Only one week left before answering the question: “For or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars?” “. During this vote organized on February 4 by Paris City Hall, Parisians will be able to say whether they want more or fewer SUVs in the capital.
If it is very difficult to bet on the outcome of the vote, we rarely hear the dealers, directly concerned, express themselves on the subject. However, SUVs represent one in two vehicles sold in the capital. Also, if the tripling of the parking rate was implemented, it could potentially put a big damper on business.
“Customers are more worried about whether they will find a place”
“It’s not really a topic for us. We don’t talk about it, or very rarely explains a manager of the Kia “showroom” located on avenue de Suffren (15th arrondissement) a few steps from the Eiffel Tower. However, sales of SUVs and compact SUVs represent “the heart of sales” for the South Korean manufacturer: “It’s well over 50% of the cars we sell. »
However, its customers could suffer. Mostly Parisian* and from the near suburbs, its clientele travels a lot in the capital. “Customers don’t choose an SUV by chance. What they are looking for is the high driving position and its visibility, comfort, safety and space. If there are so many SUVs it is because they replace the minivans which we hardly see anymore. The only hesitation our customers may have is whether the vehicle will fit in their parking space. Because they grow slower than cars. »
A little further down the avenue, at Axone Automobile, a Volkswagen dealership, Tchou is not more worried: “People know what they want. When they arrive here, they have already chosen, so I don’t think it’s a measure like that that will make them switch from an SUV to a city car. » He also confirms that he has never heard a customer raise the question of parking prices in Paris: “Customers are more worried about the electrification of parking. Find out if they will find a place. »
“They will really end up disgusting all motorists”
Richard** runs a dealership for a British brand of large cars in the center of Paris. According to him, there is nothing to fear from an increase in the price of parking: “Our vehicles start at 70,000 euros. If you can afford an SUV in Paris, you can pay for parking, it’s not a problem. »
But Richard is still not completely calm. The vote for SUVs leaves him unmoved, but not the policy of Paris City Hall: “They are totally anti-car, and their policy is catastrophic. They will really end up disgusting all motorists and one day, it will be impossible to drive in Paris. »
*Residential parking in Paris is not affected by the increase in parking rates
**The first name has been changed