Electric vehicle sales are on the rise, contributing to a slight stabilization in the market
Electric Vehicle Sales Surge in Europe's Car Market in April
The demand for electric vehicles has emerged as a key driver in the growth of Europe's car market in April 2021. According to the Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), 1.3% more vehicles were newly registered in the European Union compared to the previous year.
Notably, the sales of electric vehicles increased by a staggering 33.9% to 145,341 vehicles. Hybrid cars were also in high demand, registering a significant increase in sales compared to the previous year. Conversely, sales of petrol and diesel cars declined.
The market share of electric vehicles rose to 15.3% in the first four months of the year, marking a 3 percentage point increase from the previous year. ACEA Director-General Sigrid de Vries stressed the need to enhance conditions to make electric vehicles more accessible, such as purchase incentives, expanding charging infrastructure, and lowering electricity prices.
One in three new cars in the EU is now a hybrid vehicle. If plug-in hybrids are included, the figure rises to around 43%, surpassing traditional combustion engines, which now account for approximately 38% of the market share.
Among the individual manufacturers, the Volkswagen Group remained the leader, selling almost 260,000 cars in the EU alone in April, a 2.9% increase compared to the previous year. BMW, Mercedes, and Stellantis also reported sales increases, while Toyota and Tesla experienced a decrease.
Sources: ntv.de, RTS.
(Enrichment Data: In recent years, electric vehicles have seen significant growth in Europe, driven by policies promoting sustainability and consumer demand for environmentally friendly options. European governments have been implementing policies to encourage EV adoption.)
- The surge in electric vehicle sales in Europe's car market, coupled with the increasing demand for hybrid cars, demonstrates the growing influence of community policies promoting sustainability and lifestyle choices that prioritize technology and environmentally friendly options.
- Small and medium-sized undertakings in the European automotive sector stand to benefit from the growth in electric and hybrid vehicle sales, as the increasing market share of these vehicles could potentially lead to increased production and demand for components such as batteries, a key technology in the production of electric-vehicles.
