Lack of affordable small cars, but more and more SUVs
The choice of electrically powered SUVs is getting bigger and bigger. For affordable small cars, on the other hand, it is shrinking. And according to car experts, the range in the small classes will remain inadequate in 2024. Things are not expected to improve until 2025.
Too many sport utility vehicles (SUVs), too few small cars - the ramp-up of electromobility is being slowed down by an unsuitable range of models. The focus on large and powerful models is driving up prices: on average, electric car buyers spent 52,693 euros this year, according to the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in Bergisch Gladbach - that is 4023 euros more than in the previous year.
However, vehicles have also become more powerful on average: The average range of all electric cars sold in Germany increased to 423 kilometers and the charging speed to 133 kW.
The proportion of SUVs among electric cars is particularly high. While they account for 41 percent of all new registrations in the overall market, they make up 53 percent of all electric vehicles. The compact class only has a share of 14 percent, while small cars account for 7 percent. The proportion of subcompact cars fell from 16% to 11% compared to the previous year.
SUV supply is growing, but falling for compact and subcompact cars
The main reason for this development is the growing range of models in the SUV classes, while the number of small and micro cars available is falling. While 14 models were still available in this segment in 2022, there are currently only 12. The selection of SUVs has grown from 31 to 48 in the same period.
According to CAM estimates, the range in the small classes will remain inadequate in 2024. An increased supply of affordable and sufficiently competitive electric cars - including the Renault Twingo and VW ID.2 - is not expected until 2025.
The experts forecast around 600,000 new BEV registrations in 2024 (up 15 percent), while around 750,000 units (up 25 percent) are expected in the following year 2025.
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Despite the growing interest in electromobility, the selection of affordable small cars is decreasing, while the choice of electric SUVs continues to expand. This trend is causing concern among car experts, who predict that the range in small car classes will remain inadequate until 2025. Moreover, electric car buyers are spending more on average, with the price for an electric vehicle increasing by 4023 euros from 2023 to 2024. Conversely, the proportion of SUVs among electric cars is surging, making up 53% of all electric vehicle registrations, while compact and subcompact car classes are seeing a decline, with only 7% and 11% market share, respectively.
Source: www.ntv.de
