Buyers return to internal combustion engines: EY index records sharp decline in interest in electric vehicles in 2025

Car buyers around the world are returning to internal combustion engines, testifies the new EY Consumer Mobility Index.

Half of potential buyers plan to purchase a car with an internal combustion engine within the next two years – this is 13 percentage points more than last year. At the same time, the share of those willing to buy exclusively an electric car decreased to 14%, falling by 10 points.

The 2025 Consumer Mobility Index, based on a global survey of buyers in key automotive markets, reveals a clear shift in consumer sentiment.

Commitment to the benefits of hybrids also declined to 16%, which is five percentage points less than in 2024.

"Consumers are weighing the realities of policy changes, price pressures, and uneven charging infrastructure. The long-term trend appears to be a shift from a purely electric ('EV-only') approach to a more diversified future for automotive powertrains, where different vehicle technologies meet different customer needs," commented Konstantin M. Gall, EY Global Aerospace, Defence and Mobility Leader.

The percentage of consumers who expressed a desire to purchase a car with an internal combustion engine increased by 12 points in North and South America, by 11 points in Europe, and by 10 points in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, the intention to purchase electric vehicles decreased in all major markets.

Among those who refuse to buy electric cars, the main deterrents are: range anxiety (29%), lack of charging infrastructure (28%), and the high cost of battery replacement (28%).

At the same time, those who already own electric vehicles or plan to buy them have their own concerns. Owners of existing electric cars are most concerned about range (32%), while first-time buyers are concerned about the cost of battery replacement (37%). The biggest inconveniences are caused by charging problems: difficulty finding charging stations (39%), long waiting times (37%), and high charging costs (32%).

• On October 2, it became known that in September 2025, in the world 2.1 million electric vehicles were sold, which is the highest monthly figure ever.