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Alarming graph shows drop in electric car sales worldwide. Volkswagen and other automakers face challenges, with factories closing due to low demand. Find out what's happening in the electric vehicle market!
Electric vehicles have been touted as one of the most promising solutions to the climate crisis, offering emission-free travel and contributing to a more sustainable future. However, it seems that this electric revolution, seen as essential for reducing carbon emissions, is starting to lose momentum. Data Recent reports suggest that global sales of electric vehicles are falling, and the Volkswagen, one of the giants in the automotive sector, is forced to close factories due to a slower than expected transition to this type of vehicle.
Sales crisis: Tesla, BYD and Volkswagen face declines
A graph of the mail Online shows a significant downward trend in electric vehicle sales in recent months. Even Tesla, one of the pioneers in the segment, has faced difficulties: sales have fallen from 484.500 units in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 386.800 in the first quarter of 2024. This reduction of almost 20% in a short period of time raises a warning sign for the industry.
In China, BYD, the world's largest seller of electric vehicles, world, also recorded a sharp decline in sales. While in the last quarter of 2023 the company sold 526.000 vehicles, at the beginning of 2024 that number fell to just over 300.000 units.
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In Germany, Volkswagen followed the same pattern: in the last quarter of last year, the automaker sold 239.500 EVs, but that number fell to 136.400 in the following quarter. Although there was a slight recovery in the second quarter of 2024, with sales rising to 180.800 units, the situation remains alarming.
According to G1, Volkswagen was forced to close three factories, also eliminating some jobs.
Why are sales falling?
According to experts Milad Haghani, professor of urban analytics at UNSW Sydney, and Hadi Ghaderi, professor of supply chain at Swinburne University of Technology, there is a “clara downward trend” in the electric vehicle market.
The reasons include high EV prices and reduced government incentives in regions such as Europe and the United States. On the other hand, countries such as China and India continue to expand sales, driven by low-cost electric vehicles.
Another factor that deters buyers is uncertainty about the resale value of EVs. Many consumers fear that these vehicles will quickly lose value, especially as battery technology advances, making current models quickly outdated.
Furthermore, safety is also a critical issue: cases of EV battery fires, including a recent one in a parking lot in South Korea, have increased consumer distrust of this technology.
Challenges and controversies about electric vehicles
While electric vehicles represent a promising solution for reducing emissions, they still face challenges. In addition to high upfront costs and a lack of charging infrastructure, there are concerns about tire durability and wear, which release rubber particles into the air that are potentially harmful to human health.
In fact, the tire pressure of electric vehicles, which are heavier due to their batteries, can increase particle pollution.
Another point of concern is the environmental impacts during the manufacturing of EVs. According to studies, the production of an electric car emits almost 70% more greenhouse gases compared to the manufacture of a combustion car.
This data calls into question the real environmental efficiency of these vehicles in terms of long-term sustainability.
Furthermore, the use of rare earths in electric motors and the growing demand for lithium for batteries present significant challenges, both for the environment and for economic stability, since these materials are extracted from specific regions and have high environmental and social impacts.
What about the future of electric vehicles?
The global transition to electric vehicles is still seen as inevitable, but not without obstacles. On the one hand, there is an effort by governments and the industry itself to make these vehicles more accessible and overcome technological limitations.
On the other hand, consumers remain hesitant due to safety concerns, price and uncertainties about the future market value of EVs.
For this transition to occur smoothly, more investment in charging infrastructure, reduction of production costs and consumer awareness of the benefits of EVs are needed.
Furthermore, innovative solutions to the problems of particle pollution and battery disposal need to be developed for electric vehicles to become a truly sustainable option in the long term.
The electric vehicle sector is at a crossroads. While global sales have shown a worrying decline in recent months, the goal of reducing carbon emissions remains.
Automakers and governments now face the challenge of adjusting their strategies to attract consumers, offer more affordable prices and ensure the infrastructure needed for this technology to be widely adopted.
