South Korean media: Only 7% of American consumers are willing to buy pure electric vehicles!

On February 18, South Korean media "Herald Economic" published an article stating that although the speed of electric vehicle conversion has slowed down, market changes are still ongoing.

The Deloitte's "2026 Global Automotive Consumer Survey" shows that only 7% of American car buyers choose pure electric vehicles when replacing their vehicles. Although this proportion has increased from 5% in the 2025 survey, it is still very low.

61% of American consumers prefer internal combustion engine vehicles, and the share of hybrid vehicles has slightly increased from last year to 21%. The share of plug-in hybrid vehicles has declined to 5%. In comparison, in China, the popularity of pure electric vehicles has significantly increased to 20%, while in Japan and South Korea, the popularity of hybrid vehicles is particularly noticeable.

Policy changes and insufficient infrastructure are considered reasons for the limited demand for pure electric vehicles in the United States. The survey conducted between October and November 2025 reflects that the U.S. government has reduced subsidies for electric vehicles and relaxed regulations on fuel efficiency and energy efficiency. Additionally, 53% of American respondents stated that they do not have charging facilities at home, a proportion significantly higher than Germany (20%) and China (6%).

The most common reason for considering buying an electric vehicle is saving fuel (52%), followed by environmental protection (38%). The most popular price range is $20,000 to $49,999, with only 7% willing to pay more than $75,000. Concerns about battery replacement costs are relatively low (38%), and the actual battery life is not much different from that of internal combustion engines.

Meanwhile, despite the automotive industry's transition to software-defined vehicles (SDV), only 41% of American consumers recognize its practicality. Compared to Asian markets such as China, American consumers show less interest in over-the-air software updates (OTA) and digital services.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857463938058435/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.