When Hyundai introduced the Kona Electric SUV with an available range of 250 miles, 20,000 Norwegians said they would be interested in purchasing one. Sometimes those expressions of interest are misleading. If you asked people if they would be interested in an all-electric version of the Veg-O-Matic, some would say, “Sure. Sign me up!”
But once Hyundai began taking firm orders for the Kona Electric, 6,969 stepped up to say they would buy one. Marketing Director Christian Stenbo, Hyundai’s marketing director in Norway tells ABC Nyheter, “We are a bit overwhelmed by the response. We expected about 25% of those who reported advance interest would book a car. Now we see that somewhere between 35 and 40% finally put in order. We can safely say that the Kona Electric is a crazy success.” Dealers in Norway will begin taking orders for the car from customers who did not previously express an interest in purchasing one on July 2.
“Proper design, correct price, proper technology, and proper equipment level. Hyundai Kona Electric is a complete package that suits Norwegian car customers perfectly, and many have been waiting for a popular SUV with a proper long-range capability. In addition, the car is wonderfully nice to look at and offers a comprehensive comfort and safety package. The sum of all this forms the basis for the demand we now see,” says Norwegian product manager Øyvind L. Knudsen.
So when will customers in Norway receive their cars? Stenbo counsels patience. “We understand that people are now excited about the delivery situation and we will continue to keep communication on this subject as open as possible. We can already say that with 6,969 orders, we expect new customers to begin receiving their cars in the middle of 2020. There are many things that matter, but we can assure our customers that we are working to ensure that as many cars as possible are available to Norway. The supply situation is characterized by higher demand internationally, but Norway is clearly a priority market,” Stenbo says.
So, senior managers at Ford, General Motors, and Dodge. Nobody is interested in buying electric cars, huh? Can you imagine any of your customers plunking down their hard earned cash to buy one of your Gargantuamobiles 2 years from now? Not bloody likely. Better keep your resumés up to date. You are going to be looking for work sooner than you can possibly imagine.
Hat tip to Leif Hansen. Thanks, brother.
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