In ICE cars, they largely have gotten much cheaper.

A 2013 Toyota Camry started at $22k. A new 2024 starts at only $26k and is a much much better car.

Adjusted for inflation, that 2013 actually cost $28.8k. So the 2024 is marginally cheaper while bringing a plethora more safety, performance, fuel economy, and tech features.

For comparison, a base 2013 Audi A4 cost $47k MSRP originally and made 201hp with the i4 engine. A new base model 2024 Camry costs $26k and makes 208hp, while having better handling, better fuel economy, a better interior, and better tech than a 2013 A4.

ICE cars are getting cheaper. EVs are still in the expensive days just because the battery tech itself is still so expensive. Putting a large enough battery into a car to get an acceptable range is expensive. Economy cars can’t eat that cost as easily since the margins are already extremely tight. So manufacturers put in more features that bring a premium price but don’t cost a ton to actually implement but will compete in the mid range market so that they can get some profit margin. The big automakers are only averaging like 1-2% gross margin on their EVs right now.

There are still a few cheap EVs though. The Bolt EV is $26k. The leaf is $28k. The Bolt EUV is $27k. The Hyundai Kona EV is $33k. There’s the mini cooper EV at $30, but it only gets 150 miles so it’s out of the question for a lot of people. And the Mazda MX-30 (though they’re killing it off because it only sold like a single digit number of cars and only gets a pitiful 100 miles).