EVs enjoy record sales with 16% market share
The European new car market increased 73% compared with May 2020.
JATO Dynamics measured data from 26 European markets and found sales totalling 1,073,987 units, taking the year-to-date total to 5,150,831. Despite this increase, volume was 25% lower than May 2019.
Felipe Munoz, global analyst, said: “The data is encouraging but the market is recovering slower than many had hoped. Economic uncertainty and a lack of consumer confidence are limiting growth at a time when the industry is also shifting away from traditional powertrains and adapting to strict CO2 emissions regulations.”
Total sales were boosted by increasing consumer demand for EVs and SUVs – with Volkswagen Group now leading in Europe across both segments. EVs took 16% of all registrations while SUVs made up almost 45% of the total volume.
Registrations of pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids totalled 171,415 units, up by 279% compared with May 2020, while BEV volume totalled 83,700, 261% increase, and PHEVs were up 299% to 87,700 units.
