The SUV Problem

Or Why OEM’s should easily be able to sell EVs (If they wanted to)

Here are two, seemingly unconnected comments -

“Many OEMs are saying they’re having trouble selling electric vehicles. But Chinese brands like BYD are stealing huge market share.”

“At an upcoming EV test drive event open to the public only BYD and Chery are bringing a number of full electric cars”

Are these two things connected?

We constantly hear in the news and on social/media that EVs are not selling in the UK the way they should be. Whilst the actual sales figures do not back that statement up (EVs were 1 in 4 cars sold last year and DfT data indicate that the ZEV Mandate figures are being met by all manufacturers) there are still vehicle OEMs that are making moves to weaken the ZEV mandate and slow down the uptake of electric cars.

I have maintained for some time that the reason this is the case is because a lot of the ‘traditional’ OEMs don’t want to make and sell electric vehicles rather than the fact that people don’t want to buy them.

Here’s why think this is the case and it’s down to 2 factors:

• The SUV issue.

• Test drives.