New registrations

Vorarlberg residents opt for petrol and hybrid cars

The number of newly registered e-cars fell in 2024.

(Bild: studio22 - marcel hagen)

The number of newly registered cars in Vorarlberg rose by 15.1 percent last year. However, the number of electric vehicles declined - a trend that specialist group chairman Rudi Lins views with concern.

Rudi Lins, Chairman of the Vorarlberg Vehicle Dealers' Group, is satisfied with the number of newly registered cars in Vorarlberg. With exactly 12,343 new cars, growth of 15.1 percent was achieved compared to 2023. In particular, registrations of petrol-powered vehicles (+32.4 percent) and petrol-hybrid vehicles (+30 percent) increased significantly. At the same time, new registrations of purely electric vehicles in Vorarlberg fell by 18.3%.

According to Rudi Lins, this is precisely where the challenges for the industry lie. "The automotive industry is facing crucial challenges, particularly with regard to the EU's CO2 fleet targets for 2025," he emphasizes. "A decisive year awaits us in which we not only have to accelerate the transformation to electromobility, but also secure the economic basis of dealerships."

The main challenge here is for politicians to maintain the input tax deductibility and benefits in kind regulations for battery-powered electric company vehicles. On the other hand, the subsidies for private customers when purchasing electric vehicles should be continued. Last but not least, a massive expansion of the charging infrastructure and the introduction of transparent and standardized billing systems are essential.

Potential buyers need more incentives
"A withdrawal from the current subsidy programs would be fatal and would massively jeopardize the achievement of the EU's CO2 targets," warns Lins. The current figures for new registrations clearly show that more incentives and a better infrastructure are needed to increase the acceptance of e-vehicles among the population