- 2024 sales data gathered by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows that across 2024, the number of new fully-electric cars registered outnumbered the number of new diesel cars registered, in another promising step towards the decarbonisation of Europe’s roads.
- Overall, BEVs accounted for 13.6% of EU market share – compared to 11.9% for diesel and 33.3% for petrol.
- The European Union plans to mandate the sale of new zero-emission cars in 2035, so these sales figures will be one to watch in the coming years.
EV sales outnumber diesel in the run up to 2035
While EU BEV market share was actually down in 2024 compared to 2023 (13.6% vs 14.6%), the statistics still indicated that the market share of pure petrol and pure diesel models are dropping year-on-year. Overall, the market share figures put battery electric vehicles as the third most popular choice for EU buyers across 2024. Combining the EU, European Free Trade Association countries, and the UK, overall BEV market share for 2024 stood at 15.4%.
Ahead of the EU’s 2035 ZEV mandate, the statistics show a number of countries that are in good stead for meeting that eventual deadline. In countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark, BEVs already stand as the drivetrain type with the largest market share in 2024. For Denmark in particular, BEVs accounted for a majority 51.5% of the market in 2024.
Countries such as these should have little concern in meeting the 2035 deadline, but some EU member states still have some way to go. In Croatia and Poland, for instance, BEVs accounted for just 2.8% and 3% of their respective markets – with diesel market share remaining higher. Improving EV communications, through methods such as the new Better Manifesto, will be crucial for supercharging EV market share in these markets in the coming years.
This year will see some big changes to the EU’s EV industry. More affordable EVs are continuing to make their way to Europe, and BYD is also set to start producing its own EVs within the EU – avoiding tariffs and likely increasing affordability. Sales figures over 2025 will be one to keep an eye on.
