During the first quarter of 2024, Europe saw a 4.4 percent increase in car registrations across all technologies, reaching approximately 2.8 million units.
However, of that total, electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for a 12 percent market share, a difference of 0.1 percent compared to the same period last year.
It’s worth noting that this percentage must increase to meet the goals set by the European Union in the Regulation on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (AFIR).
On the other hand, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars increased their market share by almost 40 percent, compared to 29.4 percent in the first half of 2023.
Below, Mobility Portal Europe shares updated information on EV registrations in different European countries.
Belgium
At the end of 2023, Belgium had a total fleet of nearly six million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, of which 470,040 were electric.
Now, in the first three months of 2024, 31,091 battery electric vehicles (BEVs), 27,517 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and 12,773 hybrids (HEVs) were registered, representing 23 percent, 20.4 percent, and 9.5 percent of the market share, respectively.
Indeed, the presence of these three technologies represents just over half of the total, at 52.9 percent.
The data indicates that this season was positive considering the increase in BEV registrations by 49.6 percent, PHEVs by 21.9 percent, and similarly with HEVs, surpassing sales for the same period in 2023 by 28.5 percent.
According to the Alternative Fuels Observatory, the most popular models were the Tesla Model Y for zero-emission cars, as well as the BMW X1 for plug-ins.
Denmark
In Denmark, out of the 2.8 million cars in circulation the previous year, 277,213 were electric and hybrid.
Between January and March of this year, 15,201 BEVs, 1,743 PHEVs, and 7,708 HEVs were registered.
Therefore, with even greater adoption in this market, zero-emission vehicles lead with 41.2 percent, while plug-in hybrids account for 4.7 percent and hybrids for 20.9 percent.
What do these percentages indicate? Sustainable mobility dominates the Nordic territory with 66.8 percent.
Likewise, there’s a rise of 27.8 percent for BEVs, while hybrids suffered losses: 55.3 percent less for rechargeable types and 2.1 percent less for conventional ones.
Regarding the most chosen models by users, the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Kuga/Escape stand out.
France
In 2023, France totaled approximately 40 million units, of which 1,824,073 were alternative fuel vehicles.
Regarding registrations this year, up to March, close to 79,823 electric vehicles, 38,575 plug-in hybrids, and 124,945 hybrids were registered.
Similar to Belgium, this season surpassed the figures from the previous period.
Registrations of pure electric vehicles increased by 23.1 percent, while plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids grew by 5.6 percent and 33.4 percent respectively.
These figures manage to surpass combustion vehicle sales: while the three sustainable technologies represent 54.7 percent of the market, polluting cars represent 33.4 percent.
The Tesla Model Y leads the chart of models chosen by French users, followed by the national model Peugeot 308.
Germany
At the end of 2023, Germany had a fleet of nearly 50 million cars, including passenger vehicles and LDVs, of which approximately three million were electric.
During the first three months of 2024, 81,337 BEVs, 44,985 PHEVs, and 173,927 HEVs were registered, accounting for 11.7 percent, 6.5 percent, and 25 percent of the market share, respectively.
Together, these three technologies represent 43.2 percent of the market.
However, the collected data suggests that this period was not as fruitful as the previous one.
While PHEVs grew by 19.8 percent and HEVs by 11.3 percent, BEV registrations decreased by 14.1 percent.
In terms of chosen models, the Tesla Model Y tops the list among electric vehicles and the Mercedes GLC among plug-ins.
Italy
At the end of 2023, Italy had 40 million cars, of which just over four million were electric.
During the first quarter of 2024, 13,325 electric vehicles were registered (3 percent), along with 14,415 plug-in hybrids (3.2 percent) and 172,090 hybrids (38.2 percent).
This is not the ideal scenario for the Italian industry, as although they represent 44.4 percent of the total market, purchases significantly dropped for the first two mentioned technologies, reaching 18.5 and 24 percent less than in 2023.
In the case of hybrids, they extended by 12.6 percent.
In Italy, the Tesla Model Y maintains its popularity as the preferred zero-emission model, while the Ford Kuga/Escape stands out among plug-in vehicles.
Netherlands
With a fleet of approximately eight million cars acquired in 2023, 862,326 were electric.
Regarding new registrations this year, up to March, 30,055 electric vehicles, 14,255 plug-in hybrids, and 29,615 conventional hybrids were registered.
Thus, EV registrations increased by 19.7 percent, while plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids recorded increases of 4.8 percent and 34.9 percent.
With these growth levels, they far exceed combustion car sales.
While the three types of technologies represent 72.4 percent of the current market, combustion cars constitute 25.9 percent.
The Tesla Model Y is the most chosen model among Dutch consumers, followed by the Lynk & Co 01 and the Toyota Mirai.
Sweden
Sweden is one of the countries with a large percentage of electric vehicles in its automotive fleet: out of five million vehicles reported in 2023, 716,358 were alternative types. Therefore, they represent 14.12 percent of the total.
Regarding new registrations this year, up to March, 18,465 electric vehicles, 14,149 plug-in hybrids, and 5,576 conventional hybrids were registered.
Similar to what happened in Italy, the current season in Sweden did not exceed the expectations of the first quarter of 2023.
While PHEVs experienced an increase of 10.4 percent, BEVs and HEVs decreased by 19.4 percent and 8.1 percent respectively.
Despite the scarce sales recorded in this period, they surpass combustion car sales: while the three sustainable technologies represent 63.9 percent of the current market, combustion cars constitute 24.1 percent.
It is not surprising that in this country, the Tesla Model Y also leads electric vehicle sales, followed by the national model Volvo XC60.
Switzerland
With a reported automotive fleet of five million units in 2023, only 283,522 vehicles are sustainable.
During the first three months of 2024, 10,424 EVs, 5,329 plug-ins, and 17,677 hybrids were registered, with their registrations growing by 1.7 percent, 2.4 percent, and 8.8 percent, respectively.
Together, these technologies constitute 58.4 percent of the total market share.
The Tesla Model Y remains the most popular model among the Swiss in the category of zero-emission vehicles, followed by the Volvo XC60 among plug-ins.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom indicated that by the end of 2023, it had a fleet of 33 million vehicles, of which approximately 1.5 million were electric.
In the initial period of 2024, 84,314 BEVs, 42,559 PHEVs, and 190,239 HEVs were registered, representing 15.5 percent, 7.8 percent, and 34.9 percent of the market share, respectively.
Together, they constitute 58.2 percent of the total.
Registrations of electric vehicles increased by 10.6 percent, plug-in hybrids by 34 percent, and conventional hybrids by 21.9 percent.
In the zero-emission category, the Tesla Model Y is the most chosen by residents, and the Ford Kuga/Escape in the case of plug-in vehicles.
