One in eight new cars sold in Western Europe was electrified in 2020

According to a German analyst Schmidt Automotive Research report, one in eight new cars registered in Western Europe was already electrified in 2020. “2020 lived up to its claim of being the first genuine year where EVs moved from the slow hanging fruit lane to the mainstream,” says the report.

With Western Europe, the analyst indicates 18 markets: the EU member states before the 2004 enlargement, the UK, and the EFTA markets Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Annual registrations of EVs doubled over previous year levels to 727 927 units, while PHEVs – also a key strategic tool in meeting the latest fleet average CO2 targets – saw volumes achieve 606 466 units.

Helped by Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic’s influence on the total passenger car market, recording its lowest volumes since 1985, ironically contributed to BMW Group, PSA, Renault, and Daimler all achieving their CO2 compliance targets last year, according to company data.

The Volkswagen Group revealed that they failed to meet their CO2 target, falling short by 0,5g/km. Nevertheless, the group was the biggest seller of full EVs in Europe last year. In 2020, VW sold 173 943 EVs, 243,6% more than last year.

A company spokesperson explained that it was likely contributed to by the ID.3 model’s late market launch, resulting from software issues delaying customer deliveries.

Second was the Alliance (Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi) with 135 537 EVs sold (+73%), followed by Tesla (97 791, -10,7%), Hyundai/Kia (94 981, +118,5%), and PSA (69 752, +1285,6%).

Renault Zoe still on top

When we look at the individual bestsellers, the Renault Zoe is still on top, with 97 158 units sold (a 13,3% market share), followed by the Tesla Model 3 (86 910, 11,9% market share), and the VW ID.3 (55 003, 7,6%).

In the much more dispersed PHEV segment, other manufacturers come forward. The number one seller is the Mercedes A-Class (28 530 units, 4,7% market share), followed by the Volvo XC40 (27 051, 4,5%), and the Mitsubishi Outlander (26 379, 4,3%).

D’Ieteren lead in Belgium

Almost one-fourth (24,5%) of all EVs sold in Belgium in 2020 were VW Group products imported by D’Ieteren Automotive. The top three EVs sold were the Audi e-tron (1 253), the VW ID.3 (953), and the Porsche Taycan (806).

Schmidt Automotive Research’s report expects 2021 to see a BEV market penetration rise to 8,5 %, translating to 1,045 million units in a recovering 12,3 million total Western European passenger car market.

With the PHEVs added to the equation, key in meeting compliance with EU regulations, especially for premium manufacturers, the 2021 market of electrified cars is forecast to account for 15,5 % of the total market of 1,9 million units.