Sales of new cars with gasoline or diesel engines plummeted in the second quarter in Europe, while hybrids and electric cars continued to conquer the market, according to figures published on Wednesday by manufacturers.
In a market paralyzed by the shortage of electronic components, sales of gasoline cars fell by 22.2% year-on-year, with 909,000 vehicles, and accounted for 38.5% of the market in the second quarter in the European Union.
Diesel models fell 27.7%, with 409,000 vehicles sold, and only represented 17.3% of sales, compared to another 20.2% in the same period of 2021.
Hybrids represent 22.6% of sales
Hybrid cars (petroleum and diesel), boosted by the bonuses raised by manufacturers, but held back by shortages and the economic context, saw their sales fall slightly in the EU (-2.2%), with sharp declines in Italy and Germany.
But the market share of hybrids continued to grow: they now account for 22.6% of sales.
Plug-in hybrids, for their part, maintained a downward trend that began at the end of 2021 (-12.5%), with a very marked decrease in France and Germany, while their actual CO2 emissions are strongly criticized. They now represent 8.7% of sales, with 206,000 cars sold.
+11% for electric
The 100% electric car category is the only one to make progress (+11%), with 243,000 cars sold, but its conquest of the market is also being held back by supply problems. It represents 9.9% of sales.
This limited performance is explained by the supply difficulties of one of the European market leaders, Volkswagen, linked to the production of certain parts in Ukraine, slowed down by the war.
The German group’s electricity sales fell 16.5% in the second quarter in Europe, while they rose 33.6% in the first quarter.
Source: BFM TV
