How Electric Vehicle Design and Repair Restrictions Create Waste and Monopolies

The article examines the rising problem of unrepaired and prematurely scrapped electric vehicles due to exorbitant replacement part prices and restrictive manufacturer policies. Drawing on data from a Croatian EV repair group, the author compares the cost of major components such as batteries, motors, and charging modules across various brands. The findings show that low-end models like the Dacia Spring or Kia Soul often have parts that cost far more than those of high-end vehicles like the Tesla Model S or Mercedes EQS. The author argues that this has nothing to do with production costs or quality, but rather with monopolistic pricing strategies from manufacturers who limit access to parts and repair codes.

This policy creates a situation where vehicle owners are forced to rely on dealerships for even basic repairs, making independent mechanics — and by extension, consumer choice — nearly obsolete. As a result, many otherwise functional vehicles are scrapped when repair costs exceed resale value, causing significant economic and environmental waste. The author criticizes brands such as Renault and Hyundai/Kia for exploiting customers through artificially high spare part prices and anti-repair design choices. The essay concludes with a recommendation: avoid buying new cars, favor used ones, and always check the repairability and spare part ecosystem of a vehicle before purchase.