, Columnist
The Car Industry Is Facing a Big Affordability Crisis
High vehicle prices are both an opportunity and a threat for the auto industry.
French car maker Citroën presents the Oli in Paris.
Photographer: ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images
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You know the auto industry has a giant affordability problem when a manufacturer unveils a concept car whose roof and hood are made from reinforced cardboard.
The battery-powered Oli, shown last month by Stellantis NV’s Citroën brand, has a top speed of just 68 miles per hour (110 km) and weighs around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). For once, the company’s PR verbiage was spot on: “The time is right to say: enough to the trend for excess and expense, and to focus instead on creating pure, honest vehicles that are lighter, less complicated and truly affordable.”