Bain’s survey of more than 12,000 car buyers links an EV test drive to much greater openness to buying one. In the UAE, buyers already show a strong appetite for new car technology.
Among American car buyers who have test-driven a battery electric car, 68 per cent would consider buying one. Among those who haven’t, the figure falls to 31 per cent. That 2.2-times gap is the widest Bain & Company reports in its Global Automotive Consumer Survey, published in October.
What did Bain find?
European buyers who have tried an electric car are 1.8 times as willing to consider one. In China, the multiple is 1.5. Bain calls the effect one of the survey’s clearest findings.
Mass-market buyers are the least likely to have had the experience. Only 28 per cent in the US and 39 per cent in Europe have tried one. Among premium buyers, the figures are 56 per cent and 66 per cent. As a result, Bain argues that quick, easy test drives could be among the most effective ways to speed up adoption.
The survey measures a link, however, and the direction of cause remains unproven. People who are already curious about electric cars are more likely to book a drive in the first place. Even so, an EV test drive answers questions that a brochure can’t.
Does the same apply in the UAE?
Bain’s published test-drive comparison covers the US, Europe and China, so there’s no public UAE figure yet. Karim Henain, who leads Bain’s Advanced Manufacturing & Services practice in the Middle East, says a dedicated regional view will follow. “Middle East consumers are different,” he said. “In our work in the region, we see a strong appetite for new technologies such as EVs and autonomous driving.”
Bain’s UAE autonomy figure supports that view. Some 90 per cent of UAE respondents would consider buying a car with Level 3 autonomy or higher. That compares with 84 per cent in China, 47 per cent in Europe and 40 per cent in the US. Among the markets Bain charts, only Indonesia, on 93 per cent, and India, on 91 per cent, rank higher.
What would those buyers actually get?
Level 3 sits well short of a car that drives itself everywhere. Under Bain’s definition, the car drives itself in certain conditions. The driver must still take over when prompted. Bain also notes that availability remains very limited, so the 90 per cent reflects interest in a future purchase. Robotaxis sit higher on the levels of autonomy, at Level 4 or 5.
Riders in parts of Dubai, including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, can already meet those higher levels. Uber may match them with a fully driverless Apollo Go vehicle. In September, the UAE Cabinet also approved federal rules for inspecting, registering and licensing self-driving vehicles. Bain doesn’t say whether this local exposure explains the 90 per cent.
What should you try on a test drive?
Start by asking for your own route. A short loop shows you the acceleration, but your commute or school run will tell you far more. Include a car park too, because that’s where visibility and low-speed manners become obvious.
Next, try the settings. Many electric cars let drivers adjust how strongly the car slows when they lift off the accelerator. Ask for a demonstration and test each mode. Turn the air conditioning up as well, then watch how the range estimate responds. If you carry a family, put them in the back and check the boot.
Bain found that 47 per cent of sceptics think charging takes too long, while 43 per cent say the infrastructure isn’t good enough. So ask the salesperson to plug the car in and show you the app. Then check what’s near your home and workplace. Dubai had 2,223 charging points by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The ones on your own route will count for more. If you live in an apartment, ask your building’s management about home charging before you visit.
Finally, question any driver-assistance system closely. Ask what it can do, where it works and when it hands back control. The answers will show you how far today’s cars are from the Level 3 experience that UAE buyers say they’d consider.
Where can you get behind the wheel?
Dealerships remain the obvious first stop, and nine in 10 buyers worldwide still complete their purchase offline. Events let you compare brands side by side. For instance, organisers of the 2025 Yalla Green Mobility Show at Dubai Autodrome planned 15-minute test drives across more than 70 electric cars.
EV World 2026 runs from 10 to 12 November at Dubai World Trade Centre. Its programme lists test drives alongside product launches and live demonstrations. EVLife is a media partner of the event.
