Despite the health and economic crisis, and for the first time, sales of hybrid and electric vehicles exceeded those of diesel vehicles in Europe in the last quarter of 2020. This increase is partly attributable to the numerous purchasing aids implemented by Governments.

Sales of electric vehicles doubled in Europe in 2020 and those of plug-in hybrids tripled, topping a total of one million vehicles sold, according to figures released Thursday by the Association of European Manufacturers (ACEA).

Some 538,772 electric cars were sold last year and 507,059 plug-in hybrids, with a marked acceleration in the fourth quarter. 

While the European market as a whole was cut by a quarter of its sales by the health crisis, sales of hybrid (including non-rechargeable) and electric vehicles even exceeded diesel sales in Europe in the fourth quarter for the first time. quarter, with over 900,000 vehicles sold.

Germany, Italy and France have notably seen their electricity sales explode. 

Electric cars also eroded the gasoline market share: in the fourth quarter, sales of gasoline vehicles fell 33.7% to 1.2 million units (40.6% market share) and those of diesel 23% to 731,000 units (24.5%).

At the same time, electric cars grew by 217%, to 248,000 copies, plug-in hybrids by 331% to 227,000 copies, and non-rechargeable hybrids by 105% to 435,000 copies.

Bonuses and news

Across Europe, sales took off thanks to efforts on both supply and demand.

Governments have sprinkled billions of euros in subsidies for the purchase of cleaner vehicles, ranging up to 9,000 euros in Germany and 12,000 euros in France.

Many motorists have also changed vehicles to continue entering metropolises which, like Copenhagen, Brussels, Rome and Paris, have banned their centers from the most polluting vehicles, or plan to do so. 

Manufacturers have multiplied the launches of new hybrid and electric vehicles, especially to stay within the nails of European standards: under penalty of heavy fines, they had to go below 95 grams of CO2 / km.

Volkswagen has already announced that the account is not there.

The German manufacturer should however be one of the winners of this hectic electric market.

The ID3, launched in September to carry its ambitions in the electric, became in December the second best-selling car in Europe, all engines combined according to the firm Jato Dynamics.

In 2021, it is expected to overtake the Renault Zoe and the Tesla Model 3, which dominated the European electric market in 2020.

In France, sales of electric and plug-in hybrids are expected to jump 30% per year on average to represent a quarter of the total market in 2025, compared to around 10% today.

"Alongside the United Kingdom and Germany, France will then be able to boast of being one of the most advanced countries in terms of electromobility", underlines the firm Xerfi, specialist in sector studies.