Electric vehicle sales are stuck in “porridge” because prices are too high and there is not enough charging infrastructure, a Scottish motor dealer has warned.
Brian Gilda, who runs Peoples, suggested that the recent UK government delay in banning new diesel and petrol vehicle sales until 2035 was likely to mean slower adoption of electric.
However, he said, some customers had come in to change older cars as a result of the introduction of a low emission zone in Glasgow, where motorists are fined £60 if their car is not compliant. With other zones planned for Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, he expected a “slow burn” of sales from that shift. “It is definitely getting some people’s attention as the fines are pretty significant,” Gilda, 74, said. “People will be changing their cars and their habits.”
The group, founded in 1983 by Gilda, sells Fords from three dealerships in central Scotland and three in Liverpool. While his group sells only the Ford Mach-E electric car, Gilda believes prices and infrastructure remain problematic to the wider adoption of non-petrol or diesel vehicles.
He said: “In terms of the EVs, it is a bit like getting stuck in porridge. With the UK government legislation changing to 2035 for the manufacturers, that is probably going to slow up distribution and enthusiasm for consumers to buy up electric product. The good news is it gives more time for infrastructure to be put in place and possibly for prices to reduce. People are considering whether to buy an electric vehicle and the prices are pretty high while the charging infrastructure is not there.”
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Gilda was speaking as Peoples revealed an 11.3 per cent rise in turnover to £306.8 million for the 12 months to July this year. Pre-tax profit dropped by 9.4 per cent to £7.7 million. New car sales rose by 21 per cent, while revenue from used models was up by 11 per cent.
Gilda said the Puma and Cougar were among the chain’s bestselling models, though results were dampened by a limited supply of Transit van stocks across Europe. That led to commercial vehicle sales falling by 17 per cent.
Gilda confirmed the company was in “exploratory talks” with several overseas manufacturing partners, including carmakers from China.
