Consumer interest in electric and hybrid vehicles is gradually weakening, while cars with internal combustion engines are once again strengthening their position in the market. This is reported by Reuters, citing a study by the international consulting company EY.
According to the survey, about 50% of buyers planning to purchase a new or used car in the next two years prefer ICE models. Over the past year, the share of such respondents has increased by 13 percentage points, indicating a noticeable shift in consumer sentiment towards traditional power plants.
At the same time, interest in electric vehicles decreased by 10 percentage points to 14%. A decrease was also recorded in the hybrid segment: 16% of respondents are ready to consider them, which is 5 points less than a year earlier. At the same time, 36% of respondents who previously focused on buying an electric vehicle said that they are either postponing the decision or reconsidering their choice in favor of other types of cars.
Among the key factors influencing the change in preferences, survey participants cite geopolitical instability, as well as adjustments to state policy in the field of transport and ecology.
EY notes that the slowdown in electrification is directly related to the revision of regulatory requirements in a number of major markets. For example, in the US in 2025, the CAFE fuel economy standards were weakened, which gave automakers more freedom in developing ICE model lines. Industry representatives believe that such steps are more consistent with the real demand from buyers.
In Europe, the possible adjustment of previously announced goals is also being discussed. In particular, the planned ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035 may be softened. Options are being considered for the admission of hybrid vehicles and models using synthetic fuel, which, according to analysts, could slow down the growth in sales of fully electric vehicles.
EY experts emphasize that the global transition to electric traction remains a strategic direction for the automotive industry. However, its implementation is likely to be less uniform and more dependent on economic conditions, political decisions and the level of infrastructure development than previously expected.