This is a first. The market share of electric cars exceeded 20 percent for the first time in August, according to figures from the Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), according to which the total market saw its thirteenth straight month of growth.
Last month, 787,626 units were sold in the European Union, a growth of 21% over one year. The increase is clear in the three largest markets: +37.3% in Germany, +24.3% in France and +11.9% in Italy. "The European market is rebounding from last year's component shortages," ACEA said in a statement.
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With sales growth of 118.1% year-on-year, to 165,165 units representing 21% of new car registrations, electric models have for the second time after last June surpassed diesel.
In terms of engines, gasoline remains in the lead with nearly 33% of the market, less than in August 2021 (39%). Electric cars come in second place (24%), ahead of electric cars, which have almost doubled their share in one year.
Volkswagen remains market leader
Diesel now accounts for only 12.5% of the European market (16% in August 2021), while some 7% of sales were plug-in hybrid models, compared to 8.5% a year earlier.
Over the first eight months of the year, the increase is 17.9%, with 7.1 million cars sold, while remaining below the 9 million of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among brands and manufacturers, the Volkswagen Group remains the market leader with 27% of sales (209,500 units) in August, ahead of the Stellantis Group (17%). Renault came third, with 9.5%.
Tesla experienced the strongest growth in August: +247% to 27,300 cars. The Californian manufacturer thus surpasses the same brands Fiat, Citroën, Seat, Cupra and Ford in particular.
