Market update: electric car waiting times remain high, with car buyers frustrated by delays of up to 18 months for popular models​​

• ​Two month period sees little change in waiting times for electric cars
• Customers waiting an average of eight months to get behind the wheel 
• Tesla Model Y, MG4 and Renault Zoe among models available before Christmas 
• Dealers adding £7,000 to asking price of in-demand cars such as Kia EV6

Drivers wanting to make the switch to electric will be waiting for an average of eight months before they can get the keys to their new car, research by the electric car experts at Electrifying.com has found.

Customers looking to place an order in October will have to wait an average of 35 weeks for their new car; a slight increase of 3.1% (from 34 weeks) since the same time in August.

A surge in demand together with a global shortage of semiconductor chips and key components continues to wreak havoc on the industry, forcing carmakers to slow down production of new vehicles and causing long delays for deliveries, with some manufacturers prioritising the production of premium cars over more affordable models.

The cars facing the most dramatic increases include big sellers from Kia and Vauxhall. The Kia Niro EV now has an average wait of nine months for delivery, up from 4.5 months in August. Both the Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e waiting times have risen dramatically too, from an average of 3.5 months in August to 10 months in October.

At the more luxurious end of the market, consumers could be waiting for up to 18 months for a Porsche Taycan.

Buyers looking to skip the queue can expect to pay for the privilege, with dealers adding substantial premiums to the manufacturer’s list price for cars which are in stock. For example, we found several dealers advertising Kia EV6s with mark ups of £7,000 or more.

However, popular models including the Tesla Model Y and the Renault Zoe are enjoying comparatively low waiting times of four to 12 weeks and one to two months respectively, meaning customers could have their new car in time for Christmas. 

Drivers who baulk at the thought of waiting more than seven months for a BMW i4 might want to consider an iX3 instead, as this model is available with an eight week delivery time.

Nissan’s Leaf seems to have evergreen demand too, with the waiting time extending from five months in August to nine months now. However the company’s new Ariya model has a comparatively reasonable four month wait.

The shortest waiting times are for MG’s new MG4 and MG5 models, with some dealers offering delivery in just four weeks. However, the company’s ZS EV is still facing waiting lists which are longer than a year. 

 Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said:

“This is a difficult time for both consumers and the car industry, and despite the fact that over one million cars with a plug have now been sold in the UK the problem of supply chain issues and chip shortages is not going away any time soon.

“Some dealers are telling us that stock cars might be available if you can be flexible with your tech, trim and colour, but bargains are a thing of the past, with many cars now being sold for above their list price.

“Despite the waiting times for many popular family cars, including the Kia Niro EV, being unreasonably high drivers may be able to get behind the wheel before Christmas if they act quickly on certain MG models or even the popular Tesla Model Y.”

Notes to editors

Electrifying.com’s market update on waiting times for electric cars is collated on a bi-monthly basis. Electrifying.com speals directly with vehicle manufacturers and dealerships in the UK in order to build a picture of the current landscape for waiting times. 

About Electrifying.com  

As we head towards the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, the Electrifying.com clears the air for consumers to make choosing, buying and owning an electric car easy.

Comprising a team of electric experts, the brand is led by Founder and CEO Ginny Buckley. With 25 years' experience in broadcasting, journalism and the automotive industry, Buckley is here to demystify the electric car and give trusted, independent advice to the mainstream car buyer, enabling them to make the switch with confidence.

She is joined by Nicki Shields, the face of Formula E, host of the CNN tech and electric racing show ‘Supercharged’; tech, gadget and car expert Tomi Adebayo (better known as @gadgetsboy) and Tom Ford, the former host of BBC Top Gear America, Fifth Gear and electric car advocate.”

Estimated waiting times for new electric cars, as of 14 September 2022:

Electrifying.com’s top tips on how to jump the queues can be found here.​