EU EV sales stalling as China reports double digit increase

There were 1.4 million electric vehicles (EVs) sold globally in July, bringing the year-to-date sales figure up to 8.4 million, according to new figures from Rho Motion.

Analysis shows that regional disparities continue to grow as EU, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – and UK sales fell year-on-year by 8% compared to July 2023, while China’s market grew by 31%.

Globally, the market continues to show strong growth, up 21% compared to the same period (January to July) in 2023.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represent 65% of sales so far this year, with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounting for the remaining 35%.

The market share of PHEVs has grown by five percentage points compared to the same period in 2023 where PHEVs represented almost a third of total EV sales.

Charles Lester, lead EV data analyst at Rho Motion, said: “The EV market has definitely been a mixed bag so far this year.

“Globally sales have been strong and are continuing to flourish in China, North America and fledgeling EV markets. However, EU’s sales are stalling, especially in Germany and EU tariffs on Chinese EVs are likely to impact this even further.

“Despite the region’s woes, France and the UK are weathering the storm and have grown their domestic markets.

“We would expect to see these trends play out over the rest of the year unless drastic measures are put into place.”

Snapshot electric vehicle sales in January - July 2024 vs January - July 2023

• Global: 8.4 million in Jan-Jul 2024, +21% y-o-y
• China:  5.0 million, +31%
• EU & EFTA & UK: 1.7 million, 0%
• USA & Canada: 1.0 million, +10%
• Rest of World: 0.7 million, +31%

Snapshot EV sales July 2023 v July 2024

• Global: +21%
• China:  +31%
• EU & EFTA & UK: -8%
• USA & Canada: +7%
• Rest of World: +41%

Despite weaker sales in the EU & EFTA & UK in July 2024, falling by 28% compared to June 2024, the Year-To-Date (YTD) figure is flat with no growth in EV sales figures compared to 2023.

A key driver to the reduction in EV sales in Europe this year is weaker Germany EV sales following the end of the subsidy last year. However, EV sales have grown in the UK and France so far this year with France’s market growing by 6%.

In the US and Canada, EV sales have grown by 10% YTD January – July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

General Motor’s production of the Blazer EV and Equinox continues to ramp up, with over 10,000 units produced combined in July 2024 – over 5,000 units of the Honda Prologue EV were also produced.

In China, EV sales have grown by 31% so far this year. However, most of this increase has come from growth in PHEV sales. PHEVs have grown by 70% year-to-date and BEVs by 12%.

There were record-high PHEV sales in July 2024 in China, with 0.4 million units. This growth is due to both a rising number of models available from manufacturers including Range Extender EVs (REEVs) as well as companies like BYD continuing to increase PHEV production and sales.