20 Jul 2022 | 11:31 UTC

EU BEV sales increase market share to 9.9% in Q2: ACEA

Highlights

PHEV market share rises to 8.7%

HEV share also up to 22.6%

ICE vehicles lose market share to 55.8%

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EU-wide sales of battery electric vehicles increased their market share to 9.9% in the second quarter of 2022, up from a 7.5% share a year ago, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, released July 20.

Total BEV sales in Q2 reached 233,413 units, up 11.1% year on year and 4.1% higher than the previous quarter.

Spain and France contributed to the positive performance of BEVs, posting year-on-year gains of 22% and 18.6% respectively, while BEV sales in Italy dropped 19.6% and in Germany they eased 0.5%, ACEA said.

At 206,501 units sold in Q2, plug-in hybrid cars accounted for 8.7% of the total market share, up from 8.4% a year ago. The increased share came despite PHEV sales falling 12.5% year on year, although the volume was up 3.7% from Q1.

With the exception of Spain, which saw PHEV sales rise 11.3% on the year, ACEA said all key markets had seen lower PHEV sales, with sales down 17.4% in France, 16.9% in Germany and 6.9% in Italy.

Sales of hybrid EVs in the European Union slipped 2.2% year on year and 5.0% quarter on quarter to 534,754 units, although the overall market share rose to 22.6% from 19.5% a year ago, due to a drop in sales of conventionally-fueled cars, ACEA said.

Increased EV demand had boosted battery metal prices, with Platts seaborne lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide assessments up 110.95% and 136.1%, respectively, since the start of 2022 at $71,300/mt CIF North Asia and $74,900/mt CIF North Asia as of July 20, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights data.

ICE vehicles lose market share

Internal combustion engine vehicles continued to make up the majority of total sales at a combined 55.8% in Q2, although this was down from a 62% share a year ago.

The market share of gasoline vehicles dropped to 38.5% in Q2 from 41.8% a year ago, with volumes at 909,703 units, down 22.2% year on year. However, the volume was 12.6% higher than Q1 sales.

Diesel vehicle sales fell 27.7% year on year to 409,174 units, which was 8.2% higher than Q1. The diesel market share in Q2 was 17.3%, down from 20.2% a year ago.