“The question with incentives is always whether they just pull sales forward, and to some extent, we do feel like that is happening,” Al Bedwell, director at Global Powertrain, part of independent sector services provider LMC Automotive.
France and Germany hit new monthly battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales records this summer thanks to enhanced incentive packages from their respective governments, and
Europe is the “epicenter” of EV sales growth this year, attendees heard.
“Germany and France highlight how much incentives in those countries have boosted demand,” William Adams, Fastmarkets’ head of battery raw materials research said.
But even if sales fall off once incentives come to an end, they help to embed EVs within society for the longer term.
“It helps to enhance the environment for BEVs in general. There are more on the road, it gives...