According to the highly reputable British consultancy Rho Motion, sales of electric cars (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicles) increased by 25% in 2024 compared to 2023, on a global scale. It is primarily China that enables electric vehicles to grow significantly in terms of registrations. Thus, in China, BEV sales increased by 40% in 2024. In Europe, while waiting for other figures from the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) by country, type of engine, and brand, Rho Motion indicates a decrease in electric vehicle sales of about 3%.
While 2025 promises to be almost decisive in Europe regarding electric car sales, these vehicles have captivated many buyers worldwide. In Europe, the CAFE 2025 European regulation should “force” automakers to sell more electric cars, if customers are indeed interested.
According to Rho Motion, 17.1 million battery-powered cars were sold worldwide last year. It should be noted that this figure of 17.1 million does not include mild hybrid models (MHEV: Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles), simple hybrids (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicles), and plug-in hybrids (PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles). As mentioned in the introduction, it is truly the Chinese auto market, the largest in the world, that drives the electric car market upward.
Regarding Europe, in 2024, the end of purchase subsidies drastically reduced electric car sales in Germany (-27.4% in 2024 – Source: KBA), the largest automotive market in Europe. According to Rho Motion, in 2024, electric vehicle sales fell by 3% in Europe compared to 2023. It should be noted that Rho Motion took into account sales in the EU (European Union), the EFTA (European Free Trade Association: Switzerland – Norway – Iceland – Liechtenstein), and the UK (United Kingdom) to arrive at this -3% figure.
- Electric car (BEV) sales worldwide in 2024, compared to 2023:
- Worldwide: 17.1 million / +25%
- China: 11 million / +40%
- Europe (EU + EFTA + UK): 3.0 million / -3%
- United States + Canada: 1.8 million / +9%
- Rest of the world: 1.3 million / +27%
Finally, be aware that in the United States, Donald Trump, whose inauguration as President of the United States is scheduled for Monday, January 20, has already announced the end of purchase subsidies for electric cars across the Atlantic.
The editorial team
Photos: LesVoitures.com / The Cars News
