Dutch RAI-Bovag figures show rapid growth spurt in electric

The latest ‘Mobility in Figures 2024-2025’ (Mobiliteit in Cijfers) report of the Dutch automotive sector’s RAI and Bovag shows the Netherlands is still one of Europe’s leading countries in rapid electrification. On a total car fleet of 9.4 million, 1.3 million cars (14%) are fully electric or have a hybrid drivetrain. That’s four times more than five years ago (3.7%).

In 2023, there was no ‘cooling down’ in new EV sales in the Netherlands (yet), as 113,961 fully electric cars were registered, +56% more than the year before (73,250). The total number of hybrid registrations grew by 22% to 137,063 units, of which 16% were mild hybrids (MEV), 16% were full hybrids (HEV), and 36% were plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

Less new cars per year than in Belgium

It’s interesting to compare with Belgium, where EV sales are still rapidly growing despite the prevalent perception. There were 96,233 new registrations in the first nine months of 2024, more than in 2023 (93,180).

However, Belgium, with a population of ‘only’ 11,763,650, was, with 476,675 new registrations in 2023, the sixth biggest car market in Europe, after Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain. The Netherlands, with 17,942,042 inhabitants, registered 369,608 new cars and ranked eighth.

Fully electric growing +36%

‘Mobility in Figures’ is an annual report jointly published by RAI Vereniging, the federation of car manufacturers and importers, and Bovag, the Dutch mobility sector organization. It’s an extensive reference work of the Dutch automotive and mobility sector, bulging with figures. And there are a couple of interesting trends to spot.

Looking at the total car fleet currently on Dutch roads (9.4 million), there are 462,307 fully electric cars (+36%) and 848,972 hybrids (+31%), but pure gasoline (7,197,651) remains the vast majority and status quo. Diesel (795,381) and LPG (96,750) are declining by -12% and -1%, respectively.

The report shows that this development has positive effects on CO2 emissions. At the European level, the Netherlands can count itself among the frontrunners. After Sweden (61 g/km), Finland (60.9 g/km), and Denmark (73.3 g/km), the Netherlands, with 74.2 g/km, is one of the EU Member States with the lowest average CO2 emissions per new car sold.

Belgium is catching up with 85.3 g/km. By comparison, in 2022, in the Netherlands, it was still 86.8 g/km and 104.6 g/km in Belgium.

Price rise of 1,319% in 50 years

Another interesting figure is the average price people pay for a new car in the Netherlands. At the beginning of 2024, it was 48,118 euros on average, compared to 46,235 euros in 2023. That’s 3.91% more expensive. Going back to the year 2000, the average car cost €19,367, and in 1970, only €3,389. So that’s an increase of a whopping 1,319.83 percent compared to today.

There are considerable differences in today’s prices per fuel type, though. For example, a diesel passenger car in the Netherlands today has an average price tag of 92,117 euros. A consumer spends 74,553 euros on a plug-in hybrid, 52,439 euros on a fully electric vehicle, 35,373 euros on a gasoline car, and 23,646 euros on an LPG car.

Plug-in and diesel are the most expensive

Today, plug-in hybrids are almost always more expensive than fully electric cars in the Netherlands. In contrast, mild and full hybrids (€39,944) are slightly more costly than the average gasoline car.

Prices in the Netherlands can differ significantly from those in Belgium due to tax differences. While VAT is equally 21% in both countries, the Dutch pay a private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax called BPM that runs up to 18% for gasoline cars and hybrids and 18 + 2% for diesel cars. Fully electric cars won’t pay the BPM until the end of 2024.