THE REAL LEADER IN ELECTRIC (AT A GOOD PRICE) ISN'T TESLA, BUT CHEVROLET

Posted by Daniel Jasmin
08/09/2021
Chevrolet Leader

I might offend some by saying this, but that's what I think. Of course Tesla is an important player in the electrification of transport, because they were the first to make people dream with their performance cars with futuristic design, but the company which really democratized the electric car in North America and which continues yet to do so with its revised prices for 2022, it's Chevrolet.

Let's get on well, the base Tesla Model 3 at $ 52,990 (MSRP) is a great car, everyone's okay with that, but it's not the common man's car. . Elon Musk wanted to create an electric rival to the gasoline-powered BMW 3 Series and he won. Just like with the Y which is its equivalent SUV sauce for $ 69,990.

Tesla Model 3.

But these are not mainstream cars. Could Elon Musk have done things differently? Could he have decided, for example, to create a rival to the Honda Civic rather than the BMW 3 Series? I think so.

He would simply have had to make a model that was cheaper to produce. A Tesla 3 with normal door handles for example, smaller wheels and brakes, a regular roof rather than glass, etc. If Elon Musk had done that, sure enough it would have been easier for him to afford a Model 3 for the same price as a Chevrolet Bolt.

BMW série 3.

And over time, he too could have lowered his Model 3 to $ 38,198 as Chevrolet has just done with its Bolt EV. But these are just guesses on my part! Would the Model 3 have been so successful by being less luxurious, less efficient and less expensive? Hmm ...

One thing is certain, he would not have sought the same clientele. Maybe BMW 3 Series enthusiasts were more ready to go electric than Civic or Mazda 3 Sport enthusiasts? It's possible…

Another strategy

As for Chevrolet, we decided with the Bolt EV not to exploit the niche of the sports car, but rather that of the practical car. It must be said that the company had tried its hand in sport style with the first iteration of the Volt plug-in hybrid, and sales weren't so bad.

Personally, I think the idea of ​​the little hatchback (like the Honda Fit) was risky on American soil. GM has nevertheless just corrected the situation with the launch of the big brother EUV. A little bigger than the EV and with a decidedly SUV look, this vehicle is promised a great success in my opinion.

Here it is below in photo. A reliable, modern, practical car up to date. Its MSRP? $ 40,198. (That is, $ 2,000 more than the Bolt EV). Tesla missed a great opportunity here.

Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2022. We are starting to see some on the roads of Quebec…

Nissan
As for Nissan, they could also have become leaders in the “general public” niche. They got off to a good start with the Nissan Leaf. But it looks like they've run out of breath. All over the world, Leaf sales are declining as many European, American and Korean models are selling more and more. What happened with Nissan?

Remember, in 2012, when we talked about electric cars, we automatically thought of the Leaf. And a bit like Mitsubishi iMiev ... That's another one! How come Mitsubishi never released a 100% electric car after its iMiev? So far, it looks like the Japanese have missed the boat with the electric. Think of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi. Things are moving very slowly in these companies, don't you think?

I therefore reaffirm that in the niche of popular electric cars, the leader is Chevrolet, closely followed by Koreans Hyundai and Kia. (And with Tesla, of course, but in a more upscale niche.)

At least for now, because since trying the Mustang Mach-E and the Volkswagen ID4, I tell myself that things can change faster than you think in two to three years!

Volkswagen ID4 2022.

Author's addition
I am aware that my title was provocative! I did it on purpose to get your attention. There, I just added "AT A GOOD PRICE" in the title. I think it's more honest ...

In fact, I know very well that Tesla is a leader in the world of electric cars in general. On the other hand, I think we have to admit that in the popular low cost car niche in North America, it's Chevrolet right now that is leading the way. In any case, he is the one who offers the cheapest EVs! But it may not last, because I know that we are currently working on a Tesla Model 2 which will be produced in China ...