With many analysts already predicting better auto financing and an easier ability to procure auto loans this year, it could also be a great year for electric cars, according to research firm Gartner. John Addison writes on Clean Fleet Report that the company has predicted 100,000 electric car sales in the United States for 2012.
Thilo Koslowski, vice president of Gartner's Automotive and Vehicle Practice, told the news source at the SV Forum that 100,000 is a big jump from the 18,000 electric cars sold in 2011, but this could be a breakout year for the automotive technology.
"I agree with Gartner that 100,000 is a good forecast for U.S. EV sales," Addison said, adding that Nissan is making 50,000 LEAFs this year and the Renault-Nissan agreement is essentially betting billions of dollars that people will buy electric. General Motors is also expanding global manufacturing of electric vehicles to 65,000 cars in 2012.
In March 2011, Koslowski said electric vehicles may face marketability challenges in the country. He said the ideal electric vehicle didn't yet exist, and even though customer sentiment is positive, grabbing the first early adopters of electric vehicles could be difficult. People may want to look at what kind of deals companies have on electric vehicles that could help with car credit.
