2022 was indeed a tough period for the auto industry due to various unexpected events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, inflation, and increasing energy and petroleum prices.
Surprisingly, the European Union managed to record new highs in EV sales last year despite the mentioned challenges and the significant decline in the overall car market, per the European Automobile Manufacturers Association’s (ACEA) data.
APV topped fossil fuels for the first time in 2022
Alternative propulsion vehicles (APVs) reported new registrations of over 1.3 million cars in Q4 2022, with a market share of 53.1%. Interestingly, ACEA claims that figure marks the first time that APV sales beat traditional petrol and diesel car sales.
For context, APV refers to clean energy vehicles that either do not rely on petroleum-based fossil fuels or employ a hybrid design run by renewable-based fossil fuel engines, like electric batteries.
Below are the sales progress of APVs from 2021 to 2022:
| Category | Q4 2021 Sales & Change | Q4 2022 Sales & Change |
| Battery electric vehicles | 309,167, up 31.6% | 406,890, up 31.6% |
| Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles | 221,951, up 29.5% | 287,364, up 29.5% |
| Hybrid electric vehicles | 446,251, up 22.2% | 545,316, up 22.2% |
| Natural gas vehicles | 7095, down 56.6% | 3082, down 56.6% |
| Other alternatively powered vehicles | 59,945, up 16.7% | 69,979, up 16.7% |
New passenger cars in the EU by fuel type – 2022
Below are the new passenger cars registered in the EU in 2022:
| Fuel Type | Market Share |
| Petrol | 36.4% |
| Diesel | 16.4% |
| BEV | 12.1% |
| PHEV | 9.4% |
| HEV | 22.6% |
| Natural Gas | 0.2% |
| Other | 20.8% |
Source: ACEA
BEVs reported record-breaking results in 2022, representing 12.1% of the overall auto market. It demonstrates a notable increase from 2021’s record of 9.1% and 2019’s 1.9% result. It is not surprising, given that BEVs’ new registrations recorded a YoY growth of 31.6% to 406,890 units just from October to December 2022.
On the other hand, hybrid vehicles saw a YoY growth of 22.2% in 2022, representing 22.6% of the EU’s overall auto market.
EU continues to record sales decline in petrol and diesel cars
The report noted that petrol (36.4%) and diesel (16.4%) vehicle sales continue to decline in the EU amid the rapidly growing demand for green cars.
Notably, diesel-powered cars reported a YoY drop of 19.7%, primarily in France and Belgium.
“Customers are more informed today, we have many, many fewer customers coming to the dealership asking for diesel because they know that it will soon be banned. Fuel prices also rose above 20 € per litre. Now compare that with an electric car that costs about 1.80 € for 100 kilometres, recharge and maintenance included. You don’t need to do any big calculations to realise it is a lot more convenient”.
Autothivolle’s sales advisor, Alix Couturier
Nonetheless, when combined, these internal combustion engine vehicles still represented 52.8% of the EU’s car sales last year. That said, more needs to be done for the EU to hit its 2050 target of net-zero emission mobility.
Which country leads the EV drive?
Unsurprisingly, the “EV eutopia” Norway is leading the EU’s electric vehicle drive with new registrations of about 86% in 2021, per European Environment Information and Observation Network’s data. Iceland trails far behind Norway with 64% new registrations.
The top five were completed by Sweden (47%), Denmark (35%), and Finland (32%).
Below is the list of countries with the most EV registration percentage in 2021:
The bottom of the list features the countries with the least EV registrations, including Poland (3.2%), Estonia (3.02%), Czechia (3.3%), Slovakia (2.1%), and Cyprus (0.8%).
Nonetheless, these figures bring good news for the EU’s electric vehicle industry. Despite the challenging 2022 for the global auto industry, EVs marked a significant increase in new registrations in the region.
