Passenger car registrations in the European Union rose 14% to 10.5 million units in 2023, despite December marking the first month of contraction after 16 consecutive months of growth, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association reported last week.
Among the largest EU markets, sales increased by 19% to 1.6 million in Italy, by 17% in Spain to 949,359 and by 16% in France to 1.8 million. In the EU’s largest market, Germany, sales only grew by 7% to 2.8 million, which ACEA attributed to a 23% drop in sales in December.
EU car sales declined 3% in December to 867,052 units. During 2023, new car registrations were up year on year in each of the first 11 months, by increases ranging from 7% in November to a peak jump of 29% in March.
By power source, new battery-electric car sales jumped 37% last year to more than 1.5 million, as the battery-electric car market share reached 15%. New EU registrations of hybrid electric cars surged 30% in 2023 to more than 2.7 million units sold, for a 25% market share. The EU plug-in hybrid electric car market share, hampered by a 40% drop in December, decreased by 7% and now represents an 8% market share.
Sales of gasoline-powered cars rose 11% to 3.7 million units sold, and the segment continued to lead with a 35% market share throughout 2023.
Diesel car sales last year reached 1.4 million units, a 9% decline, accounting for a 14% market share in the EU.
In the United Kingdom, for which ACEA also tracks passenger car sales, sales climbed 18% to 3.5 million. Plug-in hybrid sales there jumped 39% to 141,311 units, for a 7% share of the country’s market, while hybrid electric sales rose 25% to 601,071 units, for a 32% share. Battery electric sales increased 18% to 314,684 units, accounting for 17%. Sales of gasoline-powered cars rose 14% to 774,487, constituting a market-leading 41% share. Diesel car sales declined 14% to 71,501, a 4% share.