As you probably know, in 2024 in France the criteria for the environmental bonus have changed significantly. Simply put, any electric vehicle produced outside of Europe is no longer eligible for its subsidy. Thus, it is deprived of such market stars as Tesla Model 3 (but not Model Y, produced in Germany!), Dacia Spring or even MG4.

To address this inconvenience, concerned manufacturers have revised their pricing policies, with MG in particular offering attractive commercial discounts on its MG4 when Dacia decided to drop the prices of its electric city car. But even if most EVs remain largely subsidized, a recent study by Deloitte casts doubt on the electricity market.

The French still prefer to buy thermal cars

Indeed, contrary to expectations, the interest of potential buyers in these vehicles did not increase significantly compared to the previous year. This stagnation raises fears of a possible market slowdown. According to Deloitte data, only 9% of French respondents consider purchasing an electric car as their next vehicle, compared to 7% in 2022. This small increase is far from a significant breakthrough as the number of models increases. On the other hand, 41% of respondents would always choose a gasoline or diesel carand 19% prefer a hybrid car.
This trend is characteristic not only of France. Other markets, such as Germany and the United States, are also seeing a downward trend in EV adoption. In Germany, for example, fluctuations in government incentives have shaken consumer confidence. Guillaume Crunel, an analyst at Deloitte, comments: “We are on a plateau. We do not panic, but it is mild. » This stagnation is worrisome given Europe’s goals. Although electric vehicles are often presented as an environmental solution, their adoption remains insufficient to have a truly significant impact at the moment.

Electric cars are still too expensive

One of the main obstacles to the introduction of electric cars is the price. The share of surveyed French customers is increasing don’t want to spend more than €30,000 on their next car. Also, the old demons of limited battery life and the time it takes to recharge vehicles remain. Despite falling prices for mid-range electric models, consumer expectations are high and seem to be outpacing automakers’ achievements.
Most potential buyers also want to make a profit with a range of over 400 kilometerswhich requires larger and more expensive batteries… While the cheapest models today have a hard time exceeding 300 km of autonomy.

Power leasing could well make it possible, at least in France, to develop an electricity market in 2024, but it remains to be seen how that same market will react when all its subsidies end.

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