EVs Will Make SUVs Extinct According To Citroen Boss

While the majority of car buyers these days seem to be leaning toward SUVs, pushing the popularity of such cars ever higher, some industry executives believe that as cars become more electrified, this will increase. In fact, Citroen CEO Vincent Cobée believes the end of the SUV has already begun, which contradicts tough sales numbers.

Cobee told AutoExpress that although crossovers and SUVs have accounted for nearly 50% of new car sales in Europe in recent years, he believes this is not sustainable and will not last long. . He says the SUV’s biggest Achilles heel is aerodynamics. In other words, SUVs require more energy than sedans.

Of course, this negatively affects range, which is very important for electric car buyers. He points out the new e-C4. This replaces the traditional hatchback but is a slightly taller coupe-like fastback model. Taller than traditional cars, but not as tall as some crossovers or his SUV. Better.

There are also cars (especially among EVs) that aren’t exactly crossovers, such as the Hyundai Ionic 5, Kia EV6, Jaguar I-Pace, etc. is called vehicle. This approach also has the advantage of attracting buyers who are trying to avoid buying a taller car.

Cobee said, “The SUV world is over,” even though “the numbers don’t say I’m right.” He goes on to explain that in the not-too-distant future, it will come down to battery capacity, with SUVs needing more capacity to match the corresponding range of sedans and based on battery size. If there is a tax on EVs, he believes, it will hasten the demise of SUVs.

“People will start limiting weight and battery size through taxes, incentives, regulations, naming, shaming, etc.,” he added.

But at a time when the market is still demanding SUVs and the CEO’s opinion may not ultimately be reflected in company policy, there are certainly risks in moving away from SUVs. It seems that they are not interested in manufacturing large EVs that have been developed. Currently, all Citroën-badged EVs use a 50 kWh battery pack and there are no plans to require more batteries.

In fact, Citroën’s latest concept offers a glimpse into the manufacturer’s near-future philosophy for developing EVs. Oli’s research (pictured above) is full of off-roader design clues, but it’s actually envisioned as a small city runabout with a focus on keeping weight down. It may go into production in the next few years.