Even when it comes to electric cars, consumers still prefer to buy their vehicles from their neighborhood car dealers. This information was obtained as a result of a study conducted by market researchers from MiiOS and UScale. According to the findings of the market researchers, "it is clear that the competition between dealers and manufacturers as sales partners has not yet been determined." This statement was made because only one out of every fourth owner of an electric vehicle has remained loyal to their previous vehicle brand.
Approximately two-thirds of the private electric car drivers who participated in the survey for the evaluation purchased their battery-electric vehicle from a local dealer or the manufacturer's website. Only 21 percent bought their automobile directly from the manufacturer through an online platform, and only 4 percent purchased their vehicle from another online marketplace.
The survey found that traditional vehicle dealerships are not in direct rivalry with their internet counterparts. Instead, they may use the tools available online to continue having great sales in the future. The high level of information clients seeks is a significant factor driving demand in the retail industry.
According to market researchers, "while current electric car owners belong to the sector of innovators and early adopters and therefore have a significant deal of knowledge in electromobility in general, the degree of information about financing choices and insurance is restricted." Even if customer satisfaction with the advice provided by auto dealers is on par with that of other partners like manufacturers and insurance firms, car dealers remain the preferred choice for partnerships in this industry.
The study also reveals significant shifts in why people purchase automobiles, such as that only about one in four respondents stayed faithful to the same automobile brand even after buying an electric vehicle. When asked about their transition from internal combustion engines, 77% of respondents said that they changed not only the model of their car but also the brand. Therefore, the initial selection was based not on loyalty but on technological enthusiasm, ranked as the second most crucial factor after availability and in third place after price.
"Low customer loyalty to the brand is both an opportunity and a risk for the industry's retailers and producers. According to Dr. Axel Sprenger, Chief Executive Officer of UScale, "Brand loyalty may be recreated with the proper design of financing, leasing, and insurance packages."
The study results indicate that owners of electric vehicles have a higher average net income than those powered by internal combustion engines. The increasing number of people who intend to buy their next private electric car through financing or leasing is a confirmation of the way of thinking that it is preferable to use automobiles rather than own them. The market experts believe that the low proportion of company automobiles, which was measured in the survey at 15 percent, is justified by the fact that there is a lack of penetration of electric vehicles in company fleets.
