Electric cars: 47 percent fewer orders in the first half of the year
According to a survey, car dealerships in Germany are seeing significantly less demand for BEVs and PHEVs than last year.
A car purchase could be in the offing here.
(Image: ZDK)
Private customers ordered 47 percent fewer battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the first half of the year than a year ago. This was the result of a survey conducted by the German Motor Vehicle Association (ZDK). According to the association, it surveyed 348 car dealerships from June 14 to July 2 of this year. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were ordered 37 percent less, while diesel and petrol cars were 24 percent more in demand. Among commercial customers, the drop in orders was 41 percent at BEV; they ordered 33 percent fewer plug-in hybrids, but 20 percent more diesel and petrol vehicles.
According to the ZDK, the car dealerships surveyed are skeptical about the future. 91 percent rated the order situation for BEVs from private customers as "very poor" (63 percent) or "poor" (28 percent). For OBVs, 44 percent have "very poor" and 35 percent "poor" expectations. For business with commercial customers, 84% of the dealerships surveyed expect the outlook for BEVs to be "very poor" (50%) or "poor" (34%). For PHEVs, the expectations are "very poor" for 43 percent and "poor" for 30 percent.
Purchase price as an obstacle
27% see the high purchase price or high leasing rates as an obstacle to increased sales of BEVs and PHEVs. For 23 percent, this includes an uncertain resale value or low residual value and 16 percent stated that many potential customers do not have charging facilities at home as an obstacle. For 13 percent, there are too few fast-charging options. 3 percent cited high repair costs and spare parts shortages.
In the private customer segment with conventional drive technology, 7% of the car dealerships surveyed expect "very good" and 32% "good" order development for diesels and petrol engines compared to the previous year. 38 percent see a "neutral" situation and thus a development similar to the previous year. These figures are at a similar level for business with commercial and fleet customers.
ZDK President Arne Joswig formulates demands from the survey: "We expect manufacturers to create market incentives now by offering favorable prices and low leasing rates." Further significant progress is also needed in the area of charging infrastructure. "And we assume that new vehicles with combustion engines can still be registered after 2035 if they are powered by climate-neutral e-fuels."
(anw)