The UK’s transition to electric mobility has hit a new milestone as surging competition from Chinese car manufacturers and narrowing price gaps push consumer readiness to its highest level on record.

The latest UK EV Readiness Index from the AA reveals that the nation’s ‘readiness’ score rose to 60 out of 100 for Q3 2026, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of improvement.

However, the AA warns that significant roadblocks remain, including regulatory uncertainty surrounding the ongoing ZEV mandate review and a widening cost divide in public versus home charging infrastructure.

The EV Readiness Index tracks eight key factors affecting drivers’ ability and willingness to switch to an EV, including purchase price, charging, running costs, insurance and maintenance.

The new data shows that the rise of Chinese EV brand is notably shaking up the new car market. Chinese brands captured 15.8% of UK new vehicle sales in August 2026, almost three times their 5.5% share a year earlier.

AA research, based on 10,594 responses from its members, suggests drivers remain cautious about Chinese-made cars but that attitudes could be changing.

More than a quarter of drivers would consider buying a Chinese-made car, compared to 42% would not, including 16% who say they would ‘never’ buy one.

There is a significant generational difference. Four in 10 (40%) 18- to 24-year-olds would consider buying a Chinese car, compared with 22% of 65- to 74-year-olds.

However, data security remains a prominent hurdle for these new market entrants. Only 3% of surveyed drivers believe data captured by a vehicle would be handled safely by a Chinese manufacturer compared to an established brand. Despite these concerns, nearly half of all respondents (47%) agreed that increased competition between Chinese newcomers and established manufacturers will benefit drivers.

The market disruption arrives at a critical time for the UK government, which is currently consulting on its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Electric vehicles accounted for 29.8% of all new car registrations in August. While this represents the second-highest monthly share of 2026, it still sits below the Government’s headline target of 33% for the year.

AA president Edmund King noted: “The EV Readiness Index reaching 60 is another significant milestone. It shows that the conditions for going electric are steadily improving, but a score of 60 also tells us that we aren’t there yet.

“The AA supports the transition to zero-emission vehicles, but targets need to be realistic, achievable and supported by consumer demand. Whether the 2030 mandate remains at 80% for cars and 70% for vans or is adjusted, drivers and manufacturers need certainty and a clear direction of travel.

“Ultimately, the transition will work when consumers want and are able to make the switch. That means affordable cars, reliable and convenient charging and incentives which give drivers confidence rather than confusion.”

The latest EV Readiness Index shows that affordability is going the right way as the EV purchase-price gap continues to narrow. New EVs were on average 25% more expensive than comparable petrol cars, improving slightly from 26% in Q2. In the used market the gap has almost disappeared, with used EVs averaging just 1% more than petrol equivalents, down from 3%.

But running costs remain a tale of two distinct ownership experiences. With petrol prices increasing to 161.5p per litre, compared with 159.6p at the end of May and 132.5p in February, electricity remained 66% cheaper per mile than petrol for drivers able to charge at home.

But ultra-rapid public charging remained around 15% more expensive per mile than petrol, highlighting the continuing divide between EV drivers who can charge at home and those dependent on the public network. The UK’s charging infrastructure now stands at 123,677 public EV chargers, equivalent to around 41% of the Government’s 300,000 target for 2030.

On the road, EVs continued to perform strongly when breakdowns occurred. In total, 88.1% of EV callouts were fixed at the roadside by AA patrols, compared with 83.5% for petrol vehicles.

Running out of charge accounted for only 1.3% of EV callouts, compared with 8.3% in 2015 – further evidence that traditional ‘range anxiety’ is becoming less of a practical problem for EV drivers.

Dean Keeling, AA managing director roadside services, said: “The lesson for the UK isn’t simply to impose tougher sales targets. It is to create the conditions that make consumers want, and are able, to buy electric vehicles.”