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Zhitong Finance APP learned that French auto parts supplier OPmobility recently pointed out that due to the fact that the demand for electric vehicles has not met expectations, coupled with regulatory uncertainty and high costs, potential buyers are hesitant, and many automakers have therefore reviewed and launched the development plans of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Currently, electric vehicle production in the United States, Germany and France is 40% to 45% lower than expected. Laurent Favre, CEO of OPmobility, said: "This means that our and our customers' investment in production capacity needs to be readjusted. We are changing the cooperation model with our customers."

In Europe, the pace of the transition to electric vehicles has slowed due to price issues and the removal of government subsidies for electric vehicles. The shift has forced some companies, including Mercedes-Benz Group, to postpone their electric vehicle sales targets, and battery manufacturers are also reassessing their projects. For example, Stellantis NV (STLA.US) has suspended electric vehicle production at its Mirafiori plant near Turin, and Volkswagen Group has also initiated procedures to potentially close the Audi Q8 e-tron electric vehicle production line in Belgium. Another French automotive supplier, Valeo SA, is also looking for potential buyers for two factories.

In the United States, Ford Motor Co. recently announced it would invest $3 billion to build its higher-margin Super Duty F-Series pickup trucks at its Ontario, Canada, plant after delaying plans for an electric sport-utility vehicle to focus on that project.

Favre also mentioned that “interest in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles is recovering. Some of our customers, especially in the United States, who originally planned to switch directly from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles, are now focusing on the development of plug-in hybrid vehicles.”

OPmobility confirmed its full-year targets on Tuesday, although Favre was cautious about the market outlook for the rest of the year. He stressed: "There are many uncertainties regarding sales volumes and market developments. The transition to electric vehicles is driven more by regulators than by consumer demand."