January 5th, 2023, Bhavika Bansal
2022 was a big year for the electric car industry. From electric SUVs like the Volvo XC40 Recharge, through crossovers like the Kia EV6, to luxury EVS like the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan and electric pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning, 2022 saw an exciting line-up of electric vehicles across categories. 2023 promises to be equally, if not more, exciting, with a slew of much anticipated, bold and stylish electric models on the horizon. US lawmakers continue to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to cleaner cars and zero-emission vehicles with investments in a national EV charging network, a ban on the sale of gas-fuelled cars by 2035 in California, and the new US EV tax plan, amongst other efforts and pieces of legislation.
Data from a recent YouGov study reveals that more than half of all Americans (52%) believe that EVs are important in curbing climate change. Insight from YouGov Profiles further reveals that more than two-thirds of all car buyers – adults who intend to buy a new, certified pre-owned and/or used car in the next 12 months – agree that electric vehicles are the future of the motor industry.
For automakers looking to expand their current consumer base, electrification is the way to tap into the rich new vein of eco-drivers and EV enthusiasts.
So, looking at American consumers as a whole and as prospective car buyers, which auto brands are currently considered leaders when it comes to sustainability and environmental friendliness?
Tesla claims the top spot, with around a third of all consumers (32%) and prospective car buyers (28%) picking the American car maker as the leader in sustainability and environmental friendliness, giving it a commanding lead on other brands. That’s a ray of light in what has been a difficult few weeks and months for the manufacturer.
Similarly, a little more than a fifth of all consumers (21%) and car buyers (22%) consider the Japanese automaker Toyota a leader in sustainability. That puts the brand in second place among all Americans and in third place among car-buyers.
However, the similarities diminish there. While BMW and Chevrolet feature in the top five among both cohorts, their numbers considerably improve amongst prospective car buyers – from 15% to 23% and 21%, respectively.
Honda, the manufacturer of the popular 2022 hybrid Honda HR-V Crossover, bags fifth spot among all American consumers (14%).
When it comes to prospective car buyers in the US, however, homegrown auto giant Ford (16%) manages to make a more significant impact and rounds up the list of top five leaders in sustainability and environmental friendliness.
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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for US is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.