Registrations of new cars in the European Union increased again in April, with an increase of 5.1% year-on-year, driven by electric vehicles, according to statistics published Wednesday May 27 by the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA).
After the 12.5% jump in March, sales reached 972,000 units in April. The increase over four months thus amounts to 4.2%. It was 100% electric cars that saw the biggest increase in April, with a jump of 37.7% year-on-year.
Over the first four months of the year, electric vehicles represented 19.7% of the European market. Their share was 20.6% in the month of April alone.
Non-rechargeable hybrids, however, remained the preferred choice of Europeans, with 38.2% of sales over four months, while thermals (petrol and diesel) fell further, to 30.2% of the market compared to 38.1% a year earlier. The month of April accentuated the trend, with a fall of 16% for gasoline cars and 17% for diesel.
Gasoline cars in decline
In Europe, in April, almost as many 100% electric cars were sold (200,117) as gasoline cars (218,485). In several countries, electric vehicles have taken over from gasoline, such as in France, Germany, the Netherlands or Sweden, but not yet in Italy, Spain or Belgium.
Germany, still loyal to diesel, represented 43% of diesel car sales in Europe in April, which now constitute only 7.6% of the total. Over four months, three countries represented two thirds of electric car sales: Italy (+ 73%), France (+ 48.2%) and Germany (+ 41.3%). It is in France that gasoline cars have declined the most (– 36.6%).
On the manufacturer side, Volkswagen remains well ahead in April with 27.4% of the European market and volumes up 3.2%, thanks to its Skoda and Audi brands. Stellantis occupies second place (16.4% market share) with registrations up 5.5%, driven by Fiat and Opel.
Renault, on the other hand, declined, with a market share reduced to 10.1% and volumes reduced by 4.3%. Next come Hyundai (7.3% of the market in April) and Toyota (6.8%), whose sales fell in April by -2.5% and -1.8% respectively. Several Chinese groups are growing rapidly, such as BYD which doubles its sales to 2.1% of the market, Chery which almost quadruples them to 1.5% of the market, and Leapmotor which has quintupled them and represents 0.8% of the market.
