Sales of hybrid cars in the European Union (EU) exceeded those of petrol-powered cars for the first time in September, accounting for 32.8% of new car sales, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Tuesday the 22nd of October, despite overall car sales in the EU falling by 6.1% year-on-year, the second month in a row of declining sales, with major markets Germany, France and Italy continuing to stagnate, reports Reuters.
Sales of hybrid electric vehicles have increased in the EU in recent months as buyers see them as an affordable compromise between combustion-engine and fully electric cars.
In September, all types of electrified vehicles accounted for 56.9% of new car sales in the EU, up from 50.3% a year earlier. Sales of fully electric cars were up 9.8% year-on-year but were down 5.8% year-to-date.
In September, sales of hybrid cars were up 12.5% year-on-year, while sales of petrol cars were down 17.9% to 29.8%.
In the first nine months of the year, 50% of all new car registrations in the EU were electric cars, also reaching this figure for the first time.
“Today’s figures show that we are still far from the thriving EV market that Europe needs,” said ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries in a statement.
BMW and Volkswagen sold more cars in the first nine months of 2024 than in 2023, while most other major companies saw their share of sales flat or down.
European carmakers are facing weak demand and increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicles. In response, the EU recently approved an import duty of up to 45% on Chinese-made electric cars, citing unfair subsidies from Beijing, which China has denied and threatened to retaliate.