More and more European drivers are switching to electric. The market share of these vehicles has more than doubled in new car sales, between the second quarters of 2020 and 2021, announced Friday, July 23. Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA).
Fully electric cars now represent 7.5% of new sales in Europe, up from 3.5% in the second quarter of 2020. Over 210,000 were sold – an increase of 231.6% – with strong increases observed in Spain and Germany, in particular, but also in Austria and Belgium. Outside the European Union, the United Kingdom and Norway also recorded a strong increase in sales in the electrical category.
Gasoline and diesel in decline
Gasoline cars, which the European Commission has proposed to ban for sale for 2035, now represent less than half of European sales, with 1.17 million vehicles sold and 41.8% market share, compared to 51 , 9% in the second quarter of 2020.
Hybrids are reclaiming 19.3% of the market, trailing diesel cars. Plug-in hybrids represent 8.4% of sales, driven in particular by strong enthusiasm in Italy.
Many car manufacturers have made a radical commitment to electric power and have promised to remove combustion engines from their lineup by the 2030s. Some brands, such as Volvo or Opel (Stellantis group), plan to become 100 % electric from 2030.