Interest in electric vehicles soared this week after the Government announced its decision to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel models.
In the 24 hours following Boris Johnson’s press conference, BuyaCar.co.uk saw 1,679 searches for electric cars, over five times the usual number, which generally goes little over 300 searches.
While the ban includes hybrids and plug-in hybrids, those that can operate for “substantial distances” on pure electric power will remain on the forecourt until 2035, although what constitutes substantial has yet to be defined.
Scott Hamilton-Cooper, Director of Sales and Operations at AX, commented: “There will undoubtedly be a rush for car makers to rise to the challenge and meet demand for electric cars, and it’s a real opportunity for dealerships to ensure they are ready to capitalise.
BuyaCar.co.uk also gave an insight into the used car market, with its figures showing that electric vehicles still have a way to go on that front, representing less than one per cent of sales in 2020.
“It’s imperative to keep the used car market in mind too,” Hamilton-Cooper added. “Developing a thorough understanding of customers’ varying requirements can set a dealership apart, and technology helps to do just that. Fitting telematics devices with driver behaviour and usage insights to test drive vehicles gives salespeople the edge, capitalising on the footfall in all markets.”
Previous
