The European Union’s car market continued its downward trend in September 2024, with a 6.1% decline in new registrations. While Spain bucked the trend with a 6.3% increase, France (-11.1%), Italy (-10.7%), and Germany (-7%) all experienced significant drops.
Electric Vehicles: A Mixed Picture
Despite a 9.8% increase in battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in September, the year-to-date volume declined by 5.8%. This was primarily due to a sharp 28.6% decrease in Germany. BEVs now account for 17.3% of the market, up from 14.8% last year.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) fared worse, with a 22.3% drop in September registrations. Their market share fell to 6.8% from 8.2% in the previous year.
Hybrids Gain Ground
Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) were the only segment to see growth, with a 12.5% increase in registrations. HEVs now hold a 32.8% market share, surpassing petrol-powered cars.
Traditional Fuels Decline
Petrol car sales plummeted by 17.9% in September, with all major markets experiencing double-digit declines. Diesel car sales also decreased by 23.5%. As a result, petrol and diesel cars now account for 29.8% and 10.4% of the market, respectively.
[source: ACEA]
