Evans Halshaw Ford EV test drive Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• Evans Halshaw Ford Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil are hosting the Ready Set Ford Test Drive Tour in Cardiff
• The four-day event runs from 30 July to 2 August 2026 at St David’s Shopping Centre
• Motorists can test drive the all-electric Puma Gen-E, all-electric Explorer and new Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid
• Three display vehicles will be showcased inside and outside the shopping centre, with six vehicles available for test drives
• The tour returns to Cardiff for a second consecutive year after hundreds tested Ford EVs last year
• Drivers testing the Puma Gen-E can enter Ford’s ‘Take a Test Drive to Win’ promotion
• Amrit Bhogal, head of business at Evans Halshaw Ford Cardiff, confirmed the event details
• St David’s Shopping Centre attracts an estimated 576,000 visitors each week

Cardiff (Wales Times) July 29, 2026 – Evans Halshaw Ford uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil are inviting motorists to test drive Ford’s latest electric and plug-in hybrid models as the Ready Set Ford Test Drive Tour returns to Cardiff. The four-day event will take place at St David’s Shopping Centre from 30 July to 2 August, giving visitors the opportunity to explore Ford’s newest electrified line-up, speak to product specialists and take instant test drives.

As reported by Motor Trade News, the tour returns to Cardiff for a second consecutive year following last year’s event, which saw hundreds of motorists test drive Ford’s latest electric vehicles. This year’s showcase will feature the all-electric Puma Gen-E, all-electric Explorer and new Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid, with three display vehicles on show inside and outside the shopping centre while six vehicles will be available for test drives throughout the event.

Which Ford models can visitors test drive at the Cardiff event?

This year’s showcase will feature three key electrified models from Ford’s current lineup. According to Motor Trade News, the all-electric Puma Gen-E, all-electric Explorer and new Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will headline the Cardiff event, giving visitors access to Ford’s latest electric SUV offerings and the manufacturer’s new plug-in hybrid pickup technology.

The all-electric Puma Gen-E represents Ford’s electric compact SUV, designed for urban environments with fast charging capabilities and advanced technology features. The all-electric Explorer is Ford’s larger electric SUV offering, providing extended range and spacious accommodation for families and longer journeys. The new Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid combines traditional pickup capability with electrified powertrain technology, offering reduced emissions while maintaining the utility characteristics expected from the Ranger nameplate.

Ford’s Ready Set Ford City Tour programme, as outlined on the manufacturer’s official events calendar, positions these vehicles at high-traffic urban locations to maximize consumer exposure to electric vehicle technology. The Cardiff stop at St David’s follows previous 2026 tour appearances in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Bristol, with additional locations including Liverpool, Norwich, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle scheduled for later in the year.

How does the ‘Take a Test Drive to Win’ promotion work?

Drivers who test drive the all-electric Puma Gen-E at the Cardiff event will be eligible to enter Ford’s ‘Take a Test Drive to Win’ promotion. As reported by Motor Trade News, this incentive programme is specifically tied to the Puma Gen-E test drive experience, offering participants the chance to win prizes through the promotional draw.

The promotion forms part of Ford UK’s broader strategy to encourage electric vehicle test drives through tangible incentives. Similar promotional structures have been deployed across other Ford dealer networks, including the E-Transit Custom giveaway campaigns run by Evans Halshaw and the Drive 4 UR Community charity test drive events which donate £30 to local causes for each test drive completed.

Details of the specific prizes available through the ‘Take a Test Drive to Win’ promotion have not been disclosed in the initial announcement, though Ford UK typically structures these promotions around vehicle-related rewards, charging equipment, or experiential prizes designed to reinforce the electric vehicle ownership proposition.

What did Amrit Bhogal say about the Cardiff event?

Amrit Bhogal, head of business at Evans Halshaw Ford Cardiff, said: “We’re excited to be bringing the Ready Set Ford Test Drive Tour to Cardiff and giving people the opportunity to experience Ford’s latest electric vehicles for themselves. Making the switch to electric can feel like a big decision, so being able to see the vehicles up close, ask questions and take one out on the road really helps people understand how easily an electric vehicle can fit into everyday life.”

As reported by Motor Trade News, Bhogal’s statement emphasized the educational component of the event, with Ford specialists on hand to answer questions about charging, range, running costs and day-to-day use. The event forms part of a nationwide tour designed to help motorists learn more about electric vehicle ownership, addressing common consumer concerns about the practicality of EV adoption.

Bhogal, who serves as head of business at Evans Halshaw Ford Cardiff, has previously commented on the dealership’s expansion in the region. According to Motor Trade News reporting from February 2026, Bhogal stated: “It is a proud moment to see such a major re-development of the Cardiff dealership, having worked in the Cardiff current market area for the past 26 years,” when Evans Halshaw announced a £1.7 million investment to transform its Ford dealership in Cardiff into a dedicated Transit Centre.

Where is the Cardiff test drive tour taking place?

The Ready Set Ford Test Drive Tour will be positioned at St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff city centre for the duration of the event. As reported by Motor Trade News, St David’s Shopping Centre attracts an estimated 576,000 visitors each week, providing Evans Halshaw with the opportunity to showcase Ford’s expanding electrified range to a wide audience.

