Despite the fact that the price of cars is higher than ever, many consumers are contemplating the option of buying one this year. 72% of those who plan to buy one will opt for a new copy, while the remaining 28% will resort to the used market. This is indicated by the study Motor 2023 of the Cetelem Observatory, which was presented today.
The report also points out that the intention to purchase hybrid cars is increasing. Thus, it now stands at 44%, which represents an increase of four percentage points compared to the survey corresponding to 2022. It is also evident that the diesel versions are on the decline and are far from those times in which , long, they were the preferred option for most drivers. Only 17% of those who plan to buy a car will choose one powered by diesel, that is, five points less than in the previous study.
Gasoline cars remain at 22% purchase intention, ahead of electric cars (15%). Very few (2%) consumers will choose units powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in their purchasing decision. Not to mention hydrogen fuel cell cars, which don't even appear in the survey as their own. Added to the low supply of models for sale (Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo), is the scarce charging infrastructure. Hence, almost no one sees them as an alternative, at least in the short term. If the brands bet on this technology and more hydrogen generators are installed, they may end up turning the tables. But this requires time and investment.
As for those who plan to change their current car -we are not talking about those who are buying one for the first time-, the majority of respondents say that their vehicle is older than 10 years (29%), one point more than in 2022 They are followed by those whose vehicle is between 5 and 10 years old, with 27%, and the percentages of surveyed Spaniards who state that their vehicle is between 3 and 5 years old (16%) and between 1 and 3 years (13%) remain stable. %). Finally, 15% of those surveyed state that they bought their car less than a year ago, a percentage that drops one percentage point compared to 2022.
The expected average outlay of Spanish consumers who will buy a vehicle is 24,000 euros, 3% more than in 2022, with the cost being higher for new cars (€28,000), compared to €13,000 for used vehicles. Both cases experience growth compared to the previous year.
The work carried out by the Cetelem Observatory has sought to delve into the reasons why those surveyed still rule out the acquisition of an electric car. The main reason is that they consider it too expensive (this is what 66% of them say). Next, they argue that they have insufficient autonomy (57%), there is little charging infrastructure (40%) and it takes a long time to recharge the battery (39%).
Regarding hybrid vehicles, 47% of drivers who express an intention to buy a car in the next 12 months say they will opt for this type of car, which is 3 percentage points more compared to 2022, with an average amount of €27,530, which is 5% more. Most would choose a plug-in hybrid model, followed by non-plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids.
As with the electric car, the main obstacles to buying a hybrid vehicle are that they are considered too expensive (55%) and the lack of charging points (25%). They are followed by those who declare they do not have confidence in this type of car with 23% mentions and an increase of 2 points compared to the previous year.
Seven out of ten surveyed drivers claim to know about private leasing, although only 11% claim to have purchased a car through this formula. However, it seems that interest is increasing for the future, since 56% of respondents would be willing to purchase their next car through leasing.
