Drivers prefer manufacturers that support EV sales
A majority of drivers in the UK, France, India and Indonesia want their car brand to support policies to increase EV sales and phase out ICE, according to a new poll.
The study, conducted by Dynata surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 drivers in six countries – USA, UK, France, India, Indonesia, Japan – to get fresh insights on their attitudes towards automakers’ role in the Electric Vehicles (EV) transition.
It found that the majority of drivers want OEMs to support policies to increase EV sales in the UK (58%), France (51%), India (86%) and Indonesia (83%).
A majority of drivers in all countries surveyed apart from Japan said they would avoid buying a car from a company that lobbied against climate change policy. In the US, it was just under half (47%) of drivers that want their own car brand to support policies to increase EV sales and phase out ICE vehicle sales, while 23% want their car brand to oppose such policies.
In Japan 42% of drivers want their own car brand to support such policies, versus 12% who want their car brand to oppose such policies. In addition, in most countries surveyed, young (18-34 years) drivers were more likely to want their car brand to support climate policy than older drivers (55 years +).
Relatedly, most drivers in all countries surveyed understood an “electrified” vehicle to mean a Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV), whereas only a minority of drivers in all countries think this term refers to plug-in hybrid, or hybrid vehicles.
Commenting on the policies, Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said:
“These results should give many of the largest car manufacturers pause for thought. Motorists are increasingly conscious of the impact that cars have on the environment, and they want cleaner cars.
“Advocating for climate policies to be weakened or watered down not only carries environmental risks, but reputational and financial risks, too.”
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