End of Europe’s ICE age?

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales doubled in Europe with Tesla leading the charge in taking a third of the BEV market there in June as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles fell – especially diesels and SUVs.

The European car market dropped in June as 1.49 million vehicles were registered, down by 7.9% on the same time last year, JATO Dynamics’ data shows – the biggest monthly drop in 2019.

The Tesla Model 3 is the top-selling plug-in model (11,256) in Europe, followed by the Renault Zoe (4795) and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (3528).

Tesla posted the highest market share gain, as registrations increased from 4034 units in June 2018 to 14,106 units in June 2019.

In June 2019, the Tesla Model 3 was Europe’s best-selling premium midsize sedan.

SUV sales reportedly are reaching anticipated peak demand with the overall market shrinking.

All types of EVs (HEV, PHEV and BEV) expanded by 20% to about 108,800 and 7.5% market share.

JATO Dynamics’ data points to major growth of all-electric car sales in Europe to 33,800 (up 104%), but a 39% PHEVs decrease to 12,600.

June’s results confirm that conditions in Europe are getting worse, JATO global analyst Felipe Munoz says.

“We continue to see a repeat of the same pattern; lower consumer confidence is mostly affecting diesel car registrations, which used to dominate the European landscape.”

Munoz says the results of diesel and EVs contrast heavily across Europe.

In June 2019, diesel car registrations fell by 21% and made up 31% of the total market, while demand for electrified vehicles increased by 20%, accounting for 7.5% of all registrations.

“The drop seen in diesel car registrations continues to be higher than the growth posted by electrified cars,” Munoz says. “In order to see a real change in their market position, electrified vehicles need to attract more consumers, or else they won’t be able to capitalise on the demise of diesel.”