Overview
- The ADAC published an analysis on Monday showing base prices for petrol small cars have risen roughly 80% over about a decade, with the 2026 average near €24,100 and just 46 combustion models available this year.
- ADAC highlighted the Opel Corsa as a stark example, noting the base price rose from €11,980 in 2013 to €22,890 in 2026, an increase of about 95%.
- The electric small‑car market has expanded to about 37 models and currently carries a higher average list price near €29,700, but ADAC reports prices have trended down since 2025 as lower‑priced EVs from makers like Dacia and several Chinese brands enter the market.
- Manufacturers say rising costs to meet Euro‑6 emissions limits and tougher Euro NCAP and EU safety requirements have driven up per‑model development spending, making low‑margin small petrol cars uneconomic to keep on sale.
- ADAC urges makers to preserve affordable new‑car options by saving on nonessential comfort and infotainment equipment so buyers can still access low‑cost mobility, a shift that could push more consumers toward used cars or pricier new EVs and increase pressure on policymakers to respond.