Last year, hybrid cars gained market share, unlike electric vehicles, which were losing ground, according to the manufacturers' lobby.
Hybrid cars have taken control of a slowing European automobile market in 2024, while electric cars have lost ground, according to figures published Tuesday by the manufacturers' lobby (ACEA). The market share of electric cars fell in Europe for the first time since the market took off in 2020, to 13.6% over the year (but 15.9% in December). With their high purchase prices, electric models have been weighed down by the removal of subsidies in Germany, the largest European market, but this electrification takes very different forms depending on the country and the brands.
Electric sales have continued to grow in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, and could rebound in 2025 with the arrival of less expensive models. On the shores of Europe, in the United Kingdom, the implementation of ambitious sales objectives caused sales to explode (+21.4%). On the brand side, the electric pioneer Tesla saw its sales fall by 13.1% in the Union, while Volvo (+28%) rode the launch of new electric models.
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Hybrids, “the antechamber of the transition to electric”
Electrics have especially been overtaken by the explosion of hybrids. These more versatile, less expensive models, equipped with a gasoline engine but also a small electric battery which is recharged while driving, allowing you to drive a few kilometers without polluting, have captured 30.9% of the market (33.1% in December). Hybrids are eating away at gasoline models' market share (-4.8%, 33.3% market share over the year), and even doubled them over the last four months of 2024. Diesel continued to grow. plummet (-11.4%), except in the countries of eastern Europe.
-Good sales of hybrids notably benefited Toyota-Lexus (+17.5%) and the Renault group (+1.9%), champions of these engines. “It’s the antechamber of the transition to electric”underlined the director of the Renault brand, Fabrice Cambolive, while presenting his sales figures in mid-January. After conquering large SUVs, the hybrid is gaining market share on smaller Renault models such as the Captur SUV or the compact Clio, and could further progress in countries which are still hesitant about electric vehicles such as Italy or Spain, underlined Mr. Cambolive.
“We have to adapt to real world conditions”
The automobile lobby is also calling on the European Union to “flexibility” in its policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. European manufacturers are opposed to possible fines that the EU could impose on them in the event of non-compliance with the emission reduction targets in 2025. In an interview with AFP, the general director of ACEA, Sigrid de Vries, spoke on January 16 of a risk “existential” for the industry, while several manufacturers have announced job cuts in Europe. The electric car market “not developing as it should”.
L'UE “can't just have goals on paper and be very rigid. You have to adapt to real-world conditions.”she pleaded. All energies combined, the automobile market remained stable over one year (+0.8%) with 10.6 million new cars registered in the European Union, still far from the levels before the Covid epidemic. France, Germany, Italy and Belgium notably put fewer cars on the roads in 2024, while Spain, Portugal and Poland recorded an increase in sales. Market leader Volkswagen grew by 3.2%, driven in particular by its Skoda brand, while Fiat and Opel caused sales of their parent company Stellantis to plunge (-7.2%).
