A medida que los vehículos eléctricos (VE) salen de las cadenas de producción para desafiar Tesla, they’re facing an unexpected obstacle — a shortage of eager buyers. A disconnect between EV supply and demand is becoming evident, hinting at consumer reluctance due to worries about pricing or charging logistics.

“It’s a ‘Field of Dreams’ moment for automakers,” says Jonathan Gregory from Cox Automotive. They’ve constructed the vehicles and now anticipate customers rushing in to purchase. The truth, however, may not be that straightforward.

Recent industry reviews revealed a surplus in EV inventories. Despite accounting for about 6.5% of the U.S. auto market this year and projected to surpass 1 million units in 2023, sales aren’t on pace with production. A Cox survey highlights a rise in consumer consideration for new or used EVs, up from 38% in 2021 to 51% this year, Axios informes.

Fueling this interest are Tesla’s rapid expansion and an influx of new models from other brands — 33 new models launching this year and over 50 updated or new models expected in 2024. Despite the rising interest, the actual sales of these electric marvels are lagging behind the production rates.

Este año, el stock nacional de VE ha aumentado casi 350% hasta superar las 92.000 unidades. Esta cifra representa un suministro para tres meses, el doble de la media del sector. En cambio, los vehículos de gasolina, que se recuperan de los contratiempos de la pandemia en la cadena de suministro, sólo tienen existencias para 54 días.

Some brands are shouldering more of this inventory burden than others. Genesis, a Korean luxury brand, only sold 18 of its Electrified G80 sedans in the last 30 days leading up to June 29, leaving a staggering 350-day supply. Other luxury models like Audi’s Q4 e-tron, Q8 e-tron, and the GMC Hummer EV SUV also have high inventories, possibly due to their ineligibility for federal tax credits.

Amidst this, hybrid vehicles offer a contrasting tale with lower inventory levels, indicating a consumer preference for a gradual transition to fully electric cars. As per Cox’s data, there’s a relatively slim 44-day supply of hybrids industrywide.

De cara al futuro, la industria automovilística alberga esperanzas de mejora. Con la ampliación de la infraestructura de recarga y la previsión de que los precios de los VE se equiparen a los de los vehículos de gasolina en 2025, John Murphy, analista de automóviles de Bank of America Securities, sugiere que el futuro será testigo de un aumento de los compradores de VE. Hasta entonces, los fabricantes esperan con impaciencia a que cambie la tendencia.