Dream of cheap e-car burst? Expert expects price increases

The success of electric mobility is in danger. An industry expert comes to this conclusion and warns of rising prices. This is due to the extreme rise in raw material prices caused by the war in Ukraine. If manufacturers no longer offer favorable conditions for e-cars, e-mobility is likely to suffer.

Expensive e-cars: industry professional expects additional costs for consumers

In the near future, bargains when buying e-cars will probably only be available to the lucky few. the On the contrary, prices are likely to rise Manufacturers will be forced to discontinue offers for electric cars or pass on their additional costs to customers. Industry expert Pedro Pacheco from IT market researcher Gartner came to this sobering conclusion (source: dpa via t3n).

The reason for the price increase he expects on the electric car market is primarily the metal nickel. Russia is one of the largest exporters of nickel, and Putin’s attack on Ukraine sent the nickel price skyrocketing. The metal is used in many electric car batteries, which are still used as most expensive component in the construction of electric cars be valid.

According to Pacheco, in the course of the war in Ukraine, the further exacerbate the chip crisis. In the past few years of the pandemic, many car manufacturers had already strictly rationed their chip supply, preferred expensive models during construction and thus made good money from the situation. However, Ukraine is an important international supplier of neon, a noble gas that plays an important role in chip production.

Pacheco therefore sees the scope for manufacturers to make attractive offers dwindling. If you follow his reasoning, the long waiting times for new cars should not normalize anytime soon.

If you still make it, it is better to get an e-car today than tomorrow:

Car buyers could lose interest when prices are high

If you add the new corona cases and the resulting lockdowns of Chinese factories and ports, the brewing is probably brewing again a real thunderstorm for the automotive industry together. According to Pacheco, it will particularly affect e-cars, but customers in the combustion engine middle class will also feel the effects. He expects that due to high prices and low availability, both market segments will suffer for at least two years.