The Drive EV platform has officially launched in the UAE, using artificial intelligence and structured decision logic to match prospective buyers with electric or hybrid vehicles based on their housing, lifestyle, location, and driving preferences.
The platform positions itself as a decision tool rather than a car listing site. It focuses on understanding the buyer first, using behavioral data and guided inputs to recommend suitable vehicles from a UAE model database and connect users with dealers.
A Market Growing at Speed
The UAE’s electric vehicle market has expanded sharply in recent years. EVs accounted for just 0.7 percent of total car sales in 2021. By 2023, that figure had reached 13 percent, a pace few markets globally have matched. The market grew 41 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with Dubai alone recording more than 40,600 registrations during that period.
Roland Berger’s EV Charging Index 2025 ranks the GCC among the fastest-growing EV markets globally, with the UAE leading the region in volume. Government policy has driven much of this growth, including a national target of 50 percent electric vehicles by 2050 and at least 10 percent adoption by 2030. Supporting incentives include free registration, toll exemptions, and reduced charging fees.
How the Drive EV Platform Works
The platform’s core tool, called “Your Ideal Vehicle,” guides users through eight structured questions and delivers three personalized recommendations drawn from a full UAE model database. An AI assistant handles broader queries, covering topics from battery technology to total cost of ownership.
Founder Ian Lewis, who previously worked in vehicle imports, built the platform based on direct market experience. “Buying an EV in the UAE is genuinely confusing for most people. There is a lot of information out there, but very little of it is structured to help you make a confident decision,” Lewis said. “Drive EV is built to simplify that journey, guiding buyers to the right vehicle for them and connecting them with the right dealer, with far less friction.”
Partnership with EVLife
At launch, Drive EV announced a partnership with EVLife, a global EV editorial platform operated by Reset Media Group. EVLife reaches readers in more than 170 countries and will integrate Drive EV’s recommendation tool to connect research with purchase decisions.
The two platforms plan to approach UAE dealers and manufacturers with a combined offering of editorial reach and data-driven leads. Drive EV’s lead intelligence system captures behavioral signals including location, driving patterns, and model preferences to support this effort.
“EVLife’s role is to inform people about what is happening in the EV world. Drive EV’s role is to convert that interest into a purchase decision. Those two roles are complementary rather than competitive, and together they create a compelling proposition for both EV brands and dealers.”
Dominic Shales, Founder, Reset Media Group and Publisher, EVLife
Expansion Plans Across the GCC
The partnership will initially focus on the UAE, with plans to expand across the GCC. As the region’s automotive economy shifts toward electrification, platforms that help buyers navigate a crowded market may find growing demand on both sides of the transaction.
Drive EV’s approach reflects a broader shift in how consumers research major purchases. Rather than browsing listings, buyers answer structured questions and receive targeted recommendations, reducing the time and uncertainty involved in choosing an electric vehicle.
