Opel boss: "A good time to buy an electric car"

In the coming years, “the market for used electric cars will also grow relatively quickly”.

Uwe Hochschurtz, who has been the new CEO of Opel for a good six months, spoke in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine about the electric strategy of the traditional German brand, why buyers should decide in favor of an electric car instead of a combustion engine and why At Opel, the delivery times for new e-vehicles are shorter than for petrol and diesel engines.

"Due to the framework conditions set by politics, it is now clear in Europe that combustion engines have an expiry date," says Hochschurtz about Opel's strategy of only wanting to offer electric cars in Western European markets from 2028. Because for the automotive industry it is clear "after a long period of uncertainty" that it "can only make the required contribution to reducing CO2 with electric cars". Towards the end of the decade, according to the Opel boss, "the CO2 values ​​in the car industry must be close to zero". That's why we shouldn't wait any longer with the widespread introduction of electric cars.

According to Hochgeschurtz, the decisive point for the breakthrough of e-mobility is not in purchase prices or charging infrastructure, but "in people's minds". And they "understand more and more that electric mobility is the right answer for the mobility of the future." And the ranges and charging options, which many perceive as a limitation, "are getting better and better every year". But the manager thinks it could go faster: "Politicians and investors should push ahead with the expansion of the charging network more quickly," says the Opel boss.

Hochschurtz advises against waiting for better charging infrastructure and further innovations in the e-cars themselves and to decide in favor of a purely electric model when buying a car today. Because with a combustion engine one must “possibly expect restrictions in the future, for example, if he wants to drive in city centers”. In addition, the residual value of a combustion car will be "significantly lower in two or three years" than that of an electric car: "Anyone who buys an electric car can look forward to a higher residual value of their vehicle". In the coming years, “the market for used electric cars will also grow relatively quickly”.

In addition, at least at Opel, e-cars can be delivered more quickly than combustion engines, since the manufacturer prefers to install the currently rare parts in electric cars in times of chip shortages. "We at Opel also want to help increase the number of electric cars in Germany and Europe," says Hochschurtz. In addition, buyers currently still benefit from the environmental bonus of up to 9000 euros, which largely compensates for the higher acquisition costs of an e-car. “So now is a good time to buy an electric car. The vehicles are mature,” says the Opel boss.