CR survey also finds that half of Americans would be interested in EV test drives
Washington, D.C.—Consumer Reports (CR) today released a new nationally representative survey focused on understanding consumers’ experiences and expectations at auto dealerships when they are considering a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric vehicle purchase.
The results show broad consumer interest in cleaner vehicle types, with 1 in 3 (34%) recent car dealership shoppers interested in information about hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle options the last time they were at a dealership. While dealers have been able to leave some of these consumers (28%) very satisfied with the information they received about these vehicle types, the results overall show room for improvement. A larger group of consumers (46%) said they were merely somewhat satisfied, while one in five (20%) were not too satisfied or not at all satisfied with the information they received about their potential clean vehicle purchase.
“Consumer interest in cleaner vehicle types continues to be strong, but many consumers still have a lot of questions. They need help navigating the rapid technological change occurring in the car market,” said Chris Harto, senior policy analyst for transportation and energy at CR. “Dealers are on the front lines of this transition to cleaner vehicles, and they can play an important role in helping consumers understand these new technologies. Dealers that lean into this new role can gain a competitive advantage as fuel-efficient hybrid and zero-emission electric vehicle sales continue to grow.”
The survey also provides some insight into the types of information consumers would most like to receive from a dealership if they find a cleaner vehicle they’re interested in. Consumers responded that they would be most interested in wanting to know information about the vehicle’s battery and its expected longevity (53%) and how much it costs to own, including fuel savings, maintenance costs, and insurance rates (52%). Consumers were also interested in information about vehicle range under different real-world conditions (47%), tax credits and rebates (45%), and home (45%) and public (40%) charging.
The survey also found that at least half of all consumers would be interested in test driving a battery electric vehicle when shopping for their next vehicle at a dealership, even if they were not necessarily interested in purchasing one at this time.
“Test drives can be a really important tool to help consumers better understand new vehicle technologies. Our research has shown a positive relationship between direct experience with electric vehicles and consumer purchase interest,” Harto added. “When you’re shopping for a car, there’s no substitute for first-hand experience.”
Media Contact: Emily Akpan, emily.akpan@consumer.org