Opel boss advises electric cars: "We have to react quickly"

Created: 02/21/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Simon Mones

Electromobility is probably the future.

Opel boss Uwe Hochschurtz also sees it that way and therefore gives his customers clear advice.

Rüsselsheim – The automotive industry is going through what is probably the biggest upheaval in its history: away from combustion engines towards electric cars.

If the federal government has its way, at least 15 million electric vehicles will be on German roads by 2030.

The coming years will show whether this goal can be achieved.

The German car manufacturers are doing a lot for this, for example Audi has long since announced a date for the combustion engine end.

And even at Opel, diesel and petrol engines will end in a few years, as reported by 24auto.de.

“We can no longer wait with electric cars.

We have to react quickly - and that's why we at Opel decided to only offer electric cars in Europe from 2028," emphasized Opel boss Uwe Hochschurtz (58) in an interview with the "Augsburger Allgemeine".

Opel boss advises electric cars: "We have to react quickly"

So it's no wonder that the manager is of the opinion that the end of the combustion engine is not just coming, but has been here for a long time.

His advice to customers is corresponding: They shouldn't wait another three years, but "buy an electric car now".

The Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess had recently made a similar statement.

Opel boss Uwe Hochschurtz advises customers against combustion engines.

© Andreas Arnold/dpa

In view of the still poor charging network in Germany, this is bold advice.

But improvement is in sight here, too, as Opel boss Hochschurtz knows: "Anyone who buys an electric car now will already benefit from the fact that the charging infrastructure is constantly improving."

Opel boss advises electric cars: drivers of combustion engines have to reckon with restrictions

But that's not the only reason for the 58-year-old to buy an electric car.

So Hochschurtz expects that there could soon be restrictions for combustion engines - for example when driving into the city center.

"And the residual value of the combustion car will be significantly lower in two or three years," explains the Opel boss.

The 58-year-old believes that the residual value of the used Stromer will be significantly higher.

"The market for used electric cars will also grow relatively quickly," says the Opel boss.

However, there are other points that speak both for and against buying an electric car.

Meanwhile, Hochgeschutz is less convinced of another technology: He sees no future for hydrogen drive in cars.

In his opinion, fuel cells should primarily be used in commercial vehicles.

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