New car sales in Europe were up by 0.9% in 2024, led by double-digit growth in hybrid car registrations which exceeded petrol for a fourth consecutive month in December, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Renault's market share in the continent overtook Stellantis' for the first month since the Franco-Italian group was forged in January 2021, data by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea) showed.
The European car market is undergoing a complicated EV transition as EV sales growth disappoints and carmakers oppose measures to encourage consumers to abandon combustion engines, such as CO2 emission rules coming into force this year.
European carmakers also lament high production costs and rising competition from China.
December sales in the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Area grew by 4.1% year-on-year to 1.1-million cars.
Registrations at Volkswagen and Renault grew by 4.9% and 16.6% respectively, while they fell by 6.7% at Stellantis.
Renault's market share in Europe rose to 11.9%, while Stellantis' slid to 11.6%.
In the EU, December sales grew by 5.1% as the registrations of hybrid electric cars (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grew by 33.1% and 4.9% respectively, while fully electric cars (BEVs) dropped by 10.2%.
Electrified vehicles - either BEV, HEV or PHEV - sold in the bloc accounted for 57.7% of passenger car registrations in December, up from 53.3% the year before.
Among the largest EU markets, Spain led gains with a 28.8% increase, while Germany and Italy continued to decline, by 7.1% and 4.9% respectively.
The new Acea president, Ola Kaellenius, said last Thursday the CO2-emitting car targets were based on expectations of a take-off of EV demand that had not happened and urged political leaders to come up with ideas.
US President Donald Trump said in his inaugural address on Monday he would revoke regulations set by Joe Biden's administration, which Trump called the "EV mandate", confirming recommendations by his transition team first reported by Reuters in December.
European car sales rise 0.9% in 2024; Renault tops Stellantis in December
Image: Supplied
New car sales in Europe were up by 0.9% in 2024, led by double-digit growth in hybrid car registrations which exceeded petrol for a fourth consecutive month in December, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Renault's market share in the continent overtook Stellantis' for the first month since the Franco-Italian group was forged in January 2021, data by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea) showed.
The European car market is undergoing a complicated EV transition as EV sales growth disappoints and carmakers oppose measures to encourage consumers to abandon combustion engines, such as CO2 emission rules coming into force this year.
European carmakers also lament high production costs and rising competition from China.
December sales in the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Area grew by 4.1% year-on-year to 1.1-million cars.
Registrations at Volkswagen and Renault grew by 4.9% and 16.6% respectively, while they fell by 6.7% at Stellantis.
Renault's market share in Europe rose to 11.9%, while Stellantis' slid to 11.6%.
In the EU, December sales grew by 5.1% as the registrations of hybrid electric cars (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grew by 33.1% and 4.9% respectively, while fully electric cars (BEVs) dropped by 10.2%.
Electrified vehicles - either BEV, HEV or PHEV - sold in the bloc accounted for 57.7% of passenger car registrations in December, up from 53.3% the year before.
Among the largest EU markets, Spain led gains with a 28.8% increase, while Germany and Italy continued to decline, by 7.1% and 4.9% respectively.
The new Acea president, Ola Kaellenius, said last Thursday the CO2-emitting car targets were based on expectations of a take-off of EV demand that had not happened and urged political leaders to come up with ideas.
US President Donald Trump said in his inaugural address on Monday he would revoke regulations set by Joe Biden's administration, which Trump called the "EV mandate", confirming recommendations by his transition team first reported by Reuters in December.
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