With plans to transition to electric vehicles currently moving full speed ahead, you might be surprised that some car manufacturers are yet to bring their first EV to the market.
There’s been an increase in EV models over the last decade, with manufacturers such as Nissan, Toyota and Citroen, among others taking the lead. However, in the last few years, the car industry has faced numerous setbacks.
Component shortages and supply issues due to the pandemic and other economic problems make switching to electric more challenging. So, could some carmakers be at risk of falling behind as the UK moves into greener motoring?
Below, we look at some of the brands yet to add an EV to the range and explore their plans for the future.
Alfa Romeo
Italian brand Alfa Romeo hasn’t released an electric vehicle just yet. But there are plans to change that. The carmaker is hoping to transition its offering to electric by 2027 and has a clear pathway of which models will be joining the EV ranks.
At the moment, the carmaker is planning to offer customers a compact SUV named the Brennero in 2023/24. As this brand sits under the Stellantis name alongside Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Vauxhall, you can expect similar underpinnings of these EVs. Further down the line, an all-electric Giulia is also set to make an appearance by 2027.
Dacia
As a popular, affordable car brand, Dacia has proved a big hit for its range of practical crossovers. So, it would seem natural for the carmaker to dip its toe into the electric world.
The long and short of it is that it’s planning on offering what’s said to be Europe’s cheapest electric car. But, the downside is the UK won’t see it – at least not yet anyway. Named the Spring Electric, this will fit into the compact city car market but with crossover styling. Unfortunately, due to its size, the range is also less than 200 miles, which could be a setback for customers that want more miles per charge.
However, while we might not see this model, the Dacia Jogger, a plug-in hybrid, is now available. The added bonus – it’s Britain’s most affordable 7-seater car.
Aston Martin
It’s not every day you see an Aston Martin – this iconic brand is infamous for its prestige and exclusivity. However, it seems to be lagging behind a little in the electric supercar world.
The British brand has faced numerous challenges in the past few years, including leadership changes. So, a step into electrification may not have been top of the to-do list. But that’s all about to change.
First up are its plans to bring its first plug-in hybrid supercar to the mix – the Valhalla in 2024. Followed by its first EV, which should hit forecourts in 2025. The brand also says that all its powertrains will move to electric by 2026, which is way ahead of the 2030 deadline.
There could be an exciting few years for the carmaker as it joins the EV supercar club.
Honda
While Honda stepped into the electric ring in the early days of hybrids, it’s taken a slight backseat in the introduction of EVs.
Currently, only one model is available, the compact Honda-e, which proved a big hit for urban driving. So, does it have any future plans on upping the EV ante?
Well, yes, and pretty big ones, in fact. Out to prove it’s not lagging behind, sees its plans to bring 30 EVs to the market – although it’s not clear whether the UK will see this number. However, as early as next year, the e:Ny1 (similar size to the HR-V crossover) is set to launch in the UK on a bespoke electric platform. This model could prove a big hit as it goes up against other compact SUVs and offers just over 300 miles range.
Jeep
Jeep is another car brand with no EVs available to purchase. However, you can buy a plug-in hybrid in either the Renegade or Compass model.
Just like others that have been slower to bring models into play, Jeep has recently released details of the Avenger – its first all-electric model. Similar to the Renegade platform, it could share the same underpinnings as the Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Corsa, and as expected, it has all-terrain capabilities with distinctive Jeep looks.
SEAT
You may remember SEAT’s first all-electric compact car, the Mii. After it sold out, the brand has yet to bring anything else in to replace it. It’s surprising due to the fact the brand belongs to the Volkswagen Group as VW themselves have numerous models on offer.
There was a contender tipped to launch as a new hot hatch in its range. However, the new model transitioned into SEAT’s performance arm, Cupra, and is now known as the Born.
While there are no electric models in its current line-up, SEAT plans to electrify the range in the future – it’s just not clear when.
Suzuki
The Japanese car maker Suzuki is another brand that has yet to add an electric car to the market. But it’s currently working alongside Toyota to introduce its first EV by 2025.
While it’s a late bloomer in the industry, the brand hasn’t really needed to move as swiftly as others. This is due to most of its vehicles having smaller engines, which has kept its emissions lower than other manufacturers.
The specifics haven’t been released yet. But if you look at other models in its range, it will most likely have a compact design.
Plans for an electric future
It’s clear from looking at the above manufacturers that while some are later to the EV market than others, there are big plans to catch up. So, as we approach the 2030 deadline, it’ll be interesting to see the range of new models available to make the transition to electric stylish and straightforward.
