Waiting times for new electric cars may have slowed in recent months, but choosing which one you want can still be tricky. This is why we will do all we can at Electrifying.com to help you select the right car to meet your needs. From new and used car reviews to our handy beginner’s guide, this article will help you decide which vehicle you should purchase in the current market.

How long will I have to wait?

According to our research, waiting times currently stand at an average of 21 weeks; this is roughly the same as it was in April, but a staggering 39% (35 weeks) from the peak in October 2022.

Whilst this is due in part to increased stock availability as global supply chains start to ease, we believe that a lack of cars at the more affordable end of the market is leading to consumers pressing pause on purchases.

Which models are available immediately?

For those in the market for a new electric car, there are currently plenty of models in stock to choose from. With manufacturers including Mercedes, Fiat, Skoda and Cupra telling us they have plenty of stock of electric models for customers to drive off the forecourt in a matter of weeks. 

Among the companies with free stock is the biggest player in the EV market - Tesla. The company continues to have plentiful availability despite its recent controversial price cuts. There are currently hundreds of its popular Model 3 and Model Ys offered with instant delivery, some with generous packages of options added for no extra cost.

Other cars with short waiting times include the MG4, MG5 and Mazda MX-30l, with some dealers offering delivery in just four weeks. However customers waiting on a new Audi Q4 or DS 3 E-Tense will find they’re waiting for longer than they may expect, with delivery not expected for at least nine months.

What caused such long waiting lists in the first place?

Good question. Last year, electric car owners were facing longer than normal waiting times for two main reasons: an order backlog that predates the Coronavirus pandemic, and the on-going conflict in Ukraine.

The pandemic saw a massive surge in orders for laptops and printers as the global population started working remotely. This wiped out existing stocks and meant that factories around the world were asked to produce more. Except they couldn't because many were forced to close because of the pandemic.

Estimated waiting times for new electric cars, as of 27th April 2023:

​Audi Q4 e-tron: 12-15 months

​Audi Q8 e-tron: 8-10 months

​Audi e-tron GT: 3 months

​BMW i4: 5 months 

​BMW iX3: 6 months

​BMW iX: 6 months 

​BMW iX1: 3 months

​Citroen e-C4: 1-4 months

​Citroen e-Berlingo: 4-5 months

​Cupra Born: 3-4 months

​DS 3 Crossback E-Tense: 9-12 months

​Fiat 500e: 4-5 months

​Ford Mustang Mach-E: 2 weeks - 9 months 

​Hyundai IONIQ 5: 8 months

​Hyundai IONIQ 6: 1 months

Hyundai Kona: 5 months

​Jaguar iPace: 3-6 months

​Kia Niro EV: 3-4 months

​Kia EV6: 6 months

​Kia Soul: 3-4 months

​Lexus UX300e: not taking new orders 

​Mazda MX-30: 1 month

​Mercedes EQA: Immediate

​Mercedes EQC: Immediate

​Mercedes EQE: Immediate

​Mercedes EQS: Immediate

​MG4: 1 months

​MG5: 1 month

​MG ZS EV: 10 months

​MINI Electric: 3 months

​Nissan Leaf: 6-9 Months

​Nissan Ariya: 6-9 months

​Peugeot e208: 2 months

​Peugeot e2008: 4-5 months

​Polestar 2: 4 months

Polestar 3: 10 months

​Porsche Taycan: 6 months 

​Renault Zoe: 3-6 months

​Renault Megane E-Tech: 3-6 months

​Skoda Enyaq iV: 5-10 months 

​Tesla Model S: no production

​Tesla Model X: no production

​Tesla Model 3: -1-2 months

​Tesla Model Y: 1-2 months

​Vauxhall Corsa-e: 4 months

​Vauxhall Mokka-e: 5 months

​Volkswagen ID.3: 4 months 

​Volkswagen ID.4: 4 months 

​Volkswagen ID.5: 4 months

​Volkswagen ID Buzz: 3-6 months for single tone colour, 18 months for two tone

​Volvo XC40 Recharge: 5-10 months

Our top tips on how to jump the queues

Despite the fact that waiting times have tumbled, you could still be in for a bit of a wait, depending on which make and model you opt for. That’s why we’ve put together our top tips on how to get your car as quickly as possible.

Be willing to compromise on trim: 

Perhaps the most significant timesaver would be not being picky on trim and specification options, since ordering a car for a factory build will slow the process up considerably. This is particularly true at the moment, with many car dealers telling us they have stock cars available to drive off the forecourt almost immediately.

Be prepared to hit the phones to enquire about stock availability:

You could walk into a dealership and walk out with the car you want if you’re willing to accept a cancelled order or ‘stock’ model. A common reason for cancellation is, ironically, that some customers refuse to wait longer than the delivery time they were originally quoted.

Check the net:

Many manufacturers will now offer to sell you a car directly via their website, often at a slightly lower cost or with better deals than going through the dealer network. The car maker will make more money on these as they don’t have to pay a handling fee, which means they are keen to keep this channel open. As a result they will often ‘ring fence’ stock and production which means you’ll be able to get a car faster.

Certain large dealer groups are also owned or run by the manufacturers themselves, and will rarely be ‘starved’ of stock. These sources should be your first port of call if you want your car faster.