Peugeot boss says electric power cars are just for ‘green addicts’
Electric cars are just bought by “green addicts” and aren’t desirable enough to regular buyers, in line with the chairman of France’s most significant carmaker.
Carlos Tavares, mind of the PSA Group responsible for Peugeot, Citroen and DS, says electric vehicles even so lack mainstream appeal.
Talking with reporters from several outlets incorporating Reuters following cancelled Geneva electric motor show, Tavares said manufacturers must work on making electric powered cars affordable.
The former Renault innovator said “demand collapses” when governments end subsidies for electric cars, which aren’t attractive enough to pragmatists.
Sales of electric cars in major markets such as China and the UK fell when governments turned the tap off generous subsides.
While growing steadily, electric power and plug-in hybrid vehicles represent significantly less than 1 per cent of car sales in Australia, where there are minimal incentives to select battery-powered vehicles.
Tavares’ opinions clash with the heads of major manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, which are investing heavily found in electric technology.
Ola Källenius, Daimler chair and boss of Mercedes-Benz autos, says his business will double creation of plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2020 and force to expand its “EQ” category of electric cars.
But Tavares isn’t alone.
BMW panel member Klaus Frölich told reporters on June 2019 that the shift to electrification is going to be overhyped, and a government push for electrical cars outstripped consumer demand.
“There are no customer requests for BEVs. None,” he told Forbes.com.
Source: www.news.com.au
