London, Oct 23 (BUS): One in five cars sold in the European Union in the third quarter was an electrified model as sales continued to rise while fossil fuel vehicles declined, according to sales data released on Friday by a trade organization. .
The European Association of Automobile Manufacturers, or ACEA, which represents Europe’s largest manufacturers of cars, trucks, vans and buses, said sales of electric and plug-in hybrid models across the European Union made up just under 19% of total sales, according to Reuters. .
Sales of battery electric vehicles jumped nearly 57% to more than 212,000 units, while plug-in hybrid models rose nearly 43% to more than 197,000 units.
That’s a slower pace of growth than in 2020 when sales nearly tripled from a low base.
But it compares to a 35% drop in sales of gasoline cars — which remain the best-selling and account for nearly 40% of total sales — and a more than 50% drop for diesel cars during the quarter.
Less than a decade ago, diesel cars made up more than 50% of sales in the European Union, but made up less than 18% of all cars sold in the third quarter.
In addition to having to meet tough new EU carbon emissions targets, automakers and consumers have benefited from government subsidies for electric vehicles.
The European Commission has also proposed an effective ban on fossil fuel vehicles from 2035, with the aim of accelerating the transition to zero-emission electric vehicles as part of a broad range of measures to combat global warming.
NS