The market share of fully electric vehicles in the European Union reached 15% in January, according to data released on Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
This marks a significant increase in electric car registrations despite an overall decline in new vehicle sales across the bloc.
A total of 831,201 new cars were registered in the EU last month, reflecting a 2.6% decrease compared to January 2024. The downturn affected all major markets, ACEA reported, highlighting a sluggish start to the year for the automotive sector.
However, electric vehicle sales stood out with an impressive surge of more than one-third, reaching 124,341 units. The growth was primarily driven by three key markets: Germany (+53.5%), Belgium (+37.2%), and the Netherlands (+28.2%).
France, which recorded a slight decline (-0.5%), also played a crucial role, with these four countries together accounting for 64% of all fully electric car registrations in the EU.
ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries attributed this sharp rise to an unusually low number of registrations in January 2024. She explained that while electric vehicle sales had dipped slightly in the previous year, the latest figures suggest a return to the average levels observed over the past two years.
“For the whole of 2024, this share saw the first decrease since 2018, dropping from 14.6% in 2023 to 13.6% last year,” De Vries stated.
“The number of registered electric cars has since returned to the average of the past two years. Consequently, the market share of electric cars climbed back to 15%.”
Despite this rebound, ACEA noted that the EU’s target of reaching a 25% market share for electric vehicles by 2025 remains a significant challenge.
The association has expressed optimism regarding the European Commission’s forthcoming action plan to enhance the competitiveness of the automotive industry.
The plan, set to be unveiled on March 5, is expected to introduce measures that could further accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the region.
The rise in electric vehicle registrations reflects a broader shift towards sustainable mobility, spurred by government incentives, tightening emissions regulations, and improved charging infrastructure. However, industry experts caution that market volatility, economic uncertainties, and the phasing out of subsidies in key markets could influence future growth trends.
As the EU strives to meet its ambitious climate goals, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the impact of upcoming policy measures and consumer demand for electric vehicles in the months ahead.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
