In recent months, sales of plug-in hybrid cars have been falling. And the cause is none other than electric models. We will explain everything to you.
As we know, sales of new cars are not really at the top, and have been since the year 2020. Health crisis, shortage of semiconductors or even logistical problems caused by the war in Ukraine, in other words, the situation is rather difficult for the automotive industry.. According to the CCFA, registrations in France have indeed fallen by -7.1% compared to last year, while the drop is -15.3% over the first seven months of 2022 compared to 2021.
If the thermal engines pay the heaviest price, the electric is doing rather well on the territory. In effect, this segment has occupied 12.1% of the market since January, compared with 7.7% at the beginning of last year. The hybrid also sees its sales increase in France (29.4% of the market in 2022 against 24.8% in 2021).
The plug-in hybrid in freefall
Nevertheless, this engine is starting to have less and less of the wind in its sails over the months, as our colleagues fromAutomotive News. In effect, sales of plug-in hybrid cars fell by 28% in June in France and by 16% in Germany. In the United Kingdom too, these vehicles are less successful than before, since two electric cars are sold for one PHEV car. In 2019, the two engines were neck and neck.
In France, the main plug-in hybrid models have all taken a big hit in terms of sales. As our colleagues from theAutomotive Magazine, the Peugeot 3008 PHEV saw its registrations fall by 30.8%, with only 6,461 units sold in the first six months of the year. The Citroën C5 Aircross rechargeable hybrid fell by 18.1% (3,231 copies), while the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense saw its sales plummet by 26.2% (2,282 copies).
Only a few models posted an increase in registrations, such as the Mercedes GLC (+19.4%, 3,232 copies) or the BMW X3 (+95.2%, 1,884 copies). But one of the biggest increases is in MG, whose EHS saw sales jump 100.5% from a year ago. Logical, since it began its marketing during the last year.
Several reasons for this decline
To tell the truth, several causes explain this disenchantment of European motorists for the plug-in hybrid. Considered too little ecological, this engine has been the subject of many not really favorable studies, including one published by Impact Living describing these vehicles as a real scam, neither more nor less. Accused of consuming too much and rejecting too much CO2, due in particular to a higher weight than a thermal car because of the batteries, this engine seems to have lost all the qualities of the beginnings.
But this is not the only reason that explains motorists’ loss of interest in plug-in hybrids. Financial aid also plays a role. In effect, in many countries, including France, the bonus is lower, or even sometimes non-existent for these vehicles, which nevertheless sometimes cost as much or even more than an electric model.
And that should not go on improving, while the boost of 1,000 euros for plug-in hybrid cars will disappear from us from December 31st. In Germany too, the subsidy will end this year, while it was abolished in 2018 in the United Kingdom. Not enough to encourage motorists to opt for this alternative, so…
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