Plug-In Car Registrations In Europe: Q1-Q2 2021 Full Report

The passenger car registrations in Europe in the second quarter of 2021 amounted to 3,405,600 (up 66% year-over-year) from the challenging Q2 2020.

Our attention focuses on the plug-in segment, which, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), expands quickly and is gaining higher and higher market share.

In total, some 574,565 (up 237%) new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in the Q2 2021 in the European Union, EFTA (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland) and the UK, which is 16.9% of the market. All-electric cars are marginally ahead of plug-in hybrids.

An interesting thing is also how fast the conventional hybrids expand – the rate of growth is even higher than in the case of plug-ins.

Let’s take a look at the data and charts.

• BEVs (plus FCVs): 289,625 (up 220%) at 8.5% share
• PHEVs: 284,940 (up 256%) at 8.4% share
• Total Plug-ins (plus FCVs): 574,565 (up 237%) at 16.9% share
• HEVs: 692,434 (up 241%) at 20.3% share
• Total car market: 3,405,600 (up 66%)

Year-to-date numbers also look impressive, as more than 1 million new plug-ins were registered (up 157% year-over-year), which represents almost 16% of the market.

We guess that soon plug-ins will also match and overtake regular hybrids.

• BEVs (plus FCVs): 492,021 (up 122%) at 7.6% share
• PHEVs: 537,212 (up 200%) at 8.3% share
• Total Plug-ins (plus FCVs): 1,029,233 (up 157%) at 15.9% share
• HEVs: 1,285,641 (up 150%) at 19.8% share
• Total car market: 6,486,351 (up 27%)

The top six markets by volume in the period accounted for some 795,821 registrations or over 77% of total sales:

1. Germany – 312,507 (up 233%)
2. France – 144,304 (up 121%)
3. UK – 132,100 (up 161%)
4. Norway – 69,378 (up 71%)
5. Sweden – 69,150 (up 112%)
6. Italy – 68,382 (up 334%)

Germany remains the dominant plug-in market in Europe right now with a volume higher than the next two countries combined. Italy, on the other hand, noted very high growth.

In terms of market share, 15 countries are above 10% share. Of course, nothing can really compare to Norway, where more than four in five new cars happen to be plug-ins.

Plug-ins improved their market share in basically all the markets.

The 6 top countries by market share (above 20%) are:

1. Norway – 82.7%
2. Iceland – 44.3%
3. Sweden – 39.9%
4. Finland – 28.4%
5. Denmark – 26.8%
6. Germay – 22.5%

Germany, the UK, France, Norway and Italy were the largest all-electric car markets in Europe.

The number of countries with a BEV market share of at least 5% increased to 14, while 10% was exceeded in several countries.

The top countries are:

1. Norway – 57.3%
2. Iceland – 20.5%
3. Sweden – 13.1%
4. Austria – 11.4%
5. Germany – 10.7%
6. Netherlands – 10.0%
7. Switzerland – 9.9%

Germany, France, the UK, Sweden and Italy were the largest plug-in hybrid car markets in Europe.

The number of countries with a PHEV market share of at least 10% increased to 7.

The top countries are:

1. Sweden – 26.9%
2. Norway – 25.4%
3. Iceland – 23.8%
4. Finland – 21.1%
5. Denmark – 19.1%
6. Germany – 11.8%
7. Belgium – 11.2%

* some data estimated

** only countries, for which data are available

*** all BEV charts include FCVs (negligible number)