European sales of new cars will increase by 13.9% in 2023, driven by hybrid and electric cars, but also by gasoline models, the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) announced on Thursday, January 18.
The French, Italian and Spanish markets recorded significant double-digit growth compared to 2022. Germany, the continent’s leading market, however, stalled in December with a sudden purchase bonus for electric cars (- 23% in a year).
Overall, after three very critical years, the end of the electronic parts shortage has allowed the automobile industry to resume deliveries. But the market remained sluggish, slowed by inflation, especially towards the end of the year.
Hybrid cars mainly benefited from the market recovery, with more than 2.7 million units sold (+29.5 a year) and a 25.8% market share. Electric cars also continued their triumph (+37% in one year) and reached 14.6% of the market share, overtaking diesel for the first time in the whole year (13.6%), which continues to decline. Battery car sales accounted for only 9.1% in 2021 and 1.9% in 2019.
While sales of thermal engine cars will be banned in Europe in 2035, all manufacturers have strengthened their hybrid and electric car offerings. But gasoline cars were also able to benefit from the market rebound (+10.6%), especially in Italy and Germany. They still represent 35.3% of European sales with 3.7 million units.
The European market rebounded with 2.8 million cars sold by its leader, the Volkswagen group (+18% in one year), and by the Renault group (third in sales with 1.2 million units, +16.9%). The European number two, Stellantis, remained close to its 2022 figures, with 1.9 million cars sold (+ 2.9%), and declines in particular for its Fiat and Citroen brands.
