Sales of the BMW i3 in the German home market have increased significantly since the German government decided this spring to offer a $4,400 incentive to buyers of electric cars. Previously, Germany was one of the few countries that lacked any EV incentives at all, reported Gas2
Citing company sources, weekly German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) said that orders for the new i3 with a longer range battery, for deliveries from mid-July onwards, had risen “many times over” levels following the introduction of the car’s initial version in 2013, said Reuters.
Total orders for the new version had risen to 5,000 worldwide of which around 1,000 were placed in Germany, ahead of delivery.
Earlier this year, Germany announced its first electric vehicle incentive program to spur adoption of green vehicles in the country.
The uptake of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle in South Africa is very slow.
Last month Mike Whitfield, managing director of Nissan South Africa, called for more cooperation between carmakers and government to ensure that the electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicles’ market thrives in the country.
In an interview with Techfinancials, Whitfield said: “Technology (of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars) is new, is well-received, but I believe to move forward we need further cooperation on a clear strategy developed between all stakeholders.”
“We believe have to work with government to address the affordability issue of electric vehicle,” Whitfield told Techfinancials.
“We also have to work together with our local governments in developing a charging infrastructure.”
