The UK has access to a wide variety of vehicle manufacturers and it’s safe to say there are plenty of household names to choose from. From Honda and Hyundai to Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover and more, these popular brands can be seen more or less anywhere you go across Britain, but what about the smaller players? There are a number of smaller brands that still have a foothold in the UK or who are working to grow their market share here, particularly in the Electric Vehicle space, that you may not have ever heard of. Curious about what’s available out there? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best up-and-coming electric car brands you’ve probably never heard of.

Lynk & Co

Lynk & Co joins Volvo, Polestar and Lotus under the Geely umbrella, and is set to take the UK market by storm next year with their first car – a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid. This 01 SUV is already on sale in seven other countries in Europe including Spain, Sweden and Germany, and while the car may not offer anything drastically different itself, the method in which you obtain the car certainly does. Working on a subscription service of sorts, Lynk & Co offers access to their vehicles via a monthly subscription payment that can be cancelled at any time. The cars can be bought outright, but the subscription will also include insurance, taxes and maintenance costs, which may work out cheaper or more cost-effective in the long run.

Lucid

The Lucid Air has already made it’s UK debut and certainly got people talking about its luxury design and impressive specs. This fully electric saloon is due to compete directly against the Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQS, with performance incentives to rival them both. With a range of up to 520 miles and the ability to reach 60mph in just 2.5 seconds, this 1,100bhp electric car easily holds its own against other EVs on the market and could take the market by storm when it hits markets in early 2023. 

Ora

Ora, also known as Great Wall, is a Chinese automotive group that is set to debut in the UK this year with their ‘Funky Car’ vehicle. Funky Cat is a compact hatchback EV that is suspected to already have gained a considerable amount of interest. Ora UK are expected to start shipping and delivering its new 193-mile range model by the end of the year, with additional models due to be announced and released in the next 12 months. Currently, Ora is still working on establishing their network in the UK, with retailers set to scale up as they grow, though online ordering currently remains the most accessible way to get a Funky Cat vehicle.

Nio

While there are no plans announced just yet to bring Nio to the UK market, this Chinese manufacturer is certainly making tracks in Europe, so it could all be a matter of time. The premium line-up, including the ET7 Saloon and the ES8 SUV are both on sale in Norway already, even breaking the top 25 best-selling brands already. If there is enough demand for the vehicle in the UK, we could see Nio move over to Britain in due time. They are also one of only a few companies considering a battery-swap network, in which drivers could swap out their battery for a fully charged one, rather than having to stop and charge when needed.

Arrival

For commercial vehicles and busses, Arrival is set to be a great new addition to the EV market here in the UK. They were founded in 2015, but have been working on their electric line up ever since, with EV van trials run by Royal Mail, and even First Bus announcing a trial for an Arrival bus. With UPS also considering Arrival vans, it’s no surprise that their electric vans are going into wider trials this year and wider production by the end of Q3. 

The electric vehicle market is constantly growing and while the industry’s big players are certainly making their mark, smaller companies from overseas are also producing some impressive models. If you already have an EV or want to know more about our EV repairs or electric car servicing, we are on hand to help. Get in touch with a member of our team to find out more.