Sales of diesel-powered passenger cars in the European Union have dropped by 17 percent during the first quarter of 2018, which translates into 322,622 units less than the same period in 2017.
This drop in demand was offset by an increase in petrol car sales, which have gained 14.6 percent, selling roughly 300,000 units more than last year.
As expected, alternatively powered vehicles saw the strongest growth, with battery-electric sales increasing by 34.3 percent and plug-in hybrid cars by 60.2 percent. In total, EU customers bought 69,898 electrically-chargeable vehicles (ECV) in the first quarter of 2018 (+47.0%).
At the same time, 139,556 hybrid electric passenger cars (HEV) were sold in the region, 25.7 percent more than in the first quarter of 2017.
Germany is now Europe’s biggest market for electrified vehicles, surpassing Norway. Sales of electrified models have risen by 70 percent in the country to 17,574 units. The diesel market dropped 21.3 percent, selling 283,766 units over 360,628 during the first quarter of 2017. Petrol cars jumped 20.3 percent, with 553,467 units in the first quarter of 2018, over 460,197 last year.
For detailed data on all the EU countries, check ACEA’s complete press release by clicking here.
