EV sales decline in Europe: patchy progress towards 2035 targets

In 2024, electric vehicle (EV) registrations in the European Union dropped by 5.9% to 1.45 million units. Germany and France remain the largest markets, accounting for 46.4% of total sales. However, Germany saw a sharp decline (-27.4%), while France's decline was more modest (-2.6%) thanks to social leasing programs. Of the 27 EU countries, 15 experienced shrinking EV markets, with Romania (-32.2%), Finland (-26%), and Ireland (-23.6%) seeing the steepest drops. A few countries saw growth, including Malta (+90.5%), the Czech Republic (+63.5%), and Hungary (+47.7%). The market remains uneven: Denmark leads with EVs making up 51.5% of new car sales, while Italy and Poland remain below 5%. Outside the EU, Norway dominates with EVs making up 88.9% of sales. The path to 100% EV sales by 2035 looks increasingly uncertain, as Central and Eastern Europe struggle to catch up with Northern and Western regions.