Electric vehicles are in high demand, according to a recent survey, but their high price tags are posing a barrier for many.
Authentic data from a study conducted by Wiener Städtische Insurance and the Gallup Institute reveals a fascinating mix of preferences, incentives, and challenges among Austrian drivers, as they navigate comfort, habit, and environmental concerns in their automotive choices.
The increasing popularity of electric vehicles is evident, with 37% of Austrian respondents favoring them for their next vehicle acquisition. In contrast, choices for conventional internal combustion engines are decreasing; gasoline-powered vehicles are preferred by just a quarter of potential buyers, while diesel vehicles attract only 11%.
However, adopting e-mobility faces significant hurdles. "These findings underscore that three-quarters of respondents would not spend more than €30,000 on an electric vehicle. High purchase prices, absent tax incentives, and the elimination of subsidies are seen as major obstacles by many," explains Doris Wendler, Wiener Städtische Insurance's Director. The aspiration for a minimum range of 400 kilometers compounds manufacturers' requirements, while a vehicle manufactured in Europe holds considerable appeal.
key points
- Preference for EVs growing: 37% of Austrians would choose an electric vehicle for their next purchase.
- Fading appeal of conventional cars: Sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles are diminishing.
- High costs, lack of incentives, and subsidy removal hinder e-mobility uptake.
- Lower appetite for high-cost EVs: Three-quarters of respondents are only willing to pay up to €30,000 for an electric vehicle.
- Desire for extended range: Around 50% seek a vehicle with a range of 400 kilometers or more.
- European manufacturing and quality matter: Preference remains for vehicles with European origins.
The automobile remains the primary mode of transportation for a majority of Austrians, with 65% owning at least one car, and men accounting for 70%. Self-assessment of driving skills reveals that 84% of Austrians consider themselves (very) good drivers.
Despite a growing focus on climate concerns, most Austrians' mobility behavior remains consistent, with nearly 80% using their cars daily or several times a week, and most traveling less than 50 kilometers a day.
While older individuals tend to adhere to familiar mobility patterns, younger generations show a significant shift in values. Environmental awareness has increased for 31% of all respondents, with nearly 40% under the age of 30 reporting an enhancement. This change is visible in expanding utilization of public transportation and deliberate minimization of car usage.
More than half of respondents have contemplated reassessing their mobility habits following the abolition of the climate bonus, which could result in increased walking, cycling, or employing public transportation more frequently. This adjustment is particularly prominent among the younger generation, while willingness to change is noticeably lower among older age groups.
Infrastructure constraints, cost, affordability, range anxiety, and public awareness are all factors that can hinder the transition to CO₂-neutral transportation, although data from the Kfz Study does not explicitly address these issues. Instead, the study emphasizes that the automobile remains the most practical and convenient means of daily transport for many people, deeply ingrained in Austrian habits.
A heated debate surrounds speed limits, as the proposition of a city-wide speed limit of 30 km/h stirs divergent opinions. The support for 30 km/h speed limits revolves primarily around those without personal vehicles and the younger generation, while concerns are raised over increased congestion and environmental consequences. The Austrian public is divided on the feasibility of increasing motorway speed limits to 150 km/h: 41% disapprove, with stronger disapproval from older individuals, while slightly more than a third support the 150 km/h limit.
Over half of Austrians support the imposition of severe penalties, like vehicle confiscation, against habitual speeders, which is currently practiced in countries like Switzerland and Norway. This sentiment underscores the growing demand for traffic safety in Austria.
The survey illuminates a growing interest in environmentally friendly mobility choices among Austrians, especially the younger generation, despite ingrained habits favoring car usage. The Kfz Study, executed by the Gallup Institute on behalf of Wiener Städtische Insurance in March 2025, investigates mobility preferences, attitudes towards cars, and traffic policy among a representative sample of 1,000 Austrians. This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the tensions and shifts in transportation preferences within Austria.
- Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles, high purchase prices and the absence of tax incentives are perceived as major obstacles by nearly three-quarters of Austrian respondents.
- Aspiring to a minimum range of 400 kilometers, manufacturers' requirements compound, as Austrians prefer European-manufactured vehicles.
- In contrast to concerns over climate change, most Austrians maintain consistent mobility behavior, with residency being the primary mode of transportation for the majority and 65% owning at least one car.
- Environmental awareness is increasing among younger generations in Austria, as evidenced by the expanding use of public transportation and the purposeful reduction of car usage.
- The possibility of reevaluating mobility habits following the abolition of the climate bonus is high, with over half of respondents considering walking, cycling, or using public transportation more frequently, particularly among younger generations.
- amidst divided opinions regarding speed limits, support for city-wide 30 km/h speed limits is more prevalent among those without personal vehicles and the younger generation, while older individuals express concerns over increased congestion and environmental consequences.
