INQUIRER STOCK PHOTO

Paris, France — Sales of electric cars slid last year in Europe in an otherwise stable market, data from carmakers showed Tuesday.

A total of 1.99 million battery electric vehicles were sold in Europe last year, a drop of 1.3 percent from 2023, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

Article continues after this advertisement

The figures represent a stall after several years of strong growth for electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe, and raise questions about the transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

FEATURED STORIES BUSINESS BIZ BUZZ: New general counsel at BSP? BUSINESS Trump signs order ending work from home for federal employees BUSINESS 'Too hard': Vietnam's factory workers return to country life

According to data published last week by the Rho Motion consultancy, EV sales rose 25 percent globally last year thanks to a surge in China.

READ: EV sales growth stalls in Europe

Article continues after this advertisement

According to ACEA data, overall car sales edged 0.9 percent higher in Europe — including Britain, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, to just shy of 13 million.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Battery-electric cars remained the third-most-popular choice for buyers in 2024,” the ACEA said in its monthly report on sales figures.

Article continues after this advertisement

Cars with petrol engines accounted for one in three new cars sold last year, followed closely by simple hybrids with 30.9 percent market share. Plug-in hybrids accounted for another 7.1 percent of sales.

Fully battery-electric vehicles accounted for 13.6 percent of total sales in 2024, a drop from 14.6 percent market share in 2023.

wolf gold slot Article continues after this advertisement

Sales of EVs, which are more expensive than ICE vehicles, are still highly dependent upon incentives.

EV sales plunged by 27.4 percent in Germany last year as government incentives ended at the end of 2023.

But they jumped by 21.4 percent in Britain last year to make it Europe’s top EV market by volume, with just under 382,000 sold last year, thanks in part to sales targets on automakers.

Norway continued to have the highest EV market share, accounting for nearly nine out of 10 new vehicles sold last year, ahead of a ban on sales of ICE vehicles entered into force in 2025.

It was a reference to the notorious “behest loans” granted to individuals or corporations favored by powerful government officials.

But the uptake of EVs in Norway was also aided by high taxes on ICE vehicles, which often made them less expensive for consumers.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

The European Union is set to ban the sale of new ICE vehicles in 2035.kawbet

READ NEXT ‘Too hard’: Vietnam’s factory workers return... Alternergy raising funds for 500-MW goal EDITORS' PICK LIVE: PVL All-Filipino Conference January 21 Trump’s inauguration sparks mixed reactions among Fil-Ams Gatchalian, Villanueva assert: No blank items in 2025 budget Fil-Ams warned about extreme fire risk in LA region Don’t wake up to your alarms? Here’s what you can do Trump signs order to pull US from WHO, citing funding disparities MOST READ Sandigan finds former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista guilty of graft As China flaunts its military might, PH weighs all options KC Concepcion photo acquired by Getty Museum, exported to US Darryl Yap drops new Pepsi Paloma film trailer, announces Feb. 5 premiere Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments

• in
• kawbet
• EV
• Sales
• slip