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It’s at least partially creditable to the nature of the models manufacturers chose to make, usually being midrange to luxury crossovers, SUVs, and performance c
by cosmic_cheese 2y ago
It’s at least partially creditable to the nature of the models manufacturers chose to make, usually being midrange to luxury crossovers, SUVs, and performance cars. Yes the first two of those are popular categories and have no shortage of highly priced hybrid and ICE models, but EVs are too much of an unknown for too much of the population for those prices to be palatable.
Traditional automakers keep trying to replay Tesla’s entry into the market, but I don’t think that’s going to work. They need to instead be focusing on value above all else, which is something they’re severely allergic to. They don’t want to sell $20-$25k practical cars, they want to sell $60k SUVs with fat margins, but the appetite for expensive EVs is already well-sated with interested buyers having a plethora of options. So in a way, they’re guaranteeing their own failure when it comes to EVs.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoThe market for $25K cars is served by used cars. Most people I know would rather buy a used SUV than a new hatchback.
- cosmic_cheese 2y agoI would say the used market starts to be more of a factor at $15k and below. Right now the value proposition of cars in the $15-25k range is truly awful, with it often making more sense to finance or lease a new car instead. When I was shopping last year I was seeing used Honda Fits that were the better part of a decade old north of the $15k mark, which is absurd considering they didn’t cost much more than that new. It’s even worse for in-demand models like RAV4’s.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoI think you have cause and effect backwards. It's because there are so many people willing to pay $25K - $35K for a used SUV that used cars are so expensive.
- cosmic_cheese 2y agoIf that’s the case it’s rather unfortunate that everybody who just wants a small city car to grab groceries with gets dragged along for the ride.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoAgreed. Our second car is > 12 years old now, and it will be replaced by a small electric city car. Won't be any time soon, because the selection is so poor.