Nearly one in three people across the Nordic countries think that electric cars are just for those with deep pockets — and in one country, this view is particularly strong. But opinions are mixed.
The high price of electric cars is causing more people to hesitate when considering a purchase, as highlighted in the text next to this. The cost difference between purchasing a battery-powered car and a gasoline or diesel vehicle can be substantial — often a deciding factor for many drivers.
Even though more affordable models are gradually hitting the market, the debate has heated up over who these cars are really for: your everyday driver or just the wealthy?
The question is dividing people in the Nordic region, according to the Mobility Barometer.
Nearly one in three (31 percent) agree with the statement that “electric cars are only for rich people.” However, this perspective doesn’t go unchallenged. Just over a third (34) disagree with the idea that electric cars are only for the wealthy, while 27 percent remain neutral.
Finland stands out
Looking at individual countries reveals some differences. Electric cars are most strongly viewed as “luxury vehicles” in Finland, where 41 percent share this opinion. Many Swedes agree (37). In both countries, skeptics outnumber those who disagree with the notion that electric cars are just for the rich (25 percent in Finland and 28 percent in Sweden).
Support for electric cars is highest in Norway, where they’ve been on the roads for many years and are considered accessible to almost everyone. Here, fewer than one in five, or (18 percent), believe that electric cars are only for the wealthy, while half of all Norwegians (50) reject that notion. A similar trend is seen in Denmark, where fewer people view electric cars as luxury vehicles; 42 percent disagree, compared to 23 percent who do so.
MEKO is making a major push into new product segments while significantly expanding its logistics capabilities. The ambition is clear: to reinforce its position as the market leader in Northern Europe – and unlock new avenues for growth.
MEKO's booking platform eliminates the hassle for both car owners and workshops. The goal is to make it easy to book the right service with just a few clicks, no matter how little you know about your car. The advantage for workshops is that the new platform saves them several hours of administrative work.
Pehr Oscarson, President and CEO of MEKO, shares his experience. I was young, with a thin wallet, and needed to cross the US. Luckily, there was a free car-sharing service – though it did lead to arguments in the middle of the prairie. Today, however, there are many more refined transportations offers available. But are we satisfied with them? What do we think about the developments around electric cars and smart technology? You have the answer in front of you: The Mobility Barometer 2024 – the largest survey of our mobility habits in the Nordics.