Deloitte: ‘Belgian individual car buyer hesitates to switch to an EV’

According to Deloitte’s Global Automotive Consumer Study 2025, four key trends will impact the Belgian automotive market most in the coming year. The most important is the hesitation to switch to electric cars.

The study surveyed more than 31,000 consumers in 30 countries, including 999 Belgians, from October through December 2024 to explore opinions regarding a variety of critical issues impacting the automotive sector, including consumer interest in electric vehicles, brand perceptions, connected technology adoption, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS).

45% still prefer ICE

45% of Belgian private consumers still prefer gasoline) or diesel cars, compared to 41% in the previous survey a year ago. Only 11% choose a BEV. Interest in electric vehicles has remained stable these last three years despite the increasing availability of BEV models and growing charging infrastructure.

The lack of BEVs in Belgian private car parks is primarily due to the price, even if saving on fuel is appealing. The range and charging time also raise concerns, but given that most do not go for a long ride and are willing to wait for the vehicle to charge, they are not a significant concern.

Remarkably, environmental concerns are fading, and recent changes to low-emission zones and fiscal incentives may hinder EV adoption by fostering consumer indecision.

There’s also a gender gap in EV adoption. Apart from households with a low income, female buyers are generally less inclined to buy BEVs. They are hindered by a lack of knowledge about electric driving and their preference for buying second-hand cars.

Delaying car purchases

The private car market still seems to be in recovery mode. Less than 20% of Belgian consumers plan to buy their next vehicle within the year, while half will wait one to five years. The purchase decision is based on price and product quality rather than brand loyalty. Cash and loans remain the preferred method of financing.

“Looking at the economic context and some uncertainty about new technologies, the second-hand market is still gaining popularity,” says Aled Walker, Automotive leader at Deloitte Belgium. “One out of five Belgian customers who drive a new car plans to switch to a second-hand car as the next vehicle. Only 5% of them are thinking of an electric one in that case.

Connectivity is essential

Half of Belgians still want their next vehicle to be able to connect with their smartphone, yet car manufacturers are attempting to introduce their own connected service ecosystems.

There is a willingness to pay for extra connected services related to safety features. The value of adding AI to vehicle systems is gaining recognition, although concerns regarding data management and privacy persist.

Mobility solutions

Car ownership remains essential, yet younger consumers and urban dwellers favor more flexibility. Combining a vehicle with mobility alternatives may become more popular if the cost of private vehicle usage increases (by tax, road user charging,…) and MaaS solutions are optimized.

More than half (52%) of the respondents in Belgium weren’t ready yet to give up private ownership of a car. Younger consumers (18 – 34 years old) and urban inhabitants are more interested in alternative mobility solutions.