Chabot Mobility said on Monday that 75.1% of 450 people planning to buy a new car this year expressed interest in purchasing an EV.
The largest share, 41.9%, said an EV is among the options they are considering. Another 18.4% said they are actively considering an EV, and 9.4% said they have decided on one.
By age group, interest was highest among people in their 20s, at 100%, and those in their 30s, at 85.4%. Rates were lower among people in their 50s and those 60 and older.
Cost was the top reason for considering an EV. Savings on charging compared with fuel costs led responses at 62.5%, followed by government subsidies at 41.3% and tax benefits at 32.7%.
The biggest factors holding buyers back were infrastructure and safety concerns: lack of charging infrastructure (45.3%), worries about safety such as fires (34.9%) and charging time (32.8%).
Asked how government EV subsidies affect vehicle choice, 37.9% said they have some influence and 29.6% said they have a very large influence, meaning about 67% view subsidies as a key factor.
Views of Chinese EV brands showed both interest and caution. The most common response, at 38.6%, was that respondents are interested but still do not trust them. Price competitiveness was cited as the biggest attraction, at 64.3%.
For advanced driver-assistance features such as full self-driving, 76.5% said they would pay extra. The most preferred price range was 3 million to under 5 million won, at 40.5%. Looking ahead, the most common expectation for how autonomous-driving advances will affect buying decisions was a greater emphasis on safety standards, at 26.7%.
"EVs are now a practical purchase alternative, evaluated beyond an eco-friendly image in terms of lower running costs and total cost of ownership," a Chabot Mobility official said. The official added that Chinese EV brands are drawing interest on price, but said building trust in quality and safety will be key to gaining a foothold in the market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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