The new year has started with car employers pointing to low sales of electric cars in Spain, a situation that threatens to affect employment and industrial plans.
“If you don’t sell zero emissions in a country, what’s the point of making them there?”wondered the president of the Spanish association of manufacturers (Anfac).
Wayne Griffiths.
In January, vehicle sales totaled 64,147 units, up 51% from last year, but still far (26%) from 2020 data. In terms of zero-emission vehicles, it reached 3,321 operations, a boom of 84, 4%. However, these figures represent only 5.1% of the total, well below the 20% environment that Anfac considers sufficient.
In contrast to other European countries, plug-in hybrids are more popular in our country than 100% electric and generated 4,108 registrations in the first month, an increase of 27.9%. In quotas, this translates into 6.4%, for a total of 11.5% of vehicles with a Zero label.
The Dacia Spring is the most affordable electric car on the market. And as such, it is the one that has led the ranking of registrations in this segment. With a starting price of 20,555 euros and a widespread presence in car sharing services, this model has become one of the most current zero emissions in Spain. This year, the brand is launching a more powerful version, with 48 kW.
The Model 3-based SUV is produced on three different continents: China, the US and Germany. Since its launch in 2021, it has become one of the brand’s most popular offerings, combining the most sought-after silhouette on the market with a price significantly lower than the brand’s other zero-emission SUV, Model X. In Spain, it is available with three engines, 299, 367 and 462 hp with a price from 48,200 euros.
Hot on Tesla’s heels is Stellantis’ zero-emission city car, the Fiat 500e. The price is between the Spring and the Model Y, from 30,100 euros. It is one of the first cars of the Franco-Italian-American consortium to go full electrification and it is no longer possible to buy a combustion engine 500 outside the sports brand Abarth. Its 23.7 kWh battery gives it a WLTP autonomy of 180 km.
This ‘Made-in-Spain’ model has an electric range of 56 km, which gives it the DGT Zero label, and a combined power of the 224 hp plug-in hybrid system, enough for versatile driving, with lower consumption in the city and figures as low as 4.5 liters per 100 for longer distances. The prices of the PHEV range start from 37,848 euros, but those of the Kuga with combustion from 28,000.
One of the lesser known brands of the Geely Group – they also control Volvo, Polestar or Lotus – arrived in Spain in 2022 with a subscription model of 500 euros per month for its plug-in hybrids 01. Since then, the fee has increased by 50 euros and has received approval for the purchase of the model, which shares much mechanically with the plug-in Volvo XC40. The price starts at 44,500 euros and has 261 hp of power.
Closing the PHEV stage is the
mercedes a class, available in both five-door and sedan versions. Its engine has 218 hp, which accelerates it to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. Technological advances mean that autonomy can improve with each generation and with Class A this is already more than 70 kilometers in zero-emission mode, more than enough to get the Zero label.
Source: La Verdad
I am Mary Fitzgerald, a professional journalist and author of the Today Times Live. My specialty is in writing and reporting on technology-related topics. I have spent the last seven years extensively researching and understanding the field of technology so I can properly inform my readers about developments in this ever-evolving world.
