The sale of new vehicles in the EU recorded growth.

The sale of new vehicles in the EU recorded growth


The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has provided the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers with the latest data on electric vehicle sales in July and since the beginning of this year. 
In the seventh month of 2024, data on newly registered vehicles in the EU showed a growth in electric vehicle sales of +0.2%, although sales varied significantly from country to country. For example, Italy recorded a +4.7% increase in electric vehicle sales, and Spain saw a +3.4% increase. On the other hand, France experienced a significant drop in new electric vehicle registrations by -2.3%, and the German market also saw a decline in pure electric vehicle sales by -2.1%.

Looking at the new vehicle market in the EU for the first seven months of 2024, encouraging signs are visible not only for the auto industry but also for the entire Union's economy, with the auto industry being one of its major driving forces. During this period, new car sales reached 6,537,362 units, representing a growth of 3.9% compared to the same period last year. In July alone, a total of 852,081 vehicles of all types were sold. 
All the most significant and largest markets recorded growth: Spain +5.6%, Italy +5.2%, Germany +4.3%, and France +2.2%. ACEA also analyzed vehicle sales by type of powertrain.

In July this year, 102,795 pure electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in the EU market, making up 12.1% of the market share. Compared to the same month last year, this represents a weaker result, as the market share was 13.5% at that time. Analysts note that the "result is worse despite the fact that in Belgium, electric vehicle sales in July increased by +44%, in the Netherlands by +8.9%, and in France by +1.0% because the largest market in Europe, Germany, recorded a significant drop in BEV vehicle sales of -36.8%."

From January to July this year, a total of 815,399 electric cars were sold in the EU, with a market share of 12.5%. Plug-in hybrid vehicles saw a sharp decline in sales in the EU in July, dropping by -14.1%, despite better sales in Germany (+3.2%). In July, the sales of plug-in vehicles in the EU reached 57,679 units, representing a market share of 6.8%, a significant drop compared to the same period last year at 7.9%. Overall, in the period from January to July 2024, 449,702 plug-in vehicles were sold in the EU market.

Sales of hybrid vehicles in the EU continued to grow in July, with 273,003 units sold, a huge increase of +25.7% compared to the same month last year. All four of the EU's largest automotive markets recorded growth in hybrid vehicle sales: France +47.4%, Spain +31.25%, Germany +22.4%, and Italy +17.4%. This pushed the market share of these vehicles to 32% in July, significantly higher than in July 2023 when the market share of hybrid vehicles was 25.5%. By the end of July this year, 1,935,654 units were sold.

Vehicles powered by gasoline engines saw a weaker performance in July this year, with a decline of -7.0%. The increase in gasoline car sales in Italy by +3.8% and in Germany by +0.1% could not compensate for the significant drop in sales in the markets of France by -22.6% and Spain by -12.5%. Gasoline-powered vehicles took 33.4% of the EU market share in July, while in the same month last year, that "slice of the pie was sweeter," with a market share of 35.9%. In July, 274,280 gasoline vehicles were sold in the EU, and since the beginning of the year, 2,292,803 have been sold.

Diesel vehicles continue to see a decline in sales in the EU. In July, diesel car sales dropped by -10.1%, with the market share falling to 12.6%. A significant decline in diesel vehicle sales was recorded in Italy by -24.6%, France by -23.9%, and Spain by -11.6%. Interestingly, in Germany, diesel vehicles sold better this July than in July 2023, by +1.4%. In July, 107,710 diesel vehicles were sold in the EU, and in the first seven months of this year, 837,794 were sold.

The most vehicles sold in July, by country, were in Germany, with 238,263 vehicles. Counting the first seven months of this year, Germans bought the most new vehicles in the EU, with 1,709,704 vehicles. Among the surrounding countries, Austria had 154,014 new vehicle registrations in the January-July period, Bulgaria 26,945, Croatia 45,210, Hungary 71,856, Romania 96,562, and Slovenia 32,866. The most electric vehicles sold since the beginning of the year were in Germany, with 241,887, followed by France with 175,432, Belgium with 74,510, and the Netherlands with 68,572. Among the neighboring countries, the most electric vehicles were bought in Romania with 6,383, Hungary with 5,235, Slovenia with 1,794, Croatia with 1,060, and Bulgaria with 1,022.

The Volkswagen Group sold the most vehicles in the EU market, both in July and since the beginning of the year. In July, it sold 229,387 vehicles, and in the first seven months, 1,715,257 vehicles. Stellantis Group is in second place with 137,012 vehicles sold in July and 1,161,517 since the beginning of the year. Renault Group sold 88,707 vehicles in July and 705,842 units in the first seven months of this year. Hyundai Group (Hyundai and KIA) sold 74,724 vehicles in July and 518,755 from January to July.

Following are Toyota (+Lexus) with 70,547 units sold in July and 516,860 since the beginning of the year, BMW (+MINI) with 59,468 vehicles delivered to customers in July and 419,837 in the first seven months of this year, Mercedes Benz (+Smart) 44,430/327,559, Ford 24,051/189,744, Volvo 22,079/176,243, and Tesla 11,586/137,192.