Rental firm Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ.O) said on Thursday it would sell about 20,000 electric vehicles, including Teslas, from its U.S. fleet due to higher expenses related to collision and damage, and will opt for gas-powered vehicles.

Shares of the company, which also operates vehicles from Swedish EV maker Polestar among others, fell about 4%. Tesla’s (TSLA.O) stock was down about 3%.

Hertz also expects to book an about $245 million charge related to depreciation expenses from the proposed EV sale in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Hertz’s decision underscores the bumpy road EVs have hit as the growth rate on sales of those vehicles has slowed, causing carmakers like General Motors (GM.N) and Ford (F.N) to scale back production plans of those vehicles.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas in a note said the car rental firm’s move was a warning across the EV space and it was another sign that EV expectations need to be “reset downward across the market.”

“While consumers enjoy the driving experience and fuel savings (per mile) of an EV, there are other ‘hidden’ costs to EV ownership,” Jonas added.

  • psychothumbs@lemmy.worldEnglish
    201·
    10 months ago

    Hopefully the now arriving wave of electric cars built by incumbent car companies won’t have the same issues as Teslas in terms of being single integrated bricks of technology that you have to throw out if any part breaks.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
      4·
      10 months ago

      Like GM’s Optium cars straight up not allowing you to drive because of failed OTA updates? OTA updates should not be necessary in the first place.