In 2025, 473,348 battery electric vehicles were sold in the UK, giving EVs a 23.4% share of new car registrations, up from 18.7% the year before. Add plug-in hybrids (11.1% market share), and 34.5% of all new cars sold last year had a plug. The UK’s total EV parc now exceeds two million vehicles, with forecasts suggesting 28.5% BEV market share in 2026.
For motor factors and aftermarket suppliers, this is not a future scenario to plan for. It is the present reality, and it is already showing up in parts demand data.
Which aftermarket parts categories are declining?
The parts that EVs eliminate entirely are well understood. No internal combustion engine means no demand for:
- Exhaust systems, catalytic converters, silencers, manifolds, lambda sensors
- Ignition components, spark plugs, ignition coils, HT leads
- Engine oil and oil filters, EVs have no engine oil to change
- Fuel system parts, fuel pumps, injectors, fuel filters
- Clutch kits, most EVs use single-speed transmissions with no clutch
These categories will not disappear overnight. The UK vehicle parc still has over 33 million ICE vehicles on the road, with an average age now at a record 9.5 years, and 43.4% of the parc is over 10 years old. That ageing fleet actually increases short-term aftermarket demand for traditional parts. But the long-term trajectory is clear, and suppliers heavily weighted toward these categories need to be planning their transition now.
How quickly will this decline happen?
The timeline depends on fleet turnover rates. New car sales feed into the aftermarket with a 3–5 year lag (the “sweet spot” for aftermarket demand is vehicles aged 4–12 years). Even at current EV adoption rates, ICE parts demand will remain substantial through 2030 and beyond. But by the early 2030s, the first wave of mass-market EVs (2019–2022 models) will be entering their peak aftermarket years, and the shift will accelerate. For the broader trends driving this change, see our analysis of five trends shaping the UK aftermarket in 2026.
Which aftermarket categories are growing because of EVs?
The narrative that EVs need fewer parts is incomplete. They need different parts, approximately 40 new component types enter the aftermarket with BEVs, including e-motors, battery management systems, and power control units. And some existing categories are seeing demand shift in unexpected ways.
Braking components
This one surprises many in the industry. EVs are approximately 20% heavier than equivalent ICE vehicles due to battery weight, often 300–500kg more. While regenerative braking reduces the frequency of brake pad replacement (extending pad life by 30–50% on typical driving patterns), the increased vehicle weight means brake discs and pads need to be heavier-duty when they are replaced.
Reduced use of friction brakes also creates new maintenance issues. Caliper slides seize from infrequent use (requiring lubrication every 12 months), and brake discs develop surface rust and uneven wear, requiring earlier disc replacement even when pad material remains. Brake fluid absorbs moisture faster without regular thermal cycling, making annual moisture testing essential. These are new revenue lines for garages and new demand signals for motor factors.
Cabin air filtration
With no engine noise masking wind and road noise, EV drivers notice cabin air quality more acutely. Many EV manufacturers fit HEPA-grade cabin filters as standard, trapping particles as small as 0.3 microns, with a replacement cycle of every 1–2 years. Cabin filtration is also being upgraded across the ICE fleet as consumer awareness of air quality increases, a rising tide that benefits the entire aftermarket.
Thermal management components
EV battery packs require sophisticated thermal management, coolant pumps, heat exchangers, thermal interface materials, and electronic control valves. Battery coolant typically requires replacement every 50,000–100,000 miles. These components have service intervals and failure modes that create genuine aftermarket demand. As the first generation of mass-market EVs ages, thermal management parts will become a meaningful new product category for motor factors.
Tyres and suspension
EVs chew through tyres faster than equivalent ICE vehicles due to higher kerb weight and instant torque delivery. Data suggests EV tyres wear 20–30% faster. While tyres are not a traditional motor factor category, the halo effect on suspension and steering components (wishbones, drop links, wheel bearings, which all wear faster under the same conditions) is directly relevant to factors and their garage customers.
What should motor factors do now?
Track category-level demand data
The shift is not uniform across the country or across vehicle segments. A motor factor in London or the South East, where BEVs accounted for over 30% of new registrations in 2025 and 456,289 EVs are already on the road, will see the demand curve shift faster than one in a region where the fleet skews older and more ICE-dependent. Our analysis of regional variations in UK aftermarket demand explores these geographic differences in detail.
Stock strategically for the transition period
The next decade is a dual-demand environment. Motor factors need to maintain strong ICE parts availability (the bread and butter) while building competence and stock depth in EV-relevant categories. The factors that get this balance right will serve both segments profitably. Those that move too slowly on EV parts will cede that market to specialists. Understanding how independent and franchise garages differ in their parts demand can help inform which EV parts to prioritise.
Engage with supplier training
EV components often require specific handling knowledge, particularly anything related to high-voltage systems. Suppliers offering training and technical support alongside their EV product ranges are adding genuine value to the motor factor relationship.
What does this mean for aftermarket suppliers?
Suppliers need real-time visibility into how their categories are performing as the fleet composition changes. Aggregate sell-out data showing demand trends by category, region, and vehicle type is the foundation for intelligent product development and stock allocation decisions. For more on why sell-in data alone is insufficient, see our guide on why suppliers need real-time market visibility.
Factor Sales tracks real transaction data across 800,000+ part numbers from over 60% of UK motor factors. Request a demo to see how EV adoption is affecting your categories.