The electric car suffered a brake in 2024 in Switzerland. No more than 19.3% of new cars sold were entirely electric, compared to 20.9% in 2023. This is the first time in several years that the market has declined.
‘This temporary slowdown in the development of electric mobility, although disappointing for the sector, was predictable,’ wrote the specialist association Swiss eMobility in its annual report on Wednesday,
Sales of new electric cars were lower than expected from the first quarter. ‘The introduction of an import tax on this type of vehicle on January 1 (…) has considerably slowed down the purchasing and selling dynamic,’ notes the press release.
‘The lack of will and pressure to further reduce CO2 emissions and the still difficult situation with home charging stations are hampering the development of the sector,’ observes the director of Swiss eMobility Krispin Romang.
Switzerland is lagging behind in terms of sales growth compared to the Scandinavian and Benelux markets for example, but also countries like Portugal, which are now ahead of it.
However, the best-selling new car in 2024 once again turns out to be an electric model, in this case the Tesla Model Y. With more than 6,500 sales, it has exceeded the level of the previous year.
Two other electric SUVs also did well: the Škoda Enyaq (2nd place among electrics, 11th overall) and the Volvo EX30 (3rd electric, 13th overall).
German-speaking people in the lead, Ticino not seduced
The growth of public charging stations has continued. Switzerland now has nearly 20,000, a high level by European standards.
As in the past, German-speaking Switzerland is more favorable to electric mobility. The cantons of Zurich (24.9%), Solothurn (24.1%) and St. Gallen (23.7%) recorded the highest percentages in terms of car sales. In Ticino, the rate did not exceed 11.2%.
For utility vehicles, following in particular a change in regulations, the electric market share fell to 8.1% in Switzerland, compared to 9% in 2023. Renault is the best-selling electric brand in this segment.
However, sales of electric heavy goods vehicles continued to grow. At the end of 2024, the market share of electric heavy goods vehicles and fifth wheel tractors reached 11%.
For 2025, and for the entire sector, Krispin Romang once again forecasts market growth. ‘With the tightening of emissions thresholds, the sector will have to sell many more electric cars to achieve its objectives,’ he notes.
However, he adds that ‘the situation remains critical, particularly for the installation of home charging stations. Access to charging stations for tenants and owners by floors remains limited, and political obstacles have still not been removed.
/ATS
