The shift to electric cars in Europe is proving to have staying power. Fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for about 15% of passenger-car sales in the first quarter, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said Friday. While that’s slightly less than during the three months through December, when stricter emissions rules led to a late surge in shipments, it’s still almost double than the year-earlier period.
Europe overtook China as the biggest market for battery-powered cars in 2020, a lead the region is expected to defend this year amid generous subsidies in Germany, France and Italy and a slew of new offerings from the likes of Volkswagen AG and Stellantis NV. The latest numbers should help allay concerns about the electric shift’s sustainability — raised when automakers pushed EVs into the market late last year to avoid fines for overshooting emissions limits.
Cars with a plug accounted for 8% of sales in China in the first quarter, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.