Christian von Koenigsegg joins a chorus of automotive CEOs skeptical of electric hypercars.
Rimac CEO Mate Rimac raised the issue last year when he noticed a decline in demand for the Nevera, and just recently, Corvette boss Tony Roma said an electric supercar from Chevy won’t happen anytime soon.
In an interview with Top Gear, Koenigsegg said: “The appetite in the market for this level of car, fully electric, is extremely low.”
He added that “an electric vehicle is a bit more of a robot,” highlighting one of the key challenges automakers are facing as they develop electric vehicles—mimicking the feeling of a combustion-powered car so many people enjoy.
“You want the throbbing, the pumping, the heat, the sounds, the shifts, all of these aspects that just make it come alive,” Koenigsegg told the publication, even though he loves the responsiveness and smoothness of electric vehicles. Without a combustion engine, that presence and personality are gone.
Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear
Photo by: Koenigsegg
But that’s not something he’s worried about right now. He told Top Gear that the company is completely sold out of products, so your next hope to own a Koenigsegg is when it launches a new model in 12 to 18 months. That’s when Koenigsegg says the company will reopen the order books, and we’re certain it won’t be electric.
It’s not alone in evaluating EVs with a doubtful eye. Over the past month, several mainstream luxury automakers have reversed course on their electrification plans as demand falters. Some are admitting their plans have outright failed, while others are eager to continue producing gasoline engines.
Either way, it looks like EV hypercars won’t pose a threat anytime soon.
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