The DS 5 Hybrid is pulled from the British market because it neither sells nor convinces

The presence of hybrid cars is becoming increasingly important in many markets. Manufacturers intend for this type of vehicle, which is more environmentally friendly, to be one of the main arguments setting the trend to follow. Hybrids and electric cars are among the main markets that are growing, so it is strange that there are steps backward in this regard. We were surprised that DS has decided to withdraw the DS 5 Hybrid from the British market.

Something seems to be going wrong with this model, because the French brand has not managed to make sales of this version of the model go beyond a few units. In fact, the share of hybrid model sales only reached 3% of the total sales of the DS 5. That is not enough to make it profitable, which is why the company has had to consider this withdrawal.

The DS 5 Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which is combined with an electric motor that provides the additional thrust. Working together, they allow a consumption of 3.9 litres per 100 km, which makes it a fairly efficient car. But neither this figure nor its CO2 emissions of 103 g/km seem to be a good selling point for British buyers.

The DS 5 has failed to dazzle with its hybrid powertrain and has had to be withdrawn from the British market. The answer may lie in the price, which in September was set at £33,680. A price that could be too high for the average buyer when compared with other models in the same range. They may not be as efficient in terms of consumption, but they can offer more attractive performance for the same price.

This problem, although it does not seem to affect DS’s global plans to gradually introduce hybrid powertrains in other models of the brand, may put on alert the manufacturers that opt to offer this type of drivetrain. Adjusting the price to meet the expectations of buyers seems to be fundamental, and it is one of the big “buts” usually attached to hybrids.

DS continues with its plans to offer this type of vehicle, despite the stumble suffered in the United Kingdom. In fact, there is talk of the upcoming arrival of the DS 6, which could use the EMP2 platform, which uses a combustion engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear to achieve all-wheel drive.

Via | Autoexpress