The range of open-top cars on sale has more than halved in the past six years, according to UK market research. This is despite lasting demand. Silvia Marks/dpaDrivers wanting to buy a new convertible car have the fewest options to choose from in decades as manufacturers focus on SUVs and electrification, according to one analysis in the UK.Online vehicle marketplace CarGurus, which conducted the research, said vehicles which can be driven with or without a roof are "an increasingly rare sight".The UK platform's analysis found the 30 biggest car makers in the UK offer just 11 new convertible models between them.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat is compared with 29 models six years ago.The segment peaked in 2005 when 37 soft top models were available, according to the analysis.In the past year alone, BMW cut its convertible range from five models to two, Porsche dropped the 718 and Jeep stopped offering any.Despite the automotive industry's transition towards electrification, fully electric convertibles are rare, with only two models on sale in the UK.While new convertible options narrow, demand for used models is increasing, with their average price up by about 10% year-on-year to about £18,000 ($23,800 or €20,900), according to CarGurus.AdvertisementAdvertisement"For years, convertibles were a core part of many manufacturer line-ups, and they brought character and desirability to a brand's range," CarGurus's UK editorial director Chris Knapman said."Today, they're becoming an increasingly rare sight as carmakers focus investment on SUVs and electrification. Demand for open-top motoring clearly hasn't disappeared," he said."Used convertible prices are rising, and there's still strong enthusiasm for cars that get the wind in your hair as part of a more evocative driving experience."Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said drivers craving a wind-in-the-hair experience may have to "switch to cars with a panoramic sunroof, while convertible devotees continue to seek out the sportier models still being produced by small volume companies."AdvertisementAdvertisementFigures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 11,484 new convertibles were registered in the UK last year.That is lower than a third of the 2019 total – before the coronavirus pandemic – of 36,193 and just above a 10th of the figure 20 years earlier (109,171).SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Demand for convertibles has always reflected broader market trends, and the transition to electrification is reshaping the market."Manufacturers are prioritising investment in zero and ultra-low emission cars in higher volume segments where demand is strongest and delivers the greatest progress towards climate targets.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Currently, there are fewer convertible options within that mix, which naturally affects volumes, while wider economic pressures and shifts in consumer preference for higher riding SUV-style cars are also influencing purchasing decisions."
