Small electric cars. Choosing a city electric vehicle

The phone rings about a small electric car. A moment later, a lead comes in from OTOMOTO, then a message on WhatsApp. The salesperson checks if the car is still on the lot, the manager tries to remember if the battery was already described in the offer, and the customer on-site asks about the real winter range and warranty conditions. If you run a dealership, showroom, or import business, this scenario probably sounds familiar.

The problem with the small EV segment isn't that they're hard to sell. The problem is that it's easy to fall into operational chaos. Demand is growing, models are changing rapidly, customers ask more detailed questions than with combustion engine cars, and the team often still works with Excel, phones, and salespeople's memory. It works until it stops working.

Table of Contents

• The Boom in Small EVs in Poland – Opportunity or Operational Challenge?
  • The Market Has Already Shifted
  • The Opportunity is Real, But Not for Everyone
  • The Opportunity is Great, But Operational Pressure is Growing Faster
• Typical Chaos in a Dealership – Why Small EVs Complicate Sales?
  • One Car, Multiple Inquiry Sources
  • EVs Require a Different Sales Conversation
  • The Risk Starts After Purchasing a Car for Stock
• Specific Models in Focus – What Are Dealers Earning On in 2026?
  • Dacia Spring for the Urban Customer
  • BYD Dolphin Surf for the Customer Who Counts TCO
  • How to Choose a Model for Your Own Stock
• How to Solve This in Practice – An Organized EV Sales Process
  • Five Steps to Take Control
  • Minimum Process Standard
• carBoost in Action – Managing EV Stock and Leads in One Place
  • What the Salesperson Sees
  • What the Manager Sees
  • Where Manual Labor Ends
• Most Common Mistakes in Selling Small EVs (and How to Avoid Them)
  • Mistakes in the Offer
  • Mistakes in the Process
• FAQ – Questions Dealers Ask About Selling Small Electric Cars

The Boom in Small EVs in Poland – Opportunity or Operational Challenge?

The Market Has Already Shifted

The change is no longer theoretical. In November 2025, electric cars in Poland surpassed diesels for the first time in terms of new vehicle registrations, and in Q1 2026, new BEV registrations increased to 8,764 (+71.61% YoY). The entire electric vehicle fleet exceeded 100,000 units. This data was reported by Polskie Radio based on Polish EV market statistics.

For a dealer, this means one thing. Customers have stopped treating small electric cars as a novelty. This is now a normal purchasing category, especially where the car is intended for city driving, fleet work, or as a second car in a household.

This is also evident in the models themselves. In July 2025, among small EVs, the Citroën C3 and BYD Dolphin Surf were prominent with 378 and 203 registrations respectively, as noted in the same article about changes in car sales in Poland.

Small EVs are not creating a niche. They are creating a new order of customer conversation.

The Opportunity is Real, But Not for Everyone

The mere presence of demand is not enough. Many salespeople try to handle small electric cars the same way they handle gasoline city hatchbacks. This usually ends in frustration for both sides.

Today, customers ask not only about the price and year. They also ask about:

• Battery type and expected lifespan
• Real-world range in daily use
• Charging speed and the sense of buying based on their driving style
• Battery warranty and the risk of value depreciation
• Parts availability and subsequent resale

If this information isn't linked to the car inventory and contact history, the team starts improvising. And improvisation with EVs is costly, as customers quickly spot inconsistencies.

The Opportunity is Great, But Operational Pressure is Growing Faster

Dealership owners often sense that