Delivery times of electric cars

The number of electric cars on offer in Germany has risen sharply since the e-car premium was increased. But with the availability there are now real problems regarding the delivery times.

It's dawning on even the die-hards now Combustion engines-Fans that the electric car has tangible advantages. Unlike petrol and diesel vehicles, which are threatened by driving bans, zero-emission electric vehicles promise long-term planning security. In terms of climate protection, they are considered a better alternative anyway. Thanks to generous e-car premiums, exemption from vehicle tax and sharply increased fuel prices, they are currently also financially attractive. Accordingly, interest in e-cars has continued to rise, while at the same time bottlenecks in global supply chains are increasing.

Not only semiconductor technology is scarce anymore, since the Ukraine war, among other things, cable harnesses have been missing. For some models, waiting times are given in years instead of months. At the end of March, electric pioneer Renault even imposed an order freeze for Dacia electric cars in Germany, without saying when this would end. If it is to be a Stromer in the short term, there are still opportunities in many cases if you are not picky about the brand, model and equipment.  

More than 10% of new cars are electric cars

Car expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer explained the effects of the current shortage in the March issue of his Car Report. Accordingly, the car market is characterized by a shortage of supply and long delivery times, especially for electric cars. “In February alone, 14% of new passenger cars in Germany were fully electric. Without delivery bottlenecks, the proportion would have been even higher," says the analysis, according to which delivery times for new e-cars have increased to over a year in some cases. Accordingly, sentiment in the industry has fallen to a 10-year low, while net prices have reached a new high.  

A concrete example of even exploding prices is currently Tesla's Model 3, the basic version of which rose in price by 7.000 to almost 50.000 euros at the beginning of April. Especially with this price increase, the e-car subsidy is smaller. If the delivery of a new e-car is delayed until 2023, the subsidy can be even lower. According to the current status, the innovation bonus - that is the doubling of the environmental bonus from 2020 to 3.000 euros introduced in summer 6.000 - will only be granted until the end of 2022. So if you can only register a new electric car after January 1, 2023, you may have to forego the 3.000 euro subsidy.  

Funding will be reduced until the car is with the customer

Exactly how the e-car premium will look from next year remains open for the time being. At the end of 2021, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck only announced a realignment of the innovation bonus, without specifying the plans. Anyone who orders an electric car with a delivery time of 8 to 9 months and can only register it in 2023 has to live with the risk of receiving significantly less funding than they might have hoped for. In view of the currently worsening delivery time problem, new car buyers are faced with an extremely unsatisfactory decision obstacle. The innovation premium was introduced in order to get as many e-cars on the road as possible in the shortest possible time.  

The automotive industry is therefore calling for binding solutions for consumers. Representing the industry, Joachim Damasky, Managing Director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), calls on the federal government to create clarity: "It is important that the customer receives reliable information about the payment of the state share of the environmental bonus when making a purchase. Changes in funding guidelines or delays in delivery times must not become a risk for buyers. These are fundamental questions about the investment decision. Planning security is therefore crucial for consumers. The government should find a corresponding consumer-friendly regulation.”

Manufacturers do their best

The political dimension is also referred to when car manufacturers ask for specific delivery times. Opel, for example, does not want to give any precise information about delivery times at the moment. Here it says: “We do everything we can to supply our customers in the best possible way. However, there may be longer delivery times for some models – including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Delivery times are currently information that is subject to large fluctuations and are therefore only snapshots.”

In addition, the traditional brand, which has belonged to the Stellantis Group since 2017, is calling on politicians to create planning security for customers, especially with regard to the innovation bonus. "We have therefore been actively campaigning for a long time for the regulation to be based on the purchase contract date with immediate effect, which would contribute to clarity and security for customers when making a purchase decision. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to foresee to what extent this will be taken into account and implemented by the responsible authorities," says an official statement from the press department.

