Sales of Hybrid Vehicles Surpass Sales of Petrol-Powered Cars for First Time

A Toyota Auris Hybrid is uncovered at the International Motor Show on in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2018. Robert Hradil/Getty Images

Hybrid vehicles surpassed petrol cars in the European Union market for the first time, according to data from Europe’s auto industry body.

In research published on Oct. 22, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) stated that total car sales in the bloc in September fell by 6.1 percent from the previous year, as major markets Germany, France, and Italy continue to stagnate.

In the same month, sales of hybrid electric vehicles, which use an electric motor along with a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine, made up 32.8 percent of total new car sales, surpassed the monthly market share of petrol-powered vehicles for the first time.

“Today’s numbers show that we’re still far from the thriving electric vehicle market Europe needs,” ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries told Reuters.

“This is not the stable growth needed for a successful green mobility transformation.”

Decline

The ACEA also noted that new car registrations in the EU’s major markets—France, Italy, and Germany—saw declines of 11.1 percent, 10.7 percent, and 7 percent, respectively. Only Spain grew, by 6.3 percent.

Electrified vehicles, including hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs), accounted for 56.9 percent of all new car sales in September, up from 50.3 percent the previous year.

Petrol car sales fell by 17.9 percent, with all four key markets showing double-digit declines: France (negative 31.9 percent), Italy (negative 23.3 percent), Germany (negative 15.2 percent), and Spain (negative 10.7 percent).

Diesel cars also dropped by 23.5 percent, capturing only 10.4 percent of the market.

China

The ACEA represents major automakers such as BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Stellantis, and others, which are trying to contend with weaker demand and cheap EV competition from China.

Earlier this month, EU member states agreed to impose tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese-made EVs, aiming to counter what they say are unfair subsidies from Beijing.

The commission set tariff rates ranging from 7.8 percent for Tesla to 35.3 percent for Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer SAIC, on top of the EU’s standard 10 percent car import duty.

People look at a BYD Seagull car by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto at the Bangkok International Motor Show in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on March 27, 2024. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images

Europe is already struggling with its own falling EV sales and the looming 2025 carbon dioxide (CO2) target requirements for new cars.

In September, the ACEA called on Brussels to address the challenges posed by EU green targets.

It stated that plummeting EV sales and CO2 target requirements for new cars in 2025 raise the prospect of multibillion-euro fines, production cuts, and job losses.

While the ACEA supports decarbonization goals, it also seeks short-term relief to “secure Europe’s industrial future.”

Starting in 2025, EU targets will require a 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for cars and vans from 2021 levels. From 2035, all new cars sold in the EU must be emission-free, effectively banning new petrol and diesel vehicles.

Concerns

Volkswagen recently announced that it may close factories in Germany because of competition from cheaper Chinese EVs.

The company is aiming to save $11 billion by 2026 to manage the transition to EVs.

The ACEA highlighted concerns over issues such as charging infrastructure, access to affordable green energy, and the supply of raw materials for batteries and hydrogen.

“Growth, consumer acceptance, and trust in infrastructure have not developed enough,” the ACEA stated.

“This makes the transition to zero-emission vehicles highly challenging, with concerns about meeting the 2025 CO2 targets.”

Despite these concerns, it is unlikely that the EU will roll back its climate legislation, according to an EU policy expert.

“This isn’t something the EU can backslide on,” an analyst and research fellow at the think tank UK in a Changing Europe previously told The Epoch Times.

“It would be incredibly damaging to its credibility as an international climate leader if it were to push back on these things. So while there will be pressure from member states, there is also a strong incentive for the commission not to budge.”

Reuters contributed to this report.