Rising costs push more away from electric cars - one in three calls them for the wealthy

The rise of electric cars has slowed, and more people are now choosing not to buy 
them because of their price. In fact, one in three in the Nordics believes that electric 
cars are only for the affluent. This is revealed by the Mobility Barometer, the largest 
mobility survey in the Nordics, conducted by MEKO. The report covers a wide range of 
debated issues in mobility, including views on lower speed limits, mandatory alcohol 
interlocks in vehicles, and the presence of speed cameras on our roads.

"The transition to electric cars continues, but at a slower pace, as more people refrain from 
electric cars due to pricing. A significant portion of the population in the Nordics sees electric 
cars as 'vehicles for the rich,' which poses a challenge in our transition to a greener vehicle 
fleet. Meanwhile, the Mobility Barometer shows that a tougher economy hasn’t impacted our 
driving habits – people are using their cars just as much as before, and no other mode of 
transportation comes close in popularity. These insights encourage us to reflect on how we 
can continue promoting sustainable mobility solutions while also meeting people’s everyday 
needs," says Pehr Oscarson, President and CEO of MEKO.

A unique survey in the Nordic region
Now in its third year, MEKO’s Mobility Barometer gathers responses from around 4,000 
people in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland about their mobility habits and preferences, 
making it a unique survey in the Nordic region. The report compiles data at the Nordic level 
but also breaks down opinions by country. It further analyzes differences between age groups, 
where people live, and gender. Some key findings from this year include:

• 31 percent believe that electric cars are only for the wealthy. At the same time, there are differences between countries: Significantly more people in Finland and Sweden think so (41 and 37 percent, respectively) compared to Denmark and Norway (23 and 18 percent).
   
• A call for stricter traffic safety measures. Many people want more speed cameras, mandatory alcohol interlocks, and an upper age limit for driving.
   
• Distrust in self-driving cars. Despite advances in self-driving cars, most people remain skeptical – eight out of ten trust human drivers more than autonomous systems.

You can read more about the findings in the Mobility Barometer 2024 at Mobility Barometer -
MEKO. The survey was conducted by Demoskop on behalf of MEKO
 

For further information, please contact:

Pehr Oscarson
President and CEO, MEKO
Phone: +46 (0)8-464 00 20
Email: [email protected]

Anders Oxelström
Director of Communications, MEKO
Phone: + 46 (0)73-522 52 42
Email: [email protected]