Although overall car sales increased slightly, sales of pure electric cars in Europe fell during 2024. Importers are calling for more support.
Electric car sales in Europe fell in 2024. New figures from the European automotive industry association ACEA show a 6 percent decline in the number of registered electric cars in the EU. 1.4 million electric cars were sold in 2024, compared to 1.5 million in 2023.
One of the reasons for the decline is the phasing out of the German premium for electric cars. Germany is one of the largest car markets in Europe, and the change in their policy has had a significant impact on overall electric car sales.
– The results clearly show that the development is closely linked to political initiatives and economic incentives. Political support is necessary to restructure the transport sector, says director Mads Rorvig from Mobility Denmark to the Ritzau news agency.
Despite the decline in electric car sales, overall car sales in the EU increased slightly in 2024. 10.6 million new cars were registered, an increase of 0.8 percent compared to 2023.
It was the German market in particular, where sales of electric cars went into reverse throughout 2024, that pulled down sales. Today, more electric cars are actually sold on the English market.
The sales of electric cars in Germany – or vice versa – are linked to the fact that the German government removed state support for electric cars with immediate effect in December 2023. The following month, sales fell by more than 50 percent.
Here in Denmark, tax increases on electric cars are actually planned in connection with an agreement in this area from 2020. But now Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund (S) is still ready to support the sale of electric cars.
– Only about 11 percent of the cars on Danish roads are electric cars. I want to keep a hand in the development so that buying an electric car remains an attractive and realistic choice.
– It is not appropriate if taxes start to increase significantly, because then it will become much more expensive to buy an electric car.
– Then I think it will be unrealistic for many families who will instead look towards petrol and diesel cars, the Minister of Taxation told DR earlier this month.
