Automotive Business Magazine – Q3 2026 – Digital edition - Flipbook - Page 93
premium and increasingly
technology-heavy.
The Tesla Model S, for
example, recorded the highest
claim rate in the EV dataset
at 34.78%, alongside average
repair costs exceeding £1,000
per claim.
The Mercedes EQV followed
closely at 33.33%, while the
Tesla Model X recorded a claim
rate of 29.17%.
Premium electric SUVs also
featured heavily among the
higher-risk vehicles, including
the Mercedes EQB and BMW iX3.
This reflects a growing
trend emerging across the
electric vehicle market, where
software integration, thermal
management systems, charging
technology and advanced driver
assistance systems (ADAS) are
creating new forms of long-term
repair exposure.
Mechanical to
electronic complexity
While ICE and EV vehicles
generate very different types
of failures, the underlying issue
connecting both markets is
increasing vehicle complexity.
Traditional ICE vehicles
continue to generate recurring
faults linked to emissions
systems, turbochargers,
transmissions and electrical
components.
By contrast, EVs are
increasingly generating
repair risks linked to battery
management systems, software
integration, charging systems
and advanced electronics.
The findings suggest that
the future of vehicle ownership
risk will not simply be defined
by whether a vehicle is petrol,
diesel or electric. Instead, it will
be defined by how complex that
vehicle becomes to diagnose
and repair over time.
For dealers and consumers
alike, mature and lowercomplexity vehicles are
increasingly emerging as some
of the strongest long-term
ownership performers across
both ICE and EV sectors.
The WSG view
There is still a perception that
the ownership risk conversation
is simply 'ICE versus EV', but our
claims data shows the reality is
becoming much more nuanced.
Many EVs are now delivering
exceptionally strong reliability
performance, particularly where
the platforms are mature and
less complex. At the same
time, modern ICE vehicles are
continuing to generate rising
repair costs linked to emissions
technology, electronics and
drivetrain systems.
What is becoming increasingly
important across both
markets is vehicle complexity.
As manufacturers continue
introducing more advanced
software, connected systems,
driver assistance technologies
and electronic integration, the
long-term repair landscape is
becoming more expensive and
more specialised.
For dealers, fleets and
consumers, understanding
repair trends is increasingly
important, because it provides a
much clearer picture of longterm ownership risk beyond fuel
type alone.
Final takeaway
The findings reflect a broader
transformation taking place
across the automotive sector.
As vehicles become more
advanced, repair costs are
increasingly shaped by software,
electronics, labour availability
and diagnostic complexity
rather than simply traditional
mechanical wear and tear.
For motorists, fleets and
dealers, the message is
becoming clearer: the future
cost of vehicle ownership will
not simply depend on whether
a vehicle is ICE or electric, but
on how reliable, repairable and
technologically manageable that
vehicle remains over time.
Costs
Used cars
EVs
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