on write-off rates, particularly for newer models – a key consideration for insurers.”
The second quarter of 2025 saw a welcome 3% drop in average EV repair costs compared to Q1. Costs are also 0.3% lower than Q2 2024, reinforcing the broader trend of cost stability over the past 18 months.
While parts are the largest cost driver for most manufacturers, labour accounts for the majority of Tesla’s repair costs – 37% higher than the industry average. Conversely, Tesla’s parts costs are 22% lower than average.
Most of the top five manufacturers have seen relatively stable average repair costs over the last 18 months, with high-end marques like Tesla, BMW and Audi remailing broadly aligned. Notably, VW experienced a cost spike in Q1, which appears to have levelled out in Q2.
Adrian Furness, Activate Group commented: “We’re seeing real stability in EV repair costs now that the infrastructure – including reliable parts supply and approved repair methods – is in place for many of the UK’s most common EVs.
“That said, the arrival of new manufacturers often brings growing pains. Tesla’s earlier challenges with repair logistics are a reminder that emerging brands like BYD may face similar hurdles, with implications for repair costs and insurance underwriting. The good news is, more bodyshops have invested in the capability to deal with new market entrants, and the industry is ever better prepared to handle these changes.”
With EV adoption accelerating and new global entrants reshaping the market, the UK’s repair ecosystem must remain agile. Q2 data points to increasing stability, but the road ahead includes both opportunities and challenges — particularly as new manufacturers expand their footprint.
We’ll continue to monitor key shifts in registration volumes and repair trends. Look out for the Q3 edition of the Charge Up Report later this year.
Activate Group and its subsidiaries provide end-to-end accident management solutions to insurers, fleet providers, TPAs and brokers. The group provides claims management to corporate and commercial fleets through sopp+sopp, operates an approved nationwide repair network for personal lines insurance claims through Motor Repair Network, supplies next-day parts and consumables through Activate Parts and also runs its own body shop division, Activate Accident Repair. Activate Group also recently acquired Avant Consult. The business is based in the UK, and employs more than 900 people.