EU electric vehicle sales jump 71% helped by subsidies
ELECTRIC vehicle (EV) sales in the European Union jumped 71 per cent in May while new car registrations grew for the tenth consecutive month, rising 18.5 per cent, data released by the region’s carmaker association showed on Wednesday (Jun 21).
Sales of EVs and hybrid cars – which have both a battery and combustion engine – have soared in the bloc in the last three years, boosted by government subsidies and corporate fleets looking for low- or zero-emission vehicle options.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said that EVs accounted for 13.8 per cent of all car sales in May, up from under 10 per cent a year earlier.
While petrol cars were still the biggest sellers in May, accounting for 36.5 per cent of the market, together with diesel cars pure fossil-fuel models accounted for under 51 per cent of sales.
As recently as 2015, diesel cars alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of all car sales in Europe.
Sales at Europe’s top-selling carmaker Volkswagen rose 19.5 per cent in May, while Renault and BMW recorded sales increases of 35.9 per cent and 34.3 per cent respectively.
But Stellantis, which has been struggling with logistical problems in delivering cars, saw sales fall 0.2 per cent.
The number of new vehicles registered in May in the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) grew by 18.2 per cent to 1.12 million units year-on-year. REUTERS
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