Waning interest in battery-electric cars? CLEPA survey reveals surprising results

European automotive suppliers association CLEPA surveyed the EU's five largest countries to gauge interest in electric cars. The result is surprising: According to the survey, only 8 per cent of respondents intend to purchase an electric car for their next vehicle acquisition. This makes the study an outlier compared to similar surveys.

Image: Monta

CLEPA bases these findings on a representative survey of more than 5,200 participants in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain. The key message – that only eight per cent of respondents intend to purchase a battery-electric car – “stands in partial strong contrast to similar studies from the recent past,” reports _Automobilwoche_, which first covered this survey.

The trade journal also provides context, identifying the survey design as the decisive factor behind the unusual results: CLEPA surveyed all adults, including those without a driver’s licence, their own car, or any purchase intent. CLEPA Secretary-General Benjamin Krieger told _Automobilwoche_: “A high proportion of new electric vehicle sales comes from commercial fleet registrations.” This does not reflect the actual behaviour of end consumers. The survey captures general purchase intent rather than immediate, short-term demand.

Another possible reason for potential distortion: According to _Automobilwoche_, participants in the online survey could select two preferred powertrain types for their purchase intentions. In other words, combinations such as internal combustion engine (ICE) and BEV or hybrid and ICE were possible responses.