The choice of St David’s Shopping Centre follows Ford UK’s strategy of hosting Ready Set Ford City Tour events at high-traffic urban retail locations. According to Ford UK’s official Ready Set Ford City Tour calendar, the Cardiff event is scheduled for 30 July to 2 August at St Davids, with test drive availability confirmed for the full duration.

Three display vehicles will be positioned both inside and outside the shopping centre during the event, maximizing visibility to passing foot traffic while providing protected viewing areas for visitors interested in examining the vehicles up close. Six vehicles will be available for test drives throughout the four-day period, with Ford specialists on site to facilitate appointments and answer technical questions.

What is the Ready Set Ford City Tour?

The Ready Set Ford City Tour is Ford UK’s nationwide electric vehicle demonstration programme, designed to bring the manufacturer’s EV lineup directly to consumers in major cities across the country. According to Ford UK’s official events information, experts will be on hand at each tour stop to answer questions about switching to electric and bust common myths about EVs.

The 2026 tour calendar includes stops in Edinburgh (St James Quarter, 18-21 June), Birmingham (Bullring, 2-5 July), Portsmouth (Gunwharf Quay, 16-18 July), Bristol (Cabot Circus, 23-26 July), Cardiff (St Davids, 30 July-2 August), Liverpool (Liverpool One, 6-10 August), Norwich (Chantry Place, 13-17 August), Leeds (Trinity, 20-24 August), Manchester (Arndale, 27-31 August), and Newcastle (Eldon Square, 3-7 September).

As reported by Motor Trade News, the Cardiff event marks the second consecutive year the tour has visited the Welsh capital, following last year’s event which saw hundreds of motorists test drive Ford’s latest electric vehicles. The programme aims to help motorists learn more about electric vehicle ownership, with Ford specialists available to discuss charging infrastructure, vehicle range, running costs and practical day-to-day use considerations.

Background of the EV Test Drive Tour Development

The return of the Ford EV test drive tour to Cardiff reflects the ongoing expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure and consumer engagement initiatives across Wales. Ford UK has maintained a presence in the Welsh capital through various events and demonstration programmes as part of its commitment to supporting the UK’s transition to zero-emission transport.

The Ready Set Ford City Tour launched as part of Ford’s broader electrification strategy, which has seen the manufacturer introduce multiple new electric models to the UK market in recent years. The programme addresses one of the key barriers to EV adoption identified by industry research: limited access to test drive opportunities for electric vehicles, particularly for consumers who do not live near major urban centres or dedicated EV experience facilities.

Cardiff has previously hosted Ford electric vehicle events, including the Drive 4 UR Community charity test drive events which have raised funds for local causes including Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. The city’s inclusion in the 2026 Ready Set Ford City Tour calendar demonstrates Ford’s continued investment in the Welsh market and recognition of South Wales as a significant region for electric vehicle adoption.

The partnership with Evans Halshaw, as Ford’s official dealer network in the region, ensures that consumers who test drive vehicles at the St David’s event have access to local dealerships for follow-up purchases, servicing, and ongoing support. This integrated approach between manufacturer events and dealer network infrastructure is designed to streamline the customer journey from initial interest through to vehicle ownership.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Welsh Motorists Considering Electric Vehicles

The return of Ford’s EV test drive tour to Cardiff is likely to have a measurable impact on electric vehicle consideration and adoption rates among Welsh motorists. By positioning the event at St David’s Shopping Centre, which attracts an estimated 576,000 visitors each week, Ford and Evans Halshaw are placing electric vehicles directly in the path of high footfall consumer traffic, potentially reaching demographics that might not actively seek out EV test drive opportunities at traditional dealership locations.

Industry analysis suggests that hands-on experience with electric vehicles significantly increases purchase consideration among consumers who have not previously owned an EV. The Ready Set Ford City Tour’s multi-model approach, allowing visitors to test drive the all-electric Puma Gen-E, all-electric Explorer and new Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid in a single session, addresses the common consumer concern about range anxiety and charging infrastructure by providing direct experience with current-generation EV technology.

For the South Wales region specifically, the event may accelerate EV adoption among both private consumers and commercial fleet operators. The inclusion of the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid in the test drive lineup provides an opportunity for local businesses and tradespeople to evaluate electrified commercial vehicles, which could support the decarbonisation of service operations across Cardiff and the surrounding valleys.

The timing of the Cardiff event, positioned between the Bristol and Liverpool stops on the tour calendar, creates a regional cluster of EV engagement opportunities across the Welsh borders. This geographic concentration may generate additional media coverage and word-of-mouth awareness, potentially amplifying the impact beyond the immediate test drive participants.

Evans Halshaw’s involvement as the hosting dealer group provides a clear pathway from test drive to purchase, with both Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil locations positioned to serve customers who decide to proceed with an electric vehicle acquisition following the event. This integrated approach between experiential marketing and dealer network capacity is likely to improve conversion rates compared to standalone manufacturer events without local dealer support.

The ‘Take a Test Drive to Win’ promotion tied to the Puma Gen-E test drive adds an additional incentive layer that may increase participation rates, particularly among consumers who are on the fence about electric vehicle adoption. Promotional mechanics of this type have proven effective in driving trial behaviour across automotive retail, and when combined with the educational component of Ford specialist support, may help overcome residual consumer hesitation about the switch to electric.