The Rev Up Electric Vehicles report<\/a>, released just ahead of EPA hearings regarding its proposed tightened standards for light vehicles<\/a> through 2032, leading to a projected 67% EV sales by then, suggests that it\u2019s no longer dealerships that are the weak link in getting EVs out to customers, but the automakers themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n The report found that nearly two-thirds of dealerships didn\u2019t have a single EV for sale, while 44% of dealerships would offer an EV for sale if they could get one.\u00a0<\/p>\n Honda future dealership design for selling EVs – 2022<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the Western region, which accounted for 45% of U.S. EV sales in 2022, just 27% of dealerships had an EV for sale. And overall, although EV sales are much higher in California Zero-Emission States (ZEV) as a group, the likelihood of dealerships having an EV in stock didn\u2019t track much higher in those states than for those in the rest of the country\u201435% versus 33%, respectively.<\/p>\n The study found essentially no difference in comparing dealers in the 23 states that permit direct sales, versus those in the states that do not.\u00a0<\/p>\n Results were based on a national survey conducted from June through November 2022, using results from randomly selected dealerships in each state.\u00a0<\/p>\n Across brands, Mercedes-Benz offered the best EV availability, it found, with EVs available for sale at 90% of the luxury brand\u2019s dealerships. Toyota and Honda were ranked the worst, with 15% of Toyota dealers.\u00a0<\/p>\n EV availability by automaker – 2023 Sierra Club Rev Up study<\/p>\n<\/div>\n How do dealerships get more EVs? Simply put, this year\u2019s survey results point to a clear solution: Automakers need to produce more EVs. They also need to make EV certification free or affordable to dealerships, and increase marketing and advertising for EVs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile some dealerships are still reluctant to fully embrace EVs, many dealers are expressing a newfound eagerness to sell EVs,\u201d said the Sierra Club in its introduction. \u201cHowever, it is the responsibility of manufacturers to deliver more EVs to all dealers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe ultimate conclusion is that automakers must invest more in EV production to match consumer demand that is at a record high,\u201d it summed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lincoln boutiques and dealerships<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The issues slowing EV sales have changed significantly. Back in 2016, the inaugural version of this survey found that dealerships lacked general knowledge about EVs<\/a> and weren\u2019t all that interested in selling them. A 2019 version of this survey found that the EV sales experience fell apart on the dealer lot, with many dealerships simply not ready to sell EVs<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, dealerships are no longer the choke point. And many stores are probably familiar with the reality that having no EV to sell is a lost sale. Households that have already decided they want an EV are far more likely to defer a purchase completely than to settle for another gas or diesel model. A recent study from Consumer Reports\u2019 advocacy arm found that the pent-up demand from constricted supplies of EVs will reduce the potential market for combustion vehicles\u2014leading to a reduced market share for automakers<\/a> unwilling to quickly ramp up EV production.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Honda](\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/honda-future-dealership-design-for-selling-evs--2022_100841723_l.jpg\" "\\"Honda")
<\/p>\n![\"EV](\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/ev-availability-by-automaker--2023-sierra-club-rev-up-study_100884094_l.jpg\" "\\"EV")
<\/p>\n![\"Lincoln](\"https:\/\/images.hgmsites.net\/lrg\/lincoln-boutiques-and-dealerships_100795804_l.jpg\" "\\"Lincoln")
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