Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. reports sales of “electrically chargeable vehicles” – battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicles – grew 45% in 2019 to a record 558,586 units.
In its fourth-quarter 2019 market report, the Brussels-based association notes electrified vehicles accounted for 3% of new light-vehicle demand in Europe last year. Germany led the market with sales of 108,839 units, a 61% increase over 2018.
Following Germany were Norway with 79,640 sales, the U.K. (72,834), the Netherlands (66,957) and France (61,356).
Battery-electrics and FCEVs together accounted for about two-thirds of electrified-vehicle sales in the region, jumping 80% to 359,733 units.
For BEVs, Germany saw 63,491 deliveries; the Netherlands, 62,956; and Norway, 60,345.
PHEV sales grew 7% to 198,853 units in 2019. Leading markets were Germany at 45,348, the U.K. at 34,984 and Sweden at 24,810.
The best-selling electrified models in Europe last year were the Tesla Model 3 BEV, Renault Zoe BEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Nissan Leaf BEV and BMW i3 PHEV.
Separately, hybrid sales, including both full and mild hybrids, rose 49.5% to 937,400 units. More than 100,000 units were sold in five countries: Germany (193,902), the U.K. (156,178), Ireland (109,789), Spain (108,684) and France (106,844).
Toyota, again the market leader, registered sales of 418,000 units (combined Toyota and Lexus brands), commanding 44.5% of the demand in the segment.
The automaker’s top-selling hybrid was the CH-R Hybrid, produced at Toyota Motor Mfg. Turkey, while the third-ranked Yaris Hybrid is built at Toyota Motor Mfg. France. Sales of the two models totaled 115,200 and 108,300 units, respectively.
Sales of alternatively powered vehicles other than electric – compressed natural gas, liquid petroleum gas and ethanol (E-85 mix) – grew 12% to 257,281 units.
Meanwhile, Europe’s share of gasoline cars rose marginally to 58.9% on sales of 9.2 million units, while diesel car sales fell to 4.8 million units or 30.5% of the market. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, had a 5.9% share; CNG, LPG and ethanol, 1.7%; and electrified vehicles, 3.0%.