Like some other car manufacturers, Opel also pointed out a larger number of new vehicles in the dealership when asked for specific delivery times. In principle, the problem of the currently volatile delivery times does not exist here, because in most cases finished cars are available at short notice. In terms of color and features, the options are limited accordingly.  

You also have to wait in the premium segment

Mercedes points out that the electric offensive has the highest priority, but that all customer groups are currently affected by delivery delays and that attempts are being made to limit waiting times as much as possible as part of flexible delivery management. At BMW, on the other hand, it is said that the waiting time of four months on average does not apply specifically to new electric models such as i4 or iX, but that detailed information is not expedient and snapshots. Similar comments are made at Audi. Here, too, strong fluctuations are possible depending on the model and equipment. At the same time, however, average delivery times for the E-Tron/E-Tron Sportback and E-Tron GT/RS E-Tron GT of 5 to 6 months and specifically for the Q4 and Q4 Sportback E-Tron of 1 to 1,5 years are mentioned.  

It's a little quicker at Porsche. The waiting times in Germany were three to four months for the Taycan Sport Sedan and Taycan Sport Turismo, and a little longer for the Taycan Cross Turismo at a maximum of six months. However, Porsche limits: "We currently have to adjust our original delivery planning due to the restrictions on our production due to the military conflict in Ukraine. It is already foreseeable that there will be increased waiting times for some models, such as the Taycan.”

You only have to wait half a year for the French

Some of Opel's sister brands from the Stellantis Group are also promising timely deliveries. Fiat can provide a 500e in 3 to 4 months. At Peugeot, the e-208 can be delivered in 4 to 5 months and the e-2008 in 7 to 8 months. DS Automobiles can deliver the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense in 4 to 5 months. At Citroen, in the case of the ë-C4, delivery is guaranteed until the end of 2022 and the prospect of the ë-Berlingo and ë-Spacetourer for the end of 2022.  

Heterogeneous statements also come from Japanese manufacturers. New Honda e models to be ordered from the factory will be delivered in the first quarter of 2023. In the case of the Mazda MX-30, orders that will be delivered from June will not be accepted again until April. Nissan hopes to be able to serve customers with the Airya, which can now be pre-ordered, from the summer, but will only be able to assess this more precisely in the course of the year. If you order a new Nissan Leaf, you can get it until November/December. Nissan does not provide any information on the Townstar EV from alliance partner Renault.

MEB takes about a year

The waiting times are now long for the volume brands of the VW Group. An order freeze was once again imposed for the Mii/Up/Citigo microcar offered by Seat, VW and Skoda. According to an analysis by Autobild and Carwow, delivery of models based on the MEB modular electric drive system, including the VW ID.3 or Skoda Enyaq iV, can take 10 to 15 months.

There are also no Chinese under half a year

Even with the Chinese manufacturers, you sometimes have to put up with long waiting times. According to MG Motors, delivery times vary depending on equipment. The ZS EV should be available after a maximum of 6 months, in the case of the Marvel R Electric up to 9 months are possible. Aiways now wants to deliver ordered U5 August/September, the sister model U6 should be available three months after the start of orders in summer. The model year range of the Swedish-Chinese brand Polestar is currently sold out.

Vehicles can only be reconfigured and ordered after the market launch of the revised Polestar 2 from the end of April. The sister brand Volvo does not want to be so specific. Anyone who wants an XC40 or C40 with two engines will probably still be served in the fall. For single-engine variants, it could take until early 2023. In principle, a postponement of +/- 2 months cannot be ruled out.  

Manufacturers from Korea can deliver at relatively short notice. At Hyundai there are several hundred immediately available e-cars on the market. This is the only way to get the Ioniq Elektro, which can no longer be ordered individually. For Kona Elektro and Ioniq 5 it says: delivery time from 4 months. According to Autobild/Carwow, the sister company Kia, which currently offers e-Soul and EV6, takes 9 to 12 months.

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