EU new-car demand flat as BEVs lose market-share

Brussels – New EU car registrations saw a marginal year-on-year increase in July amid mixed results across the region’s key markets.

Overall, the month saw 852,051 new cars registered, up 0.2% compared to the same month of last year.

Of the region’s four major markets Italy and Spain posted growths of 4.7% and 3.4% respectively while the French and German markets registered declines of 2.3% and 2.1%.

Year-to-date, new car registrations increased by 3.9%, reaching more than 6.5 million units, European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reported 29 Aug.

The four key markets all showed “positive but modest” performance for the seven-month period, with Spain posting a 5.6% year-on-year growth, followed by Italy (5.2%), Germany (4.3%), and France (2.2%).

Breaking down the segments, ACEA said that battery-electric cars accounted for 12.1% of the EU car market in July, down from 14% the previous year.

Hybrid-electric vehicles increased their market share, growing from 26% to 32%, while the combined share of petrol and diesel cars fell 4% year-on-year to 46%.