(ANSA-AFP) - PARIS, JAN 21 - Sales of electric cars slid last
year in Europe in an otherwise stable market, data from
carmakers showed Tuesday. A total of 1.99 million battery
electric vehicles were sold in Europe last year, a drop of 1.3
percent from 2023, according to data from the European
Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The figures
represent a stall after several years of strong growth for
electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe, and raise questions about the
transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
According to data published last week by the Rho Motion
consultancy, EV sales rose 25 percent globally last year thanks
to a surge in China. According to ACEA data, overall car sales
edged 0.9 percent higher in Europe -- including Britain,
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, to just shy of 13 million.
"Battery-electric cars remained the third-most-popular choice
for buyers in 2024," the ACEA said in its monthly report on
sales figures. Cars with petrol engines accounted for one in
three new cars sold last year, followed closely by simple
hybrids with 30.9 percent market share. Plug-in hybrids
accounted for another 7.1 percent of sales. Fully
battery-electric vehicles accounted for 13.6 percent of total
sales in 2024, a drop from 14.6 percent market share in 2023.
Sales of EVs, which are more expensive than ICE vehicles, are
still highly dependent upon incentives. EV sales plunged by 27.4
percent in Germany last year as government incentives ended at
the end of 2023. But they jumped by 21.4 percent in Britain last
year to make it Europe's top EV market by volume, with just
under 382,000 sold last year, thanks in part to sales targets on
automakers. (ANSA-AFP).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
