Electric vehicle registrations in Europe are witnessing notable shifts, as seen in the latest statistics from ACEA. The expanding market share for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continues to grow, although not as quickly as some might hope. Key regions are driving this growth, with significant variances across different European markets.
In October, 916,609 new vehicles were registered across EU countries, with 173,173 of those being BEVs, which represents an 18.9% market share. Expanding the focus to include EFTA countries and the UK, 225,399 new electric vehicles were registered, marking a 32.9% increase and a 20.6% market share. However, electric car adoption is not uniform across the EU, with 65% of BEV registrations concentrated in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Germany leads with 52,425 new electric cars, while France and the UK follow with 34,108 and 36,830 new BEVs, respectively.
Despite overall positive trends, some smaller markets have seen declines. For instance, Estonia registered only 77 new electric cars, a significant 35.3% decrease from last year. Malta and Greece also experienced declines, with Malta down by 34% and Greece by 13%. Conversely, Sweden and Belgium faced only minor declines, with Sweden recording an 0.8% drop and Belgium a 3.0% decrease.
Strong Growth in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe shows promising growth, with Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia posting triple-digit increases. Poland’s registrations surged by 319.9%, with 4,812 new electric cars, while Slovenia and Slovakia saw rises of 208.1% and 125.1%, respectively. Other countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia also recorded substantial growth, though at lower percentages.
Year-to-date figures reveal that 1,473,447 battery-electric cars have been registered in the EU, making up 16.4% of nearly nine million vehicle registrations. Including the UK and EFTA countries, the number rises to 2.02 million, with an 18.3% market share. Overall, the EU market has grown by 1.4% year-to-date, with electric car registrations increasing by 25.7% in the EU and 26.2% across Europe. However, ACEA considers this growth inadequate, stating that the market share is “still below the pace required for this phase of the transition.”
The focus remains on hybrid vehicles, seen as the most popular choice among buyers. ACEA reports, “Hybrid-electric vehicles lead as the most popular power type choice among buyers, with plug-in hybrids continuing to gain momentum.” PHEVs showed a 43.2% increase in October and a 32.4% rise year-to-date. Hybrids saw 316,068 registrations in October and about 3.11 million year-to-date, making them the largest powertrain category. Meanwhile, traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles experienced double-digit declines. It’s important to note that ACEA’s hybrid category includes full and mild hybrids, which often have limited electric-only driving capabilities.
In terms of manufacturer statistics, ACEA does not provide a breakdown by powertrain. The Volkswagen Group remains the largest brand with 264,069 registrations in October, while Volkswagen leads at the brand level with 105,408 registrations. However, these figures encompass hybrids and internal combustion vehicles. Tesla remains a focal point for pure electric car brands.
Typically weaker at the start of a quarter, Tesla registered 5,647 new vehicles in October, a significant drop compared to September’s 25,656. October’s registrations were 48.0% lower year-over-year, and year-to-date figures show a 39.2% decline with 117,000 vehicles registered in the EU. Tesla’s performance in November and December will be crucial, especially as previous years have seen year-end surges. Despite the Model Y’s success in various markets, Tesla’s overall figures have fallen short compared to last year.
This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.
Original Story at www.electrive.com