United Kingdom 
United States 
Italia 
Deutschland 
France 
International 
Join YouGov experts and leading voices as we unpack the seismic shifts in the UK automotive landscape.
As electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids gain ground in the UK, the automotive market is undergoing rapid transformation. While legacy brands still dominate, a new wave of emerging manufacturers is challenging the status quo.
Join us on Thursday, 20 November 8:00am to 10:00am at the YouGov London office for an exclusive breakfast session featuring YouGov experts and external speakers from leading automotive brands. We’ll explore:
- Brand vs. Bold New Entrants
- 57% of drivers still lean on brand reputation, but is it enough to hold off disruptive newcomers?
- The Power of Progress
EV ownership now accounts for 5% of the main car drivers to use, with hybrids at 12%, and rising.
- The Challenger Opportunity
New brands are gaining credibility. Our data reveals which features price, range/MPG, and design are most likely to convert consideration into purchase.
- What Matters to Today’s Drivers
Price leads (54%), but trusted reputation, sleek design, and strong warranties are winning hearts.
- Barriers to Break Through
Cost, unfamiliarity, and limited showrooms remain obstacles but also opportunities for brands that get it right.
This session will provide a data-driven view of the threats and opportunities facing both traditional and emerging automotive players.
Meet the speakers
Eric Knight leads media investment and brand strategy at OMODA & JAECOO UK, while also supporting broader Chery initiatives in the UK. A Harvard graduate, he has played a key role in driving the brands’ rapid rise—topping 10,800 registrations in Q3 2025 and reaching 3.45% UK market share, with over 32,000 cars sold in the past 12 months. Under his leadership, OMODA & JAECOO has cemented its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing automotive brands. Previously, Eric held senior roles at Publicis and Dentsu, delivering growth for Porsche, Audi, and Starbucks. He’s passionate about how AI and connected data are reshaping consumer understanding and brand experiences.
As the Head of Partnerships for EV Distribution Channels at OVO, Kate draws on over a decade of experience in the automotive industry. This unique cross-sector understanding drives her focus on strategic collaboration between energy and automotive to reduce complexity and cost barriers for customers to switch to EVs.
Presentation Overview:
The presentation will cover how strategic partnerships between the energy and automotive sectors are crucial for accelerating EV adoption and highlight how OVO is positively disrupting and innovating by reducing complexity with its EV propositions.
Mat is the lead for brand strategy, advertising and media at Lexus UK. In his 20+ year career, he has held senior marketing positions in a broad spectrum of industries including FMCG, Over The Counter (OTC) products and Automotive.
Mat has played a key role in the strategic shift of Lexus investing into long term through tennis sponsorship, including being Performance and Automotive Partner of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Sky’s new tennis channel, which are contributing to the growth of the Lexus brand in the UK. He is highly passionate about the marketing discipline, in particular research, brand strategy and effectiveness
Russell Feldman, is the head of client services in UK. Russell joined YouGov in 2007 working in Telecoms and Media research before eventually leading the sector. Since then Russell heads up the CS team in the UK working across consumer, retail, Financial services, reputation, digital, media, tech, and Auto practices. His main areas of focus are consumer demand, market trends, usage and attitudes, customers satisfaction and loyalty, and new product development.
Russell has spoken at various conferences from automotive, tourism, telco and broadband connectivity and spectrum, media and on-demand. He has also written in-depth articles on the wearables, smartphone, and tablet markets for various publications.
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