Word-of-mouth may be just what is needed for EV sales to turn a corner.
Consider that 82% of EV owners surveyed report they plan to buy another, according to CDK’s 2025 EV Ownership Study.
“I keep stressing that the EV snowball is not going to stop,” Dave Thomas, CDK’s global auto analyst, tells WardsAuto. “That’s a lot of future sales.”
Regardless of brand, the survey indicates that EVs impress owners across all age groups.
Of those surveyed, 86% report being satisfied with their electric vehicle (EV) purchase. Seven in 10 say the EV they bought is the best car they’ve ever owned. Nearly three out of four have recommended EVs to family and friends.
But the jump into EVs still has a way to go. Most EV buyers also own vehicles with internal-combustion engines.
And CDK’s results are not unique. Consider that a study by the Global EV Alliance found that over 90% of EV drivers plan to buy another EV after trading in a gas-powered car. Additionally, Global EV Alliance’s survey of 23,254 EV drivers across 18 countries showed fewer than 1% would switch back to an ICE vehicle.
But again, there are some speed bumps. EVs appear to lose some ground among Baby Boomers, with satisfaction levels at 73%. The vast majority of Gen Z owners (90%) are satisfied with their purchases, reports CDK.
What’s Next?
The survey was done both before and after the presidential election but before the inauguration. Trump Admin. tariff policies rattle the auto industry and cloud its future. Moreover, the president has talked about ending federal tax incentives for EV buyers.
“With Trump not being a fan of EV tax incentives, it raises questions where EVs will go,” Tim Jackson, former president of the Colorado Auto Dealers Assn., tells WardsAuto.
“I was at a dinner of dealer vendors the other night and it was a big topic of discussion,” he says. “The general consensus was that EVs are here to stay. But where EVs are going is the $64 billion question.”
About 1.3 million EVs were sold in the U.S. last year. That’s 9% of the light-vehicle market. Yet as the pace of growth has slowed, many franchised dealers have voiced concerns that they’re stocking too many EVs and not selling enough.
“But dealers need to know EVs are snowballing,” Thomas contends.
The CDK report stresses the importance of an EV test drive at a franchised dealership. That influenced many buyers.
Considerably more non-Tesla owners (61%) credit knowledgeable salespeople who persuaded them to buy an EV. The salespersons had greater influence among younger buyers.
