Electric vehicles (EVs) gain momentum in Europe, despite a drop in Tesla sales in 2025
In the first half of 2025, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have made a significant stride in the European automotive market, accounting for approximately 15.6% of new passenger car registrations[1]. This is a notable increase from the 12.5% recorded in the same period the previous year.
Joshua S. Hill, a Melbourne-based journalist with over 15 years of experience reporting on climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles, has been closely tracking this shift. Hill's preferred mode of transport, however, remains his feet [2].
Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands are driving the trend of BEV adoption in Europe, with Germany being the biggest market for electric vehicles (EVs) in numbers, followed by the UK and France [3]. However, France experienced a decline in BEV registrations due to subsidy cuts, while Spain showed an impressive 83% increase in BEV registrations in the same period [1].
Despite the growth in BEV sales, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) remain the most popular powertrain type among EU consumers, accounting for a 34.8% market share of new registrations in the first half of 2025 [1]. HEVs are experiencing rapid growth in markets such as France, Spain, Italy, and Germany [1].
By comparison, petrol (gasoline) vehicles still capture a much larger share of the market, with petrol cars holding about 33.3% of the EU new car market share in 2024 based on ACEA's data [2].
Here's a summary of the key figures for Europe (primarily the EU with EFTA and UK included in broader regional trends):
| Powertrain Type | Market Share (New Car Registrations) | Time Frame | |------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) | ~15.6% (EU, H1 2025) | First half of 2025 | | Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) | ~34.8% (EU, H1 2025) | First half of 2025 | | Petrol Cars | ~33.3% (EU, full year 2024) | Full year 2024 |
The data also shows an increasing overall share of alternative fuel vehicles (including electric and hybrids) in Europe, with countries like Norway surpassing 80% EV/all-electric sales as a share of new passenger cars [4].
In conclusion, while BEVs are quickly gaining ground, hybrids hold the largest share among alternative powertrains in Europe, and petrol cars still retain a significant portion of the market, though this share is decreasing with continued electrification and policy incentives [1][2][4].
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