Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity across the GCC with manufacturers from across the globe testing the waters and adding them to their model line-ups. With the perceived advantages that they bring with them, everyone from taxi fleets to government organizations have started incorporating electric vehicles into their fleets and are helping to pave the way for the next big shift in the automotive industry.
As part of our dedication to help car buyer’s make informed and cost-effective decisions, here at YallaMotor we conducted an online survey to assess current awareness regarding Electric Vehicles in the Middle East. The survey aims at shedding more light on the pain points facing potential buyers when purchasing an electric vehicle in our region.
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Alan Whaley, Chairman of AMENA Automotive Association spoke with Jorge Bialade – General Manager at YallaMotor, to understand more about this online survey and discuss the consumer trends, behavior and the very need to conduct a survey like this in the first place. The duo also spoke about emerging trends and what the future holds for our industry, particularly with the emergence of Chinese brands as strong contenders in the EV segment.
During the discussion, Jorge rightly pointed out that the reason for conducting this survey was to better understand the public’s perception of EVs and their readiness to purchase one. Buying and living with an electric vehicle raises a lot of questions in the consumers’ minds. Factors such as charging points, range anxiety, and reliability, are key things potential buyers consider while buying electric vehicles.
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Of the 3,081 responses we collected, a whopping 77% of participants claimed to have never driven an electric vehicle before. 14% of respondents claimed they have driven a hybrid vehicle, while just 9% claimed to have driven a pure EV.
Those shying away from purchasing electric cars in the Middle East, cited high initial cost and long recharging times as their primary concerns. But by far the most interesting figure was that nearly 25% of respondents didn’t know enough about electric vehicles. This points to the lack of awareness among the general public when it comes to electric mobility and its pros and cons.
