Trust, transparency and affordability must come first

Trust, transparency and affordability must come first

The high-level roundtable brought together EU politicians, industry leaders and experts, including representatives from the European Commission, BEUC, Leaseurope and Transport & Environment, to discuss how the transition to electric vehicles can be successful for all Europeans.

“We cannot build the EV market without the consumer, and the consumer still has doubts,” said Peter Daeninck, president of CECRA. "Dealers are the first point of contact for buyers. We know what they need and our voice must be heard in shaping the EU's automotive action plan." CECRA emphasized that both the new and used electric vehicle markets require targeted and sustained support, including financial incentives. Despite progress, electric vehicles remain unaffordable for many consumers as concerns remain about high purchase costs, limited charging infrastructure and unclear pricing for public charging.

“Smart charging and cheaper electricity prices could be real game-changers, but they are not yet mainstream,” Daeninck added. The discussion also touched on the European Commission's upcoming proposal to green company fleets. CECRA warned that setting mandatory zero-emission targets for fleets risks widening the gap between supply and actual consumer demand, particularly in the used car market.

“A thriving used electric vehicle market is key to making tougher fleet targets both realistic and effective,” Daeninck said. The Commission confirmed that an impact assessment on the regulation of company fleets is currently underway.