Electric Vehicle Demand Drives 13% European Auto Market Growth

New car registrations in Europe saw double-digit growth in June, with total registrations increasing between 13.1% and 13.6% on a yearly basis. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, this growth was propelled by strong demand for electrified vehicles, supported by market measures, which offset significant declines in petrol and diesel sales. Petrol and diesel registrations fell by 12.4% and 16.1%, respectively.

Battery-electric vehicle registrations surged between 51% and 60.7%, while plug-in hybrids grew by roughly 22% and hybrids increased by approximately 18%. Hybrid-electric vehicles remain the most popular powertrain choice with a 37.3% market share, while battery-electric cars increased their EU market share to 20.7% from 15.6% the previous year. Total car registrations for the first half of the year climbed 5.7%.

Chinese automakers experienced substantial gains, with BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor increasing sales three to six times compared to the previous year. SAIC reported an increase of over 50%, and Geely saw an 11% rise. Established manufacturers including Renault, Stellantis, and Volkswagen also saw registration increases ranging from 3.6% to 7.3%.