Best September for EV volumes on record: 72,7xx BEVs; EV market share 23% in a month where total registrations rose 14% to 312,9xx. SMMT and multiple outlets attribute the surge to manufacturer discounting + ECG.
Enquiries jumped: Since July’s announcement, new-EV enquiries on Auto Trader are up 44–50%, with grant-eligible models more than doubling versus pre-grant weeks.
The price gap narrowed: the EV premium vs petrol fell to 19% (down from 33% a year ago) as brands repriced and the ECG landed, meaning more shoppers now cross-shop ICE and EV rather than defaulting to petrol.
Inside the September Auto Trader data: EVs were also the fastest-selling fuel type in used (27 days); overall, used stock averaged 28 days. That’s your clue, this isn’t just a new-car story.
We don’t currently fund EVs. Here’s why the ECG still matters to every dealer and broker:
Part-ex maths changes
More new-EV deals = more ICE part-exes coming back, often at family-SUV and hatch price points. Expect extra ICE supply and sharper pricing in certain age/mileage bands.
Used-car pricing stays firm
September’s used prices rose +0.6% YoY, the second straight monthly gain; older cohorts (3yrs+) showed MoM resilience and YoY strength, while used EV prices were stable with stock turning quickly (27 days). Translation: you can hold the price if the retail story is clear.
New-car discounting bleeds into used
OEMs leaned into discounting (avg 10.1% of list; EV incentives 11.8%), which reshapes buyer anchors and pushes shoppers to compare used versus discounted new. Make your used-car value obvious on the VDP.
Grant momentum carries into Q4: EV share lifted to 23% in September; enquiries still running hot after model list clarifications. Expect ongoing churn in grant-eligible models and short-term EV order uplift.
Used market stays stable: September marked eight straight months of YoY used growth, with independents benefiting from older-stock demand. Expect healthy ICE turnover as EV-driven part-ex flows arrive.
Residuals: watch the edges: Mainstream, family-friendly EVs likely hold best; niche or high-MSRP trims could be more volatile. SMMT and press note we’re still below 2019 volumes overall, so pacing matters.
1) Price and stock by job-to-be-done, not fuel type
Create three buyer funnels on site and in-store: Value commuting, Family space, Comfort & tech. Surface 4–6 best-fit ICE/hybrid picks in each funnel so you’re competing with “new EV + grant” on use case, not headline fuel.
2) Refresh part-ex valuations weekly
Grant-fuelled EV orders = more ICE trade-ins. Tighten your appraisal grid on C-/D-segment petrol & diesel (ages 3–7). The Auto Trader file shows 3–5-year stock selling at 27 days and older cohorts holding value—don’t sleep on that.
3) Control the used VDP story
Add a simple “Why this costs what it costs” panel:
This protects the price against discounted new.
4) Put monthly and TCO up-front (for ICE too)
New EV listings are suddenly heavy on monthly and running-cost comps. Mirror that on ICE/hybrid VDPs (fuel economy at real-world speeds, insurance band cues). If buyers are comparing, make the comparison easy.
EV sales record in September: BEV share 23%, total market +14% YoY.
Grant effect on demand: EV enquiries +44–50% since July; grant-eligible models up 2x.
Used resilience: prices +0.6% YoY; used EVs fastest to sell (27 days); overall used 28 days.
Discounting: avg 10.1% on new; EV incentives 11.8% concurrent with ECG rollout.
We don’t currently fund EVs, but we do help partners monetise the ripple effects:
Even if you’re ICE-heavy, you’ll feel the lift in enquiry quality, part-ex flow, and pricing power if you frame the value clearly and keep the finance journey effortless.