European carmakers focused on expensive electric models, limiting buyer choice

European electric-car sales were slow to grow, and carmakers often said customers were not ready to buy.

The article argues that manufacturers also helped create this problem by focusing on expensive, powerful models with large batteries.

In 2024, only 3% of electric models available in Europe cost less than €25,000, according to the International Energy Agency.

That left many households looking to replace a family car without an affordable electric option.

Transport & Environment estimated that technology and larger-scale production could have reduced electric-car prices by more than €10,000, but manufacturers did not use those gains to develop cheaper models.

The article says sales are now taking off, but carmakers are struggling to meet demand because they did not invest in affordable models early enough.

It argues that offering cars people can afford could have helped build demand sooner.