Although electric cars are gaining ground, it is now and still petrol cars that are most popular when motorists have to choose a new car. This is shown by new figures from the audit firm EY.
When car buyers are faced with the choice between an electric car and a petrol car, electric cars look set to become more popular in the future.
According to a survey by the consulting firm EY, which was carried out in 2024, 24 percent of those questioned now prefer an electric car. However, petrol cars still remain the most popular at 29 percent. But the gap seems to be narrowing.
The survey also showed that 40 percent of the respondents expect to buy a new car in the middle of 2026.
That figure is an increase of 7 percentage points compared to the previous year. The EY survey was carried out in 28 countries, including Germany, from which 1,000 out of a total of 19,000 respondents participated.
This is written by the news agency dpa.
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Looking at the German market, the figures show that 26 percent of potential buyers in Germany choose electric cars.
This is slightly higher than the European average of 21 percent. Diesel cars are slightly more popular in Germany than in other countries, while hybrid cars are in less demand.
Although interest in electric cars is increasing, the automotive industry is experiencing challenges due to economic conditions.
Many consumers are putting off expensive purchases like cars, and sales at several of the biggest car manufacturers have fallen. For some quite significantly.
In Germany alone, 2.12 million new cars were registered during the first nine months of the year, which is a decrease of 1 percent compared to the same period last year. The registrations of electric cars in particular fell significantly, namely by a whopping 29 percent.
EY's Constantin Gall believes, however, that the market can turn around again. He points to a growing interest in electric cars, particularly in Europe, despite the current declining figures for new registrations. According to him, better models are constantly coming on the market, which can further increase interest.
For potential electric car buyers in Germany, the cars' range plays an important role. German buyers expect, on average, that electric cars must be able to cover 470 kilometers per hour. charging, which is higher than the global average of 400 kilometers.
At home, electric cars account for just over 50 percent of the new car market. Electric cars are mainly driven forward by state subsidies in the form of tax reductions and the electricity tax that electric car owners can get back by charging at home. However, both parts are to be phased out in the new decade.
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